(Updated at 11:55 a.m.) Fairfax County has a new plan that could help inform arts venue development in the county for the next 20 years.
Adopted unanimously by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday (July 11), the 49-page Fairfax County Master Arts Plan: Facilities includes an inventory of the county’s arts venues, an examination of gaps in resources, options for funding new facilities and more.
Members of the county board said that, in the past, they have lacked some key information when trying to establish arts facilities.
“We were kind of operating under good guidance, but largely in the dark in terms of some of the technical components and what makes sense and where you do these in the county and in what types of communities, and so the work that the task force has done is amazing,” Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay said.
The facilities plan takes into account the county’s strategic plan, adopted in October 2021. For example, its formulation involved “inclusive engagement,” which the facilities plan says was among the drivers of the strategic plan.
“Extensive analytical data was collected through interviews and personal discussion with a wide range of arts and community leaders, as well as residents of both majority and minority ethnic or racial makeup,” the facilities plan reads.
The facilities plan also aligns with One Fairfax, which is the county government and school board’s racial and social equity policy.
“Equity and diversity goals should be paramount in the development of venues that will support arts activities from ethnically diverse perspectives and approaches,” the plan reads.
Among the plan’s recommendations is an expansion of “support facilities,” which could include vacant buildings converted for temporary arts use and storage facilities for costumes, props and scenery.
A consultant’s study conducted in 2019 as part of the plan found that cost is the top consideration for local arts organizations when they decide what venues to use, leading many to go outside of the county or utilize facilities like churches and community centers that aren’t designed for the arts.
Marketing organizations, venues and specific events is also a challenge, tending to be “cost-labor-time intensive and drastically underfunded.”
Following Capital One Hall’s opening in Tysons in 2021, new venues have been proposed for Fairfax City, Reston, Falls Church City, Chantilly, and the Herndon area, among other sites.
The report also outlines funding possibilities for capital projects, including bond referendums, an entertainment tax and private donations.
The facilities plan came out of work by the Master Arts Plan Task Force, which formed in 2009. Before the board adopted the plan Tuesday, it passed a resolution recognizing the task force “for their achievements.” Members of the task force, including chair Leila Gordon, attended the meeting.
Gordon gave a presentation about the plan to the board’s economic initiatives committee in March. Even as the board accepted the plan at Tuesday’s meeting, members and Gordon noted the plan’s status as a “living document.”
“Now we have a solid plan for supporting the wonderful array of arts venues already available in Fairfax County as well as to realize the venues of the future that will continue to provide encouragement to artists and welcoming spaces for all to enjoy,” Gordon said at the meeting. “This is a living plan designed to achieve our goals while responding to change.”
Dozens of dogs at Fairfax County’s animal shelter have become infected recently by a respiratory illness known informally as “kennel cough.”
While it’s common to see some canine infectious respiratory disease complex (CIRDC) cases, the current wave has been exacerbated by more dogs staying in the shelter for longer periods of time, according to the Fairfax County Animal Shelter (FCAS).
As of yesterday (Thursday), 42 of the 67 dogs in the shelter at 4500 West Ox Road were symptomatic with CIRDC, which has cold-like symptoms such as coughing and a runny nose, Fairfax County Department of Animal Sheltering Director Reasa Currier told FFXnow.
“Every dog has received an individualized treatment plan from our veterinarian and most dogs are improving quickly without the need for medication,” Currier said, describing the symptoms as generally mild.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, CIRDC comes from a variety of viruses and bacteria and is spread through respiratory droplets. Dogs can catch it through close or direct contact with infected animals, sneezing and coughing, and exposure to contaminated objects, such as toys or water bowls.
Kennel cough doesn’t affect humans and other kinds of animals, but it can spread quickly in congregate settings like a shelter, in part because it’s contagious before symptoms appear. The illness also thrives in humidity and is “exacerbated by stress,” FCAS says.
The shelter says it has “robust daily cleaning protocols,” and staff have been “carefully monitoring all dogs for symptoms,” separating those that are symptomatic from the healthy animals.
However, the biggest challenge has been the size of the shelter’s dog population, which neared 100 dogs earlier this summer.
“[There are] more dogs in our care than the staff and facility can adequately support and dogs remaining in our care for extended periods of time,” Currier said. “Our animal population has increased by 25% over the same period last year while the number of days animals spend in our care has also increased as adoptions have slowed.”
Crowding is an issue at shelters nationwide, as some of the over 23 million households that reportedly adopted a pet during the COVID-19 pandemic reevaluate that decision.
