Table of Contents
The space formerly occupied by UnWined at the Bradlee Shopping Center on King Street has a new tenant: Chord Bread & Bottle, a sandwich and wine shop whose owner says is roughly six weeks from opening.
Scott Shirley confirmed the timeline in an email to The Alexandria Brief on April 3, putting the anticipated opening at the 3690 King St. location in mid-May.
Records from the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Authority show Chord Bread and Bottle has a retail restaurant or caterer application pending for beer and wine, listed under license No. 013738800, according to the VABC's online licensee search tool.
According to the shop's website, Chord describes itself as bringing "hints of rock n roll and toppings of rhythm and blues to the everyday." Its stated approach is straightforward. "Every sandwich is made with intention, and every bottle is chosen for its character and drinkability," the site states, adding that wines are selected to be enjoyed "just as easily on a Tuesday afternoon as they are on a special night out."
The menu, as listed on the shop's website, includes salads — among them a Potomac Cobb, a Brie & Champagne and a smoked salmon Norwegian — alongside sandwiches and a catering program. A members-only wine club offering monthly curated selections is also planned. The site notes membership is limited.
Shirley's background in Alexandria's food scene is detailed on the Union Sandwich Co. website. He got his start in 1995 as a manager at Bruscato's, a now-closed Old Town deli, before spending roughly two decades in restaurant management across Northern Virginia and Washington. In 2020, he purchased Slater's Market, 1552 Potomac Greens Drive. He later opened Union Sandwich Co., 101 N. Union St., which the website describes as grounded in "the lost art of hospitality" and built on fresh bread and quality ingredients.
Hours listed on the Chord website are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. For more information and updates on the opening, visit their website.
