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ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Fresh Healthy Cafe, a healthy fast-casual chain built around smoothies, fresh juices and made-to-order food, is preparing to open what the company bills as its first Virginia location in Alexandria's Carlyle area — and has applied for a city permit to add a small amount of outdoor seating.
The restaurant is moving into a previously vacant space at 2040 Jamieson Ave. The company's website lists the Alexandria store as "coming soon," describing it as its first in Virginia. The chain, founded in 2001 and franchised across the United States and Canada, pairs smoothies and fresh-squeezed juices with a menu of bowls, paninis, wraps, salads and soups, with food prepared to order. The Alexandria application describes a similar lineup of smoothies, juice, bowls, paninis, coffee, tea and snacks, with 12 seats inside.
The permit request before the city is modest: an administrative special use permit for outdoor dining on private property, with two small tables and four seats total set in two areas flanking the front entrance. Proposed hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The business is operated by Fresh Healthy Restaurants DMV LLC, represented by Vijay Balusu.
Because the permit is administrative, it may be approved by the director of planning and zoning without a public hearing. Residents who wish to comment can reach city planner Rachel Drescher at rachel.drescher@alexandriava.gov or 703-746-4666 through July 9, the last day for public comment.
