Photo by Susannah Moore
The Starbucks in Mount Vernon Plaza may have closed, but now local residents and shoppers have another spot to get their caffeine fix and a quick bite to eat. Locally owned chain Java Loco hosted a soft opening on Friday in the former Starbucks at 7696J Richmond Highway.
This location is the fifth café for owner Nga Ho who owns the Java Loco at 289 S Van Dorn St. and another one in Falls Church. Ho also owns Ocha Tea in Annandale and Extra Perks at 822 N Fairfax St. in North Old Town, which Ho revealed will also become a Java Loco.
Ho said that he originally planned to open the Mount Vernon Plaza location in May, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused a delay on a lot of their kitchen equipment and furnishings. “Because of the COVID time everyone’s stuff is coming so late…the display machine for drinks only arrived this morning. It was like a 3 months’ time to ship here,” Ho explained.
“It’s much busier than I expected,” Ho told Alexandria Living Magazine on Friday afternoon during a brief lull in the steady stream of people ordering smoothies, bubble teas and coffees. Ho expects them to be completely operational in about a week. They will then be open Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Photo by Susannah Moore
