(Updated at 3:55 p.m.) The Fairfax County Police Department and George Mason University have joined forces with an Arlington-based think tank to study how the attitudes and behavior of police officers evolve over the course of their careers.
Touted as the first of its kind in the U.S., the long-term or longitudinal study is intended to give the FCPD and other police departments a better understanding of how to address staffing challenges by following a select group of officers, potentially over decades.
The results could inform the FCPD’s recruiting efforts and provide a new look at what makes someone a successful police officer, Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis said at a 1 p.m. press conference, noting that divorce, suicide, alcoholism and domestic violence rates among police are “higher than the national norm.”
“We’re really happy to engage in this long-term journey to figure out what success looks like for Fairfax County, because we want to continue to lead on behalf of our profession,” Davis said. “We think over time and hopefully over many years, we’ll learn a lot more about who wants to become part of this profession and, once they enter our ranks, what determines their trajectory for success.”
Looking at both applicants and current officers, the study will be conducted independently by Dr. Cynthia Lum, a criminology professor in GMU’s Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy, and the National Policing Institute.
With a gift provided by philanthropist MacKenzie Scott in 2022, the institute is funding the estimated $300,000 cost of the study’s first three years. That includes $186,401 that went to GMU to support its costs, according to National Policing Institute President Jim Burch.
Researchers hope to get enough money from public and private funders to continue the study for 10 to 20 years, Lum said.
With a current vacancy rate of 206 positions, the FCPD has been operating under a personnel emergency since July 2022, meaning officers are required to work overtime with two shifts in rotation instead of the usual three.
Compensation has emerged as the top concern from interviews with officers, though it’s not the only one, according to FCPD Administrative Support Bureau Commander Major Gregory Fried, citing a desire for a better work-life balance as another issue that has come up.
The police department has recently committed more money to job advertising and pay for public safety workers, along with efforts to modernize the hiring process. The next academy class starting April 24 will have 58 graduates, the most in a decade, Davis said.
Still, officer recruitment and retention have become a struggle for law enforcement agencies across the country.
“We’re losing some of our best, and we struggle to bring in the best as well. As we face these challenges, though, taxpayers rightfully expect more,” Burch said. “Communities want more effective and fair policing. They want safer communities…The reality is policing is a profession. It’s not a vocation…We must invest, and that’s what this study is about, investing in those who step up to serve in their communities.”
The national exodus of officers has frequently been attributed to declining morale in the face of heightened public scrutiny, but Covid and mass early retirements may be bigger contributors to burnout, according to The Marshall Project, which reported earlier this year that local government employment in general has dropped since 2020.
Burch hopes to see the study of Fairfax County police officers replicated in other jurisdictions.
“What we learn here in Fairfax County will inform and improve policing across the United States,” Burch said.
The FCPD is also working with the D.C. nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) on a review of shootings by its officers, which increased last year. That study was initiated in early March after Maryland resident Timothy Johnson was shot and killed outside Tysons Corner Center on Feb. 22.
Davis announced on March 23 that the officer who fired the fatal shot that evening had been fired.
(Updated at 2:10 p.m.) Construction on the widening of the Capital Beltway (I-495) can continue while a lawsuit filed by McLean residents works its way through the court system, a federal judge ruled this morning (Friday).
The Northern Virginia Citizens Association had urged U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema to issue a preliminary injunction against the project that would halt all work until further environmental analysis is conducted.
The ruling, which came after a 10 a.m. hearing at the district court in Alexandria, gave an initial victory to federal and state transportation officials and express lanes operator Transurban, who have argued that the additional review sought by residents is unnecessary.
“We remain confident that this project is in compliance of all environmental regulations and associated requirements and approvals, Transurban Director of Corporate Affairs and Marketing Tanya Sheres said in a statement to FFXnow. “Alongside our project partners, we continue to focus on minimizing impacts to communities as we work to deliver the expanded travel choices, environmental enhancements, and improved safety that the more than 230,000 daily travelers of this corridor are relying upon.”
