After the coronavirus pandemic altered plans to open Super Bit Video Games, owner Chris Jackson decided to temporarily shift his model so he could safely supply customers with video games and toys.
Instead of inviting people into the store (101 E. Broad Street), which sells retro video games and other similar items, Jackson said he set up a curbside pick-up system so customers could limit in-person contact.
“We were pretty much in a bad spot,” he said but added that between pick-up options, eBay sales and Instagram advertising, the business still ended up being sustainable.
Now, two weeks after customers have finally been welcomed into the store, sales have “substantially” picked up, according to Jackson.
“It’s been awesome to finally get to meet these people,” Jackson said. “The first two weeks have been outstanding.”
Though people were still stopping by for curbside pickup, many customers were awaiting the day when they could visit the interior of the store, he said.
“A lot of the people coming by seem to understand who we are and what we do,” he said. “Because of that, we have a good chance of this level of interest being maintained over a period of time.”
Since people aren’t really out-and-about like they used to be before COVID, Jackson also expects foot traffic to pick up in several months.
As a “destination retail location,” Jackson sees customers stopping by from all over the greater D.C. area, including Falls Church, Vienna, Arlington and even Maryland.
Because the store wasn’t open before the pandemic, Jackson isn’t sure if sales picked up because of quarantine boredom, but he did say the community seemed very supportive on social media before the pandemic hit Northern Virginia.
“One of the biggest reasons I wanted to open this place was to provide a place for the retro gaming community,” he said. “There aren’t a lot of places in this area that do this.”
Bestsellers so far, according to Jackson, include older Nintendo gaming systems along with GoldenEye, Super Mario 64 and even Sega systems, which he said he grew up with.
To keep customers safe, Jackson requests that customers wear masks and social distance while they browse.
“So far everyone has been great with that stuff,” he said, adding that they allow roughly four people maximum in the shop at any one time.
If people want to check out the shop, they can visit Wednesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 5 p.m. The shop is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Photo courtesy Chris Jackson
As Northern Virginia continues to ease COVID-19 restrictions, Tysons-area restauranteurs are not only unveiling new eateries but also re-envisioning dining experiences.
Restaurant owners shared with Tysons Reporter their varying reopening plans.
Solace Brewing Company, a collaboration of D.C. restauranteurs Eric and Ian Hilton and BlackFinn Ameripub co-founder Steve Ryan, was originally poised to open a new location in Falls Church by May 1.
But the opening got delayed due to the pandemic, Jon Humerick, Solace’s co-founder and director of operations, said.
“When everything started, we obviously had to put everything on hold,” said Humerick.
The brewery, boasting several unique offerings of in-house IPAs, now plans to open within the next two weeks, operating under Phase 2 guidelines requiring seating at half-capacity for indoor and outdoor dining.
Taqueria Loca, a Mexican restaurant run by the Great American Restaurants group (GAR), debuted a “ghost kitchen” in Vienna in addition to their Sterling location before Northern Virginia began its transition into Phase 2.
This meant that they were available online and cooking in the kitchens for curbside pickup and delivery — however, they were not serving customers in-person, according to Jon Norton, the CEO of GAR.
“We are also creating a ‘patio and beer garden’ in the valet area of Coastal Flats [Tysons Corner] so that guests may begin to enjoy the Taqueria Loca experience in a physical space as well,” according to Norton.
As of June 12, all GAR restaurants officially reopened at half-capacity.
Shipgarten, a new food and dining concept from the owners of the now-closed Tysons Biergarten, was originally planning to open in June. However, they are now pushing their opening until the end of Phase 3.
“We are going to use paper products and more disposable items like disposable menus,” Managing Partner Matt Rofougaran said in describing the safety measures they will be taking.
In addition, there will be plexiglass sneezeguards to separate the bartenders from the customers, and the tables in the 30,000-square-foot facility will be separated by 10 feet rather than the 6-foot guideline to ensure extra distance.
“We’re going to have plenty of room for social distancing,” Rofougaran said.