The surge in pet surrenders reflects “complex social and economic circumstances,” led by people moving or encountering other housing-related challenges, Currier says. Though 70% of renters in Fairfax County own a pet, many apartments don’t allow pets, place restrictions on the size or breed, or require a fee or deposit.
Increasing costs for veterinary care and pet supplies, particularly food, may also affect someone’s ability to keep their pet, according to Currier.
In the hopes of encouraging adoptions and reducing surrenders, FCAS is promoting its available pets more frequently, reviewing its adoption process to reduce barriers, and providing more resources to pet owners, including free or low-cost vet care and free temporary boarding for those in crisis.
The shelter is also seeking volunteers who can foster large dogs and asking anyone planning to surrender a dog to try to postpone it for at least two more weeks. Owners are advised to ensure their pets are up-to-date on their vaccinations before turning them in.
“There is not one easy solution to the increase in homeless animals, but it is something we must tackle through multipronged efforts,” Currier said. “We appreciate the support we receive from our generous community who keep our pet food pantry stocked and our team of dedicated volunteers and fosters who allow us to continue to provide exceptional, individualized care to every animal who come in the shelter’s doors despite the growing need.”
Train service will be back at the Vienna and Dunn Loring Metro stations, starting Monday (July 17).
The two stations at the western end of the Orange Line have out of commission since June 3 so Metro crews could replace a 40-year-old rail and install fiber-optics cables. The project also affected the West and East Falls Church stations, which reopened on June 26.
“Replacing this section of rail was critical to ensuring the Orange Line is safe and reliable for years to come,” Metro Chief of Infrastructure Andy Off said, announcing the project’s completion. “We appreciate our customers’ patience while we completed this important work to improve our system.”
The rail between the Vienna and Ballston stations was some of the oldest in the Metro system and needed to be replaced “to improve safety and reliability,” according to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
During the second phase of the project, workers replaced nearly 25 miles of rail and removed over 97,000 linear feet of vegetation around the Vienna and Dunn Loring stations. Another 15.5 miles of rail and 42,000 linear feet of vegetation was addressed during the first phase focused on the Falls Church stations.
“Overgrown plants and brush…could cause an obstruction during a storm,” Metro said in its press release.
After the Orange Line stations reopen, the transit agency will shift its construction efforts east to the Green Line between Fort Totten in D.C. and Greenbelt, Maryland:
Summer construction will now move to the Green Line beginning July 22, when Metro will install fiber-optic cable, replace platform edge lighting, and replace power cables and switch machines. Upgrading the switch machines and installation of the new cables will ensure reliable service for years to come.
Green Line stations between Fort Totten and Greenbelt will be closed from Saturday, July 22, to Monday, September 4. Green Line service at Fort Totten will be unavailable July 22 and July 23. Red Line service will remain available at Ft. Totten. Frequent free shuttle buses will replace trains between the affected stations. Customers are advised to allow extra time for their travel. In addition to prominent signage and announcements in the stations and on trains, additional Metro staff will be available to assist customers at the affected stations.
Metro’s train service runs from 5 a.m. to midnight on Monday through Thursday, 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday, 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday, and 7 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.
This weekend, free local shuttles between the Vienna, Dunn Loring and West Falls Church stations will continue to be available during those hours, along with express service between Vienna and West Falls Church.
Dunn Loring riders won’t be entirely free of construction next week. Work to replace two escalators at the station has been underway since mid-March and is expected to continue until the end of October.