Filed on March 16, the NOVA Citizens Association’s complaint detailed health and environmental impacts of construction on the I-495 Northern Extension (495 NEXT) project, which is adding 2.5 miles of express lanes from the Dulles Toll Road in Tysons past the George Washington Memorial Parkway in McLean.
The Federal Highway Administration approved an environmental assessment for the project in 2021, finding that it would not have a significant impact and allowing it to proceed.
However, the NOVA Citizens Association says that subsequent design changes to stormwater facilities and ramps at the GW Parkway interchange should’ve necessitated another review with an opportunity for public input.
“Defendants’ activities will irreparably damage Plaintiff’s neighborhood and the surrounding human and natural environment in violation of federal law,” lawyers for the association wrote in a memo on their injunction request. “The Project’s adverse effects already vastly exceed the scope of what the Virginia Department of Transportation (“VDOT”) submitted and the Federal Highway Administration (“FHWA”) approved.”
In declarations opposing an injunction, VDOT and FHWA officials argue that the changes to the GW Parkway design reduced its impact on nearby residential properties and were accounted for in a Interchange Justification Report Addendum approved by FHWA on Jan. 14, 2022.
“The revised configuration of the GWMP interchange lessened the overall impacts of the Project by eliminating conflicts with large utility transmission towers and reducing the need for right-of-way acquisition,” VDOT Northern Virginia Megaprojects Director Susan Shaw said.
According to Shaw, a relocation of ponds by the GW Parkway interchange improved stormwater management, including avoiding work adjacent to the Potomac River, and the changes stayed within the scope established by the completed environmental assessment.
A one-year delay of construction on 495 NEXT, which broke ground in March 2022, would cost VDOT an additional $16.4 million in management and oversight costs, Shaw estimated. If the delay goes into a second year, another $17.2 million would be added to that bill.
“If the Project is enjoined, the current work would need to be suspended in its current condition, with accommodations as needed to ensure the safety of the traveling public,” Shaw wrote. “This would require the lane closures, concrete barriers, temporary environmental controls, to remain in place with all the traffic congestion and disruption those active work zone features create. The duration of construction impacts would be extended, such as noise, dust, traffic delays, and lack of full shoulders.”
Construction on 495 NEXT is currently projected to continue into 2026, with the new express lanes set to open later in 2025.
A Deep Dive Into the Fight Over the FBI HQ — “What both delegations agree on is that this is a once-in-a-generation contract that could serve as a 50-year anchor for either community, potentially bringing tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars to the winner. There are political legacies at stake here. Plus, there’s the CIA angle, which no one can talk about.” [Slate]
Lake Barcroft House Fire Starts in Jeep — “A fire caused by an electrical issue with a Jeep parked outside a Fairfax County home is responsible for a resident being displaced and thousands of dollars worth of damage.” One firefighter got “a minor injury” while responding to the fire in the 6300 block of Cavalier Corridor on March 31. [FOX5]
Construction on Historic Workhouse Buildings Prolonged — “Work at buildings W13 and W15 at the Workhouse Campus in Lorton is expected to extend into mid- to late summer 2023,” per the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. The buildings, one of which will house Bunnyman Brewing, were expected to be finished this spring. [On the MoVe]
Annandale Business Owner Joins Mason District Race — “Steve Lee, a business owner and community leader, announced Wednesday that he has filed the required paperwork to seek the Democratic nomination for the Mason District supervisor’s seat…If elected, Lee would be the first-ever Asian American on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors.” [Patch]
Virginia First Lady Awards Fairfax Cafe — “First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin presented a 2023 Spirit of Virginia Award to Cameron’s Coffee & Chocolates, a retail location for the nonprofit, Every1 Can Work, whose mission is to provide employment to adults living with an intellectual disability through a supported group environment by teaching work and life skills to further independence.” [Fairfax City Economic Development]
