Alexandria’s Bastille Celebrates 20 Years — And Says Goodbye To A Beloved Employee

Alexandria VA – September marks a remarkable milestone for Bastille Brasserie and Bar as the restaurant celebrates 20 years since Christophe and Michelle Poteaux first opened its doors. Over two decades, the restaurant has become part of Alexandria’s dining landscape, welcoming generations of guests for dinners, celebrations, wine and special occasions. Along the way, Bastille has moved to a new location in Old Town, evolved its menus, and watched longtime customers become friends while employees became part of the restaurant family.

Twenty years in the restaurant business is an achievement worth celebrating, and Bastille’s anniversary is as much about the people and memories as it is about the food. From first dates and birthday dinners to familiar faces returning again and again, the restaurant has built a history around its guests and its team. This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as Bastille honors that history while also saying farewell to Noemi Zelaya, its longest-serving employee, whose two decades of dedication have been woven into the restaurant’s story. For the owners, celebrating two decades of Bastille while saying goodbye to their longest-serving employee makes this anniversary especially bittersweet.

For two decades, Noemi Zelaya has been a familiar and valued presence at Bastille, becoming part of the fabric of the Alexandria restaurant and its extended family of employees and guests. Now, after years of dedication, loyalty and caring for countless diners, Zelaya is preparing to retire. September 18 will be her final service at Bastille, making the occasion a particularly meaningful one for the restaurant’s owners.

Bastille’s owners say it is difficult to picture the restaurant without Zelaya, who has been with the business for so many years. Her commitment has extended far beyond simply showing up for work. Over the years, she has become part of the restaurant’s identity and has built relationships with both the Bastille team and its guests. The owners describe her loyalty, dedication and care for the restaurant, its employees and its customers as something that is difficult to fully put into words.

Despite the bittersweet farewell, Bastille’s owners aren’t letting the anniversary pass quietly. They want their guests to join them in celebrating 20 years of dinners, wine, celebrations, friendships and memories in Alexandria. All September, ask for a specially selected bottles for $20.06 — because when you opened in 2006, sometimes you have to have a little fun with the number.