Come this Sunday, Mad Fox Brewing Company will close its doors in Falls Church.

CEO and Executive Brewer Bill Madden announced the closure earlier in July on Facebook right before the brewpub’s ninth anniversary.

Madden, who got his start at Capitol City Brewing Company before working at Founders and Vintage 50, opened Mad Fox Brewing Company in 2010, taking inspiration from Euro gastro brewpubs.

Just days away from closing, Madden shared with Tysons Reporter more details about the closure and some of his favorite memories at Mad Fox Brewing Company.

Tysons Reporter: What comes next?

Bill Madden: For me? I’m thinking about whether I do something else — another type of brewing project — because that’s what I’m trained to do or whether I go into what they call ally trade.

I really haven’t had a chance to think about it that much because we were working hard to try to make this happen, and I couldn’t go public with anything until last Tuesday so I couldn’t really reach out and talk to people for fear that it might tip the scale or reveal my hand.

It’s tough when you have a business that you know is about to close. You have to do it the right way and we wanted to talk to the bank, talk to the landlord let them know so it wouldn’t be a big surprise and let our management team and let our employees know. And then we went to the public rather than surprising everybody and locking the door.

TR: It sounded like from the Facebook post that the reason why you’re closing is because of the abundance of breweries that have popped up in the area. Is that why?

BM: Well the result is our sales have reached a historic low and as much as the landlord and bank were trying to work with us, we couldn’t come to anything that was even break even. When you’re at that point, you have to say, “It’s time to close.”

So what has happened since the rules were changed in 2012 and it’s specific to Senate Bill 604 — that a food component was not required to sell a pint of beer. Once that happened, we had a whole number of breweries that opened up.

When that changed, we went from 40 breweries in the state of Virginia to 250 plus and we’ve slowly seen our beer sales go down each year from then.

TR: It looked like from the Facebook comments that several breweries around the area were thanking you for your support and your help.

BM: We were at the forefront. We were at the beginning of this new explosion of breweries or whatever you want to call it. So a lot of those brewers came through here asking questions, asking how you do it. And I was always willing to help and talk to people and be very honest about what we were doing here. And a lot of folks learned from us and then a lot of folks learned from those people.

I wasn’t the first brewery in Virginia. And there were other breweries that paved the way before me — Jerry Bailey of Old Dominion and Tom Martin of Legend Brewing in Richmond.

TR: But you were the first brewery in Falls Church.

BM: Yes — ever, that I can find record of. I always like to do a little historical research on any location I’ve worked in. Unless some of the taverns in the colonial period brewed their own, we were the first in Falls Church.

TR: There are 450 plus comments on the Facebook post.

BM: I never realized so many people had their first dates here or maybe proposed here or had their rehearsal dinner here. Or decided to have kids. There was one person who said they decided to have kids here. And I was like, “Oh my god! That’s an interesting conversation to have in our brewpub.”

It’s bittersweet. We have a lot of memories and we have a lot to be proud of. We hold our heads high for everything that we did. We collaborated with local businesses. We had rehearsal dinners and birthdays and parties.

TR: What are your fondest memories looking back over the last nine years?

BM: The early days when everything was still very new and fresh and a lot of breweries were starting to open up. We would hold events here with those [new] brewers — DC Brau, Port City, Three Stars. All of them that had started after us that were so excited and so eager to promote themselves and we were the space that did it for them in the early days. And a lot of those guys and gals came through here and gave us a lot of great experiences and now a lot of them are very, very successful.

TR: How was the anniversary party last Saturday?

BM: It was unbelievable busy — business like we haven’t seen since we opened. Probably was many [people] as the fire marshall would allow. There’s been a great outpouring of love. I think what’s happened — it’s affirmation for what we did in the beginning.

We would have folks who would come from great distances away — Vienna, Centreville, Reston — to come and experience what we had to offer here because there wasn’t anything like that in their area. Since the growth of all the breweries, now they have a brewery in their town that maybe they go to, but they remember what a great time they had here. And they realized they had a limited time to experience that again, and they’ve been showing a lot of love.