Herndon Tech Company Plots Expansion — “Herndon cybersecurity startup Strivacity Inc. has raised $20 million in new funding to push forward on its research and bolster its sales, marketing and engineering teams, ultimately planning to grow the 42-person company to 70 in the next 12 months.” [DC Inno]
Netflix Wants Lovelorn Locals to Star in Blind Dating Show — “Casting directors are still scouring the D.C. area for folks who might want to star in a future season of Love is Blind. The show just released its fourth season based in Seattle but is continuing to cast for the future, with its fifth season predicted for a fall 2023 release.” [DCist]
The Dr. Seuss Experience Opens in Tysons — “Starting April 7, fans of Dr. Seuss can journey through popular children’s books like ‘The Lorax’ and ‘Horton Hears a Who!’ with immersive sets and sights at Tysons Corner Center…The experience will run until Labor Day.” [WTOP]
Entertainers Sought for Annual Reston Cultural Festival — “Reston Community Center is seeking performing arts groups of all ages and cultures for the 2023 Reston Multicultural Festival. The festival will be held Saturday, September 23, 2023 at Reston Town Center with performances in the Pavilion and Reston Town Square Park.” [RCC]
It’s Friday — Sprinkles. Overcast. Cool. High of 57 and low of 48. Sunrise at 6:44 am and sunset at 7:37 pm. [Weather.gov]
A pair of Vienna police officers won an award last week for helping turn the tables on a shooting suspect back in October 2021.
During a March 30 ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in Reston, officers Emily Lichtenberg and Alex Murray received a Silver Medal of Valor at the 45th annual Fairfax County Valor Awards, which recognize achievements by local first responders.
According to the Town of Vienna Police Department, Lichtenberg and Murray earned the medal for responding to a shooting outside the Navy Federal Credit Union at 820 Follin Lane on the morning of Oct. 7, 2021.
“Upon arrival, they determined that two individuals got into an argument while inside a vehicle, during which one produced a handgun and shot the other in the upper body,” the department said in a news release.
Assisted by a helicopter and K-9 units form the Fairfax County Police Department, the two officers began to search for the suspect, the VPD recounted.
During the search of the surrounding area, “Fairfax One” (helicopter) located a heat source that appeared to be a person hiding in the bushes near the W&OD trail. Almost simultaneously, the K-9 unit alerted on the same area. Coming from the direction of the heat source, officers heard the sound of a handgun being manipulated and the distinct sound of the slide of a gun being racked and slamming into battery. At that time, officers suspected that they had been spotted and the suspect was moving into a position to ambush them.
After taking cover and coordinating a plan, officers moved in and surprised the suspect causing him to lose balance and fall down a hill adjacent to the W&OD trail. During the fall, the suspect lost control of his handgun and was taken into custody. At the time of his arrest, the suspect was found to be in possession of a fully loaded Glock handgun.
Another Vienna police officer, Greg Hylinski, was recognized at last week’s ceremony with a Lifesaving Award for providing emergency medical aid, including CPR, to a Navy Federal Credit Union employee who had collapsed.
“As treatment continued, MPO Hylinski began coordinating the on-scene response, which included determining the patient’s identity and notifying the next of kin,” Vienna police said. “MPO Hylinski maintained a composed and professional bearing as he began the preliminary investigation. MPO Hylinski’s performance in this stressful situation was exemplary.”
A total of 193 individuals were honored by this year’s Valor Awards, according to The Connection. The highest honor — the Gold Medal of Valor — went to FCPD officers Lance Guckenberger and Matthew Grubb, who responded to a shooting and hostage situation in Pimmit Hills on Dec. 17, 2021.
The Fairfax County School Board will have a lot of new faces next year — and perhaps, a couple of members reemerging from its past.
The latest member to opt out of a reelection bid is at-large member Abrar Omeish, who told FFXnow that she has instead accepted a job with a nonprofit that focuses on youth law and advocacy.