Reston Parkway Bridge Repairs Continue — “Motorists can expect delays on Reston Parkway/Route 602 at Sunset Hills Road/Route-675E to continue until Monday afternoon due to emergency bridge work, according to VDOT. A truck traveling southbound on Reston Parkway to the eastbound entrance ramp to the Dulles Toll Road in Reston struck the bridge on Monday morning” [Patch]
Opening Date Set for Lorton Lidl — “The long-awaited Lidl supermarket in Lorton will officially open July 26 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and grand opening celebration…The 30,000 square-foot Lidl will soon be joined by several neighboring retail businesses and a childcare center that are slated to open this fall or winter.” [On the MoVe]
Park Authority Wants Your Selfies — “Grab your friends and your camera and celebrate National Park and Recreation Month! The Fairfax County Park Authority is holding a selfie photo contest from July 24 through July 28 to commemorate this year’s theme ‘Where Community Grows.'” [FCPA]
Vienna OKs Parking Restriction — “Vexed by construction parking near the new Sunrise Senior Living building at 380 Maple Ave., W., and apprehensive about vehicular spillover once that facility opens, residents on Millwood Court, S.E., have pressed Vienna officials for years to impose permit parking on their cul-de-sac. The Vienna Town Council voted 6-1 July 10 to grant them their wish” [Gazette Leader]
Local Students and Seniors Design Cane for Navigating Crosswalks — “Five students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology in Alexandria were named finalists in the Conrad Innovation Challenge for the walking cane they designed with the help of visually impaired people from the Herndon Senior Center.” [Patch]
Herndon Satellite Company Gets Funding Boost — “HawkEye 360, a commercial operator of remote-sensing satellites, announced July 13 it has raised $58 million in new funding. Based in Herndon, Virginia, the company uses radio-frequency data collected by satellites to geolocate electronic emissions and draw insights.” [Space News]
Owner Sought for Annandale Office Building — “A four-story office building at 7023 Little River Turnpike in Annandale is for sale, according to a listing on LoopNet. Known as the Annandale Professional Building, it has 41,944 square feet. It was built in 1973. The listing doesn’t include a sales price.” [Annandale Today]
County Library Hits E-book Milestone — “Fairfax County Public Library celebrated it’s 20 millionth digital checkout last week when one cardholder borrowed ‘Crying In H Mart’ by @Jbrekkie! We are so excited to reach this milestone and are thankful to everyone who helped us get there by supporting us!” [FCPL/Twitter]
It’s Friday — A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2pm and 5pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 5pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 70%. [Weather.gov]
The water tower in central Tysons (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
Fairfax County formalized its partnership with the Tysons Community Alliance earlier this week with a new agreement outlining the community improvement organization’s mission and structure.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MOU) approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday (July 11), the TCA will turn to the county as a primary funding source going forward, even though it will operate independently as a nonprofit.
Tasked with promoting and advocating for Tysons as a community, the alliance will request funding through the county’s annual budget process, but the county has no obligation to fulfill the requests.
The group will also seek supplemental support from grants and “alternative revenue streams,” according to the agreement.
The unique financing model will require the TCA “to show our continued value” not only to Tysons, but also the county as a whole, CEO Katie Cristol told FFXnow in a recent interview. She assumed her position as the organization’s first permanent CEO on July 5.
“There are a lot of competing interests and needs throughout the county,” Cristol said. “…In literal dollars and cents terms, it’s a reinvestment back in Tysons so Tysons can keep delivering even more revenue for the good of the county, but it also, we hope, is going to generate some of these lessons learned that others will benefit from.”
Established last fall with $2.5 million in county funding, the TCA is responsible for implementing the county’s vision for Tysons as a downtown community where people live and work, not just a collection of offices and malls.
As outlined in the MOU, the group’s priorities will be communications and marketing, placemaking, research and business support, and transportation and mobility, including support for infrastructure improvements.
Some of that work is already underway, from community events to an ongoing strategic planning effort. Later this month, the TCA is expected to release an economic market study with data that could help it make the case that Tysons is a worthy investment for the county.
At a Board of Supervisors economic initiatives committee meeting last month, TCA Board of Directors Chair Josh White reported that Tysons brings in 8% of the county’s tax revenue.
“Can we take a small, small share of that and reinvest it back into the Tysons to support that overall growth?” Cristol said. “So, that was part of the idea, and the [TCA] governance is built around really giving government a strong voice.”
Cristol says the local government’s closer involvement separates TCA from similar nonprofit organizations that are typically supported by property or business owners, such Arlington’s business improvement districts.
In addition to potentially providing funding and having representatives on the TCA’s board of directors, the county will require annual reports from the alliance and collaborate on initiatives like public space enhancements, according to Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, who represents much of Tysons.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn, whose district includes a western portion of Tysons, said he had hoped to see the TCA integrated with the existing Tysons Transportation Service District when it comes to funding road, sidewalk and other transportation projects.
“There’s still some work to be done to integrate those two concurrent activities,” he said at the board meeting.
The service district, which is funded by an annual tax on property owners, could complement the TCA’s funding for those projects, but the money won’t necessarily go directly to the alliance, according to Cristol.
Scott Sizer, a division manager in the county’s Department of Economic Initiatives, said the MOU was “written broadly to accommodate any future changes.”
“We hope it is a pilot that will be successful and will lead to other pilots in the county, but there is always a possibility to amend and to terminate,” Palchik said. “An MOU is a legal document, but I think it’s important that we be able to monitor [the TCA’s activities] and continue to ensure and hopefully see success.”
