Some of New York City’s finest falafels will be available in Pimmit Hills starting this week.
The fast-casual eatery Taim Mediterranean Kitchen will give the community a preview of its first Virginia location at 7502 Leesburg Pike in the Tysons Station shopping center tomorrow (Wednesday), followed by an official grand opening on Thursday (July 27).
The community preview day will kick off at noon and continue to 5 p.m., offering $5 entrees to guests with proceeds going to the Capital Area Food Bank, according to a press release.
The restaurant’s regular hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day will begin Thursday. Plans for the grand opening include a ribbon-cutting ceremony supported by the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce, swag bags for the first 50 people in line, and a prize wheel.
“Whether grabbing a bite on a visit to the shopping center or looking for a shareable, family-friendly dinner, taim is as deliciously satisfying as it is convenient,” said Phil Petrilli, founder of Untamed Brands, which owns Taim. “Our friendly team can’t wait to serve the Tysons community and share some of their favorite menu items.”
Taim started as an all-vegetarian shop in the West Village in 2005 before adding more locations both within New York City and out of the state. The company has picked up the pace on its expansion efforts since becoming part of Untamed Brands in 2018.
While most known for its falafels, the restaurant also offers chicken and cauliflower shawarma, meatballs, egg plant and Impossible meat kebabs as options for its build-your-own pitas and bowls.
The 1,849-square-foot Pimmit Hills location is Taim’s 15th, and Fairfax County already has more sites on the way.
“I’ve watched taim’s fan love grow from Dupont Circle to College Park, Maryland and into Virginia,” Petrill said. “We’re constantly asked to bring more of our restaurants to the suburban communities where families and commuters are looking for convenient, flavorful and healthier options on the go.”
A 1,815-square-foot location in Fairfax City’s WestFair shopping center at 11011 Main Street is on track to open in mid- to late August, according to Taim.
The business is also preparing to replace Cold Stone Creamery in Vienna and move into Reston’s Plaza America. Both locations are expected to open this year, but more exact timelines aren’t yet known.
County on the Lookout for Spotted Lanternfly — “Fairfax County Forest Pest Management unit…is asking County residents to help slow the spread of this invasive pest by being vigilant about not moving spotted lanternfly life stages when traveling through known infested areas and to vacuum nymphs and adults with a shop vac and scrape egg masses into a container of soapy water, as well as report sightings.” [DPWES]
Longtime Seven Corners Clothing Store to Move — “After outfitting local healthcare workers for 20 years, Gallo Clothing in the Seven Corners Shopping Center is closing for good. The store’s last day is Thursday, July 27. Meanwhile, just about everything in the store is marked down 25 to 75 percent…The landlord is raising the rent, so Gallo Clothing is relocating, says manager Doris Zelaya.” [Annandale Today]
McLean Playground Fundraiser Hits Halfway Mark — The campaign to raise $400,000 for a new playground at McLean Central Park is halfway to its goal. Upcoming events to support the fundraiser include a sold-out “Barbie” movie watch party tonight (Tuesday), a fitness class on July 29 and a family festival at Shipgarten in Tysons in August. [Patch]
Update on Braddock Road Project Coming — The Virginia Department of Transportation will give an update on its Braddock Road Multimodal Improvements Project tomorrow (Wednesday) at Lake Braddock Secondary School. Planned changes include shared-use paths on both sides of the road and “intersection improvements…at Rolling Road, Wakefield Chapel Road/Danbury Forest Drive, and Burke Lake Road.” [Annandale Today]
Fairfax City Adds New Mural — “With the help of Murals at Mason, artist Lecsi Pillar designed a radiant art installation outside of Big Buns D#*! Good Burgers. Her mural is not only a part of the city’s ever growing partnership with George Mason but also art flourishing and contributing to the city’s attraction.” [Fairfax City Economic Development Authority/Facebook]
Parking Overhaul Will Help Tysons, Local Transit Advocate Says — “If the idea is to take Tysons from a scarred wasteland primarily defined by two 10- to 12-lane roads knifing through its center, the county will need to consider more serious reforms that reduce car dependency. To that end, it has released the details of Parking Reimagined, a plan to significantly lower parking minimums” [Greater Greater Washington]
AT&T Donates to Richmond Highway Nonprofits — The telecommunications company has contributed almost $50,000 to “help boost the digital literacy and learning skills of children and adults along the Route 1 Corridor.” The beneficiaries are Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services, which got $24,000 to support technology training for low-income individuals aged 16-24, and United Community, which got $25,000 to support an online learning program for students. [AT&T Connects]
International Travel Is Back at Dulles — “Latin America and Africa are leading the way as overseas travel to and from Washington Dulles International Airport rebounds, with only Asia lagging in the post-COVID world…Many aircraft plying international routes from Dulles are going out mostly full.” [Gazette Leader]
It’s Tuesday — There is a 50% chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm today, with patchy fog before 9am. Expect mostly sunny conditions, with a high near 89°F. Tuesday night brings a 30% chance of evening showers and thunderstorms, with a low around 67°F. [Weather.gov]
Photo by Fazli Erdem/Twitter
(Updated at 4:30 p.m. on 8/3/2023) The former Fairfax County police officer who reportedly shot and killed D.C. resident Timothy Johnson on Feb. 22 in Tysons lost a court petition seeking reinstatment earlier this month.
