Mae's Market and Café and Virginia's Darling, in the 200 block of South Washington Street in Old Town, will be closing.
"It is with a heavy heart that I am sharing the difficult news that both Virginia’s Darling and Mae’s Market and Café in Alexandria will be closing for business due to the inability to reach favorable lease terms with our landlord. Our relationship has been nothing but favorable; we simply were unable to make the economics work for both parties," wrote owner Nicole Jones in a Facebook post.
The last day of business for Virginia's Darling will be Dec. 29, and Mae's will be Jan. 19.
Mae's Market and Café opened in August 2021. Virginia's Darling, a companion wine bar, opened in 2022 to wide praise, including from The Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema.
Jones also runs Rubia's in Del Ray and had run Stomping Ground for years before it closed in 2023 to make way for Rubia's.
Fans of Mae's Market and Café can find it in Arlington, at 1450 S. Eads St. Jones will be moving the Virginia's Darling wine program to that venue.
"While this chapter is ending, we hope that you will come and see us at Mae’s Market in Arlington where we will continue to serve daily coffee, pastry, quiche, bread and sandwiches as well as relocate the Virginia’s Darling wine program, many of its best snacks and the addition of afternoon pizza!" Jones wrote.
