Tysons Gymboree Expected to Close — “Children’s clothing retailer Gymboree Group Inc. is expected to seek bankruptcy protection this week, with plans to close all 900 of its stores, according to people familiar with the matter.” The company has a Gymboree location at the Tysons Corner Center mall. [Wall Street Journal]
Black Ice Warning This Morning — From Fairfax County Fire and Rescue: “Be careful walking out your front door as well. Please also walk with caution on sidewalks and parking lots.” [Twitter]
Cybersecurity CEO Gives Up Salary — Moe Jafari, the CEO of Tysons-based cybersecurity company and government contractor Human Touch, has given up his salary to save money during the government shutdown. [WUSA 9]
As the national chain files for bankruptcy, the Performance Bicycle Shop in Pike 7 Plaza is going out of business.
Like the nearby Pier 1 Imports, the imminent closure of the store also means much of the store’s supply is on steep sales. Helmets and other equipment normally sold for over $100 is priced at around $30.
Items in the store range from bicycles, including specialized recumbent bicycles, to smaller bicycle accessories like bells and chain lube. Yesterday (Thursday) was the first day fixtures in the store were also on sale, from wall racks to the vacuum cleaner.
A manager at the store said the business likely has a week or two before it fully closes. He estimated Jan. 27 will be the store’s final day.
Despite the impending closure, staff at the store still maintained a bit of gallows humor. The manager at the store was directing customers to items with the highest sales and asking if any of the people stopping by for accessories needed a bike-rack capable of storing 12 bicycles.
When one woman walked in with a bike broken into three pieces, staff told her that the store was no longer accepting maintenance work and that the shop’s repair team had been recently laid off.
But when she mentioned one of the staff by name, the discombobulated bicycle was recognized as a “special project” and she was directed to the back of the store where the few remaining employees were still helping Tysonians with their bicycle problems.
(Updated 1:40 p.m.) — The Tysons Pier 1 Imports is the latest victim of a series of closures that’s hit the furniture and decor chain.
The store is located at 8311 Leesburg Pike in a shopping center just southwest of the Greensboro Metro station.
Everything in the store, including the fixtures, is on sale. Most discounts range from 20-30 percent off in addition to existing sales. Items in the store range from large furniture and rugs to candles and bath bombs at less than $10.
As of Friday, the store was still around three-quarters full of items for sale, though with one scented air freshener and candle less than when the reporter arrived.
According to a spokesperson for Pier 1 Imports, the Tysons location will close late next month.
“As a matter of practice, we do everything we can to support our associates during this time of transition,” said the spokesperson in an email. “Pier 1 Imports continually reviews new and existing store locations to make sure we’re operating as efficiently as possible. Where necessary, based on that review, we make the strategic business decision to close certain locations on a case-by-case basis.”
(Updated at 4:15 p.m.) The Motherhood Maternity store at Tysons Corner Center is closing.
The maternity clothing retailer is selling merchandise at 75 percent off the regular price leading up to its final day in business on Christmas Eve — Monday, Dec. 24 — but all sales are final. With the discount, leggings and t-shirts are as inexpensive as $2-3.
Other nearby maternity clothing retailers include A Pea in the Pod, which is owned by the same company as Motherhood Maternity, at nearby Tysons Galleria. A selection of Motherhood Maternity and A Pea in the Pod merchandise is also available at the Tysons Corner Center Macy’s store, according to the company’s website.
(Updated 12:20 p.m.) Tysons Corner Center’s ice skating rink will not be making a return to the mall this year.
“We are not having the ice rink this year,” said an employee in the mall’s management office. “I don’t know if there will be one somewhere else, but it will not be on mall property.”
A call to the rink’s phone number reaches a voicemail box thanking guests for a successful 2017-2018 season and saying the rink would return in November, which is no longer the case, we’re told.
The rink has been an annual winter activity at the mall for the fast few years, after its debut in 2015. It was even the site of a marriage proposal in 2016.
Becca Willcox, events and communications manager for Tysons Corner Center, confirmed that the rink would not be returning. Willcox said unpredictable weather and wind made it difficult to keep the rink open for a full season.
If you’re looking for other ice skating rinks in the area though, Tysons Reporter has you covered.
Photo via Facebook
Under the Olive Tree, a purveyor of olive oils and balsamic vinegar, has closed its Tysons Corner store.
The store had closed several times before during frequent relocations around the mall, but the store owners announced that on Sept. 5 the Tysons branch was closed for good. Under the Olive Tree had been in Tysons Corner, in one location or another, for seven years. The Leesburg location at 1603 Village Market Boulevard Southeast will remain.
“Thank you for all your loyalty, support and continuous smiles, they’ve helped us grow our business in the last 7 years!” Under the Olive Tree staff posted on Facebook. “We are so thankful that we have been able to play a role in people’s culinary lives and hope that we can continue to serve you online & at our Leesburg store!”
The store held one final sale on Chilean Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil before the doors closed for good.
Photo via Under the Olive Tree
