Hei Hei Tiger is now serving up Cantonese cuisine in Tysons Galleria’s Urbanspace.
The new eatery is from the team behind Tiger Fork in D.C. and opened yesterday (Tuesday) in the mall, according to a press release.
“Hei Hei Tiger (pronounced ‘hey hey tiger’) means ‘Happy Happy Tiger’ in Chinese,” according to the press release. “The double happiness characters are significant in Chinese culture, symbolizing a union and joy.”
The restaurant is serving up Chinese barbecue, Hong Kong-style noodle bowls, soft serve and will soon offer boba milk tea, the press release said. The octagon-shaped bar offers “Traditional Chinese Medicine” cocktails, teas, tonics, sake, beer, wine and more.
More from the press release:
The culinary program is led by co-owner Will Fung, who has been part of Tiger Fork’s operating team since day one, in collaboration with the group’s corporate chef/co-owner Nathan Beauchamp and co-owner Greg Algie.
A Hong Kong native, Fung has more than 20 years of industry experience, both back-of-house as a former sushi chef at Sushiko and founder of the Dirty South Deli food truck, and front-of-house as former general manager at Ted’s Bulletin and Matchbox. Most recently, Fung spent his entire 2018 in Kyoto, cooking and training in 3-Michelin star Kaiseki restaurants Kikunoi and Takesh igero under the guidance of chef Yoshihiro Murata.
Inspired by the styles of Hong Kong dining, Fung draws on his childhood and familial cooking heritage, plus the techniques learned from his Japanese training, such as the fine art of dashi and intricate broths and sauces, and modernizing the recipes for today at Hei Hei Tiger…
A private dining room will follow, eventually serving dim sum brunches and hosting private events.
“Before we opened Tiger Fork, we always had this idea to open a hybrid service, casual-style concept offering Chinese BBQ and Hong Kong noodle soups,” Algie said in the press release. “After seeing the success and positive response to Tiger Fork, and with Will at the helm, we’re excited to make our first expansion outside of D.C.”
The restaurant is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-6 p.m. on Sundays.
The Athleta store in Tysons Corner Center plans to offer a monthly fitness bootcamp starting this weekend.
The free bootcamps are set to take place at the Fashion Court on the second level across from Nordstrom. Attendees can expect themed workouts, giveaways and snacks, according to the event page.
Tysons Corner Center recruited Athleta to create the monthly series, which will vary depending on the month and time of year, Todd Putt, the mall’s senior marketing manager, said.
Todd said that the bootcamps are a new take on the former Tysons FitClub.
“Bootcamps used to happen weekly when it was Tysons FitClub,” Todd said. “Attendance varies, but the goal is to have around 50 people attend this series, monthly with the joint collaboration with Athleta.”
The first one will be held on Sunday, March 1, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Attendees can expect a yoga instructor, Todd said, adding that the format and class offerings will change from month to month.
The Market at Tysons Corner has closed its doors at Tysons Corner Center.
In the summer, the market relocated into a smaller space on the second level near Nordstrom.
“Tysons Market was struggling with sales and never really got the attention in their new location,” a spokesperson for the mall told Tysons Reporter, adding that the store also struggled “with some financial difficulties.”
The market sold a variety of goods to customers, including soft drinks, snacks, toiletries and other items someone would expect to find in a convenience store, along with beer and bottles of wine.
The mall still has convenience store options for shoppers, including a 7-Eleven is on the first level near BrandBox.
Fairfax County is seeking proposals that would revamp the former home of the Container Store into a pop-up space.
The site sits across from Embassy Suites by Hilton by the Spring Hill Metro station. After the Container Store relocated from 8508 Leesburg Pike to 8459 Leesburg Pike in 2018, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors bought the site.
The county announced yesterday (Monday) that the new Department of Economic Initiatives has an inaugural pilot aiming to “transform vacant commercial spaces into economic development destinations,” and its first commercial space will be the Leesburg Pike spot, according to the press release.
Rebecca Moudry, the new department’s director, told Tysons Reporter that the “Activate Fairfax: 8508 Uncontained” project is a “bold initiative” focused on supporting small businesses, encouraging creative placemaking and supporting the Made in Fairfax Network, which helps local producers.
Moudry, who started as the director in October, said that the “pretty small” department is staffed by 11 people and is embedded within a larger county structure that works with partners like the planning, transportation and economic development departments.
The department chose “Activate Fairfax: 8508 Uncontained” as its first project to fit into the bigger picture of people moving away from suburban and office environments to urban, multi-modal options, she said.
“It’s actually what we’re trying to do,” she said about the project’s name. “We literally want to activate this particular space.”
Currently, the county plans to add a new street that would connect Leesburg Pike and Greensboro Drive, the Washington Business Journal reported last year.
Moudry said that it could take three to five years before the county kicks off the road work. Until then, the initiative looks to turn the vacant 19,000-square-foot storefront into a useful space.
While Moudry said that other programs in the region and around the country have focused on pop-ups and activities, Moudry said that “Activate Fairfax: 8508 Uncontained” is looking for pop-ups that will last longer than usual.