People walk and bike on a bridge at Lake Accotink Park in Springfield (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)
The Fairfax County Park Authority wants feedback on a draft plan to make county parks more equitable and accessible.
County staff is collecting input on its Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Access (PROSA) Strategy through an online survey and two virtual workshops scheduled this month. The second round of community engagement comes as the FCPA prepares to finalize the strategy later this year.
FCPA Director Jai Cole said the strategy will guide the park authority toward improved accessibility, park equity, and a “stronger balance of park experiences countywide.”
“The cutting-edge research which we’ve undertaken, coupled with the valuable insights we’ve received by way of community input, will be invaluable tools in our work to ensure equitable access to our park system,” Cole said.
According to the county, top priorities of the draft PROSA report include:
- Ensuring all community members have access to FCPA parks within a 10-minute walk
- Enhancing access to “complete park experiences”
- Enriching habitat connectivity between environmental corridors
- Analyzing and prioritizing recreation needs and projects with an equity lens, as required by the county’s One Fairfax policy
According to the report, approximately 52% of residents have access to a county park within a 10-minute walk from their home.
Emphasizing its vision of ensuring residents can get to a park without driving, the report states that barriers can include the presence of large roadways with limited pedestrian crossings, a lack of sidewalks, remote park entryways and natural features, such as a stream or forested area.
“Opportunities to remove barriers and improve park access range from adding a trailhead or a new park entrance where feasible, to partnering with an agency to add a crosswalk, or acquiring parkland,” the PROSA report says.
Enhancing accessibility is also about improving the access visitors have to active, “passive,” social and natural or cultural recreation, according to the report, which proposes that the park authority develop parks with limited activities, acquire parkland, and collaborate with other public agencies to achieve its goal.
The objective of enriching habitat connectivity is centered on preserving and enhancing the county’s current and future natural environment.
“Improving habitat connectivity is a critical strategy for addressing habitat loss and fragmentation, a top threat to biodiversity,” the report reads.
The FCPA will identify sites where habitat health could improve, plant trees to bolster area with lower tree canopy, and consider opportunities to improve habitat connectivity when acquiring parkland.
The report commits the park authority to considering “racial and social equity and population density when prioritizing park and recreation needs and projects in order to diminish racial and social inequities within our community.”
The first round of community engagement on the PROSA strategy wrapped up last fall. The virtual workshop for the second round of community engagement is scheduled for July 18 and July 25. Comments through the online survey will be accepted through Aug. 6.
Registration for the online survey and workshops is available on the PROSA webpage.
An expanding hair salon chain from Maryland has chosen to set up its first Virginia location in the Town of Vienna.
Later this year, Symmetry Salon Studios will open a 3,925-square-foot space (262 Cedar Lane, Suite N) at the Cedar Park Shopping Center, which is also getting the gym Starfit Studio.
Started in Bethesda in 2012, Symmetry advertises itself as an “elevated” experience for “elite stylists,” per its tagline.
“Vienna doesn’t have that today,” Symmetry CEO and founder Tom Ruder said. “We’ve done our research and there’s nobody in the marketplace that can kind of provide that. And [when] we say Vienna, it’s not only Vienna, but it’s also Tysons and Merrifield, the Mosaic District.”
Deviating from the commission-based approach of traditional hair salons, Symmetry is stylist-owned and operated, according to Ruder. It provides rental studios for individual stylists, while the company handles the business operations, including landlord discussions and facility maintenance.
That gives each stylist flexibility over the services they provide, the ambience and their working hours, since they will have around-the-clock access to their studio, Ruder said.
“They get to decide…what works for them,” he said. “So, someone might have a wedding and they’re going to come in early on a Saturday morning and do the wedding party, would just be one example, or someone’s got a client who’s out of town and they can only visit at 11 o’clock at night or 2 in the morning. They could come in and provide a service at that time.”
Leasing is already underway for the Vienna location, which will have 23 studios for 26 stylists.
The front desk will be staffed for about 80 hours each week during the busiest times of the day, and there will be a beverage bar with coffee, tea, soda and water for patrons waiting for an appointment, which Ruder says is intended to create a “luxurious feel.”
That emphasis on comfort extends to how Symmetry’s locations are constructed, Ruder told FFXnow, highlighting the use of wide hallways and concrete floors “padded” with tile.
“The stylists stand on their feet all day long and it’s really bad for their feet,” he said. “It’s bad for their posture, and it’s uncomfortable. So, we focused on that and spent a tremendous amount of research and time to get the floors so they’re comfortable.”