Photo via Solace Brewing/Facebook
Use of Force Policies on Agenda — Fairfax County’s Public Safety Committee will hear an update today from the police department on use of force policies. [Fairfax County]
COVID-19 Deaths — “State health officials reported no new deaths linked to COVID-19 in Northern Virginia in the latest daily report Sunday. It’s the first day with no new deaths reported since April 6. It does not mean that no deaths occurred in a 24-hour period — it can take days for deaths to be added to the state’s COVID-19 data.” [Inside NoVa]
Grant Deadline Extended — “The deadline has been extended to Monday, June 22 for the City of Falls Church Economic Development Authority (EDA)’s Small Business and Non-Profit COVID-19 Emergency Grant program.” [City of Falls Church]
Vienna Officials OK Budget — “Vienna Town Council adopted last night a $41 million budget for fiscal year 2020-21, which begins July 1. The adopted budget encompasses four funds, including the general, or daily operations, fund, which totals $24.8 million for the coming year, a $2.5 million decrease from the originally proposed general fund budget… Cuts to the proposed general fund are necessary in response to anticipated losses in revenue due to impacts from the coronavirus pandemic.” [Town of Vienna]
Locals can use more indoor and outdoor facilities now that Fairfax County has entered the second phase of easing COVID-19 restrictions.
Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) announced today that its athletic fields have reopened for permitted use. Its basketball courts and playgrounds are also open.
“There is no special cleaning of playground equipment; visitors use at their own risk and must adhere to social distancing guidelines,” according to FCPS.
FCPS noted that the decision was based on guidelines from state and local health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
People can also start using indoor pools — outdoor pools opened during the first reopening phase — and head to fitness centers, which can open at 30% occupancy. Zoos and botanical gardens may also allow people to come back.
In the Town of Vienna, the Vienna Dog Park, tennis courts and the Community Garden reopened today and playgrounds will reopen Saturday (June 13).
Meanwhile, the City of Falls Church is now allowing people to use its playgrounds and picnic shelters. Its tennis courts are available by reservation-only for residents.
Photo by tommy boudreau on Unsplash
Falls Church Eatery Facing Eviction — “The Falls Church location of Hot N Juicy Crawfish is staring down an eviction lawsuit filed on June 1… The governor of the commonwealth put a moratorium on evictions earlier this week, but it only applies to residential tenants. The family-run business now finds itself fighting for its future in the neighborhood.” [Washington City Paper]
Farmers Markets Are Back — The McLean Farmers Market opens today and the Vienna Farmers Market returns on Saturday. [Tysons Reporter]
It’s Almost Showtime — “Just last week, AMC Theatres said it had ‘substantial doubt’ that the company could keep operating if pandemic-related closures continued. However, the company announced Tuesday it expects to reopen almost all of its locations worldwide by mid-July.” [Patch]
Law Enforcement Legislation — “Lawmakers in Virginia will take up the issue of police reform when they meet in a special session later this summer. The legislature joins the growing ranks of jurisdictions in the Washington region that are planning on tackling an issue that has taken increased urgency in the wake of widespread national protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd.” [DCist]
Test Backlog — “State health officials announced Monday that 13,000 test results backlogged at the health department will be added to data tables that are updated daily to reflect the number of COVID-19 tests and cases in the state. Staff had prioritized positive test results, according to the statement, so the backlog largely includes negative test results.” [Inside NoVa]
Local shop owners say they are seeing a run on bicycles thanks to the coronavirus pandemic.
With both limited public transportation and social activity, people have gravitated towards cycling as a way to get outside. As a result, local bike stores have seen a massive rise in sales.
“Our service area is seeing an unprecedented level of demand,” said Tim Fricker, the owner of Bikes@Vienna in Vienna. But for residents seeking a quick tuneup before hitting the road, they may have to wait a little longer with Fricker reporting a turnaround time of about seven weeks.
“The longest turnaround time I can recall in the past is a few times where we hit three weeks,” he added. “There has been nothing like this.”
