Hollin Hall Is Having a Moment
For decades, Hollin Hall has been one of those Alexandria neighborhoods where people know their neighbors, recognize the faces behind the counter and have a favorite spot for just about everything.
Lately, there is a little more to discover. Over the past year, several new businesses have opened or announced plans to open in the Hollin Hall Shopping Center, bringing everything from children's art classes and a neighborhood butcher shop to a new ice cream concept and one of Alexandria's most beloved galleries. And while the shopping center is welcoming some fresh faces, its longtime businesses are still very much at the heart of the community. The result is a mix of old and new that feels distinctly Hollin Hall.
A New Home for Nepenthe Gallery
One of the biggest changes came this summer when Nepenthe Gallery moved into the former Wells Fargo space at 7928 Fort Hunt Road.
Founded by Carrie and Jim Garland in 2022, Nepenthe originally opened just a few doors away. The new location gives the gallery more space, more natural light and plenty of room for larger exhibitions and sculptures.
The most eye-catching addition? JAI, a life-size elephant sculpture currently standing in the front window.
JAI is one of 100 elephants created by Indigenous artisans in southern India as part of The Great Elephant Migration, a global art and conservation project. Woven entirely from the invasive Lantana camara plant, the sculpture is hard to miss and has quickly become one of the shopping center's most recognizable landmarks.
The new space also gives Nepenthe more room to host the exhibitions, events and community gatherings that have become part of the gallery's identity.
A Scoop Shop Is Coming
If you have a sweet tooth, there is another opening to look forward to.
Fabled Ice Cream, founded by Old Town Books owner and Fort Hunt native Ally Kirkpatrick, is planning a permanent scoop shop at 7940 Fort Hunt Road in 2027.
The concept is exactly what it sounds like: ice cream inspired by books and stories. Flavors include Jane Eyre Grey, made with Earl Grey tea, lavender and lemon, and Cliffhanger, a salty-sweet peanut butter ice cream with dark chocolate-covered pretzels. Until the storefront opens, you may spot Fabled's pedal-powered trike around the neighborhood, serving scoops at local events and markets. For Kirkpatrick, opening in Hollin Hall is a full-circle moment. She grew up in Fort Hunt, still lives nearby and has spent the past year building Fabled into a local favorite.
More Reasons to Stop by
The newest additions aren't limited to ice cream and art. Hooray Art opened at 7908 Fort Hunt Road in early 2025, bringing children's art classes and creative programming to the center. The Cut Butchery also opened in 2025 at 7968 Fort Hunt Road, giving locals another option for quality meats and specialty cuts.
And Athena Wellness and Physical Therapy is expected to open a permanent Hollin Hall location this fall. The practice, founded by Dr. Sara Acheson, will offer physical therapy alongside small-group wellness and exercise classes.
The goal is to create a space where women can connect while navigating everything from pregnancy and postpartum recovery to menopause and oncology treatment.
The Businesses That Have Been Here All Along
Of course, Hollin Hall wouldn't be Hollin Hall without the businesses that have been part of the neighborhood for decades. Village Hardware has been serving the community since 1979. Hollin Hall Variety Store dates back even further, opening in 1958 before moving to its current location in 1964. Via Veneto has been a neighborhood staple since 1984, serving Northern Italian cuisine from its Shenandoah Road location. And Hollin Hall Pastry Shop has been a go-to for local families for more than two decades.
That combination is what makes the shopping center so interesting right now. You can stop in for a pastry, pick up something for dinner, browse a gallery, take your kids to an art class and, soon, finish it all with an ice cream cone without ever leaving the neighborhood.
A Neighborhood Worth Watching
Hollin Hall has never been the kind of place that needs a lot of hype. Its appeal has always been its sense of community and the businesses that have become part of everyday life for the people who live nearby.
But there is something fun happening here right now.
New businesses are moving in, longtime favorites are continuing to evolve and the shopping center is becoming an even bigger gathering place for the surrounding Fort Hunt community.
So the next time you're driving down Fort Hunt Road, slow down and take a look around. There might be a few more reasons to stop than there were a year ago.
