Del Ray Hardware Named 2026 Heart of Del Ray — Neighbors Say It’s “So Much More Than a Hardware Store”

ALEXANDRIA, VA — When longtime Del Ray neighbors worried they might lose their beloved hardware store a few years ago, they couldn’t have imagined what would happen next.

On Friday, February 13, the Del Ray Business Association named Del Ray Hardware the 2026 Heart of Del Ray Award winner — an annual honor given to the business or organization that best represents the “heart and soul” of the neighborhood. The winner is determined by a public vote of neighbors and customers.

And this year’s choice was decisive.

“Jay and Edea Portlance took over the hardware store two years ago,” said Del Ray Business Association President Lauren Fisher. “As you know, it’s been a staple in our town and we were very worried about losing it — we could never have imagined that they would come in, take it over, and make it so much better.”

The Portlances purchased the neighborhood institution in 2024 and quickly got to work — not by changing its character, but by leaning into it. Shelves stayed stocked with the practical essentials Del Ray residents rely on, while the couple thoughtfully expanded the store’s offerings and community presence.

The most visible addition? Del Ray Farmhouse & Market, which now sits alongside the hardware store at the bustling intersection of Mount Vernon and Howell Avenue. Together, the two spaces have transformed the block into a true one-stop neighborhood destination — hardware supplies, garden plants, gifts, local produce, home goods, and last-minute dinner ingredients all within walking distance.

For many residents, though, it’s not just what’s on the shelves that matters — it’s who’s behind the counter.

“What Jay has done with this business is remarkable — it is such a resource for us in the neighborhood,” wrote one customer during the voting process. “He and his team put so much thought into carrying exactly what we need — anything they don’t have, they can order. This year has been about shopping as locally as possible for me and Del Ray Hardware makes it not only possible but also feel wonderfully connected while I do it.”

Another neighbor captured what many feel:
“Del Ray Hardware embodies everything that makes this neighborhood special: warmth, reliability, and genuine community care. This isn’t just a hardware store; it’s a neighborhood hub where advice is free, help is personal, and relationships matter.”

That sense of connection is exactly what the Heart of Del Ray Award was created to recognize.

Past winners reflect the neighborhood’s deep bench of independent businesses and civic champions, including A Show of Hands, Jen Walker of McEnearney Associates, Bobi Bomar Homes of Alexandria, The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray, Greener Cleaner of Del Ray, Del Ray Pizzeria, Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga, Caboose Café, Del Ray Café, HomeGrown Restaurant Group, Taqueria Poblano, Ms. Preeti’s 7-11, Dolce & Bean, Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap, the Del Ray Farmers’ Market, The Friends of Duncan Library, The Dog Store/Your Dog’s Best Friends, and Gustave Boulangerie.

The Del Ray Business Association represents the independently owned restaurants, retailers, and small businesses that define the Del Ray neighborhood. For more information, visit visitdelray.com.

But for neighbors who cast their ballots this year, the message was simple: in a time when locally owned institutions can easily disappear, Del Ray Hardware didn’t just survive — it flourished.

And that, voters say, is the true heart of Del Ray.