A new vegetarian restaurant and an ice cream shop are set to open next door to each other in the vibrant heart of Old Town Alexandria.
Life Alive Organic Cafe and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream will open their doors at 400 King Street, a prime location at the intersection of King and S. Royal Streets. The two establishments will occupy adjacent spaces in this bustling area. The Alexandria Architectural Review Board recently received plans from an architect working on the designs for both businesses.
The Life Alive Organic Cafe will occupy 3,250 square feet, offering seating for 70 to 100 guests. The popular vegetarian eatery, which originated in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 2004, has expanded to 12 locations in Massachusetts. Earlier this year, the cafe opened its first location outside the state in Washington, D.C.’s West End. Known for its fresh, scratch-made menu, Life Alive serves an array of salads, grain and acai bowls, wraps, ramen-style noodles, and smoothies. The D.C. location operates daily from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
In Northern Virginia, Life Alive will soon debut its second Virginia location, following the opening of its Ballston cafe. The company prides itself on using locally sourced ingredients and providing inviting spaces for customers to relax and linger. The D.C. cafe, for example, boasts ample natural light, as well as plenty of outlets and Wi-Fi for customers to enjoy.
Next door, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream, a beloved New York-based brand, will continue its expansion into Northern Virginia. The company, founded in 2008 by Ben and Peter Van Leeuwen and their partner Laura O’Neill, started with an ice cream truck purchased on eBay and transformed into a mobile ice cream shop. The business grew rapidly, with the first brick-and-mortar location opening in Brooklyn in 2010. Despite the founders’ personal changes—Ben and Laura have since divorced—they continue to run the business together.
Van Leeuwen has grown significantly, with more than 70 stores across the U.S. as of December 2024. In 2020, the company received an $18.7 million investment from the private equity firm Nextworld. Last summer, Van Leeuwen opened its first Virginia location in Arlington’s National Landing neighborhood, followed by plans to open in Old Town Alexandria.
What sets Van Leeuwen apart is its commitment to high-quality, carefully sourced ingredients, including South American chocolate, Sicilian pistachios, and Italian hazelnuts. Their vegan-friendly options include the popular Vegan Mango Sorbet made from Alphonso mangoes. The brand is also known for unique collaborations with top chefs, such as the Sour Cherry Creamsicle flavor, created with Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.
Both Life Alive and Van Leeuwen cater to those seeking plant-based options, with vegan ice cream available at Van Leeuwen to complement the offerings at Life Alive.
While the opening dates for these new locations have not yet been announced, Old Town Alexandria residents can look forward to a pair of exciting new dining options in the near future. Stay tuned for updates!
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