Last weekend, I shopped for food in western Alexandria, near where I used to live. Where Duke street becomes Little River Turnpike, there's this run-down shopping center near highrise apt. buildings, and it's brimming with stores of various nationalities: Korean supermarket, Afghan kabob restaurant, Peruvian chicken restaurant, Latino / Mexican bakery, and Korean restaurant.
I was drawn to the bakery and walked in. There was a self-serve section of baskets and covered bins of various pastries (some familiar and some not). I was reminded of a bakery or two I'd explored one night in Mexico City.
Adjoining it was the Korean supermarket, a slightly shabby and crowded place full of people, many not Korean. Years ago, the space was a Shoppers Food Warehouse, but they had moved into a larger space in the mall across the street. Even back then, the clientele was quite international: Afghani, Central American, Asian, and sometimes European (I once heard some Caucasian shoppers speaking French).
I'm glad I left, 'cause the traffic has gotten worse. In fact, the adjacent highway 395, looked all cracked and abraded, as I drove toward DC.
Posted by raacluse at November 24, 2004 12:14 AM