The company is in the process of obtaining permits from Fairfax County and Vienna. Once that is complete, Ruder anticipates the build-out will take another 12 to 14 weeks for a potential opening this fall.
The Vienna location will be Symmetry’s fifth, joining sites in Bethesda, Rockville, Annapolis and Gaithersburg.
Comparing the expansion plans to Morton’s The Steakhouse, rather than McDonald’s, Ruder says the company is seeking to add one to three locations a year. Though he couldn’t give details about ongoing negotiations with landlords, Fairfax, Loudoun, Arlington, Manassas and Woodbridge are “all in play,” along with D.C.
“We’ve looked for years to try to make it into Virginia and we’re thrilled with our opportunity in Vienna,” Ruder said.
Visitors to Fairfax County’s website may have noticed that it recently got a digitized makeover.
Going live on Monday, June 3, the website update offers a range of upgraded services, including a bilingual virtual assistant with added Spanish language features and a “more readily available” language translation tool. Plans for the update were announced late last year.
Users can now also access a new email newsletter subscription management platform, giving “County agencies the ability to share more visually compelling content via email and text” and expand their “electronic outreach,” a county spokesperson told FFXnow.
The website’s homepage also got a facelift, focusing more heavily on the county’s Strategic Plan, One Fairfax and data analytics. The updated homepage further strives to foster more community involvement through an Engage Fairfax County portal.
Direct links to popular County services, such as real estate assessments, the PLUS land use and permit database, library access and park classes, continue to feature prominently on the homepage, the county says.
While information, links, site structure and department content remain the same, the county strove to update the visual presentation of the website’s information through “a new color palette and more modern elements,” the county said.
These costless changes were largely driven by feedback acquired from a 2022 public survey, which was used to create a draft design that the county says “received accolades from employees and the community.”
However, since the update launch, some website users have reported experiencing technical difficulties. For some, navigating the website prompted error messages that denied them further access to certain webpages.
“As with the launch of any new design of a website, the traffic to view and use the new site increases, which might have caused users to experience some challenges,” the county spokesperson told FFXnow. “We apologize to our customers that experienced any problems. We will continue to monitor and optimize performance.”
Army Acquisition of Mason Neck Land Halted — The Army had recommended a transfer of 50 acres of public land in the Meadowood Special Recreation Management Area “for long-term usage” by horses in its Caisson Platoon, which supports military funerals at Arlington National Cemetery. Congress dropped the language from its draft defense budget after an outcry from the community. [On the MoVe]
Overhaul of Virginia Education Funding Recommended — “Virginia’s complicated formula for funding K-12 schools needs an overhaul in order for the state to adequately fund public education, according to the results of a major legislative study presented Monday…School divisions receive 14% less funding from the state than the 50-state average, JLARC found, equal to about $1,900 less per student.” [Virginia Mercury]
Nonprofit Documents Black History of Bailey’s Crossroads — “The Springdale neighborhood in Bailey’s Crossroads has long been the center of a flourishing Black community…Julius Smith, who grew up in the neighborhood, is working on documenting that history for a nonprofit he founded called the Black American Registry of Bailey’s Crossroads.” [Annandale Today]
Housing Prices Elevated as Sales Decline — “The Fairfax County real-estate market stayed above the billion-dollar mark in June, according to new data, as the average sales price among single-family homes remained above $1 million.” As of July 11, sales were down 18% from last year, continuing a trend fueled by “a combination of affordability and availability issues.” [Gazette Leader]
County Board Honors Title-Winning Madison Baseball Team — “On Tuesday, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors honored the Madison High School baseball team for winning the Virginia Class 6 state title over Westfield High School. Coach Mark ‘Pudge’ Gjormand and the team were present to accept the board’s resolution.” [Patch]
GMU Adds Pickleball Courts at Fairfax Campus — “Join us Tuesday, July 18 for the Grand Opening of the Mason Recreation Pickleball courts! The event will include learn-to-play sessions, drills, and open play until 9:30 pm. The Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place at 12:45 pm by Pam Patterson.” [GMU]
Winning Lottery Ticket Bought in Vienna — “Typically, [George Katan] plays the $50 and $30 tickets, but this time, he decided to buy a $20 Multiplier Mania ticket. That decision paid off in a big way because Katan won the $1 million top prize with the ticket purchased his ticket at the 7-Eleven at 1931 Old Gallows Road in Vienna.” [Daily Voice]
Northern Virginia Businesses Celebrate Bastille Day — Restaurants in Reston and Great Falls are among the local businesses commemorating Bastille Day, the French national holiday marking the fall of the Bastille on July 14, 1789 and the beginning of the French Revolution. “In France, Bastille Day on July 14 is often honored with parades, dancing, and fireworks.” [Northern Virginia Magazine]
It’s Thursday — Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. South wind 7 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. At night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. South wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. [Weather.gov]
Tysons Galleria may be closer to fully realizing its visions of luxury than ever before after a reportedly successful redevelopment of its former Macy’s store.
