Waterfront Restaurant to Be Named for City Leader

PHOTO: Vola Lawson, Alexandria city manager for 15 years, died in 2013 at the age of 79. Among countless awards and honors, Lawson was inducted into the Virginia Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 and was named a Living Legend of Alexandria in 2007.

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ALEXANDRIA, VA -- Owners of the former Waterfront Market in Old Town Alexandria plan to name their new restaurant currently under construction after late City leader Vola Lawson, a spokeswoman for the company confirmed Monday.

The owners plan to call the new restaurant Vola's Dockside Grill & the Hi Tide Lounge and are eyeing a date in late June to open.

The company filed paperwork with Virginia to sell wine and beer at the new eatery, at 101 S. Union St., and listed the name on its application.

Vola Lawson was Alexandria's city manager for 15 years and was considered a Renaissance woman for the many causes she championed. She died in 2013 when she was 79 years old. Among countless awards and honors, Lawson was inducted into the Virginia Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993 and was named a Living Legend of Alexandria in 2007.

Owner Alexandria Restaurant Partners is overseeing the restaurant with Corporate Executive Chef Graham Duncan at the culinary helm. ARP also has a hand in Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap, The Majestic, Virtue Feed & Grain and Palette 22 in Shirlington. ARP recently announced the temporary closure of The Majestic Cafe in Old Town as of Monday for an eight-week interior design update and menu makeover to reopen the spot as a new concept.

Beckmann Architects in Alexandria is handling the design of the new space for Vola's Dockside Grill, according to building permits. Beckmann worked with Alexandria Restaurant Partners on Palette 22 and is also working on the redesign for Majestic Cafe, which is hoping to reopen in mid-May.

Jody Manor, former owner of Waterfront Market, is also a partner in the Vola's business. Manor recently downsized his other restaurant, Bittersweet. The Old Town Alexandria cafe will continue on in a smaller space behind the current cafe after Bittersweet closes May 1. Sweetgreen is expected to open in Bittersweet's space at 823 King St.