Bikes@Vienna sells “conventional bicycles” in addition to specialty bikes such as recumbent bikes and trikes, folding bikes, adaptive bikes, electric bikes and trikes. While they haven’t sold out on conventional bikes, Fricker predicts that most other shops and distributors have.
Bikenetic in Falls Church, for example, is anticipating first-time and impulse-buyers to flock to the store. Inventory for entry-level riders has yet to be replenished, though.
“All of the companies we deal with have also run out of bikes and are waiting for purchase orders to fill back in from Asia,” said Jan Feuchtner, the owner of Bikenetic.
The store is also experiencing a delayed turnaround. Feuchtner reported also being seven weeks out on repairs with about 300 bikes in the queue, which is double the number of bikes they usually have backlogged.
To adapt to the demand, Bikes@Vienna created heavier structure and discipline to better manage workflow. Fricker said they eliminated “while you wait” services with the exception of mid-ride issues such as a flat tire.
Additionally, they tweaked certain services due to the coronavirus pandemic. No customers are permitted in the store at any time, walk-in test rides are not allowed and payment is handled over the phone.
Fricker anticipates that typical bike stores will see a steep drop in sales once the pandemic begins to die down since the market will be “saturated.” Because of the specialty of his own store, however, he thinks Bikes@Vienna won’t be impacted as much and will have more returning customers.
Of the people who started biking because of the pandemic, some will likely continue riding when things return to normal, keeping business afloat.
“I just don’t know what percentage will continue versus those who lose interest once the world gets back to something more normal. Time will tell.”
A 1.2 million-square-foot development in Falls Church has a new name as it progresses through various approval stages by City Council.
Hoffman & Associates and EYA announced that they have named the upcoming gateway development to the northwestern end of the city “West Falls.”
“The name West Falls pays homage to the site’s location within The City of Falls Church known for its vibrant community and thoughtful urban design,” a press release said.
The development will include offices, a hotel, apartments, condominiums, retail space and senior housing spanning roughly 9.5 acres. It will also include approximately 1 acre of open space for the public.
West Falls is included in a 35-acre transformation to turn the area near the West Falls Church Metro station into a gateway for the city. As part of the larger plans, George Mason High School will be relocated.
In 2019, the City Council approved an agreement for a 99-year ground lease with the developers and a Special Exception Entitlement for the first phase of the project’s entitlement.
Earlier today, Hoffman and EYA submitted their Special Exception Site Plan (SESP) to the city — the latest step in the entitlements process, according to the press release.
Construction is expected to start on West Falls in late 2021, and the first phase of the development is anticipated to open in late 2023, according to the press release.
Image via City of Falls Church
Owners of CrossFit gyms in the Tysons area are distancing themselves from an insensitive tweet by CrossFit’s CEO.
Greg Glassman, the CEO, recently apologized for saying “It’s FLOYD-19” in response to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation’s tweet calling racism a public health issue, according to BET.
Reebok and several CrossFit athletes have since cut ties with the branded fitness regimen because of the tweet, and hundreds of gyms across the U.S. have disaffiliated from CrossFit over the tweet, according to reports from Forbes and People.
Tysons Reporter reached out to CrossFit gyms located in Vienna, Falls Church and Tysons. Six of them have denounced Glassman’s tweet.
The staff behind the CrossFit Tysons Corner (8453-K Tyco Road) told Tysons Reporter in an email that they do not condone Glassman’s statements. “We are exploring options for de-affiliation,” the email said.
Curtis Blake of CrossFit Falls Church (130 W. Jefferson Street) said that its members are aware of the gym’s stance.
“I was deeply saddened by the insensitivity that was shown and/or the malice in Glassman’s post,” Blake told Tysons Reporter. “I would like to see him step down and a change in leadership before we personally [make] a decision.” Blake declined to comment further.
CrossFit Route 7 (8504-B Tyco R0ad) and CrossFit North Vienna (234 Dominion Road NE) — a.k.a. the Phoenix Athletix Club — both shared on social media that they do not support Glassman’s comments.
“At this point, we do not know exactly what the next steps look like for the gym,” CrossFit Route 7 said in its Facebook post.