She will also serve on the board of a national youth organization, though she’s not able to publicly announce the exact positions yet.
In a statement on her decision, Omeish cited frustrations with the legal and public relations battles that she says have undermined the school board’s efforts to further equity and inclusion.
“Because of how stifling these investigations have been on the ability of our school system to implement real change, I have accepted an offer to fight the very legal battles that have bled our system and so many others on a national level,” she said. “My work will allow school systems across the country to pass more equitable and inclusive policies without fearing the legal threats of lawsuits and investigations, fighting for every child in the nation.”
Elected to the school board in 2019 at 24 years old, Omeish was one of the first Muslim women and the youngest person at the time to win elected office in Virginia.
Sharing supportive comments from current and former students, she says her proudest accomplishments while on the board include advocating for free virtual tutoring and mental health services for students, the addition of more religious holidays to the school calendar, and support for expanded language translation services.
However, Omeish has clashed at times with her colleagues on the school board, some of whom publicly criticized her for calling Israel’s treatment of Palestinians “apartheid.” In addition, the student-led LGBTQ advocacy group, Pride Liberation Project, accused her in 2021 of making “bigoted comments” during a phone call, for which she later apologized.
Fairfax County Public Schools as a whole has faced political and legal challenges over the past few years, from the ongoing lawsuit over Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s admissions process to a federal review of its special education services during Covid and a state investigation of its handling of National Merit Scholarship commendations.
Omeish was one of three school board members targeted by recall campaigns in 2021 led by parents who opposed school closures for the pandemic. The petition against Omeish didn’t get enough signatures to reach court, while ones against Springfield District Representative Laura Jane Cohen and Dranesville District Representative Elaine Tholen were dismissed.
Still, Omeish says she remains “proud of all that my team has been able to accomplish and bring to benefit Fairfax County.”
“I will remain a voice in our community and in FCPS — the system I grew up in and still have family in, the system I came to serve and love — to see much of what I will fight for come to life at the local level in my own home,” Omeish said. “For now, I will remain laser-focused on giving everything I have to this work. We still have a bright eight months ahead to do all that we can for our kids, and I still have a few ideas left for what I hope to accomplish.”
Even with Omeish withdrawing, the race for the board’s three at-large seats remains crowded, with 10 candidates in the running — including former members Ilryong Moon and Ryan McElveen, who had both stepped down at the end of 2019.
When officially announcing his candidacy today (Thursday), McElveen said he will advocate for “gun violence prevention, universal pre-kindergarten, free and healthy meals for every student, and solar panels on every school” if elected again.
“I see in the eyes of my daughters and all of our students that our best days are ahead of us,” he said. “As a county, we need to reset, reorient our priorities, and rebuild. I am ready to take on that challenge and work with our community to bring the joy back to education.”
Only three members of the 12-person school board will seek reelection to their current seats this November: Melanie Meren (Hunter Mill), Karl Frisch (Providence), and Ricardy Anderson (Mason).
At-large member and current board chair Rachna Sizemore-Heizer could return as the successor to Braddock District Representative Megan McLaughlin, who will join Tholen, Tamara Derenak Kaufax (Franconia) and Karen Corbett Sanders (Mount Vernon) in retiring.
Cohen, at-large member Karen Keys-Gamarra and Stella Pekarsky (Sully) have launched campaigns for General Assembly seats.
The Mosaic District’s Sip and Stroll map may soon get a new stop.
Grand Cata, a D.C.-based Latin American wine bar and market, is expanding to Virginia for the first time with a new store in the Merrifield neighborhood.
Located in the former Poke Bar at 8298 Glass Alley, Suite 100, next to B Side, the venue is on track to open early this summer, with construction about 60 to 70% complete, according to Grand Cata co-founder and CEO Pedro Rodríguez.
“We look forward to opening our first expansion to the Virginia market, and hopefully, people enjoy what we do,” Rodríguez told FFXnow.