TR: Many commenters said they are going to miss the Orange Whip IPA. Do you have a favorite beer?

BM: They’re all my children.

As its nine-year anniversary celebration nears, Mad Fox Brewing Company plans to close in Falls Church in less than two weeks.

Yesterday (Tuesday), the brewpub’s Facebook page had the following message:

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I inform you of the closure of Mad Fox Brewing Company. Our last day of business will be Sunday, July 21st.

The decision to close has been an extremely difficult one to make. We have witnessed restaurant competition in the 2.2 square mile Falls Church City become fierce since our opening in 2010 with multiple businesses opening in the last year alone. As much as we tried to compete, there are an overwhelming number of choices for the local population. Sales have been on a slow decline over the last several years and, unfortunately, staying open is no longer sustainable.

On the brewing side of our business we continue to see more breweries opening in Virginia with two new Taprooms setting up shop within a mile of Mad Fox in the last year. When we opened in 2010, there were 40 breweries in Virginia. Now there are close to 250. The Brewpub business model is a tough one to maintain compared to a Brewery Taproom with little overhead, lower rents and outsourced food trucks. Our draw from the surrounding areas has dwindled in what has become an extremely competitive craft beer market, which has resulted in this final decision.

We attempted to work with our Bank and our Landlord for more favorable terms and while both were willing, we ultimately could not come to agreement that would allow Mad Fox to be break even or better.

We plan a closure date of Sunday, July 21st; however, we plan to continue with our 9 year Anniversary Party on Saturday, 13 July to honor you, our investors, our staff and the Falls Church Community. Words cannot express how proud I am of the Mad Fox legacy and the opportunity to be a member of such a wonderful community, if even for a short while. We opened the first brewpub in the City of Falls Church and have won numerous medals at the Great American Beer Festival as well as the Virginia Beer Cup. We have celebrated christenings, birthdays, weddings, retirements and many holiday gatherings. You, our guests, along with our spectacular Mad Fox team have enabled us to build tremendous notoriety over 9 years in business. I thank you for allowing Mad Fox to be a part of your lives. Thank you for your years of support and I hope to see you at the Pub in the coming weeks.

Sincerely,

Bill Madden
CEO and Executive Brewer, Mad Fox Brewing Company

With more than 350 comments on the post as of 8 a.m. today (Wednesday), many people grieved the closure announcement, saying they would miss a favorite place to frequent and the food and beer — especially the Orange Whip IPA.

“I have so many fond memories and so enjoyed the beer, food & ambiance. It is a sad day indeed. Thank you Bill,” one person wrote.

“So very sad to read this post… we have been fans of Mad Fox since 2015 and have brought family and friends over the years,” another commenter said. “We loved the food (especially the meatloaf and the frickles!), the beer (my favorite is Orange Whip) and all the wonderful events and celebrations.”

“My girlfriend and I had our first date at Mad Fox in 2011. We always enjoyed stopping in for the good food and great beer or the special events,” wrote another person.

Several brewery founders commented under the post thanking Madden for his support for their breweries.

Stein Sellier, the president and president of Beltway Brewing Company in Sterling, wrote, “I am grateful for all you did to help me start Beltway and all the advice you’ve shared over the years — I know I am not alone.”

Sarah Meyers, one of the founders of BadWolf Brewing Company, also thanked Madden for supporting BadWolf in the early days. “You guys brew excellent beer and we support you and Jeremy [Meyers] and I are here if you need anything or someone to talk to… we love you guys,” Meyers wrote.

Inspired by Euro gastro brewpubs, Mad Fox Brewing Company opened its pub and on-site brewery July 2010 in downtown Falls Church.

Over nine years, Mad Fox Brewing Company racked up more than three dozen awards and accolades.

The brewpub plans to celebrate its anniversary on Saturday (July 13), from 11 a.m.-close with rare beers on tap, live music and a glass giveaway at 444 W. Broad Street, Suite I.

Photos via Mad Fox Brewing Company/Facebook

The Tysons branch of Huntington Learning Center (HLC) — in the spotlight after the arrest and death of the franchise owner — has permanently closed.