“We’re not talking a weekend or a couple of months,” she added.
The county is accepting applications that intend “to develop, implement, manage and market an activation program” until April 20, the press release said.
“Dynamic pop-up, cultural, artistic or community-oriented programming aligned with these goals will be encouraged to ensure that the space functions as a vibrant asset and experience for residents and visitors,” the press release said.
Moudry said she hopes the applicants generate new ideas and innovate concepts. “We have a set of goals and parameters for what we’re looking for within the space,” she said.
Two tours of the space for applicants and their potential contractors will be held at 1 p.m. on March 9 and March 23, Moudry said.
Once the application window closes, Moudry said the staff will take a few weeks to review the proposals and talk with potential operators about lease agreements. The goal is to launch the chosen proposal this year — potentially in the fall.
People interested in learning more can visit the Fairfax County website’s Activate Fairfax page.
Image via Google Maps
The Langley School, a private school in McLean, wants a multi-million-dollar makeover.
Today (Tuesday), the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved issuing $21 million in revenue bonds by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority to the school for a renovation.
“The bonds will be entirely supported by the revenues of The Langley School,” according to county documents.
County documents said that the funding will help cover the costs of renovating, equipping and acquiring a three-story academic building that would serve as the school’s “hub,” along with:
- flexible learning spaces
- primary school facilities
- fifth-grade space
- library
- music facilities
- renovating existing campus primary school facilities
“In addition, the applicant requested the ability to pursue refinancing or refunding certain prior debt, funding reserves, capitalized interest and/or swap breakage costs related to the proposed bonds or the prior bonds and funding certain costs of the issuance of the proposed bonds,” the documents said.
The school (1411 Balls Hill Road) teaches kids from preschool to eighth grade.
Image via Google Maps
A Mexican restaurant plans to debut in the Vienna area this week.
El Sol plans to open at 262 Cedar Lane SE, Suite C in the Cedar Park Shopping Center on Thursday (Feb. 27), according to a press release.
Restauranteurs Alfredo and Jessica Solis, brother and sister, are behind El Sol, which currently has a D.C. spot, along with Mezcalero and Anafre, which are also in D.C.
Jessica will lead the kitchen, while Alfredo will manage Mezcalero and Anafre, according to the press release.
“We just set out to cook the food we grew up eating and now we have four restaurants. It’s incredible,” Jessica said in the press release.
Diners can expect traditional Mexican foods like street tacos, carne asada, gorditas and other items.
The menu includes a dish where a mixture of cheeses prepared atop the grill in a large plant leaf and another one with a bowl of oysters, shrimp, fish, octopus, avocado and spicy tomato.
More from the press release:
El Sol is an anchor tenant for the plaza which is currently undergoing redevelopment,” the press release said. “This is also the Solis’s largest restaurant at 80 seats and 3900 square feet…
The Vienna shop is a family-friendly full-service establishment that also offers weekend brunch, just like the D.C. location. A full bar highlighting mezcal and tequila is also be available.
Unlike El Sol D.C. and the other Solis restaurants, the Vienna restaurant has a private dining space that can accommodate up to 20 guests.
The restaurant plans to open at 11 a.m. on Thursday.
Photo via El Sol/Facebook
Welcome back from the long weekend! Here are the latest stories about the Tysons area that the Tysons Reporter team has been reading:
McLean Rep Lauds Environmental, Housing Efforts —“Buoyed by his party’s sweeping victories locally and statewide last fall and the infusion of new blood on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, Supervisor John Foust (D) was upbeat about a host of initiatives Feb. 20 during his annual “State of McLean” speech to the Greater McLean Chamber of Commerce.” [Inside NoVa]
Falls Church Officials Face $1.207 Million City Hall Overrun — “City Manager Wyatt Shields said the cost can be absorbed by the surplus the City built up in the current fiscal year by delaying a first payment on the bond for the new high school and otherwise favorable (low interest rate) economic conditions.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Woes About Broad-Washington Project — “Public access to the parking lot, a surface lot sitting directly behind Thompson Italian, Clare and Don’s and adjacent the State Theatre, is considered by those businesses among their most critical assets for attracting the customers they need to succeed.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Vienna Business Leaders Talk Advocacy — “Vienna’s business owners galvanized and spoke out last July when the Council briefly flirted with rescinding an approved mixed-use rezoning at 374-380 Maple Ave., W. Business people who spoke at the six-hour-long meeting that began July 15 offered a perspective that wasn’t being heard, said Bollettino, adding it was fortunate the Council did not move forward with the proposal.” [Inside NoVa]
Here’s what to expect when a popular Latin nightclub in Arlington brings a new rhythm to The Palladium in Tysons.
The Palladium’s owners — two brothers named Victor and Franco Villarreal — recently announced that their salsa club in Arlington will soon close to relocate to the Tysons location.
The Salsa Room is set to close its 7,5000-square-foot space, one-level in Arlington to move to its new 15,000-square-foot, two-level home (1524 Spring Hill Road) in late March. Tickets are available for the grand opening in Tysons from March 25-29 and start at $20 per person for general admission.
