801 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, USA

Primary guess

Confidence

• Level: High
• Why:
- The signage for "YA-YA A CREOLE CAFÉ" matches a historically documented restaurant that operated at 801 King St in Alexandria, VA during the 1990s.
- The signage for "MUMFORD MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS" corresponds to a business (Mumford & Company) documented at the same address (801 King St, Suite 201).
- The subjects are members of the indie rock band Helium (Mary Timony, Ash Bowie, and Shawn Devlin), who were active in the DC area (Mary Timony's hometown) during the mid-1990s.
- The architecture (red brick, white picket fence, Old Town style) perfectly matches the streetscape of Old Town Alexandria.
- Public records and archival reviews confirm both "Ya-Ya" and "Mumford" were tenants of this specific building at the time.

Visual evidence

• **Signage 1:** "YA-YA A CREOLE CAFÉ" with a crawfish/lobster logo. This was a specific restaurant located at 801 King St in Alexandria.
• **Signage 2:** "MUMFORD MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS" with a stylized "M" logo. Mumford & Company (a hotel brokerage and marketing firm) is a long-term tenant of the second floor of 801 King St.
• **Architecture:** The building is constructed of light-red brick with traditional lintels and a white picket fence in a small garden area, characteristic of the S. Columbus St side of the 801 King St building.
• **People:** The individuals are Mary Timony (left), Ash Bowie (right), and Shawn Devlin (center) of the band Helium, confirming the 1990s era and regional context (Alexandria/DC/NC).
• **Vehicles:** A mid-90s sedan is visible in the background, consistent with the timeline of the band's activity.

Reasoning

The location was identified by cross-referencing the two prominent signs. "Ya-Ya A Creole Cafe" was a well-known establishment in Old Town Alexandria in the early-to-mid 1990s. Records and restaurant reviews (such as from *The Washington Post* in 1993) place it exactly at 801 King Street. The office sign for "Mumford" confirms the address, as Mumford & Company has occupied Suite 201 at that same address for decades.
The photo was taken on the **South Columbus Street** side of the 801 King Street building. The band is walking north toward King Street. The white picket fence seen in the photo enclosed a small landscaped area on the side of the building, which has since been updated with a different style of fencing or modified due to the building's current tenant (Walgreens). The brickwork and window placement on the side of 801 King St (now a Walgreens) still match the background of the photo.

Verification

• **Restaurant History:** "Ya-Ya A Creole Cafe" at 801 King St, Alexandria, VA is mentioned in regional dining guides from the early 90s. Washington Post Archive (Example of era-specific context).
• **Business Directory:** Mumford & Company is listed at 801 King Street, Suite 201, Alexandria, VA.
• **Band Context:** Helium was a Matador Records band; Mary Timony is from the DC/Alexandria area, making this a local photoshoot.

Links

• Google Maps - 801 King St
• Wikipedia - Helium (band))

Coordinates

38.80482, -77.04705 (Approximately the sidewalk on S. Columbus St next to 801 King St)