After initially meeting as workers at a media development nonprofit, Rodríguez and Grand Cata President Julio Robledo bonded over a shared passion for wine, but after coming to D.C. from Puerto Rico and Chile, respectively, they noticed a lack of Latin America wines in local stores.
Grand Cata was created to fill that gap, launching as a retail shop in D.C.’s Shaw neighborhood on March 15, 2016.
Listed among the top wine retailers in the country by outlets like Wine Enthusiast and VinePair, the business has become a hot spot for not just buying and tasting wine and spirits, but also learning about the history and cultures of the region where the drinks originated.
A second location with a bar opened in June 2019 as part of the La Cosecha market in Union Market, which shares a property manager with the Mosaic District in Edens.
Now, Rodríguez and Robledo are eager to bring their wine and knowledge to a new audience across the Potomac River.
“We have a really well-established identity here in the capital,” Rodríguez said. “In the more affluent, wealthy area of Virginia, it’s got Fairfax County and McLean, Falls Church, easy access. A lot of fun neighbors are in the mix there, so it’s a destination.”
Like the La Cosecha location, the new Grand Cata will have a wine bar, retail shop and market with sauces, spices and other pantry items. Since Virginia doesn’t allow alcohol-only service, it will also sell food, such as sandwiches and charcuterie boards.
Rodríguez says the menu will be simple and intimate in keeping with the space, which is just 908 square feet in size, per a permit from Fairfax County. Featured wines will include selections from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Mexico, Bolivia, and even Spain and Portugal.
“The best way to get to know the wines we feature is to taste them,” Rodríguez said. “So, people are going to have the opportunity to taste them with us and get to know them, and hopefully they like them and buy them and come back.”
Vienna Metro Station Gets New Bikeshare Stop — “We partnered with @fairfaxcounty to install a new Capital Bikeshare Station at Vienna Metro Station and relocate our bike racks under a canopy for increased protection from the elements. This means a better biking experience for all of our customers!” [WMATA/Twitter]
Herndon Robbery Under Investigation — “The victim told police that two men approached him from behind as he was walking on the sidewalk on March 29. One of the men showed what appeared to be a handgun and they demanded the victim hand over his property, according to police. Once he did, the two men drove off in vehicle that was driven by a third suspect.” [Patch]
Republican Joins Senate Race Against Chap Petersen — “Ken Reid, a former Loudoun County supervisor and Leesburg council member, announced on Sunday that he was running to fill the 37th District seat in the Virginia Senate…[Petersen is also] facing a challenge from fellow Democrats Saddam Azlan Salim and Erika Yalowitz in the June 20 primary.” [Patch]
Restoration and Updated Trail Near Finish in Mount Vernon — “Around April 17, the scaffolding will come down from the exterior of Mount Vernon’s Mansion following a multi-year project to restore it to its 1799 appearance…Later this spring, an upgraded route to George Washington’s home will be unveiled as the Mount Vernon Memorial Highway Trail fully opens for pedestrian and bike access from Richmond Highway.” [On the MoVe]
McLean Candy Corporation Swallows Vet Company — “Mars, best known for its candy empire including M&Ms and Snickers bars, also owns a large pet care business, and it’s adding to it with a $1.3 billion acquisition of veterinary diagnostic company Heska. Mars’ pet care business is one of the largest in the country.” [WTOP]
Local Arts Organizations Awarded Grants for Recovery — “ArtsFairfax [Wednesday] announces 29 nonprofit arts organizations as recipients of the ArtsFairfax Pandemic Recovery Grant. A total of $250,000 was allocated by the County for grants distribution to the arts sector in response to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” [ArtsFairfax]
Annual Horse Expo on the Horizon — “Calling all horse enthusiasts to the Annual Horse Expo at Frying Pan Farm Park! This massive event is for everyone – experienced riders, beginners, and anyone who loves horses or hopes to become a rider. Trot over to the farm on Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and enjoy the show!” [Fairfax County Park Authority]
It’s Thursday — Thunderstorms late. Overcast. Pleasantly warm. High of 85 and low of 58. Sunrise at 6:45 am and sunset at 7:36 pm. [Weather.gov]
(Updated at 1:55 p.m. on 4/6/2023) There are no “Do not touch” signs associated with the latest artworks installed at Tysons Corner Center.