Wesley Shifflett’s petition alleging that the county violated his due process rights and its own policies during a grievance review was rejected by Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Stephen Shannon, who affirmed County Executive Bryan Hill’s conclusion that the Fairfax County Police Department had followed proper county procedures.
“The County Executive’s determination was neither arbitrary and capricious, nor made in bad faith,” Shannon wrote in a July 6 opinion letter. “In contrast, the determination was well-grounded in fact and proper.”
(This story has been updated to clarify that the petition was asking the court to review the grievance process, an administrative review that will determine whether Shifflett’s firing should be upheld.)
A seven-year veteran of the department, Shifflett was officially fired by the FCPD on April 14, a couple of weeks after Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis informed both the officer and the public of his decision on March 23, according to court documents.
The FCPD identified Shifflett and James Sadler, an eight-year veteran of the department, as the two officers who fired their guns at Johnson during a foot chase outside Tysons Corner Center. The mall’s Nordstrom had called the police around 6:30 p.m., reporting that Johnson was attempting to shoplift sunglasses.
Video of the encounter shared by police showed the officers pursuing Johnson into a wooded area, where one of them trips and says, “Stop reaching.” Three gunshots were apparently fired, two before the officer tripped and one afterwards.
(An earlier version of this article incorrectly said that all three shots were fired after the officer tripped.)
Police said Shifflett was responsible for the fatal shots, the Washington Post previously reported. Sadler was put on modified restrictive duty during a criminal investigation into the shooting, but he retained his job.
In a pair of memos to Shifflett dated March 23 and 30, Davis said his “performance during this incident and personal conduct…have failed to meet the expected standards required for continued employment” with the FCPD.
Shifflett made “shifting and inconsistent statements” during interviews with Major Crimes Bureau and internal affairs detectives that left it unclear whether he fired his gun intentionally “in response to a perceived threat” or by accident, Davis wrote in the March 30 memo.
“Your demonstrated inability to definitively state whether or not you meant to intentionally fired [sic] your weapon at Mr. Johnson that evening diminishes your credibility in this case, and accordingly undermines your ability to be a law enforcement officer,” Davis said. “Therefore, looking at the totality of the circumstances in this case, I no longer have confidence in your abilities to serve and protect the Fairfax County community as an FCPD officer.”
In a petition filed in court on May 30, Shifflett argued that Davis didn’t sufficiently explain the reasons for his termination and that the subsequent grievance process challenging the decision had “procedural deficiencies.” Read More
Zenola has permanently closed its kitchen in Vienna.
The Lebanese restaurant announced on Friday (July 21) that its owners, the Zeitoun family, had “made the difficult decision to close” after more than three years in Danor Plaza at 132 Branch Road SE.
“Our family-owned restaurant has been a place where friends and families gathered to share laughter, stories, and break bread,” the Zeitoun family and Zenola team said in a message to supporters. “It has been an honor to be part of your lives, to witness your special occasions, and to create a warm and welcoming environment for everyone who walked through our doors.”
Commenters on the restaurant’s Facebook page expressed sorrow at the news, with more than one person saying Zenola was one of their favorite places to eat.
“We will miss you a lot! No more spinach pies or chicken livers,” one person said. “I’m so sorry it had to come to this. Wishing the Zeitoun family and Zenola team all the best in the future.”
Opened on Sept. 6, 2019, Zenola began as a way for executive chef and founder Samer Zeitoun to put his own spin on the Lebanese dishes of his childhood by mixing them with a broader range of Mediterranean flavors.
