Photo courtesy of FWR
Bradlee Shopping Center
The wait is nearly over for a new sandwich shop opening at one of Alexandria's most popular spots — Bradlee Shopping Center — where Chord Bread & Bottle will hold a soft opening from Sunday, July 19 from 6 to 8 p.m, at 3690-J King St., giving the neighborhood its first taste of the menu that has been in the works since the start of the year. Customers will be welcomed with free wine tastings, charcuterie and more.
The spot is located in-between Starbucks and Alexandria Pastry Shop at Bradlee.
The menu even features a sandwich that gives a nod to a beloved former Bradlee tenant, Atlantis, a family-run pizza restaurant. The sandwich features romaine, feta, Kalamata olive, pepperoncinis, onions, cucumber, tomato and creamy Italian.
Chord comes from Alexandria restaurateur Scott Shirley, already a familiar name locally through Slater's Market on Potomac Greens Drive and Union Sandwich Co. on N. Union Street. Shirley got his start managing an Old Town deli in 1995, spent two decades in restaurant management around Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., and returned to sandwich-making in 2020 when he purchased Slater's.
Photo courtesy of Chord Bread & Bottle
Chord Bread & Bottle offers seating at its wine and sandwich shop opening at Bradlee Shopping Center in Alexandria.
The shop leans into a music theme — "hints of rock n roll and toppings of rhythm and blues," as the owners put it — but the philosophy is straightforward: good bread, simple ingredients and wines meant for a Tuesday afternoon as much as a special night out.
The theme is apparent in the decor, with images of rock stars adorning the walls. Some of the icons include Elvis, Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Neil Young, Diana Ross and many more.
Chord plans to offer a menu of 12 cold and six hot sandwiches, along with salads like the Potomac Cobb, a Brie & Champagne and a smoked salmon Norwegian. Retail wine, a catering program and a members-only wine club with monthly curated selections round out the concept. Regular hours are set for 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, but doublecheck with the store for any last-minute adjustments.
Chord fills a space that sat vacant after Unwined closed at the end of 2024 following a 20-year run at Bradlee.
