Rite Aid, Walgreens Raising Age to Buy Tobacco — “Beginning Sept. 1, Walgreens will stop selling tobacco products to people who aren’t legally allowed to drink alcohol. Rite Aid will do the same, and plans to implement the policy at all stores by July 22.” Rite Aid has two locations in McLean. [McLean Patch]
WWII Vet Lauded at Earl’s — “A World War II veteran born in 1919 is spending his centennial birthday year on the road traveling to all 50 states and the nation’s capital on a journey he calls the ‘No Regrets Tour’ … While at dinner Friday night [April 19], [the reporter] witnessed all the patrons and staff at Earl’s Kitchen and Bar in Tysons Corner give him a standing ovation when his son and daughter brought him to the restaurant.” [ABC7]
Absentee Voting Began Friday — Absentee voting started on Friday (April 26) for the June 11 primary elections statewide. People can vote absentee in-person at their local voter registration office or by mail. [Virginia Department of Elections]
Vienna Students Honor Fallen Warriors — Madison High students and staff members “cut yellow ribbons and attached the name tag of a fallen warrior: one for each service member killed in-theater since September 11, 2001… The ribbons and their attached tags will be suspended from the rafters at the Women in Military Service for America Memorial at the gates of Arlington National Cemetery.” [Fairfax County Public Schools]
Three Arrested at Tysons Corner Center — “On Thursday, Fairfax County police said they arrested 22-year-old Molly Helmer, of Annandale, and accused her of shoplifting from a Spencer’s store… As Helmer left the store with friends, 19-year-old Lia Chen, of Annandale, was accused of throwing her water bottle down and spilling her drink all over the store’s floor, police said… During the incident a third person was arrested, 27-year-old Steven Bun, of Fairfax. Police said Bun ‘aggressively approached officers, cursing at them and attempting to interfere with their investigation.’ Bun was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct.” [WUSA9]
Veronica Youngblood Not Appearing in Court — “Fairfax County prosecutors were frustrated that the Tysons mom, 33-year-old Veronica Youngblood was absent again for court. The judge appeared to be, as well, telling the courtroom, ‘This case has got to move on.’ Youngblood is accused of shooting and killing her two daughters inside their Fairfax County apartment in August 2018.” [ABC7]
Development Hits Height Issues — “It may not be the largest senior living facility unit-wise, but The Mather will almost certainly be the region’s tallest. And that is a problem for Fairfax County planners, who have recommended denial of the application citing three reasons: its height — the building will rise to a maximum 285 feet — design and open space plan.” [Washington Business Journal]
There was little major criminal activity of note in Vienna this week, but there was a hat.
Last Friday, according to the Vienna Police Department’s latest crime report, police found a hat in the 100 block of Moore Avenue, SE. Separately, an athletic bag was found at Cottage Street and Moore Avenue, SW.
Other entries in the crime report — which chronicles every police incident of note in the Town of Vienna, from the serious to the most mundane — include animal incidents and lost items.
Police say a cat bit an employee of an animal hospital during a medical procedure last week, noting “the cat resides in Town and was placed on a 10-day quarantine.”
If you or someone you know lost a cell phone and purse last week, check the Vienna police station. Last Thursday (April 18), an Uber driver turned in those items left by customers in his vehicle, the report says.
Photo via Facebook
Growing makeup brand Morphe Cosmetics opened its new Tysons Corner Center store about an hour ago today (Friday).
Based in California, Morphe is known for its eye make-up and brushes.
The newly opened store is on the second level next to Lush — another cosmetics store — and sells mostly Morphe products, along with brands like Eye Kandy, Iconic London and Jeffree Star.
Some items this reporter spotted included $15 Morphe eye shadow palettes, $8 Morphe lip glosses and $7.50 Eye Kandy glitter.
Morphe’s opening at the mall adds to its half of a dozen stores in the D.C.-area and is part of the brand’s large-scale expansion.
The Town of Vienna will roll out new fitness classes to help people with arthritis and other chronic conditions in June.
