Shoppers at an upcoming business in Falls Church may feel nostalgic after checking out its offerings of video games and old toys.

Super Bit Video Games, located next to the Toy Nest along E. Broad Street, will primarily sell video games but also offer retro toys, according to owner Chris Jackson. 

“We are trying to build around the retro game community,” he said.

The location will source games from around the area and resell them at a fair market price, Jackson said, adding that people who bring in items for sale can receive store credit in exchange for their game or toy.

The roughly 1,400 square foot store will seel roughly 85% video games and 25% other toys such as vintage skateboards, according to Jackson.

Super Bit Video Games will promote new and featured items through its Instagram account.

The location is expected to celebrate a soft opening sometime in March, Jackson said.

Photo courtesy Chris Jackson

Happy Friday! Here are the latest stories about the Tysons area that the Tysons Reporter team has been reading:

Answer to Affordable Housing? — “A unique zoning designation permitted a new duplex to spring up in the heart of the City of Falls Church, but the development may not be a one-off if proposed legislation to upzone all single-family lots to accommodate multifamily structures passes down in Richmond.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Art Center Proposed For McLean Park — “‘MPA envisions an all-inclusive art center which provides a creative respite for the community that is integrated into, yet distinct from, Clemyjontri Park,’ county officials said.” [Inside NoVa]

Falls Church Library Project Moves Forward — “By a split 4-3 vote, the Falls Church City Council gave a “first reading” preliminary approval to a $10.9 million project to renovate and expand the Mary Riley Styles Public Library… The vote on final approval for the plan is scheduled for Feb. 10.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Woman Struck in Falls Church — “A woman was struck by a vehicle while crossing the street at the corner of Little Falls Road and West Broad Street in the City of Falls Church Tuesday afternoon, the City reported.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Now that @TBiergarten closed. Where are the best spots to watch the #SuperBowl in and around Tysons?

— Tysons, VA (@TysonsVA) January 29, 2020

Fun Fact: The miniature fighter jet sculpture pictured above in Falls Church was made with 14,000 copper coins, according to Atlas Obscura.

Falls Church officials are set to review a proposed retail building directly across from the Protestant Episcopal Church.

Fairfax One LLC wants to redevelop the lot for a future commercial tenant under a land lease agreement with the church, according to city documents.

Called Southgate II, the development would add a 12,000-square-foot retail building on an existing surface parking lot at 130 E. Fairfax Street, the documents say.

More from the documents:

The proposed height for the new building is approximately 28.5 Feet, and appears to be one and half stories with the mezzanine level. The adjacent property at 116 East Jefferson known as Southgate I was renovated under a building permit application in 2016, also by Fairfax One LLC under a similar lease agreement.

The current development on this property contains a commercial building with several retail and service tenants and surface parking.

The developer is proposing to add a curb cut on Douglass Avenue near E. Fairfax Street and new access to the alley that connects to Fairfax Street.

“The proposed building will remove 47 parking spaces from the existing lot. The parking tabulation shows that 40 spaces are provided around the new building and that 52 spaces are provided on adjacent property,” according to the documents.

The Falls Church Planning Commission is scheduled to review the application during a work session on Monday (Feb. 3).

A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for March 2, according to the documents.

Image via City of Falls Church; map via Google Maps

The head of the Fairfax County Police Department said police took “proportionate, legal and necessary levels of use of force” following the shooting an armed suspect in Falls Church.

Fairfax County police said earlier today that a Special Weapons and Tactics Team officer shot a suspect “brandishing an assault-style weapon” last night in a house in the 7600 block of Lee Landing Drive.

In an update this afternoon, Chief Edwin Roessler Jr. said that the SWAT officers were serving a narcotics search warrant and two arrest warrants for felony distribution of marijuana and failure to appear for a probation violation in another jurisdiction.

“To serve the high-risk warrants safely, the SWAT team made multiple verbal announcements of their presence upon tactical entry of the home,” Roessler said.

David Vo, a 24-year-old Falls Church resident, confronted SWAT officers in the kitchen, pointing an assault-style weapon at them, according to police.

Vo was struck with one round in the leg, which “neutralized his threat,” before the SWAT team continued the search of the house, Roessler said. Vo was taken to a hospital and treated for the injury before being transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.

Two of Vo’s kids, who are under the age of 4, and his girlfriend were in the house and unharmed during the incident, Roessler said.

“After the home was secured by the SWAT team, multiple unsecured firearms were in plain view and other narcotics were found in the home,” Roessler said.

Roessler said that the SWAT team was chosen to conduct the search after a risk assessment of the warrants determined the search to be “high risk” because of Vo’s “history of domestic assault and shooting at a vehicle.”

