Union Pie will be expanding to Vienna roughly a year after opening its original stand-alone location at the Wharf in D.C.
The eatery’s new location will take over the soon-to-be-former spot of South Block at Jammin Java (227 E. Maple Avenue).
Union Pie specializes in thin-crust, bar-style pizza, according to its website.
The location is expected to open by late February or early March, according to Lana Mahmoud, a spokesperson for Union Pie and Jammin Java.
Though Jammin Java already serves Union Pie pizza, the new location will now offer a full menu — nearly identical to that of the D.C. location, Mahmoud told Tysons Reporter.
“We are looking at adding a few smaller items to supplement the menu, but the pizzas will remain identical,” she said. “Those won’t change anytime soon.”
Mahmoud said that the owners hope that there will be a “quick 48-hour transition” between the time South Block leaves Jammin Java and Union Pie moves into its place.
Both Union Pie, Jammin Java and its affiliate Union Stage are owned by the three Brindley brothers who opened Jammin Java in 2001.
Photo via Union Pie/Facebook
South Block plans to leave its current location at Jammin Java for a new spot in the Town of Vienna.
The juice and smoothie bar will take over the space that Starbucks previously filled at (207 E. Maple Avenue), according to Lana Mahmoud, a Jammin Java spokesperson.
South Block plans to open in the spring of 2020, according to its website.
The business originally applied for building permits to revamp the location’s interior and redesign the exterior in early December, according to Fairfax County documents.
An opening date and future hours of operation have not been announced yet.
Photo via South Block/Facebook
Updated 12/20/19 — Six occupants were displaced because of the fire, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue said in an update today (Friday).
Red Cross services were offered but declined. Damages as a result of the fire were approximately $1,059,612, the fire department said.
Updated at 5:20 p.m. — Maple Avenue has reopened, the Town of Vienna tweeted.
Firefighters extinguished a fire in a house in the Vienna area, which closed Maple Avenue for a few hours.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue tweeted about the fire in the 8700 block of Westwood Forest Lane around 1:45 p.m. today (Thursday). “All occupants are accounted for,” the tweet said.
“Due to an active house fire in Fairfax County, Maple Avenue is closed to traffic in both directions from Niblick Drive to St. Andrews Drive,” the Town of Vienna’s tweeted around 2 p.m. Westbound lanes reopened about 30 minutes later.
Around 3 p.m., the fire department said that the fire was out. “Fire investigators on scene to determine cause. One firefighter transported to area hospital with minor injury,” the tweet said.
Photos from scene of a house fire in the 8700 block of Westwood Forest Lane in Vienna. #FCFRD #FairfaxCounty pic.twitter.com/jsG1fUybU9
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) December 19, 2019
Units are on scene of a house fire in the 8700 block of Westwood Forest Lane in Vienna. Crews arrived to find fire showing from the home. All occupants are accounted for. pic.twitter.com/OeM5QgaViE
— Fairfax County Fire/Rescue (@ffxfirerescue) December 19, 2019
Image via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Twitter; map via Google Maps
Updated at noon — An employee at Thai’s Corner Restaurant told Tysons Reporter that it has closed permanently.
Earlier: Diners seeking Thai food will have to find an alternative to Thai’s Corner Restaurant, which appears to have closed its Tysons spot.
The restaurant (8607 Westwood Center Drive) served a variety of sushi, soups, fish and curries by the Spring Hill Metro station, according to its Facebook page.
The inside of the restaurant appeared disheveled today (Thursday), with letters and mail piling up on the floor just on the other side of the front door, along with furniture missing. A sign in the window said, “Sorry we’re closed.”
A server at a nearby business said that he ate at the restaurant about a month ago. A tipster told Tysons Reporter that the restaurant was closed earlier this week.
Tysons Reporter reached out to the business owner but has not heard back.
Hat tip to Mia O.
Nearly two acres of land next to Thomas Jefferson Elementary School could become anything from community gardens to a public park.
Officials have hired a contractor to demolish the property at 604 S. Oak Street, kicking off the process to reclassify the 1.95-acre parcel from “low-density residential” to “parks and open space,” the city said in a press release.
“The land came into play following the passing of its long-time occupant, Betty Fellows, and moves by their heirs to subdivide it with an eye to multiple residential home uses,” the Falls Church News-Press reported.
Per city officials, the land is not on the official registry of historic homes in the city.
In the press release, officials stated that “staff worked with both local and regional organizations to determine ways to deconstruct or salvage any items of value.”
Once the land is cleared, it will be added to the Master Park Planning process, which will begin in the spring of 2020.
The land leaves the city with a plethora of options — it could become either open space, a public park, a new school or a community garden, among other options. Members of the public are invited to become involved and share input.
“Parks, open space, and recreational facilities are critical components of a community’s quality of life and the health of its citizens,” city officials said in a statement. “Parks provide social, environmental, and economic benefits.”
