Mae's Market, Virginia's Darling Prepare To Close In Old Town Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The adjoining pair of restaurant concepts from Chef Nicole Jones in Old Town Alexandria will close their doors.

Jones announced in a social media post that Virginia’s Darling and Mae’s Market and Café will close at 277 S. Washington Street. Dec. 28 will be the last day for Virginia's Darling, and Jan. 19 will be the last day at Mae’s Market and Café.

"I hope you will join me as I extend my deepest thanks to our incredible team, whose hard work, passion, and commitment have been the heart of both restaurants," Jones shared. "With their help, it has been a true honor to serve you, share in your celebrations, and watch friendships blossom over meals, coffee and sometimes too much wine. Your unwavering support has been the foundation of our success, and I will be forever grateful for your patronage."

Jones said the closing is due to not being able to come to terms on a new lease with the landlord. The restaurateur said the relationship with the landlord was "favorable" but "we simply were unable to make the economics work for both parties."

Robert Miller, the building's owner associated with W.C. & A.N. Miller Companies, told Patch that Jones came to the landlord six weeks ago and shared financial troubles. Miller said the firm offered a 50 percent reduction in rent and ultimately $0 per month as a temporary measure in an attempt to keep the business.

"Our firm work hard and invested a significant amount of money to get the store open and I am extremely disappointed she has decided to close," Miller shared.

Virginia's Darling is a wine bar opened in fall 2022 that drew praise from Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema and Northern Virginia Magazine. Mae’s Market and Café opened in summer 2021 with a focus on café drinks and food as well as food market items.

The restaurant concepts had been marketed as a draw for the renovated Atrium Building. ALX Community has one of its co-working locations in the building.

Jones invited guests to enjoy the last days of the restaurant and café. A Mae’s Market and Café location remains open near Amazon's HQ2 at 1450 S Eads Street in Arlington. That location will continue to serve coffee, pastry, quiche, bread and sandwiches and will be the new location of the Virginia's Darling wine program, its snacks and afternoon pizza.

Jones previously owned Stomping Ground, which closed in 2023 in the Del Ray neighborhood after a short-lived transition to Rubia's Tacos. Next to the Stomping Ground space, Jones helped open Bagel Uprising's brick-and-mortar shop with Chad Breckinridge.