Created by subdividing the 260,000-square-foot department store, which closed in January 2019, the new wing is “effectively 100% leased” and has helped expand the mall’s offerings, particularly when it comes to home decor and entertainment, according to owner and developer Brookfield Properties.
“I think the Macy’s redevelopment is a great example of what Brookfield does,” Joe Hope, Brookfield’s senior vice president of leasing, said. “We took a 30-plus-year-old department store and reimagined that into a collection of categories and uses that we felt would be an additive to our merchandizing mix.”
Over the past couple of years, Tysons Galleria has doubled down on the high-end retailers that have cemented its reputation as the upscale cousin to its neighbor across Route 123, Tysons Corner Center.
Recent additions have ranged from fashion brands like Dior and Balenciaga to a slew of furniture stores, including Arhaus and a combined Crate & Barrel and CB2. The renovated wing also hosts Bowlero, the dine-in movie theater CMX CinéBistro and the restaurants, Yard House and Jiwa Singapura.
Though Brookfield didn’t provide specific numbers, Hope says that, so far, the sales performance of those newcomers “has exceeded our and their expectations,” noting that some tenants like Crate & Barrel had relocated from other sites in the area.
“A number of those brands existed in the trade area and just repositioned from prior locations to Tysons Galleria,” he told FFXnow. “Those stores, they’ve reported to us are generating significantly higher sales. So, it really proves the mix of the environment that we created in that wing is working for them.”
Far from being an obstacle, Tysons Galleria’s commitment to luxury retail buoyed it through the economic turmoil spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Hope and Brookfield Senior Director of Leasing Elizabeth Ryan.
In general, luxury brands have been relatively insulated from the impacts of inflation and other financial challenges, with research indicating customer demand across income levels, Retail Dive reported in February.
Whether that continues remains to be seen, as some companies reported slowing sales in late 2022, and a survey by the consulting firm PwC found that 53% of consumers plan to reduce spending on premium and designer products.
Like other malls in urban metro areas, Tysons Galleria took some hits when businesses shut down and office workers shifted to their homes early in the pandemic, but there hasn’t been any “sustained negative impact,” Hope says.
According to Ryan, the mall still sees its heaviest traffic on weekends, but working from home has afforded many customers more flexibility with their schedules, resulting in “some really nice pops” on weekdays.
The mall’s expansion into entertainment has also been “a wonderful addition,” she said, citing some families who have ventured to Tysons from downtown D.C. for kids’ parties at Bowlero.
“It’s really been an interesting and very exciting phenomenon and being able to offer these entertainment options that just didn’t exist before,” Ryan said. “I think there’s also been some anecdotal evidence that suggests the guests at the Ritz Carlton also enjoy the options that we are providing…That is a broadly international customer that the Ritz brings to Tysons Galleria.”
The Galleria has experienced some bumps. The departure of Urbanspace earlier this year, for example, turned the third-floor food hall into a void, with Andy’s Pizza, Empanadas De Mendoza and Twelve Twenty Coffee as the only remaining vendors.
However, Ryan says Brookfield has “very exciting plans” for that third level.
“I think you can safely say it’ll be in the next 12 to 18 months,” Hope said on when details about those plans will be announced. “…There’s a runway of time needed to exit a strategy before you can kick off the replacement strategy, so we’re well underway with that as we speak.”
Upcoming tenants that the property owner can confirm include the fashion brands Dolce & Gabbana, Marc Jacobs, St. John, Rhone and Indochino, along with an Alo Yoga studio. All of them are expected to open in time for the winter holiday shopping season, which typically kicks off around Thanksgiving.
With luxury retail “enjoying some really, really strong tailwinds,” the pandemic hasn’t altered Brookfield’s vision for Tysons Galleria, Ryan says.
“We will continue to curate the best in class, high-performing luxury retail,” she said. “That will also be alongside…really exciting food and beverage concepts, up-market entertainment options and high-quality local and regional businesses.”
