Business Brief: Maman opens on King Street; Indochen closing Cameron Station; and more
Ross closing in January; Kalm Studio, Movement in Science expanding; Arcadis tapped for West Alexandria Transit Center
French bakery and cafe Maman has opened in Old Town, while an Indian restaurant in Cameron Station is closing its doors on Christmas Eve.
Here’s the latest in Alexandria business news.
Maman opens in Old Town
French bakery and cafe Maman opened Thursday at 701 King St., filling the space left vacant when Foxtrot closed in April 2024.
The NYC-based chain was founded in 2014 in SoHo by Benjamin Sormonte and Elisa Marshall. The name means “mother” in French — a nod to their mothers’ kitchens from the south of France and North America.
The Old Town location offers pick up, delivery, and indoor dining. Hours are Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The kitchen is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily.
Maman is known for its rustic, floral decor and French-inspired menu of pastries, brunch, quiches, salads, and sandwiches. Its nutty chocolate chip cookie landed on Oprah’s “Favorite Things” list. The bakery currently has a collaboration with Martha Stewart featuring items like rum butter bundt cake.
The Alexandria cafe is Maman’s second Virginia location, following a summer 2025 opening at Mosaic District in Fairfax.
Indochen closing Cameron Station location
Indochen at Cameron Station will close permanently on December 24, according to the Cameron Station Community Association.
“We are grateful for the many years they spent serving Cameron Station and for the memories created around their tables,” the community association wrote on Facebook.
Owner Sharo Bera confirmed the closure, writing on Facebook that the restaurant decided not to renew the lease. “The doors may be closing, but memories will always stay in our hearts,” Bera wrote.
The Old Town location at 1615 King St. remains open, along with Masti in Reston and Harbor Tandoor in Baltimore.
Ross Dress for Less closing in January
Ross Dress for Less at 112 N. Washington St. will permanently close on Friday, January 16, according to a sign posted in the store’s window. The building will become the Linder Academy’s new Upper School for grades 7-12. The private school is expected to hold classes next door at historic Christ Church during the 2025-2026 school year while the Ross building is renovated.
Kalm Studio coming to North Henry Street
Kalm Studio, a modern Pilates and contrast therapy studio, is opening soon at 800 N. Henry St., according to the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce. Owners Ahmad Shaiq and Abdullah Akbary describe the studio as a “wellness sanctuary” featuring infrared saunas, cold plunges, and thermal therapies focused on movement, recovery, and total wellness.
Movement in Science expanding
Movement in Science, a stretch therapy studio currently located at 648 S. Pickett St., is expanding to a second Alexandria location at 50 S. Pickett St., Suite 228. “After years of heartache and disappointment, we signed a lease to expand our business,” the studio announced on Facebook. The business is founded on the idea that everyone should enjoy pain-free movement.
Arcadis selected to design West Alexandria Transit Center
The City of Alexandria has selected global design firm Arcadis as lead architect for the West Alexandria Transit Center, a multimodal transit hub that will anchor the four-million-square-foot WestEnd Alexandria development on the former Landmark Mall site.
The transit center will bring together two new Bus Rapid Transit lines, DASH and Metrobus services, and multimodal amenities along the new Hecht Avenue. The design features modular bus shelters beneath a tree canopy, parklets, and adaptive public seating.
“Our goal is to create a precedent for future mobility stations in Alexandria—centers that are not just transit hubs, but vibrant community assets that enhance accessibility, sustainability, and quality of life for all residents,” said Jess Anderson, project lead at Arcadis.
Ten Thousand Villages rebranding
The fair trade shop at 915 King St. is becoming The World Crafted on King after 31 years in Old Town.
The rebrand comes after Ten Thousand Villages closed all its corporate brick-and-mortar locations nationwide and shifted to online sales, requiring independent affiliates to adopt new names.
“While our name is new, The World Crafted on King will continue to be a community-driven organization with a passion for fair trade,” the store announced on Instagram. “We will be the same store with the same mission, just a new name.”
The store will continue selling ethically sourced handcrafted goods and plans a grand reopening on February 21-23.
City launches Business Passport Program
The City of Alexandria is launching a Business Passport Program in January to highlight small businesses along the Duke Street corridor as part of an ongoing land-use planning process.
The program, running from January through September 2026, is open to all businesses within a half mile of Duke Street. Participating businesses will display a window decal with a QR code that customers can scan to check in. The five participants who visit the most businesses will receive a $25 gift card.
The initiative comes as the city works to update the comprehensive land use plan for the corridor, which stretches from Alexandria Union Station to Van Dorn Street and is home to approximately 600 small businesses.
Businesses on the market
Several Alexandria businesses are currently listed for sale on BizBuySell, including a turnkey burger restaurant for $325,000, an Italian and pizza restaurant established in 2009 for $195,000 and an American restaurant and bar in Old Town for $175,000. A Row House fitness studio franchise in Old Town is listed at $170,000, a bubble tea franchise is asking $90,000 and a used car dealership with 30 years in business is listed at $420,000.
Have Alexandria business news to share? Send tips to ryan@alexandriabrief.com.