Vienna’s Parks and Recreation Department is one of the 40 park and recreation agencies in the U.S. that received a grant from the National Recreation and Park Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, according to a press release.
The grant pays for instructor training for the Walk With Ease program — a fitness initiative the Arthritis Foundation developed to help reduce pain and stiffness linked to arthritis and other chronic conditions, the press release says.
“Sixty percent of adults in the United State, including people who live right here in Vienna, suffer from one or more chronic conditions,” Recreation Coordinator Kathy Blevins said in the press release. “This grant allows us to help older adults in our community and provides a new way for Vienna residents to achieve a healthy lifestyle.
Certified and trained instructors will teach the low-impact exercise program through the town’s Parks and Recreation Department starting June 3.
Vera Bradley will soon pack its quilted bags and say goodbye to Tysons Corner Center.
A sign by the entrance says that the handbag and luggage store will close on Friday (April 26) and encourages shoppers to visit its other locations at the Fair Oaks and Westfield Montgomery malls.
The imminent closure is the latest of a few ones this spring at the mall.
After filing for bankruptcy in February, women’s clothing chain Charlotte Russe had steep sales throughout March before closing up shop. Currently, the sizeable space on the second level by Barnes and Noble is vacant.
Gymboree shuttered more than 800 stores, including its location on the first floor of Tysons Corner Center, after filing for bankruptcy in January. The children’s clothing retailer, which was in business for 43 years, plans to sell its Janie and Jack brand, according to news reports. (The Janie and Jack store is still open on the second level.)
Gymboree’s last day of business was last Saturday, April 20, according to its Facebook page for the Tysons Corner Center location.
Home goods and decor store Dietch’ left its spot on March 31 after opening in the mall in August.
“We couldn’t afford the rent anymore and the business wasn’t as good as expected,” an employee at Dietch’ wrote in response to Tysons Reporter’s inquiries on the closure.
The former linens-focused store has barely visible writing on the glass saying “unique home furnishings and accessories.”
While the mall hasn’t announced new tenants for the vacancies yet, several newcomers are slated to arrive soon elsewhere in the mall, including 7-Eleven, an Italian legwear store, Morphe Cosmetics and a bubble tea shop. Recently, All Star Sports, shorts chain Chubbies and Bubbles opened.
More concerns about the proposed Sunrise Senior Living Facility cropped up at the Town of Vienna’s Planning Commission meeting last night (April 24).
The Sunrise development and Vienna Town Council are already at odds over the project exceeding the town’s height requirements — a topic that also resurfaced during the public comment period last night.
“My real concern this is essentially a five-story building that is being sold as a four-story building,” Vienna resident Chuck Anderson said during public comment. “MAC was sold as a four-story and now we’re allowing five stories. I think there are a lot of people who are upset about this.”
While the public hearing focused on the development’s proposed reduction for its loading space width, fewer bike spaces, new fencing, extended awnings and desire to move the bus stop, concerns about parking and retail space dominated the discussion.
Planning Commissioner Sarah Couchman stressed an emphasis on maximizing opportunities for the assisted living facility’s ground floor retail space. Jerry Liang, senior vice president of development for Sunrise, said the current plans could support one larger tenant or two smaller ones.
“I think it would be great for Vienna to have another retail bay in that area,” Couchman said, questioning whether the lobby with the grand staircase could get reconfigured to add more retail space. “I don’t really see many people using the stairs given your population.”
Questions around parking erupted after Liang told the Planning Commission that the 83-unit facility proposed might have up to 35 employees during peak times on weekdays and would also want to offer valet parking on site for holidays and weekend events.
Some of the planning commissioners expressed skepticism that 60 parking spaces could fit the residents, visitors, retail customers and employees. Liang responded by saying that some of the employees will probably use public transit and carpools and that residents are expected to use about 33 spaces, with the retailers having 29 spots.
Planning Commissioner Mary McCullough said she is concerned about how the parking will affect the already-congested Church and Center streets.
“It’s a problem right now without your facility,” she said, questioning how the senior living facility could also valet park with only 60 parking spaces.