Menu items included various grilled meats, pan-seared black bass, vegetarian lasagna, Lebanese shepherd’s pie, hummus spreads and wood-grilled Spanish octopus.
Keeping a restaurant in business was never easy, but it has proven especially difficult since COVID-19 hit the U.S. in early 2020. An estimated 70,000 restaurants closed permanently as a result of the hardships created by the pandemic.
In the Town of Vienna, casualties have ranged from hopeful newcomers to long-standing establishments, like 40-year-old Amphora Restaurant.
Zenola said its decision to close was fueled by a combination of factors, including the “lasting business effects of the COVID pandemic, increasingly higher rent payments with little landlord flexibility and the changing landscape of the restaurant industry.”
A request for comment sent to the restaurant’s email didn’t get a response by press time.
Despite its relatively short stay in Vienna, the Zenola team said they had formed lasting memories and strong connections with the local community, describing patrons and staff as “an extended family.”
“We cannot express enough how grateful we are for your loyalty and for choosing us as your go-to spot for celebrations, casual dinners, and even those quiet moments when you needed a comforting meal,” the message said. “We will forever cherish the memories created within these walls and the relationships forged through shared meals and conversations.”
Encouraging patrons to continue supporting small businesses, the Zeitoun family said they are “taking some time to rest and regroup,” but they’re hopeful that Zenola may return in some form in the future.
“We hope to find a way to continue offering Zenola menu favorites in a different format in the months ahead,” the team said.
Tysons Contractor Will Settle Fraud Lawsuit — “Defense contractor Booz Allen Hamilton has agreed to pay $377 million to settle a long-standing Justice Department lawsuit alleging that the Northern Virginia-based company overcharged the U.S. government to help cover losses in other areas of its business, federal authorities announced Friday.” [The Washington Post]
Burke Residents Call for Traffic Light After Fatal Crash — “A petition garners over 1,100 signatures for Fairfax County to install a stoplight at the site of Tuesday’s fatal crash along Burke Centre Parkway. Police said that speeding was likely a factor, as man driving a car, collided with four teens. The driver, Rebekah Zarco, 17, was killed immediately.” [DC News Now]
Cyclist Injured in Fairfax Station Area Crash — “A cyclist has life-threatening injuries after a crash in Fairfax County Saturday afternoon. Fairfax County Police responded to the serious crash at Route 123 and Canterberry Road in Fairfax Station” [ABC7]
Land for New Sewer Pipe Needed in Merrifield — “The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on July 25 is slated to set a public hearing for Sept. 12 discuss the use of eminent-domain powers to acquire land rights needed for construction of about 563 linear feet new gravity-sewer pipe…The project aims to alleviate the risk and add capacity to accommodate the growing population upstream of the pipes in Merrifield, officials said.” [Gazette Leader]
Feral Cat Colony Reported to Vienna Police — “A resident reported she has been trying to “Trap-Neuter-Return,” the feral cat colony in her neighborhood. TNR, is a program where feral cats are humanely trapped, sterilized, vaccinated, and given necessary veterinary care, then returned to their outdoor homes. The resident reported her neighbors are feeding the cats, making it difficult for her to trap them.” [Vienna Police]
Osprey Rescued at Lorton Park — “Grateful to Animal Protection Police officers, @ffxfirerescue and @FairfaxCountyPD for their work to safely rescue an osprey stuck in a tree at Laurel Hill Park. After an attempted first flight, the bird could not fly and is being treated by a nearby veterinarian.” [Fairfax County Park Authority/Twitter]
Fairfax County Public Library Catalog Down for Today — “FCPL’s catalog system will be undergoing maintenance Monday, July 24. Because of this maintenance, the public catalog including Libby and Overdrive will be unavailable to the public from 8 a.m. to approximately 5 p.m.” [FCPL/Twitter]
Nearby: Dulles Greenway Fare Hike Proposed — “For drivers who stick with the Greenway, a smooth commute through the heart of one of the nation’s fastest-growing counties could soon cost more: The road’s owner is seeking the approval of state regulators to increase rates up to 40 percent. The request has angered drivers, county leaders and some state lawmakers” [The Washington Post]
It’s Monday — There is a 60% chance of showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, with patchy fog clearing by 10am. Expect mostly sunny skies and a high of around 84°F, with low will around 69°F at night. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) A woman staying at the Courtyard Marriott in Merrifield was sexually assaulted yesterday (Thursday), Fairfax County police say.
Officers were called to the hotel at 2722 Gallows Road at 1:30 p.m. for the assault, which had just occurred, according to the Fairfax County Police Department.
