ALX Community, Mae's Market & Café and Virginia's Darling Restaurant will be ideally located in the heart of Old Town
W.C. & A.N. Miller Development Company and Avison Young announced today that a coworking firm, food market and restaurant have signed leases at The Atrium Building - a five-story Class A office building in the heart of Old Town Alexandria.
ALX Community, Mae's Market & Café and Virginia's Darling Restaurant will open locations at the 146,530-square-foot (SF) building at 277 South Washington Street in the coming months.
ALX Community, an Alexandria-based coworking operator, has committed to a 15,000-SF location at The Atrium Building opening in fall 2021. Designed by Fox Architects, the space will feature the elements of a boutique hotel with contemporary and sophisticated finishes, and provide private offices, shared amenities, meeting rooms and collaboration areas. ALX Community's second-floor location will be directly accessible to the completely reimagined building atrium via a new grand staircase.
Well known as a homegrown company, ALX Community managed to grow in 2020 — and the company’s leaders are looking forward to even better times ahead.
“The timing of the location’s opening — as well as The Atrium Building itself — should be ideal for the ALX Community,” said Scott Shaw, co-founder of the expanding coworking firm. “Fall 2021 puts us on the other side of the pandemic, which is a plus,” Shaw said. “And we think The Atrium Building’s size, amenities and location are a winning combination for companies that have been waiting to make a move.”
“ALX Community has actually grown its business through the pandemic,” Shaw added. “Occupancy is up at our flagship location on the waterfront, and so are inquiries. I don’t think this is unique to Alexandria. Companies everywhere are rethinking their real estate strategy as a result of the pandemic. Flexibility is the key driver, but large, modern meeting space is also a must-have as they plan for a post-COVID world where they expect to bring remote workers in on a regular basis.”
Stomping Ground Southern Restaurant in Del Ray is another local business that has not only weathered the pandemic but is growing, with two new ventures at The Atrium Building. Mae's Market & Café — an all-day food market with a high-quality, made-from-scratch selection of coffee, baked goods, salads and gourmet sandwiches — is opening its doors in February, with Virginia's Darling Restaurant following suit and welcoming patrons at the end of 2021.
These significant additions to the tenant roster come amidst a major repositioning for The Atrium Building, which includes more than $5 million in planned renovations.
“We are extremely excited to welcome ALX Community, Mae's Market and Virginia’s Darling Restaurant to our family of building tenants and strongly believe that all parties will greatly benefit from this partnership,” said Robert Miller, Chief Executive Officer of W.C. & A.N. Miller Development Company. “These businesses are highly regarded and loved by the local community, and we are proud to provide a home for their next business endeavors.”
Focusing on creating a sustainable building community, the ownership is strategically adding critical elements to on-site amenities, offering tenants, employees and guests best-in-class workplace experiences focused on a balanced lifestyle and functional environment. The new and improved amenities will include multiple lounge and huddle areas in the atrium lobby, as well as a golf-simulator, showers, lockers and a secured bike room. The 4,500-SF penthouse level rooftop will be transformed into a modern 120-seat conference center. It will feature a pre-function kitchen and bar, breakout area, extensive roof deck seating and event space, with breathtaking views of the Potomac River, Old Town and the National Harbor.
The perfect blend of modern and classic, the building features expansive 31,000-SF floor plates and a unique atrium core that brings ample natural light and provides a great interior and exterior window line to its tenants. The building currently has three floors available for lease, totaling 85,000 contiguous square feet on the third, fourth and fifth floors.
Avison Young has been retained for office leasing at The Atrium Building, with the team led by Nick Gregorios, Principal in the firm’s Tysons, VA office; and Chuck Kusbit, Principal in the firm’s Rockville, MD office.
About W.C. & A.N. Miller Development Company
The W.C. and A.N. Miller Development Company is a privately held company, with main offices located in Bethesda Maryland, that has been serving the Washington DC Community since 1912. Beyond its portfolio of commercial developments, W.C. and A.N. Miller is known for building some of the most prestigious residential communities in the Washington DC area. These include Wesley Heights, Spring Hill, Spring Valley, Sumner, Overlook, Potomac Falls, Spring Meadows, and Spring Ridge. For more information, visit www.wcanmiller.com.
About Avison Young
Avison Young creates real economic, social and environmental value as a global real estate advisor, powered by people. As a private company, our clients collaborate with an empowered partner who is invested in their success. Our integrated talent realizes the full potential of real estate by using global intelligence platforms that provide clients with insights and advantage. Together, we can create healthy, productive workplaces for employees, cities that are centers for prosperity for their citizens, and built spaces and places that create a net benefit to the economy, the environment and the community.
Avison Young is a 2020 winner of the Canada's Best Managed Companies Platinum Club designation, having retained its Best Managed designation for nine consecutive years.