The five metal sculptures in “Static Dynamism” — an exhibit by Fairfax County-based metal artist, engineer and sculptor J.P. Muller — are designed to be interactive, according to the mall.
Now displayed on the second floor of the Bloomingdale’s wing, Muller’s work is the second installation resulting from Tysons Corner Center’s partnership with ArtsFairfax, the county’s nonprofit arts agency.
The first installation featured paintings that were rescued from Afghanistan or created by artists who were evacuated after the Taliban took control of the country in August 2021. Curated by the street art collective ArtLords, the works were on display throughout January and February.
Announced on Monday (April 3), “Static Dynamism” will get a grand opening from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, April 20. Expected attendees include Muller, ArtsFairfax CEO Linda Sullivan, and Tysons Corner Center Director of Property Management Jesse Benites.
“As the name of the installation suggests, the pieces on display are static but were designed to be interactive and dynamic,” the mall and ArtsFairfax said in a press release. “Each piece changes with the participant’s vantage point as well as ambient conditions of the environment.”
The exhibit will remain on display through May 31.
ArtsFairfax is still accepting applications for future exhibits at Tysons Corner Center, a collaboration that will continue through the end of 2023.
“The goals for this art collaboration between Tysons Corner Center at ArtsFairfax is to create unique and interactive art environments, echo Tysons Corner Center as a contemporary and creative destination, and most importantly, to showcase the talents of local artists and arts organizations,” the press release said.
Descriptions of the individual pieces in “Static Dynamism” from Muller are below.
Mr. Moire’ (Monsuier Moire – Mon Onkle Hienz)
A 5′ wide x 10′ tall homage to the effect (Moire’), An interference pattern created by juxtaposing two patterns against one another. Surface Texture is called swordplay, as the motions were Thrust, Parry, Slash, and stab.
Pin Toy Meditation Wall
As its name suggests, this is a giant toy with which you create your own art. The use is self explanatory as any child would tell you, and as many have already.
Working Mans Coffee Table
Another fun piece built from tools used and parts made from those tools. I pay homage to all those who make things for a living and the tools they use to produce the fruit of their labors.
Fantasma Photonico
Spanish for Ghost of the Light – The various layers of the dichroic show and then hide the layers within it, creating an illusion of what should not be possible, i.e. things that both exist and don’t.
Euclidian Interlude
Named after Euclid – considered the father of geometry. In Euclidian geometry, no two solid objects can occupy the same space simultaneously; these planes intersect each other in ways that should not be possible overlaid with a hand ground pattern that moves with the intersecting light and painted with transparent coloration as another layer of irony.
Fairfax County Public Library’s annual food drive “Read and Feed” is now underway, replacing the “Food for Fines” program.
The county library system is asking residents to drop off “unexpired, commercially produced food items” as well as new, reusable grocery bags and kitchen tools to any of its 23 branches during their regular operating hours.
Last year, “Read and Feed” replaced the “Food for Fines” program after FCPL stopped charging overdue fines on most materials. The program had given library cardholders a reduction on fines based on the number of donated items.
Donations go to the nonprofit Food For Others (FFO), which will then distribute the items across the county. Food For Others provides food to about 3,000 families and meals to 3,500 FCPS students at 44 schools every week, per the county’s press release.
That represents only a small percentage of students in need, though. There are another 13 schools on the waitlist.
There was about a 30% increase in terms of families that FFO helped between 2021 and 2022, FFO’s director of development and outreach Anna Slaten said in a county press release.
It’s anticipated that inflation over the past year will make the need even greater. Relatedly, donations in the summer of 2022 were down 30% from the previous year.
