The Hardware Store That Almost Disappeared – and the Couple Who Made Sure It Didn't
Every neighborhood has a handful of businesses that hold the place together. Del Ray Hardware is one of them. When the longtime owner was ready to retire in late 2023, the store’s future was uncertain. Prime real estate on Mount Vernon Avenue could easily have become something else. Instead, Jay and Edea Portlance stepped in.
Jay saw what the neighborhood was about to lose and moved quickly. He and Edea purchased Del Ray Hardware just before Christmas 2023 and opened the doors under new ownership on New Year’s Day 2024. This past February, the Del Ray Business Association named them the 2026 Heart of Del Ray Award winners, determined by a public vote of neighbors and customers. They had been open for two years.
What is Del Ray Hardware in Alexandria, VA?
Del Ray Hardware is an independently owned hardware store at 2003B Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia. It has operated at this location since the mid-1990s, originally as Executive Lock & Key Service under owner Chris Harvey for nearly 30 years. When Harvey retired in late 2023, Jay and Edea Portlance purchased the business and reopened it as Del Ray Hardware on January 1, 2024. Since then they have renovated the space, expanded the product selection, and added Del Ray Farmhouse & Market to the same block.
Why did Del Ray almost lose its hardware store?
Del Ray nearly lost its hardware store when longtime owner Chris Harvey chose to retire after nearly 30 years. He listed the business for sale with no guarantee it would stay a hardware store. Jay Portlance has been open about the decision he faced: the location could easily have been converted to a restaurant or boutique. He was firm that Del Ray needed its hardware store. His wife Edea suggested they buy it. They did, for $150,000, and opened on New Year’s Day.
That kind of decision, made quickly and with a neighborhood in mind, is exactly what the Heart of Del Ray Award was designed to recognize.
What makes Del Ray Hardware worth visiting?
Del Ray Hardware is worth visiting because it operates the way a neighborhood hardware store is supposed to. Staff knows the products, advice is free, and the help is personal. That is how neighbors described it when they voted in the 2026 Heart of Del Ray. Not a convenience stop for supplies but a community hub. The store is also dog-friendly, and sits alongside Del Ray Farmhouse & Market at the intersection of Mount Vernon and Howell Avenue, making the block a destination in its own right.
What is the Heart of Del Ray Award?
The Heart of Del Ray Award is presented annually by the Del Ray Business Association to the business or organization that best represents the heart and soul of Del Ray, determined by a public vote of neighbors and customers. Del Ray Hardware won the 2026 award after just two years under new ownership. Past winners include The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray, Del Ray Pizzeria, and Caboose Cafe.
Where is Del Ray Hardware located in Alexandria, VA?
Del Ray Hardware is at 2003B Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22301, at the corner of Mount Vernon and Howell Avenue. Del Ray is accessible via the Potomac Yard Metro station on the Blue and Yellow Lines and sits about a mile from historic Old Town Alexandria.
Why does The Slavis Group spotlight businesses like Del Ray Hardware?
Because a real estate team that actually serves a community pays attention to more than the listings. Del Ray is the kind of neighborhood where people move and stay. The kind of place where a hardware store closing feels like a real loss and a hardware store saved feels like a real win. Jay and Edea Portlance understood that. They bet on their neighborhood and the neighborhood voted to say thank you.
The Slavis Group works across Northern Virginia, DC, and Maryland. Part of what that means is knowing which neighborhoods have this kind of character. Del Ray is one of them.
If you want to know what life in Alexandria actually looks like, we are happy to talk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Del Ray Hardware?
Del Ray Hardware is an independently owned hardware store at 2003B Mount Vernon Avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia. It has been a neighborhood staple since the mid-1990s and reopened under new ownership, Jay and Edea Portlance, on January 1, 2024.
Where is Del Ray Hardware located?
Del Ray Hardware is at 2003B Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22301, at the intersection of Mount Vernon and Howell Avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood.
Who owns Del Ray Hardware?
Del Ray Hardware is owned by Jay and Edea Portlance, who purchased the business in December 2023 from longtime owner Chris Harvey.
Did Del Ray Hardware win an award?
Yes. Del Ray Hardware won the 2026 Heart of Del Ray Award, presented by the Del Ray Business Association on Valentine’s Day weekend. The award is given annually to the business that best represents the heart and soul of Del Ray, as determined by a public vote of neighbors and customers.
Is Del Ray Hardware dog-friendly?
Yes. Del Ray Hardware is dog-friendly.
What else does Del Ray Hardware’s owner operate?
Jay Portlance also owns Del Ray Farmhouse & Market at 1913 Mount Vernon Avenue, located across the street from the hardware store.
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