Chair Michael Gelb said he also shares McCullough’s concerns about the parking. “It’s a little bit of a hope and a prayer that this will work out,” he said.
The Planning Commission voted to keep the public hearing on the Sunrise proposal open and will return to the development on May 8.
Image via Town of Vienna
Breakaway Fitness will celebrate its re-opening in Tysons this weekend after a major expansion.
Focused on strength and conditioning, the gym offers personal training, nutritional coaching programs, testing, group exercise and massages.
“We have been in business for 17 years and now have doubled our size,” a flier for the event says.
The gym consolidated its operations at two locations into the one at Tysons by expanding onto a second floor and adding locker rooms. Upstairs, people can run or lift weights in the open turf area. The downstairs is mostly used for classical powerlifting.
Another change recently has the gym selling memberships for the first time.
The grand re-opening is set to take place Saturday (April 27) at 1524 Spring Hill Road, Unit GG.
The “kid and dog friendly” event will feature a bounce house, snow cones and snacks and one hour free at Dogtopia, a dog daycare and spa next door — owners would need to bring in the paperwork for their dogs’ shots.
First photo courtesy of Breakaway Fitness, other photos via Facebook
Popeyes is opening a new location in a strip mall up the road from the Mosaic District.
The fried chicken chain will occupy the former spot of Metro PCS (2835 Gallows Road) in the Merrifield Plaza Shopping Center.
A building permit indicates that work has started for the Popeyes, which a leasing brochure for the shopping center says is “coming soon.”
Currently, Popeyes has nearby locations in Fairfax (9661 Fairfax Blvd) and Vienna (325 Maple Avenue E.).
Image via Google Maps
This Saturday, the 8th annual Taste of Vienna will offer bites of food from various local restaurants and chains.
More than a dozen restaurants are signed up for the event, including:
- Taco Bamba
- Kay’s Smoothies
- Viet Aroma
- Pure Pasty
- Ledo’s Pizza
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
Food trucks will also serve up food and drink, from desserts by Captain Cookie and The Milkman to Thai food by Tuk Tuk.
Admission to the festival is free, and guests can purchase food and drink there or via a variety of ticket packages that include tokens for drinks and a commemorative pint glass. Discount drink and food packages will be on sale until midnight tomorrow (April 25).
The event helps raise money for the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department (VVFD), which hosts the event.
Rain or shine, Taste of Vienna will take place from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at the VVFD parking lot at 400 Center Street S.
Photo via Facebook
City Works Eatery and Pour House set an opening date that is right around the corner for its upcoming Tysons location at the Capital One Headquarters.
The restaurant announced today (April 24) that it plans to open at 1640 Capital One Drive North on Tuesday, May 28.
Focused on classic American cuisine, the menu will have gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options, along with more than 90 draft beers and eight wines, according to the press release.
Here’s a sampling of items on the menu:
- Kung Pao cauliflower
- smoked chicken wings
- duck nachos
- an assortment of tacos
- filet mignon sliders with caramelized onion and horseradish cream on a pretzel roll
- fried chicken sandwich with spicy bread, butter pickles and Carolina mustard barbecue sauce
- “City Works Burger” made with a short rib and brisket blend, topped with aged white cheddar, shredded iceberg lettuce, tomato, red onion and a dill pickle on a toasted brioche bun
Roughly 30 percent of the draft selection is sourced from breweries around the Virginia area, including Parkway Brewing Co., Devil’s Backbone Brewing Co., Midnight Brewery and Union Craft Brewing, the press release says.
The restaurant will seat up to about 175 people on the first floor, which will have 12 high-definition televisions. The patio will have about 50 seats and feature an outdoor container bar, three televisions and a canopy, the press release says. Additionally, the restaurants will have two private event dining rooms — also with televisions.
The Tysons location will be the first one for City Works in Virginia.
The restaurant is currently hiring servers, bartenders, hosts, line cooks, prep cooks, brushers, runners and dishwashers.
Photo via Facebook