The trouble for the school started in April when Jeffrey Cummins, the owner of the HLC franchise in Tysons, was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting two of his former students. The Fairfax County Police Department (FCPD) said the abuse took place in Cummins’ Annandale home, not at the school.

But after the arrest, more assault charges were added. Cummins was out on a bond but didn’t turn himself into the Fairfax County jail as ordered. Last Wednesday, June 19, Cummins was found dead near Warsaw, Virginia.

The Tysons HLC at 8290 Old Courthouse Road briefly closed after the arrest was announced, though it reopened a few weeks later in early May.

Now, the facility has been permanently closed. A representative for HLC said students at the program have been offered the opportunity to transfer to other locations.

The media contact for HLC said parents interested in continuing instruction can call Huntington Learning Center in Fairfax at 571-310-0180 and all parents have “received communication” about obtaining a refund from the franchise.

Chef Geoff’s will soon say goodbye to its Tysons spot in less than two weeks.

Geoff Tracy, who runs the Tysons location and almost a dozen other restaurants, told Tysons Reporter that the restaurant will close on Friday, June 21, after 10 years at 8045 Leesburg Pike.

Tracy said that the decision not to renew the lease prompted the upcoming closure — something that he said he’s known about for a while. “It would require a massive investment [to stay],” he said.

Tracy said he’s open to looking at locations with “plenty of parking and inexpensive rent” for another Tysons restaurant. Most of the Tysons staff have been placed in the other restaurants he manages, he said.

In an email to customers, Geoff reminisced on memorable events at the Tysons spot — kicking off the restaurant with a fundraiser for Children’s Hospital in June 2009, winning a RAMMY for Hottest Restaurant Bar Scene and achieving a “legal victory over the state of Virginia’s happy hour restrictions.”

The original Chef Geoff’s is in northwest D.C. at 3201 New Mexico Avenue. Tracy also co-owns Cafe Deluxe, which has a location in Tysons at 1800 International Drive.

“It was a nice run in Tysons for the last 10 years,” Tracy said.

Image via Google Maps

(Updated at 3:20 p.m. on 6/7/19) Wetzel’s Pretzels is no longer serving up pretzels in the lower level of Tysons Corner Center.

The pretzel chain’s website no longer lists the Tysons location, and the mall directory is now missing Wetzel’s Pretzels.

Tysons Reporter has not heard back from mall operator Macerich on when the pretzel place closed.

The food court area has two other vacancies.

The local Korean eatery Mixing Bowl and the local branch of the organic salad chain Sweet Leaf Cafe both had closed up in early May. Falafel Inc., a D.C. based restaurant, will fill Mixing Bowl’s former spot.

No word yet on what will replace Wetzel’s Pretzels.

The local Korean eatery Mixing Bowl and the local branch of the organic salad chain Sweet Leaf Cafe are both closed in Tysons Corner Center.

Since 2012, Mixing Bowl served Korean-style tacos, wraps and bibimbap in the first-floor food court. The restaurant offered a variety of vegetarian and vegan-friendly dishes for less than $10.

A wrap around the front of the store shows that the restaurant is soon to be replaced by a new Falafel Inc. — a D.C. based restaurant that donates a percentage of its profits to support refugees.

But just around the corner, there are no signs for what’s coming next for Sweet Leaf Cafe. The windows still tell visitors to sign up for the app, and the woodwork above the doorframe still faintly shows where the restaurant sign had been hanging.

In the meantime, there’s also Sweet Leaf Cafes at 262 Maple Avenue E. in Vienna and 1359 Chain Bridge Road in McLean. For anyone else looking for vegan or vegetarian options, here is a by-no-means-comprehensive list.

It’s been a long time coming, but Vienna’s two existing Starbucks are closing down as the chain readies to open a drive-thru location a few blocks away at 367 Maple Ave E.

On Sunday, April 28, both of the Starbucks along Maple Avenue will be permanently closing.

“We would like to thank you for being a part of our store community,” Store Manager Jesus Torres said in a sign posted on the store’s front door. “You are the heart of who we are at Starbucks. It has been a great pleasure to connect with you every day. We are very thankful to have played a role in your daily routine and that you have shared these moments of your life with us.”