Capt. Jason Allegra with FCPD’s Narcotics Division said that two assault-style weapons, a pistol and narcotics were found at the house.

Allegra said that Vo will face the following additional charges:

• possession of a firearm by a felon
• distribution of marijauna while possessing a firearm
• possession of a firearm with schedule 1 or 2 drug
• ammunition possession by a felon
• felony distribution of marijuana
• drug possession schedule 1 or 2

The Major Crimes Bureau is conducting a criminal investigation into the use of force and the Internal Affairs Bureau is conducting an administrative investigation. The Police Auditor is also independently reviewing the incident, according to the police department.

“The name of the officer will be released by Chief Roessler within 10 days,” the press release from earlier today said.

The involved officer is a 16-year veteran of the police department, who, per department policy, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal and administrative investigations, according to the press release.

“In my professional opinion, this is proportionate, legal and necessary to defend the lives of the officers as an assault weapon was pointed at the officers,” Roessler said about the shooting.

Roessler praised the officer on the SWAT team for the quick response.

“I support the pulling of the trigger by my officer,” Roessler said.

Roessler would not comment on whether or not Vo’s weapon was loaded or how many rounds were fired by the SWAT officer.

“We knew we were going into a violent situation,” Roessler said. “No lives were lost.”

The Super Bowl is this Sunday (Feb. 2) and a local non-profit is sharing drunk driving prevention tips ahead of game day.

Based in Falls Church, the Washington Regional Alcohol Program (WRAP) is urging people to wear seatbelts, designate a sober driver and consider using ride-sharing services or public transit.

“Even if you have every confidence in your own ability to not drive impaired, that confidence doesn’t extend to the next driver,” WRAP’s President Kurt Gregory Erickson said in a press release.

For hosts, WRAP encourages bars to stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the game ends, to serve food with alcohol and to never serve a person who is drunk.

Other tips include using a non-carbonated base in alcoholic punches so that the body absorbs the alcohol faster and offering non-alcoholic beverages.

“Motorists in Greater Washington who suspect that they are sharing a roadway with an impaired driver should report such by safely dialing 911 in the District of Columbia or Maryland and #77 in Virginia,” Erickson said.

Photo by Dave Adamson on Unsplash

Fairfax County police say a Special Weapons and Tactics Team officer shot a suspect “brandishing an assault-style weapon” last night in Falls Church.

The incident happened around 10 p.m. on Tuesday (Jan. 28) in a house in the 7600 block of Lee Landing Drive.

Police said the SWAT officers were serving a narcotics search warrant and related arrest warrants when the armed suspect confronted them in the house.

“A SWAT officer discharged his weapon striking the man,” according to the press release from the police department. “Officers immediately rendered medical aid to the man who then was transported to a hospital where he was treated and released.”

The Major Crimes Bureau is conducting a criminal investigation into the use of force and Chief Edwin Roessler Jr. has directed the Internal Affairs Bureau to conduct an administrative investigation, along with an independent review by the Police Auditor, according to the press release.

“The name of the officer will be released by Chief Roessler within 10 days,” the press release said.

More from FCPD:

David Vo, 24, of Falls Church, was charged with felony distribution of marijuana and felony failure to appear. Vo is being held without bond at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. Additional charges will be forthcoming.

The involved officer is a 16-year veteran of the Fairfax County Police Department and is assigned to the Special Operations Division. As per department policy, the officer has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal and administrative investigation…

All information provided in this release is based on preliminary investigative findings and may be subject to revision as the investigation progresses.

We are on scene of an officer involved shooting in the 7600 block of Lee Landing Drive. The suspect has been transported to a local hospital with injuries that are not life threatening and the officer was not injured. Updates to follow. pic.twitter.com/GnwSaXbxGG

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) January 29, 2020

Map via Google Maps

Here are the latest stories about the Tysons area that the Tysons Reporter team has been reading:

McLean Estate Breaks Real Estate Records — “The 3.2-acre McLean estate that belonged to Jim Kimsey, the late co-founder of AOL, sold for $45 million on Friday… The sale price is significantly less than the $62.95 million the Chain Bridge Road home initially listed for in 2018, but it still marks the most expensive home sale ever for the region.” [Washington Business Journal]

Vision for Tysons — “Fairfax County is 10 years into transforming the Tysons area from a suburban office park to a multi-use area with park space. The county’s vision was to coincide with the Tysons Metro station, which opened in 2014.” [Local DMV]

Fitness Franchise Fundraises For Fires — “F45 Training Tysons, which opened at The Boro mixed-use development, is part of a fitness franchise based in Australia. Hillcrest Health, LLC, which operated the Tysons location along with the F45 Training Ashburn location, matched donations to raise a total of $1,810 for the franchise’s massive GoFundMe campaign.” [Patch]