Meanwhile, CrossFit Fairfax (2831 Dorr Ave) wrote on Facebook that it will honor the Black Lives Matter movement on Saturday, June 13, but did not include a direct mention of Glassman’s tweet.
“Racism and discrimination have no place in our gym, the broader fitness community, or the world at large,” the post said.
Marcus Ford of Tinner Hill CrossFit (336 S. Washington Street) said that the gym took to Facebook yesterday to reaffirm the location’s beliefs.
“I simply wanted to iterate to our extended community that we are steadfast in our beliefs, have always and will always operate without discrimination,” Ford told Tysons Reporter. “We openly welcome ALL people with no concern for race, religion, gender(s), sexualities or otherwise.”
Ford said that the incident “called into question the beliefs of CrossFit affiliates all over the world, and I personally and professionally felt the need to remind our community that no matter what methodology we use for fitness, we are resolute in the principles we’ve been known for by our community.”
The location is still a CrossFit gym, “however only time will tell what the future may hold for us in terms of affiliation,” Ford said.
Photo via CrossFit Tysons Corner/Facebook
Black Lives Matter Protest Today in McLean — “Six McLean High School students are planning a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest on Wednesday afternoon. The protest is scheduled for Wednesday (June 10) from 3-5 p.m. and will start at McLean High School.” [Tysons Reporter]
Helping Hand for Paws — “A Fairfax County Boy Scout wanted to earn his Citizenship In The Community merit badge by lending a helping paw. For his project, 11-year-old Jackson Hayken chose to help McLean-based Paws of Honor, which helps retired police and military dogs.” [McLean Patch]
Nordstrom Returns — “The Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack stores in Tysons will reopen for customers on Thursday, according to a company release.” [McLean Patch]
More on Stun Gun Incident — “Prosecutors in Fairfax County told a judge on Tuesday that Officer Tyler Timberlake, who has been charged with assault and battery after using his stun gun last week, shocked a man he mistakenly thought he recognized. Timberlake’s lawyer said the police officer believed the man he stunned was someone who he knew had a criminal past.” [Inside NoVa]
Vienna Officials Talk New Police Station — “Vienna Town Council members at a June 8 work session reaffirmed their intention to move ahead with the town’s largest capital project — a new police station — and expressed support for the project’s environmental and architectural features.” [Inside NoVa]
Corona Cough — “Jacob Gooch, a former state trooper assigned to patrol in Virginia’s Fairfax Division, allegedly sent a text to his brothers in mid-April that said he gave a Mennonite man a ticket and coughed on him ‘so he would spread Corona to the wedding they were going too.’… Jacob Gooch has since resigned from the Virginia State Police department.” [WJLA]
Policing Pledge — “City of Falls Church Mayor David Tarter signed Former President Obama’s Mayor’s Pledge calling for mayors, city councils, and police oversight bodies to address police use of force policies. At their June 8 meeting, the City Council voted unanimously to join the Mayor in taking this pledge.” [City of Falls Church]
Farmers Market is open this Saturday, so be sure to check the Optimist Club website: We are very excited to open on with all our lovely offerings of fruit, veggies, meats, eggs, pies, donuts, juices, coffee, sausages and breads. Masks are a must: https://t.co/nf4tmxI4f3 pic.twitter.com/yLiPEzZZFt
— Town of Vienna, VA (@TownofViennaVA) June 9, 2020
School Schedule — “Gov. Ralph Northam is expected on Tuesday to address school reopening, something he had initially planned to do last week. The announcement will give more guidance to school districts and colleges across the state that have been moving forward with their own plans to return.” [Richmond Times-Dispatch]
Protest Photos — “A series of demonstrations took place in and around the City of Falls Church over the weekend to protest the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Evictions Paused — “Gov. Ralph Northam announced Monday a temporary statewide moratorium on all eviction proceedings in Virginia.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Statue Staying? — “A Virginia judge has issued an 10-day injunction that prevents Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration from removing an iconic but controversial statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee in Richmond.” [USA Today]