Ahead of the change, Tysons Reporter talked to Victor Villarreal about why the club is moving to Tysons, what Palladium club-goers can expect and why he loves The Salsa Room.
Tysons Reporter: I just have to say I’ve been to The Salsa Room in Arlington, but I haven’t been to The Palladium in Tysons.
Victor Villarreal: The Tysons one, when we opened it up [in late 2018], we made it more of an event place than an actual club. It’s been more events from all over the world.
TR: What prompted the move?
VV: We’ve been in South Arlington since 1992. It’s a pretty old building. The buildings up and down Columbia Pike are starting to get torn down.
We know eventually that’s going to happen to us. It could be in the next year. It could the next two to three years at most. We didn’t want to wait and get caught up in trying to find something at the last moment.
We decided a couple of years ago to start looking for a spot. We came across Iris Lounge and we decided it was a great spot. We saw a lot of potential in Tysons Corner that can be a great hope for this type of venue.
Our location in Arlington, again, it’s an old building. There’s a lot of investment that needs to be done to upgrade it and keep it modern and it’s really hard for us to invest any money knowing we may only be there a couple more years. This move was planned a long time ago.
TR: How long ago?
VV: About two-and-a-half years. It took us about a year-and-a-half to build and we’ve been open a year in Tysons.
A lot of the events we did in Tysons weren’t catered to the salsa events we do at The Salsa Room. It’s been more concerts from Mongolia, Thailand, Madagascar — all of these different countries that affect a sense of a diverse community.
We didn’t want to compete against ourselves because this was a short-term gap until we move.
TR: And you’ve personally been in this area awhile?
VV: We grew up in the McLean and Burke areas.
TR: How do you think this move will affect the nightlife scene in Tysons?
VV: I remember in the early 2000s, there wasn’t too much to do, but [eCitie] was insanely successful. And they had a 10-year run. You couldn’t even get in on most nights.
I think Tysons, maybe five years ago or so, there was not much. There were good restaurants, but I don’t know that there’s a good nightlife scene here.
There have a couple of spots that have opened recently. It’s just the growth of Tysons and how much development there is going to be. I’m sure businesses that are getting priced out in developments closer to D.C. may find some opportunities in Tysons.
When we’ve done events in the last year, we got support. People came from Maryland. [The Tysons club] is more central to a lot of places. We’re extremely excited about being here and helping to grow a night scene.
TR: How do you think your clientele will be different or similar to Arlington?
VV: We’re definitely going to lose some clients because it’s a different area, but I do believe there are some pretty loyal clients who will still come to us.
[Tysons] is a new pool of clients. We feel pretty confident that we’ll have the support of the community.
TR: Will The Salsa Room entirely take over The Palladium or just a part of it?
VV: It will take over the whole thing. It’s going to be completely The Salsa Room.
All the employees are coming from [Arlington] — the DJs, the instructors. Because it’s so much larger, it’s going to let us bring things that we were not able to do in Arlington. We’ll be able to get bigger acts. We have a stage.
TR: Do you have a favorite aspect of The Salsa Room?
VV: The history. Some of the best salsa artists in the world have played there, like Marc Anthony. He’s a super megastar. He performed there three different times when he was starting his career. There are so many stories. That’s really helped us develop a loyal client base.
People will come from all over the world. They will take a picture and tag us [on social media]. We’ve had paintings of people like Marc Anthony with original signatures. People tag us and those are awesome.
We have YouTube videos that have millions of hits that were filmed there and so [The Salsa Room] is really well known in the salsa community.
We definitely didn’t want to close it down. We need to continue that.
The interview has been lightly condensed and edited for clarity.
Photo (1) via Facebook; images (2-4) via Google Maps
When a Honda van T-boned a sedan near the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons, a third driver caught it all on camera.
The crash happened on Tyco Road near the Adaire apartment building. The van pulled out of the parking lot for the Audi Service Center and Tysons Collision Center right before hitting the sedan, which was in the left-hand, southbound lane.
The video shows the driver of the van throw his hands above his head right after the crash.
The sedan’s fender and the van’s front bumper appeared damaged after the vehicles both pulled into the parking lot.
A Reddit user posted yesterday the minute-and-a-half video capturing the crash. Already, the post has 436 upvotes and 136 comments.
“The irony that he was pulling out of an auto service center vastly improves this,” another user said in the comments.
Vienna police are looking for whoever used a marker on the exterior of the Giant along Maple Avenue.
Juan Vazquez, a spokesperson for the Vienna Police Department, told Tysons Reporter that someone wrote words — “one politically related, one cop related” — on the walls and columns outside of the store, he said.
Vazquez declined to say what the exact words were.
The vandalism happened sometime between Feb. 5-15 at the store (359 Maple Ave E.) and was reported to the police by an employee, according to the police report.
Vazquez said that police roughly estimated that the markings caused $250 worth of damage, which would make it a misdemeanor.
The case is still active and police are reviewing surveillance footage, Vazquez said, adding that “Giant has a lot of surveillance.”
Image via Google Maps