“With inflation, not just our clients are feeling the effects, but our donors are also,” Slaten said.
Additionally, pandemic-era emergency SNAP benefits ended last month, leaving locals looking for even more help.
FFO recently expanded its Merrifield warehouse to address the growing need.
Library branches across the county are accepting pretty much all canned foods, though there are a few items that FFO needs in particular:
- Oil
- Cereal
- Canned tomato products (crushed, peeled, diced, etc.), 4 oz. – 1 lb.
- Canned meat (chicken, turkey, or seafood), 2 oz. – 15 oz.
- Rice, 16 oz. packages
- Spaghetti sauce, 14 oz. – 1 lb. (ideally in cans instead of glass)
- Canned fruit (packed in fruit juice instead of syrup) 11 oz. – 20 oz.
- Dried or canned beans (black, kidney, pinto, etc.)
- Pasta
- Fruit juice (100% juice) 32 oz. – 64 oz.
- New or clean reusable grocery bags
- Can openers
Items not accepted include food that is not labeled, food that’s cooked, opened items, and canned food that is more than three years past its expiration date.
As Wicked Goddess readied for its March 1 opening in the Shops at Avenir Place, founder Rachel Mantha admits she was nervous about how the community would react.
To her relief, residents and other businesses have been fully supportive of the tattoo and body piercing shop since it opened at 2672 Avenir Place, where it sits between a Tropical Smoothie Cafe and MyEyeDr just steps from the Dunn Loring Metro station.
“The local neighborhoods have been super welcoming of us, actually,” Mantha told FFXnow last week. “I was a little concerned whether or not we’d be accepted. You know, tattoo shops…kind of get a bit of a bad rap, but the locals have like been super, super great [about] our presence and stuff there.”
An 11-year veteran of the body art industry who specializes in piercings, Mantha hopes to foster a similarly accepting environment at Wicked Goddess for customers and her all-female team of artists.
As an independent contractor, she was already working under the company name while employed by a different tattoo shop in Fairfax County, but about four years ago, she started contemplating launching her own brick-and-mortar location.
At the time, the body art world was grappling with allegations of abuse, racism and sexual misconduct, as the #MeToo movement spurred customers and artists to share their experiences in an industry that prides itself on being self-regulating and “edgy.”
While she didn’t detail specific experiences, Mantha says many of the artists now at Wicked Goddess came from shops “where not-so-great practices have been established.”
“There’s been a lot of unfortunate events, I guess, is the best way to put it,” she said. “…Unfortunately, a lot of our clients have kind of been in that same boat too, where they came out of a tattoo or a body modification situation feeling like they weren’t heard or like they weren’t actually represented appropriately in their service.”
Wicked Goddess aspires to provide an alternative, inclusive space for female and LGBTQ individuals, as well as people from different cultures. Many of Mantha’s Muslim clients, for instance, will only work with female artists, she says.
Mantha started planning the shop and researching potential locations in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when businesses were required to close. The lack of existing tattoo or piercing shops in the Dunn Loring area and its proximity to Metro made Avenir Place a good fit.
“We wanted to be in a place that was underserved more or less,” Mantha said, noting that many clients and even some staff members “don’t necessarily drive…So, we do get a lot of clients that just having Metro access is super important to them.”
Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week, Wicked Goddess has six service bays and currently employs three tattoo artists, along with Mantha as the piercing specialist and a shop manager who’s also Mantha’s apprentice.
The shop is open to walk-in customers, but Mantha recommends that anyone interested in a specific artist make an appointment, since they can get booked up quickly.
While there are no plans at the moment for additional locations, the shop could expand as it adds more artists and potentially outgrows the approximately 1,500-square-foot space.
“Our base has grown in the last few weeks, it seems, and our presence is much better known, which is just really exciting,” Mantha said. “I think everybody is just excited to kind of take on this new project and be a part of something that’s not common in the industry.”
