CVS Is Moving to Larger Space on Old Town Alexandria's King Street

CVS got unanimous approval from Alexandria's City Council on Saturday to move up King Street to a larger space, and it successfully won its request not to operate a round-the-clock pharmacy.

The new CVS will move into a 11,036-square-foot facility at 503 King Street formerly occupied by Books-A-Million and a travel agency.

The company will shutter its smaller, 5,400-square-foot store at 326 King.

CVS lawyer Mary Kathy Gibbs asked City Council at the meeting to remove language from the agreement requiring the 24-hour store to operate its pharmacy 24 hours. The request was granted. Mayor Bill Euille said it would be too restrictive to govern which parts of a store may stay open and which hours.

The city's Planning and Zoning Department in reviewing the application from CVS showed concern that the chain store was not showing enough concern of the appearance of its storefront, such as limited signage and non-tinted windows.

The King Street Retail Strategy recommends that new storefronts have a minimum of 75% glass "to provide transparency into the business and help create an active, enjoyable and varied visual experience while moving along the street," according to Planning and Zoning documents.

That theme resonated with City Councilman Paul Smedberg, who repeatedly asked during the Saturday meeting that CVS carefully consider this prominent location right next to City Hall in the heart of Old Town.

"Where are you in terms of a comfort level in carrying through on architectural and design elements?," he asked CVS representatives. "It's a very visual and visible corner. It’s key to how that street looks and feels."

The lawyer assured Smedberg that CVS wants to blend in with the neighborhood.

The store will sell alcohol including beer and wine, but "fortified wine," which has an alcohol content of more than 14 percent of more by volume, may not be sold, per the request of the Alexandria Police Department.

The new CVS will be the largest first-floor retail establishment on King Street.