“The victim, an adult woman, reported a man she just met sexually assaulted her in a hotel room,” the FCPD said. “Detectives from our Major Crimes Bureau responded to the scene to assume the investigation.”
Police are seeking the public’s assistance to identify a man who they believe to be the suspect, releasing a surveillance video today (Friday) captured by a camera behind the hotel’s front desk. The video shows a man entering the lobby just before 2 p.m. and exiting around 2:25 p.m.
According to police, time stamps on surveillance videos aren’t always accurate, since they might not be synced to the internet. The difference between the time on the footage and when police responded to the scene will be reviewed as part of the investigation.
“We cannot speak to the accuracy or differential of the time stamps on the surveillance system the video came from at this time,” the FCPD public affairs bureau said. “Detectives continue to investigate.”
The FCPD asks anyone with information to Major Crimes Bureau detectives at 703-246-7800, option 3. Community members can also submit a tip anonymously to Crime Solvers by phone (1-866-411-TIPS) or online.
Top photo via Google Maps
Like many organizations, The Arc of Northern Virginia is rethinking its approach to office work in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The local chapter of the national nonprofit, which provides services and advocacy for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will move its headquarters to the recently opened Venture X coworking space at 3060 Williams Drive in Merrifield.
The new address will be effective starting Aug. 7.
With the lease for its current base at 2755 Hartland Road set to expire after 10 years, The Arc says the new space in Venture X will be more flexible and cost-effective. Many of its 28 employees have adopted hybrid schedules, working partly at the office and partly at home or other remote locations.
“The pandemic-related shutdown, the option of web-based and technology driven programming, and the wide adoption of more flexible on-site work requirements made us look seriously at how much office space we really needed,” The Arc of Northern Virginia Executive Director Melissa Heifetz said. “Our new office not only reflects the societal changes in the workplace, I’m confident it will help us attract and retain a dedicated workforce.”
Heifetz added that the relocation won’t affect “the high quality of programming and services” that the nonprofit offers to over 39,000 individuals across Northern Virginia.
Founded in 1962, The Arc helps people with disabilities and their families navigate social services, serves as an advocate on local, state and federal issues that affect the disability community, and provides resources to both caregivers and clients seeking to live more independently.
The organization’s Northern Virginia chapter isn’t the only employer pursuing smaller or more flexible office space.
Fueled by the pandemic, the trend toward remote and hybrid work schedules among white-collar employees has upended the office market, leading to lower demand and increased vacancy rates nationwide.
Some commercial property owners have responded by adding more amenities, while many developers have sought to replace or swap office space with housing and other uses. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a proposal last month to convert the former Inova headquarters in Merrifield — less than a mile away from The Arc’s new base.
(Updated at 12:30 p.m.) A gas leak has closed Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) at Beulah Road and Forestville Drive in the Wolf Trap area.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department units are currently at the scene and expect to be there for “an extended period of time,” the department said at 11:39 a.m.
“Leesburg Pike is closed in both directions. Please seek alternative routes,” the FCFRD said.
According to the Fairfax County Police Department, the closure may last “several days” as crews make repairs.
A Washington Gas representative says “a third party” hit one of the company’s 6-inch main lines. The location of the line required the intersection to close for repairs.
The “large volume” gas line was hit during construction work on the roadway, according to the FCPD public affairs bureau.
“Due to the scope of the repair ahead, it is estimated that the repair will take several days,” Sgt. Jacob Pearce told FFXnow.
Construction to widen Route 7 from Reston Avenue to Jarrett Valley Drive just north of Tysons has been underway since 2019.
#FCFRD units are on scene of an outside gas leak at the intersection of Leesburg Pike and Forestville Drive in the Great Falls area. Crews will be on scene for an extended period of time. Leesburg Pike is closed in both directions. Please seek alternative routes. pic.twitter.com/fAP7Dj6nac
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) July 21, 2023
The road is expected to be closed for several days while the repairs are completed. Please use an alternate route. #FCPD https://t.co/TLmPpuwkKi
— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) July 21, 2023
Updated at 1:55 p.m. on 7/24/2023 — Sadly for local taco lovers, a public relations representative for District Taco says the openings for its Springfield and McLean locations will be delayed. No new dates have been provided, beyond that the restaurants are “coming soon.”
Earlier: Fairfax County’s newest District Taco restaurants are almost ready to serve customers.
