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And the Winners Are! Alexandria’s Best in Business for 2026

The Chamber ALX rolled out the red carpet Wednesday night, celebrating Alexandria’s standout businesses, nonprofit organizations, and business leaders.

Jane Petty from Burke & Herbert Bank and others applaud the winners at The Chamber ALX Best in Business Awards. (Photo: Alexandria Chamber of Commerce)
Jane Petty f(left) from Burke & Herbert Bank and others applaud the winners at The Chamber ALX Best in Business Awards. (Photo: Alexandria Chamber of Commerce)

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The envelopes have been opened, the winners have been announced, and Alexandria has eight new reasons to celebrate!

The Chamber ALX held its 2026 Best in Business Awards Wednesday evening, October 28, at the Westin Alexandria Old Town, recognizing the businesses, entrepreneurs, and organizations making their mark on the city.

Think of it as the Oscars for Alexandria businesses. There’s a red carpet, an awards ceremony, and finalists waiting for that all-important announcement. The Chamber ALX itself calls the annual celebration its own version of the Oscars, complete with competitive categories and some well-earned recognition.

The 2026 Winners

  • Business Leader of the Year: Jen Walker
  • Overall Business of the Year: Full Strength Physical Therapy
  • Micro Business of the Year: Hypergoat Coffee Roasters & Café
  • Small Business of the Year: Eliana Curated
  • Medium Business of the Year: Friedman, Grimes, Meinken & Leischner PLLC
  • Large Business of the Year: VEG ER for Pets Alexandria
  • Rising Star Business of the Year: Continues Arcade
  • Nonprofit / Association of the Year: Animal Welfare League of Alexandria

A Big Night for Alexandria

Jen Walker, leader of the Jen Walker Team at TTR Sotheby’s International Realty, received the Business Leader of the Year honor. A longtime Del Ray resident and real estate professional with more than 25 years of experience, Walker has supported numerous local organizations, including the Del Ray Business Association, Alexandria YMCA, Rebuilding Together Alexandria, and the Campagna Center.

Full Strength Physical Therapy took home the evening’s Overall Business of the Year distinction, while the other awards reflected the range of businesses that call Alexandria home, from a neighborhood coffee roaster and a curated retail business to a law firm, an emergency veterinary hospital, and an arcade.

The Animal Welfare League of Alexandria was recognized in the nonprofit category, underscoring the role community organizations play in the city’s business and civic life.

Congratulations to All the Finalists!

The Chamber also recognized an impressive field of finalists representing Alexandria’s restaurants, shops, professional services, schools, nonprofits, and other enterprises.

The other finalists were Alexandria Classical Christian Academy, Alexandria Hyundai, Alexandria Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center, AlexRenew, ALine Architecture LLC, AlphaGraphics of Alexandria, Athena Wellness and Physical Therapy, Buzz Bakeshop, CatRad Creative, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), CMIT Solutions Alexandria, D.C. Divas Football, Dental Inc., Fusion Academy Alexandria, Griswold Home Care, Harte Global Financial, Josephine Old Town, Junior League of Northern Virginia, Little Theatre of Alexandria, Livewell Animal Hospital of Alexandria, Mount Purrnon Cat Cafe and Wine Bar, Move2Learn, Old Town Books, R. C. Fields & Associates, Inc., Revolve Solutions, LLC, Sculp’d, Soma Yoga Healing Center, The Alexandria Brief, and Transurban.

The annual awards were presented by Burke & Herbert Bank, with support from numerous local business sponsors.

And for those who couldn’t make it to the ceremony, The Chamber ALX says photographs from the celebration will be appearing soon on its social media channels.

 

Mary Wadland

Mary Wadland is the Publisher and Editor in Chief of The Zebra Press, the award-winning Alexandria news publication she founded in 2010 with a mission of celebrating community, culture, and all the good news happening across the city. A longtime community advocate and storyteller, Mary was selected for the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce inaugural 40 Under 40 class, served on numerous boards, been awarded the 2024 Business Philanthropist of the Year Award by Volunteer Alexandria, and has served as president of Living Legends of Alexandria Board since the fall of 2021. Known for her deep local roots, sharp editorial instincts, and passion for connecting people through journalism, she has spent decades chronicling the personalities, businesses, events, and civic life that make Alexandria unique. Originally from Delray Beach, Florida, Mary is a Phi Beta Kappa history-major graduate of Hollins College in Roanoke, Virginia, and has been part of Alexandria’s publishing and media community since 1987.

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