When the COVID-19 pandemic prompted restaurants to shift how they offer service, Live Oak Restaurant owners Chef Justus Frank and Jeremy Barber decided to adapt with a new pop-up concept. Now the concept will stick around permanently to replace Live Oak at 1603 Commonwealth Avenue in Alexandria's Del Ray neighborhood.

After Live Oak was temporarily closed in March 2020 due to the pandemic, Elo's Italian was introduced as a pop-up in spring 2021. Frank told Patch the shift from Live Oak's Southern-style food to Italian responded to a need for more carryout and family-style meals during the pandemic