<b>Owner: </b>
Madeleine Mitchell
<b>Short bio: </b>
I met my husband Bryant Mitchell at the University of Virginia School of law in Charlottesville and relocated here in 1975. I gave him a Doberman pup for his law school graduation present and showed Shaka at many AKC competitions. I owned a legal secretarial placement firm for 16 years in Washington, D.C. Owned Madeleine's Kids for eight years in Old Town and have restored many historical homes here in Old Town. I have resided in Old Town for 30 years and have one daughter, Phillips, at the Potomac School in McLean.
<b>Description of Services and Products</b>
Madeleine's Dogs Couture and Gourmet Bakery is an
upscale gourmet bakery and boutique. We sell homemade canine treats and hand made dog and equine accessories by local artisans. We have a very large selection of tole home accessories from England and a fabulous collection of original oil paintings of dogs and horses. Many decorators in the area shop here for hard to find items for their clients. Madeleine's Dogs has 52 canine treats that are named after the streets of Old Town Alexandria. We are the only custom couture coat store in town.
<b>Why did you choose this particular business? </b>
I chose this particular type of business because I love dogs. I grew up outside Charlottesville on 40 acres and we always had a wealth of dogs around. I love being on King Street and have been told by many tourists that I should run for Mayor since I know everything about the area. I am also a co-owner of Old Town Pups — a new dog walking and dog sitting company in Old Town (www.oldtownpup.com). I love being self-employed.
<b>What have been the advantages or disadvantages of doing business in Alexandria? </b>
The only disadvantage of owning a business in Alexandria is the high commercial rent and the lack of parking for customers here in Old Town. Being on King Street is crucial for heavy walk-in traffic. I get a lot of customers from the many nearby hotels and they love shopping online for the unique dog accessories that I offer. Madeleine's Dogs Canine Treats are also sold at Whole Foods at 1700 Duke Street in Old Town.
<b>Share an anecdote of a challenging or humorous experience: </b>
The most humorous thing that has happened to me was designing a coat to be auctioned off for the Alexandria Animal Welfare League and I had to call a friend to borrow her dog for the affair. I lost Shaka fifteen years ago. I am 53 years old and still growing.