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Once Generous George’s, this Alexandria Space Might Become New Sushi Restaurant

Brick building with vertical sign saying Generous George
3000 Duke Street was once a pink pizza palace called Generous George’s but has gone through a massive renovation and been mostly vacant since. (Photo: Google Maps)

ALEXANDRIA, VA—A Special Use Permit (SUP) has been filed at City Hall requesting permits for 3000 Duke Street, the old Generous George’s Positive Pizza & Pasta, and for years the curiosity of thousands of Alexandrians who drive by the renovated but vacant building, to be transformed into Umiya, a full-service sushi restaurant with outdoor dining, alcohol service, valet service, and limited live entertainment.

Umiya is proposing minor interior renovations, including removing the big pizza oven, and modifying lighting. There will be indoor seating on all floors (first and second floors), and an outdoor dining space on the second floor patio. The fare will be Japanese sushi, seafood and grilled cuisine.

Some seating will be switched around, actually reducing the number of seats available.  Currently the restaurant space can accommodate 448 seats, but when the new owners open their doors, they will have 338 seats, with 17 ADA-compliant.

Plans say the restaurant will be open every day at 11 a.m., staying open daily until 11 p.m., except on Sundays when they plan to close at 10.

Concerns about parking were addressed in a previously approved permit for the property which introduced 36 valet spots guaranteed to the restaurant at 3030 Duke Street.

The property has been a hot topic of conversation numerous times over the years.  It’s always been a storied building. It spent 30 years painted bright pink, when it was called Generous George’s.  It closed in 2009.

In 2014 Jeffrey Yates Sr. purchased it with plans to make an upscale pizza palace, with rooftop seating and all the urban bells and whistles.  But Yates passed away from cancer in 2017 before his dream because reality.  Son Jeff Jr., who also owns Table Talk Restaurant at 1623 Duke Street, worked to completely remodel the building, with Scott Long Construction to make it perfect.

But ultimately, it was a father’s dream rather than a son’s and Yates, Jr. has been holding out waiting for just the right business to take it over.  It looks like sushi may win the day.

Mary Wadland

Mary Wadland is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of The Zebra Press, founded by her in 2010. Originally from Delray Beach, Florida, Mary is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hollins College in Roanoke, VA and has lived and worked in the Alexandria publishing community since 1987.

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