Business Brief: Wonder opens in Potomac Yard; Old Town Farmers' Market moves to new location; and more
Five Alexandria restaurants make most anticipated list; Arielle Shoshana opening in Old Town; Pillar Wealth Partners relocating to Old Town
Wonder food hall opened its Potomac Yard location on Friday, and the Old Town Farmers’ Market has moved to a temporary home as City Hall renovations begin.
Here’s the latest in Alexandria business news.
Wonder food hall opens in Potomac Yard
Wonder, the $7 billion food hall startup, opened its Potomac Yard location at 3615 Richmond Highway on Friday.
Members of Alexandria City Council, the Alexandria Economic Development Partnership and The Chamber ALX joined the company for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The location is Wonder’s fourth in Virginia, joining Rosslyn, Franconia and Reston. The company operates more than 90 locations across 10 states and Washington, D.C., with more than 30 additional openings planned by spring 2026.
Wonder was founded in 2018 by Marc Lore, who previously sold Jet.com to Walmart for $3.3 billion. The company also owns Grubhub and Blue Apron.
The concept allows customers to order from more than two dozen restaurant brands in a single transaction for dine-in, takeout or delivery. The Potomac Yard menu features Bobby Flay Steak, Jota by José Andrés, Streetbird by Marcus Samuelsson, Di Fara Pizza, Maydan and SriPraPhai.
Old Town Farmers’ Market moves to temporary location
The Old Town Farmers’ Market, which has operated continuously since 1753, moved to a temporary location on Saturday as City Hall and Market Square begin major renovations.
The market will operate in the 100 block of North Royal Street and the courtyard at Tavern Square for the next two to three years while the city completes its $123.6 million renovation project. More than 70 vendors will continue operating every Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon.
George Washington sent his produce from Mount Vernon to be sold at the market, which is considered the nation’s oldest farmers’ market held continuously at the same site.
The Market Square Garage will close by Jan. 17. Shoppers can use the Tavern Square garage at 418 Cameron St., which will offer free parking on Saturdays from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Five Alexandria restaurants among Northern Virginia’s most anticipated for 2026
Five Alexandria restaurants made Northern Virginia Magazine’s list of the region’s most anticipated openings for 2026.
Floriana, the Northern Italian favorite from D.C., is set to open in June in the Atrium Building at 277 S. Washington St. The restaurant will feature housemade pastas, steaks and chops, and plans to serve breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.
Finn & Fire is targeting a late winter opening at 111 N. Pitt St., the former Kismet space. The restaurant will feature elevated seafood with sushi, an oyster bar, and grilled meats with international flavors. Chef Aaron Gadson will lead the kitchen.
Grazie Nonna is bringing red-sauce Italian-American fare to 425 Montgomery St., with pizzas, pastas and shareable plates.
Dok Khao Thai Eatery is opening at 2501 Oakville St., adding to the Pattana Restaurant Group’s locations in Maryland and Woodbridge.
Renowned Szechuan chef Peter Chang is targeting a fall 2026 opening in Fairfax County’s South Alex development.
Arielle Shoshana perfumery opening in Old Town
Arielle Shoshana, a niche fragrance boutique, is opening a location in Old Town.
The D.C.-based perfumery, established in 2015, specializes in unique, hard-to-find fragrances for all genders, including its own Arielle Shoshana line. The Old Town location will be the shop’s second.
Pillar Wealth Partners relocating headquarters to Old Town
Pillar Wealth Partners, a Tysons Corner-based financial planning firm, is relocating its headquarters to Old Town, according to Alexandria Living Magazine.
The firm will open in the Atrium Building at 277 S. Washington St. on Feb. 1, with a ribbon-cutting celebration planned for Feb. 10. The Tysons office at 8251 Greensboro Drive will remain open.
Alexandria native Nazzareno “Nazz” Spurio and Charlotte Huger founded the firm last year. Spurio is a graduate of T.C. Williams High School (now Alexandria City High School) and lives in the city with his family. Huger, originally from New Orleans, now lives in Old Town.
Both founders are University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce graduates and certified financial planners. Spurio was recognized by Forbes as a Best-In-State Financial Security Professional in 2024 and 2025.
The firm specializes in comprehensive financial planning, including investment management, retirement planning and tax strategies.
Alexandria resident named GPO’s new library services director
Julie Balutis, of Alexandria, has been named the U.S. Government’s new Managing Director of Library Services & Content Management at the Government Publishing Office.
Balutis, who started in September, previously served as Director of Grants Policy and Management at the Institute of Museum and Library Services. She will help guide the strategic direction for the National Collection, which includes all public information products of the U.S. Government.
“Access to trusted Government information is maybe more important now than it has ever been,” Balutis said. “I am excited to play a role in that.”
UpCycle Creative Reuse Center hosting ribbon-cutting Saturday
UpCycle Creative Reuse Center will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Alyia Gaskins on Saturday at noon at its new location at 2397 S. Dove St.
The nonprofit, which diverts reusable materials from the waste stream and makes them available for creative projects, reopened last month after relocating to the new space.
Vola’s launching Thursday night comedy series
Vola’s Dockside Grill in Old Town is launching a weekly comedy series starting Thursday, Jan. 15.
The “Best of DC Comedy Show” will feature stand-up comedians from the D.C. area on Thursday nights. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for happy hour before the show. Tickets are $20, with a two-drink minimum. Guests must be 18 or older.
Featured comedians include Caitlin McDevitt, Hector Castro and Winston Hodges.
Kody Imports seeking to extend hours on Duke Street
Kody Imports IV LLC, an automotive sales and repair business at 5125 Duke St., is seeking a special use permit amendment to extend its hours of operation.
The business is proposing to open at 7 a.m. instead of 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday. Sunday hours would remain unchanged at 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Public comments are due by Jan. 27 and can be sent to city planner Lanning Blaser at lanning.blaser@alexandriava.gov.
Alexandria-based company buys Embassy Suites in Tysons for $37.5 million
SAK Developer, an Alexandria-based investment company, has purchased the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tysons Corner for $37.5 million, according to Washington Business Journal.
The December acquisition marks SAK’s third local extended-stay hotel purchase in the last 20 months, bringing its hotel portfolio to seven. The Vienna hotel at 8517 Leesburg Pike has 234 two-room suites.
SAK was founded by Waheed Ashiq, Vipul Kapila and Khurram Sindhu. In addition to its hotels, the company owns two restaurants and 12 Exxon gas stations in Northern Virginia.
Do you have business news to share? Email ryan@alexandriabrief.com.