The regional chain will open a franchise at Old Keene Mill Shopping Center (8432 Old Keene Mill Road) in Springfield on Aug. 3, followed on Aug. 23 by a McLean franchise next to Lidl at 1330 Chain Bridge Road.
The openings will bring District Taco’s Virginia footprint up to eight stores. After starting as a food cart in Arlington, the company is in the midst of an expansion push “to keep up with the increasing demand for its concept,” it said in a press release.
Existing Fairfax County locations include Baileys Crossroads, Tysons, and near the Dunn Loring Metro station.
“We are thrilled that we can continue to expand our footprint in Northern Virginia and serve more communities surrounding the D.C. area,” District Taco Vice President of Franchise Development Tina Gantz said. “Now, with the two new locations, we can keep up with the high demand and enter two vibrant and growing communities. With our unique concept of serving fresh, healthy, and authentic ingredients, we are sure guests will love the new District Taco locations and the overall experience.”
The Springfield and McLean franchises are both owned by Hicham El Abbassi and Isalmou Boussaa, who entered the food service business “by investing in a single hamburger chain store” and now run 11 different franchises, according to the press release.
The pair are District Taco’s first franchisees. They partnered with the fast-casual Mexican restaurant in an effort “diversify their restaurant portfolio” and hope to add more locations in the future, the company said.
“I was truly inspired by the entrepreneurial story of District Taco’s founder, Osiris Hoil, and his pursuit of the American dream,” Boussaa said in a statement. “Hicham and I are living out our own American dreams by opening our two new District Taco locations and we are so excited to begin serving high-quality meals to the local Springfield and McLean communities.”
Based on Hoil’s family recipes, the menu features customizable tacos, burritos, rice and bean bowls, salads and quesadillas, including a couple of breakfast options.
With the Springfield and McLean openings, District Taco will have 16 total locations across Virginia, Maryland, D.C. and Pennsylvania. Co-founder Marc Wallace told FFXnow’s sister site, ARLnow, last year that the company hopes to expand in the mid-Atlantic region and potentially into the Midwest.
Growth in Fairfax County is focused in Tysons, the Dulles Suburban Center and other mixed-use areas.
In addition, growth in multifamily housing units outpaced growth in single-family housing between 2010 and 2023, and office space continues to lead the way in non-residential development potential, county staff said in a presentation at the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s policy plan committee meeting on July 13.
Development in mixed-use “activity centers” like Tysons, the Dulles Suburban Center, the Reston Transit Station Areas and the Richmond Highway Corridor lines up with the concept for future development outlined in the Fairfax County Comprehensive Plan.
“The plan has a lot of flexibility built in now and plenty of options for new residential development to occur,” Andrea Dorlester, the county’s principal planner, said in the presentation.
The presentation served as a preview of a “State of the Plan” report that will provide a progress update on the county’s planning efforts between January 2011 and December 2022. Building off a similar evaluation from 2012, the report is slated for release at the end of the summer.
The county can support residential growth through at least 2045, according to the comprehensive plan and a forecast from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
Overall, the comprehensive plan notes potential for 182,000 additional dwelling units, with 91% of those units being multifamily housing. The MWCOG forecast projects an 80,000-unit increase by 2045, per the presentation.
At the meeting, Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina noted that addressing affordability in housing is challenging.
“We know we have a housing problem, we say we have growth, but what is being built is not necessarily addressing affordability,” Cortina said.
Between January 2011 and December 2022, the majority of amendments to the comprehensive plan added to planned new housing.
“Several site-specific plan amendments serve to provide for affordable housing, affordable housing for seniors [and] assisted living,” Dorlester said. “And there were some notable conversions from commercial to planned residential with new planned townhouse neighborhoods replacing portions of old strip shopping centers.”
Dranesville District Commissioner John Ulfelder asked whether permitting a “missing middle” approach like the one adopted by neighboring Arlington — where the county would allow some smaller multifamily units in areas that now only allow single-family housing — could provide an opportunity for additional residential growth.
That would require a policy change, but in the context of the State of the Plan, Fairfax County planner Clara Johnson said that with plan amendments, the county is seeing redevelopment of shopping centers and along major transportation corridors.
Adopted changes to the plan also reflect a transit-oriented approach, according to the presentation.
“In areas where transit is not available or planned, such as the downtown McLean Community Business Center, plan changes focused on improving walkability, creating new public spaces, implementing good urban design and creating bonus height or density incentives to promote revitalization and placemaking measures, such as provision of urban park spaces,” Dorlester said.
