Del Ray Hardware wins 2026 Heart of Del Ray Award
Portlances transformed neighborhood staple after taking over in 2024
Del Ray Hardware was named the 2026 Heart of Del Ray on Friday, earning the annual award given to the business that represents the heart and soul of the neighborhood.
The Del Ray Business Association presented the honor, which is determined by a public vote of neighbors and customers.
Jay and Edea Portlance took over the hardware store two years ago, and the couple has since transformed the business into a neighborhood hub. The recent addition of Del Ray Farmhouse & Market made the intersection of Mount Vernon and Howell avenues a one-stop shop for hardware needs, garden supplies, gifts, local produce and more.
“As you know, it’s been a staple in our town and we were very worried about losing it — we could never have imagined that they would come in, take it over, and make it so much better,” Del Ray Business Association President Lauren Fisher said.
Customers echoed that sentiment in their votes.
“What Jay has done with this business is remarkable — it is such a resource for us in the neighborhood,” one customer wrote. “He and his team put so much thought into carrying exactly what we need — anything they don’t have, they can order.”
Another voter called the store a “neighborhood hub where advice is free, help is personal, and relationships matter.”
“Del Ray Hardware embodies everything that makes this neighborhood special: warmth, reliability, and genuine community care,” the customer wrote.
Past winners include A Show of Hands, The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray, Del Ray Pizzeria, Caboose Cafe, HomeGrown Restaurant Group, Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap, the Del Ray Farmers’ Market and Gustave Boulangerie, among others.
The Del Ray Business Association represents independently owned restaurants, retailers and businesses in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria. More information is available at visitdelray.com.