This sounds great! Looking forward to it.

Please no hardware. That's for Executive Lock & Key. They're a longtime good neighbor and we love them. Please complement them on the gardening and cleaning, which they already carry. If it's something we run to Target, 7-11 or CVS for, please carry it. Welcome to Del Ray.

I didn't realize Del Ray still had so many run down buildings around.. good for the 'hood, I say. Not my thing, but I'm sure the kids will like it. It should carry all those individual candies like the variety store sells in Hollin Hall!

So exciting and much needed. Now I'll never need to leave Del Ray :) And while I live close enough to walk, it's great that they have plenty of parking spaces. I agree on it would be nice for them to take a look at what Executive Lock & Key carries and stay away from those items. Welcome to Del Ray!!!!

Del Ray does lack "day-to-day" type stores. Welcome!

We get calls at A Show of Hands all the time from people looking for art supplies and there's no place to get anything like that without going out Rte 7 or down Rte 1 to Michael's. This sounds like it could be a great resource for the neighborhood!

If they are nicer and more helpful, I welcome them to compete with executive lock and key. The Variety Store on Fort Hunt Road is a model of finding one little thing you need within walking distance and not having to drive to Target. Yes!

Maybe they can offer a decent cup of coffee?
(ducks....)

Hooray for a store that is one everyone will find useful at some time in their busy lives. This is the very type of store any true neighborhood needs. Why does everyone think it will compete with Executive Lock and Key? I am sure that the people opening this store looked carefully at what is already around. To duplicate existing stores/services wouldn't make much business sense. Hooray also for keeping a nice size parking lot available. Del Ray already has too many businesses that were granted SUPs to reduce parking to ridiculously low levels, making residential parking more and more difficult for those of us who live here. Sounds like a win/win happening.

I hope you check out the variety store on Fox Hunt Road. That one always has the little things one needs from sewing things, to glassware, to art supplies, etc.

Have been going to the Ft Hunt. variety store for 53 years and will continue to do so but I still want a variety store in my own neighborhood. However, nothing will replace the Variety Store but that isn't the goal of the new store either.

This is SUCH a fantastic idea, especially for this particular neighborhood!! I can't believe no one had thought of this already!! Art supplies would be HUGE - everyone in del ray is so creative. I know I would buy art supplies there! I love how people are immediately being negative with the whole lock and key thing - RELAX and be glad to have a new fun business in the neighborhood :P McBrinn needs to stop being so miserable, and Scooby's Doo, don't worry! ME Swings will be open soon! :D best coffee in the DC area, hands down - we should be counting our blessings!

I'm excited to hear about a new retail store in the neighborhood. I went to the Variety store in Fort Hunt as a kid and it was such a fun store. I'm looking forward to see what cool things this one has - what a bonus to have another shopping option without the need to leave the neighborhood!

SO when can we expect the 'no parking' restriction on Custis, adjacent to the new store, be lifted? I'd like to speak at the Traffic & Parking Board hearing in favor.

I'm suspending comments on this article. If you have any questions, email me at drewh@patch.com.