Made in ALX, a collective of more than 40 Alexandria-based makers, creators and artists, is opening a retail store and workshop space in Old Town North.
Made in ALX will open at 533 Montgomery St. The grand opening is planned for Saturday, June 11, and shoppers who stop by over the weekend will be entered to win a $150 gift card.
Items in the shop will include candles, pet items, clothing, accessories, books, jewelry, household items, art and other items created by independent makers who live and work in Alexandria.
In addition, Made in ALX will be offering a wide range of workshops. Classes include soap making (June 10), creative writing and book publishing (June 15), painting, candle-making and more. Private parties and events are also available. Anyone can sign up for classes through MadeinALX.com.
Local makers joining the shop include the Alexandria Honey Co., C&A Soy Candles, White Lily Shoppe, PawsGo, Pawfectly Delicious, Narwhal Design Ink, Hatch, Garden Home, Cosmic Crayon Co., Made by Caylea — and several artists including Alexandra Schmeling, Laurel Prucha Moran, Daniel Horowitz, Michelle Wee and Kellie Sansone.
Made in ALX also supports the Alexandria-based nonprofits Pawfectly Delicious, which provides jobs to residents with physical or mental challenges, and Rosie Riviters, a STEM-focused educational organization. Residents can purchase Pawfectly Delicious dog treats and Rosie Riveters STEM kits through Made in ALX’s store or online.
In addition to in-store shopping, Made in ALX offers online ordering with curbside pickup, local delivery or nationwide shipping. The website features more than 600 items from a diverse group of Alexandrians.
Made in ALX hosted a holiday pop-up shop along the waterfront in Old Town Alexandria in November and December 2021. The success of that pop-up and customer requests led the makers to seek a permanent location.
Several new developments are coming to Old Town North, including multiple arts-oriented spaces, as the City of Alexandria looks to create a new Arts District in the neighborhood. St. Elmo’s North, Sisters Thai, Hank’s Oyster House, West Elm, PlantHouse and Loyal Companion are all within a block. Free underground retail parking is available in the 530 First Street garage, one block north of Montgomery St. between North St. Asaph and North Pitt streets.