alexandriaecon

09/01/2026

Alexandria paws-itively loves our furry friends!🐾

CoworkingCafe ranked Alexandria as the 4th best pet-friendly coworking city in the nation, and recognized us as the best on the East Coast!

With 16.7% of local spaces offering pet-friendly amenities, Alexandria's coworking spaces are adapting to a lifestyle-friendly, hybrid work environment.

🔗Read more: https://bit.ly/4ydrhm3

In other exciting animal friendly news, the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria is celebrating 80 years of saving pets and people!🐕🐈‍⬛💕

Learn more about their work and how to support at their website:🔗https://bit.ly/4d8vhvV

08/25/2026

Calling all graduates!🧑‍🎓

CoworkingCafe has officially named Alexandria the #2 Top Mid-Sized U.S. City for Starting a Career After College in 2026.

As employers increase hiring for the Class of 2026, Alexandria is gaining national recognition as one of the best places in the country to launch a career. Alexandria jumped four spots to become the No. 2 mid-sized city for recent graduates, driven by rising graduate incomes, strong educational attainment, and a high concentration of entry-level professional opportunities.

Who says college is the best four years of your life? It's post-grad where things start to heat up! And what better place to land on your feet than Alexandria? 😎

🔗Read more about top cities for recent grads here: https://hubs.ly/Q04vgcx00

08/20/2026

We couldn't help ourselves...

✨It's kinda chic to be passionate about economic development✨

From big ideas to ribbon cuttings and everything that happens after the giant scissors come out ✂️, we’re here to help businesses start, grow, and make moves in Alexandria.

Ready to get started? We know some people 😉

🔗 Sign up for our AEDP Small Business newsletter because being in the know is kinda chic, too: https://hubs.ly/Q04tJkr80

08/19/2026

👀 It's Hump Day, and we're already planning for the weekend 👀

🍴 Don't forget that Alexandria Restaurant Week ends Sunday, August 23rd. Over 75 restaurants are offering $35, $45, and $55 amazing prix fixe menus that won't be offered again this year!

Check out Visit Alexandria's list of participating restaurants 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q04twYx00

While you’re out, make your dollars go even further with ALX Open Rewards. 📲Earn 5% cashback when you visit participating Alexandria businesses and restaurants.

📲 Download ALX Open Rewards: https://hubs.ly/Q04twZb30

Which spot are ya heading to? Let us know in the comments below!

08/18/2026

Still not over this!🤩

ICYMI: Alexandria has officially landed at No. 9 on Travel + Leisure's 2026 Best Cities in the U.S.—marking the fifth consecutive year our city has earned a spot on the list 🏆

Historic charm. A vibrant waterfront. Incredible restaurants. Locally owned shops. Walkable neighborhoods. Safe to say...we get the hype 😉

A HUGE congratulations to our friends at Visit Alexandria for securing the nomination and leading the campaign 👏 👏 👏

🔗 Click here to read more from Alexandria Living Magazine: https://hubs.ly/Q04tqMnh0

08/17/2026

✨Local CEO in the Spotlight!✨

The Washington Business Journal has named Julie Talbot, Global CEO of Lansinoh Laboratories, a 2026 Women Who Mean Business honoree, recognizing her leadership, achievements, and impact across the Greater Washington region.

🔗 Washington Business Journal:
https://hubs.ly/Q04tbVLw0

At Lansinoh, Talbot leads a brand supporting families in more than 60 countries while keeping people at the center of its next chapter. And she’s doing it from Alexandria, where access to Reagan National, a dynamic waterfront community, and connections to the broader region help make the City a natural landing place for a company with global reach.

Read more about Talbot’s career journey, her leadership at Lansinoh, and why the international brand continues to call Alexandria home.

🔗 https://hubs.ly/Q04tb_Hz0

08/14/2026

👀 Two Big Reasons to Get Out in Alexandria This Weekend 👀

Starting TODAY, Alexandria is serving up plenty of reasons to eat/shop local 🍽️🛍️

🍴 Alexandria Restaurant Week kicks off with 75+ restaurants offering $35, $45, and $55 prix fixe menus through August 23. Check out Visit Alexandria’s list of participating restaurants and start planning your picks 👉 https://hubs.ly/Q04t4bwS0

🛍️ Alexandria Sidewalk Sale also starts today, with deals and special finds from independent Old Town retailers all weekend long, August 14–16: https://hubs.ly/Q04t47qp0

And while you’re out, make your dollars go even further with ALX Open Rewards. 📲 Shop or dine at participating Alexandria businesses and earn rewards along the way...

📲 Download ALX Open Rewards: https://hubs.ly/Q04t44Vj0

Consider your weekend plans made 😉

Enjoy Alexandria Restaurant Week August 14–23, 2026 with prix fixe dinners across neighborhoods like Old Town, Del Ray & the West End.

08/12/2026

Legacy in Alexandria
From its beginnings as a small sandwich shop, The Birchmere has spent more than six decades connecting people through live music and a sense of community in Alexandria, VA.

https://alexandriaecon.org/more-than-a-music-venue-the-birchmeres-enduring-legacy-in-alexandria/

alexandriaecon

For more than 60 years, The Birchmere has been a cornerstone of Alexandria’s live music scene. Founded in 1966 by Gary Oelze, the once small sandwich shop evolved into a 500-seat venue, becoming one of the region’s most beloved music halls.

08/12/2026

Ready, set, Accelerate ALX! 🚀

Alexandria’s next generation of tech companies is ready to take off.

AEDP, in partnership with the City of Alexandria and FedTech, has officially launched the inaugural Accelerate ALX cohort, bringing together 11 startups selected from 41 applications across defense, aerospace, health tech, AI/ML, cybersecurity, and more.

The accelerator is the City’s first initiative under ALX Forward targeted at supporting entrepreneurship and innovation and will integrate as appropriate with programming offered through National IQ, the new innovation district in National Landing.

Over the coming months, founders will gain personalized mentorship, expert guidance, new pathways to customers, investors, and the region’s innovation ecosystem before taking the stage at a public showcase this December.

🚀 Read the full press release: https://bit.ly/4hvqcRw

AlexandriaVA.gov

08/10/2026

🍔 Five Guys Just Gave Alexandria Something to Brag About 🍔

USA Today's 2026 10 Best Readers' Choice Awards ranked the Five Guys Cheeseburger among the nation's top fast food burgers. Founded in Arlington and now headquartered in Alexandria, the hometown brand continues to earn national recognition nearly 40 years after serving its first burger.

🍔 Hungry for more? Discover why Five Guys brought its headquarters to Alexandria—and why the company says the move feels "like coming home."

🔗 https://bit.ly/4fYJJJ7

Founded in 1986 by Jerry and Janie Murrell along with their five sons, Five Guys set out to revamp the fast-food landscape with made-to-order burgers and hot dogs. Nearly 40 years later you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn’t dined at the red-and-white checkered establishment.