The city is also in the process of updating the nearby Oak Street Bridge after it was damaged from flooding in July.
Image via Google Maps
Haycock Elementary School recently told families who will head the school for the time being after the school’s newly hired principal faces charges related to alleged abuse of students at a different school.
Scott Bloom was hired as the principal for Haycock Elementary School in Falls Church in August and was placed on leave in September involving a personnel matter.
Bloom, a 39-year-old Reston resident, was indicted for allegedly failing to report assaults on students with intellectual disabilities during his time as the principal at Freedom Hill Elementary School in Vienna.
August Frattali became the interim principal in September.
In a letter to Haycock families on Monday (Dec. 16), Region 2 Assistant Superintendent Fabio Zuluaga said that Frattali will continue that role.
“We are in the process of updating the policy and regulation that covers the procedures for reporting cases of suspected child abuse or neglect to ensure that all of us understand our reporting obligations,” Zuluaga said in the letter.
More from the letter:
FCPS Administration was made aware of these allegations in September, following Mr. Bloom’s appointment at Haycock. Staff members under investigation were immediately removed from their positions and placed on leave for the duration of the investigation.
We are saddened and distressed by these allegations involving our employees. There is no greater responsibility of a school system than the safety and well-being of our students and, as a result of these incidents, we have learned that we need to do more. Our teachers and staff have been trained annually in best practices and legal requirements regarding mandated reporting of suspected abuse and received additional training this year to reinforce reporting requirements.
Image via Google Maps, photo via FCPS
The Vienna Town Council was set to hear proposed ideas for how to improve transportation along Maple Avenue area on Monday night — but that discussion got pushed to next year.
Town staff was slated to present recommendations from the Maple Avenue Multimodal Study — a study by Kimley-Horn meant to suggest near- to mid-term solutions regarding transportation along the corridor. But the study wasn’t ready.
Lynne Coan, a spokesperson for the town, told Tysons Reporter that now the discussion of the study and recommendations have been postponed to the Jan. 13 work session.
Town staff already have a list of top priorities they want, along with ideas for future studies and strategies.
Cotton On, an Australian retailer, is looking to come to Tysons Corner Center.
Known for its clothing and stationery brands, Cotton On has a global presence with thousands of stores.
In 2016, the Los Angeles Times reported that the retailer has more than 1,400 stores in 18 countries and just over 100 store in the U.S.
Permits with Fairfax County for a “new tenant layout” at 7872 Tysons Corner Center popped up this week.
Can’t wait for the Tysons location to open? The closest store is at Fair Oaks Mall.
Image via Cotton On/Facebook
After a chase, Fairfax County police caught the woman they say robbed a CVS near Glory Days Grill.
The incident happened around 9 p.m. on Monday (Dec. 16) at 3053 Nutley Street.
Police say a woman went into the store and demanded money from the cashier.
“A woman matching her description was later seen in the area of another CVS in Annandale and officers attempted a traffic stop,” according to the report. “The driver sped off and hit another car before fleeing on foot.”
Police chased and caught a 35-year-old woman from Delaware and charged her with robbery and felony hit and run.
Image via Google Maps
A few local organizations are working to help people struggling financially.
In Fairfax County, around 56,000 people face food insecurity, according to Feeding America, which means that roughly 5% of the population struggles to feed themselves and their families.
Females from ages 25 to 34 are the largest group living in poverty in Fairfax County, according to data from Data USA.
Food For Others in Merrifield and SHARE of McLean are two organizations working have holiday donation drives.
SHARE of McLean began serving the community in 1967 and continues to fight food insecurity, helping people obtain clean and functional clothing, assisting with holiday celebrations for those in need and hosting fundraising events.
In November, SHARE of McLean collected holiday wishes from people who qualified for assistance. Many of the people who requested assistance included families with young children under 3 years old, and the group is now calling on the community to help put together care packages or donate.
The organization also released a list of high priority food items in December 2019, which include canned fruit, cereals, dry beans, pasta, vegetable oil, coffee and tea.
People seeking assistance with food or clothing can visit the center (1367 Chain Bridge Road) and must either bring a photo ID and piece of mail. Hours of operation are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. until noon. The center will be closed during the week of Dec. 23.
Meanwhile, Food For Others also supports the community with food supplement programs.
Tomorrow, and every Thursday, people registered can come to the corner of Ellison and Irving streets in Falls Church at 5:45 p.m. to pick up food.
NoVA residents may also show up at the organization’s warehouse (2938 Prosperity Avenue) from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those who think they may be eligible for help can bring a photo ID and piece of mail to register or receive a referral before their visit.
Britepaths in Fairfax is another organization that assists people struggling with poverty and food insecurity. Though the majority of clients are referred to them by social workers, people can also request assistance individually.
Photo via Food for Others/Facebook