Kids’ Entertainer Pleads Guilty to Child Porn Charges — “Steven Rossi, who used the stage name Mr. Knick Knack, was arrested last spring after officials found he had illegal images of children… For more than a decade, Rossi played songs for children at birthday parties and at Reston Town Center, Tysons Corner and Market Common in Clarendon. [NBC4]

The Mysterious Case of the Dying Oaks — “With native oak trees appearing unseasonably ill and eventually dying off, speculation that a disease spreading throughout the region could be infiltrating Falls Church abounded. But despite a troubling eye test from residents, local experts have yet to reach the same conclusion.” [Falls Church News-Press]

Sneak Peek: New year and new stores for Tysons Corner Center — the mall has had some recent closures, but it’s filling up vacant spaces with newcomers. Later this morning, we’ll have more details for you.

Have a great Tuesday and look out for Morning Notes again on Friday.

Memorial Day is more than four months away, but the City of Falls Church wants people to start thinking about their floats for the annual parade.

The city’s 39th annual Memorial Day Parade (Monday, May 25) will have a Community Float Challenge — the winner will get a party hosted by the Recreation and Parks Department.

More from the city:

Who can participate: Floats can be made with neighbors down the street or in your apartment/condo complex, your family, or just a group of friends. This year, we’re opening the challenge up to community groups, such as school clubs, church groups, book clubs, knitting circles, or your favorite Falls Church Meetup group!

What should the float be about: Memorial Day is about remembering our nation’s fallen heroes. Create a float that shows your patriotism. Floats don’t have to be elaborate: they can be simple, with materials you already have.

The parade is set to start at 2 p.m. and will travel down Park Ave between West and Little Falls streets.

The deadline for float applications is Friday, March 27. People should send their applications to Scarlett Williams at [email protected].

Laura Schwartz is a licensed Realtor in VA, D.C. and MD with McEnearney Associates in McLean. Reach the office at 703-790-9090.

Valentine’s Day is just about 3 weeks away and on a Friday this year!

Sometimes we can forget to book early, so here’s your reminder to book a restaurant reservation early this year! Some of these may even have a special menu for Valentine’s Day.

Vienna

• Clarity
• The Palm
• Bazins
• Maple Ave
• Randy’s
• Café Renaissance
• Blend 111
• Zenola

Falls Church

• 2941
• Thompson’s Italian
• Dominion Beer & Wine

McLean

• Assaggi Osteria
• J Gilbert’s
• Eddie V’s
• Wildfire
• Lebanese Taverna
• Nostos
• Founding Farmers

Looking for ladies night out ideas instead? Check out this post from last year!

City of Falls Church staff want to create a guide to ensure the projects in the Capital Improvements Program all get completed.

Currently, the staff is managing 26 projects — with four in jeopardy, according to a new report by city staff.

Projects falling under the parks, facilities, stormwater, sanitary sewer, technology and public safety categories are either on schedule or have “some challenges.”

The four projects that are not active or on hold due to a “critical issue” fall under the transportation category, which includes more than a dozen projects.

“The city’s Transportation CIP program is the largest CIP program and demands considerable staff time and attention,” the report says. “The city is unique from most neighboring jurisdictions in that it does not have a transportation department, and instead manages the Transportation CIP with a team of staff members from multiple departments.”

More from the report about the transportation projects facing issues:

Park Ave Great Streets

Full scoping of the Park Avenue Great Streets project reveals project is underfunded. [Northern Virginia Transportation Authority] application for $8.3M submitted in September; awaiting decision from NVTA Spring 2020. Reduced scope option may be possible.

Downtown Multimodal project [is] on hold; inquiring about schedule changes with VDOT. Need to be coordinated with Park Ave Great Street.

S. Maple Ave Roadbed Reconstruction

Roadbed Reconstruction and improvements at the intersection of S. Maple and Annandale. Fully funded. No project manager assigned. Paving already completed Fall 2018.

Oak Street Bridge

60% design completed in December using existing RSTP funds. Current funding shortfall is $928K. City submitted $928K application for SGR funds available in FY21. Pending the award of SGR in the spring, 100% final design will be complete and ROW will start fall 2020. Construction would be scheduled for early 2021.

“Staff continues to look to the future and how we can improve our project implementation process to avoid these delays, as they can increase costs,” according to the report. “A CIP project implementation manual has been in development to streamline project management and ensure projects are successfully advanced and completed.”

The report says that funding and staffing shortfalls often cause projects to derail. Not having managers for some projects can be a risk for funding, the report notes, adding: “Many staff resources have been directed toward City Hall building commissioning and Mary Riley Styles Library Renovation and Expansion.”

Staff presented the report to the Planning Commission earlier this week.

The new CIP is slated to be unveiled on Feb. 3.