A popular Italian restaurant will be opening in Alexandria, on the ground floor of 425 Montgomery, an apartment building under development by Carr Properties, the company has announced.
The restaurant, Grazie Nonna, is a hit red-sauce-inspired Italian American restaurant, channeling the warm nostalgia of family-style pizzerias and old-school Italian joints. The 4,471-square foot eatery will be located on the ground floor of 425 Montgomery, an apartment building under development at 425 Montgomery St., serving up New York-style pies, handmade pastas and classic Italian American comfort dishes.
“We’re excited to bring Graze Nonna to Old Town,” said Casey Patten, founder of Grazie Nonna, Grazie Mille and Graze Grazie. “425 Montgomery is a perfect home for us and we look forward to providing residents and the community a memorable experience for years to come.” The company opened its flagship location in 2022 at Carr’s Midtown Center in the heart of DC.
The 250,000-square foot apartment building is expected to be completed next year.
In addition to an Italian restaurant, the building will also welcome For Five Coffee shop.Founded in Queens, New York, in 2010, For Five Coffee has evolved into a nationally recognized specialty coffee company offering a full-service approach to sourcing, roasting, distributing and serving artisanal coffee.
The brand, started by best friends Stefanos Vouvoudakis and Tom Tsiplakos, has become widely
recognized for its elevated café concept — pairing craft coffee with an artisanal bakery program and a seasonally inspired breakfast and lunch menu. The brand signed a 10-year lease for a 3,443-square-foot café at 425 Montgomery, its fourth Virginia location.
“When we opened our first DMV For Five café in Alexandria with Carr Properties in 2018, we knew we were launching something extraordinary,” says Stefanos Vouvoudakis, CEO and co-founder of For Five Coffee. “Now, with 12 cafés across the DC/Virginia region, we’re thrilled to deepen our roots and continue growing within the Alexandria community.”
Its current shop in Alexandria is located at 1800C Diagonal Road, near King Street Metro.
The retail leases are part of Carr’s broader placemaking strategy—one focused on creating destination-worthy experiences that attract residents, visitors, and serve the broader community, the company said.
“425 Montgomery represents a unique opportunity for Carr to contribute meaningfully to the neighborhood fabric of Old Town,” said Austen Holderness, chief development officer at Carr Properties. “For Five and Grazie Nonna are two beloved concepts that will serve as exceptional amenities for our future residents while creating a new destination for our neighbors seeking a standout dining experience.”
Located on a prime site adjacent to Montgomery Park, 425 Montgomery is an eight-story residential redevelopment of a former office building site into 237 apartment homes. The project will offer a mix of studio to three-bedroom units, with approximately one-third boasting views of the Potomac River. Residents will enjoy best-in-class amenities including an outdoor pool, rooftop terraces, a state-of-the-art fitness center and a resident lounge and amenity suite.
Set within Alexandria’s highly walkable Old Town neighborhood, 425 Montgomery pairs elegant living with direct access to green space, retail and the vibrant local community. Construction is currently underway at 425 Montgomery, with delivery expected in late 2026.
Costa Gogas of Papadopoulos Properties represented For Five Coffee in the transaction. John Asadoorian of Asadoorian Retail Solutions represented the landlord in both transactions and the tenant in the Grazie Nonna lease.
Sep. 03, 2025
5:42 p.m.
Dining and Cooking