The new Starbucks location is planned to open Thursday, May 2.

If you absolutely, positively, cannot go four days without Starbucks, the closest nearby locations are one at 2930 Chain Bridge Road in Oakton and one at 8381 Leesburg Pike in Tysons.

After the franchise owner for the Huntington Learning Centers in Tysons and Springfield was arrested yesterday for sexual abuse of children, the company announced the locations will close.

Jeffrey Cummins, a local music teacher, was arrested at Dulles International Airport yesterday and faces eight felony counts of indecent liberties by a custodian against children.

The Tysons facility operates in the Centennial Plaza shopping center at 8290 Old Courthouse Road. According to the company’s website, the facility has been open for 23 years.

The Huntington Learning Center was quick to note that the abuse did not occur inside the centers, but will close the facilities regardless. According to a statement from CEO Eileen Huntington:

“Today we were made aware of allegations of abuse that occurred inside the home of one of our franchise owners in the Washington, DC area. We are shocked and appalled by this alleged behavior and are actively cooperating with police and investigators to the fullest extent possible. Our mission has always been to provide a safe and supportive environment for students, and although the alleged abuse did not occur inside one of our centers, we have nevertheless made the decision to close these two centers until further notice.”

Police say the nearly year-long investigation started when a juvenile disclosed that he had been inappropriately touched by Cummins over several years. A second victim came forward in January and said he too had been abused, police said in a press release.

When the locations will close and how many students will be affected by the closure remains unknown.

Photo via Fairfax County Police Department

Longtime Vienna furniture retailer Posh! is departing its longtime Maple Avenue home and offering a farewell warning that the town is on the cusp of losing its small retail.

Posh! started 37 years ago with an interior design focus aimed at filling the need for high-end residential clients. Now, store owner Mary Anne Antonides is closing down the sprawling location in Vienna and says traffic, parking, and the pressures of new developments are all partially to blame.

During early afternoons, Antonides says it can take an hour just to get across town, which deters people from traveling to Vienna.

“In Vienna, we’re losing our independent stores,” Antonides said. “We lost the shops along Church Street.”

It isn’t the first time Vienna traffic has been a problem for Posh! Antonides said the store relocated off of its original Church Street location because there wasn’t enough parking to support local retail.

“When the Mill Street parking deal fell apart, that was it,” said Antonides. “Vienna is struggling with their development, and the impact for business is huge.”

More businesses are opening than closing in Vienna, but local experts warn that smaller retail locations are still being hit hard.

The move isn’t entirely driven by negative local experiences — Antonides also said she’s hoping to shift the brand from traditional retail to a more event-driven system.

With Posh! looking for a new location, Antonides says she’s hoping to reopen with a new warehouse in Merrifield and a studio in McLean where the store can showcase specialty designer items.

Finding a space in McLean that works for Posh! has also proved challenging. Antonides says the store needs a free-standing structure to be able to “create our own destiny.” In practical terms, Antonides says she wants to be able to host events that might involve putting a tent outside or other activities that wouldn’t be possible in a shared space.

But free-standing space in downtown McLean is becoming an increasingly scarce commodity as the town’s new Community Business Center aims to make the primary retail areas part of larger mixed-use developments.

Antonides also noted that many of these new mixed-use developments cater more to larger retail chains than local small businesses. She said that many of the new developments have leasing square footages that can be daunting for small businesses.

“My worry is that we’re losing our identity with artisans and small businesses,” Antonides said. “When they close, we lose connectivity and friendships.”

No specific closing date is planned, but once the Vienna location does close, Antonides says there’s a tenant currently finalizing a lease to take over the front space.

Photo via Facebook

(Updated April 12) Posh! — a high-end interior designer at 419 Maple Avenue E in Vienna — is having a closing sale.

Nearly all merchandise in the store is 20 percent off, though given the luxury implied in the store’s name, that still leaves most larger items in the store well over $1,000.

Prices in the store range from a $6,000 credenza near the front to $33 linen hand towels.

Employees at the store would not say when the store was planning to fully close, though the store remains very heavily stocked with merchandise.