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Alexandria's Department of Code Administration has issued a Stop Work order against a structure at Gustave Boulangerie's outdoor beer garden, Le Jardin, citing construction of a covered bar without required building, electrical, or plumbing permits, according to the posted notice and city records.
The order, dated March 27, 2026, was posted at 2207 Mount Vernon Avenue. It prohibits occupancy of the cited structures until permits are obtained and inspections are passed. On the same day, the city's Fire Marshal opened a separate investigation into the property, listed as "In Progress" in Alexandria's public permit portal, APEX.
The bakery and Le Jardin remain open. The stop work order applies specifically to the pergola and covered bar structures, one portion of the larger property.
Gustave Boulangerie did not respond to a request for comment.
Two years of stalled permits
City records show the business made multiple attempts to obtain permits over nearly two years, none successfully.
Le Jardin opened in March 2024. In January 2025, the business applied for a temporary structure permit at 2213 Mount Vernon Avenue for what it described as a "Restaurant Tent." The permit was issued February 7, 2025 and expired May 7, 2025. City records show it was 11 percent complete at expiration, with Shop Drawing and Wall Check reviews never finished.
In May 2025, a third application was filed at 2207 Mount Vernon Avenue, describing the project as "shed construction, plumbing and electricity" at 222 square feet, with a declared valuation of $0. It remains at "Additional Information Req'd" with zero percent of required steps completed. No permit has been issued.
Both the May 2024 and May 2025 applications were assigned to the same city reviewer.
The structure
Photos taken by The Alexandria Brief on March 31 show a post-and-beam wooden pergola with polycarbonate roofing, hardwired string lighting, and a commercial bar with multiple draft taps and a sink. A large white tent extends behind it.
The business's Instagram account, @gustaveboulangerie_jardin, documents the structure's development. A November 23, 2024, post announced a "brand-new covered outdoor bar." A December 28, 2024, post showed customers at a heated bar. An August 17, 2025, post marketed the space as a "heated & cooled tent year-round."
The stop work order cites "Pergolas — bar or sitting areas under roof" and lists three violations: building, electrical, and plumbing, under Section 108.1 of the 2021 Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code. That section requires permits before beginning construction, electrical, or plumbing work on commercial structures. The code's exceptions — minor repairs, small detached sheds, cosmetic work — do not apply to a commercial bar with heating, plumbing, and electrical systems.
Complaint-driven
The code case record in APEX classifies the stop work order as complaint-driven via Alex311, not the result of a routine inspection.
What comes next
To reopen the cited space, the business must obtain building, electrical, and plumbing permits and pass all required inspections. Under Section 36-106 of the Code of Virginia, persons who act contrary to a stop work order or remove the posted notice face fines up to $2,500.
The Fire Marshal investigation, FIR2026-00200, remains open.
Gustave Boulangerie opened in May 2023 and is a well-regarded fixture in Del Ray, with a 4.5-star rating across more than 300 reviews. Le Jardin hosts regular community events, including the Del Ray Art and Craft Market.
Gustave Boulangerie was contacted for comment prior to publication. This story will be updated upon response. Alexandria's Department of Code Administration was also contacted. City permit records are drawn from Alexandria's Permit and Land Use Management Portal (APEX).
