Before the Board: “Broadcast News” 219 Restaurant Asks for Rooftop Deck Approval

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Alexandria’s 219 Restaurant at 219 King Street, is on the docket of the Alexandria Board of Architectural Review on February 6th hoping the usually strict board will loosen their grip on some of their bricks and allow them to expand upward.

219 has looked the same as it did in 1987 when location scouts thought it would be perfect for the scene when Aaron (Albert Brooks) tells Jane (Holly Hunter) that Tom (William Hurt) cheated during his interview, but because of changing times and the spotlight on Alexandria’s “foodie” scene, the competition for better and brighter and newer and hipper spots keeps expanding.

Adding a rooftop deck bar to lower King Street would be a game changer for the restaurant, and they are hoping not to stumble into any roadblocks with the review board despite having their December 5 review hearing postponed.

The plans also include enlarging the lower level’s Bayou Room, a popular late-night retreat since the 80’s, where heading down the few stairs located just off the King Street brick sidewalk, leads to a dark old-fashioned small pub setting with no glitz or glitter–just solid standards behind the bar and a place to hide while also being “in the know.”