New shops and restaurants are planning to open in Mosaic District.

Shoppers at the mixed-use development in Merrifield can expect a Sephora and Drybar to arrive.

As for food, a Connecticut-based eatery called The Granola Bar is the latest of half of a dozen eateries planning to open, including Neapolitan pizza chain Pupatella and Urban Hot Pot.

Pick your favorite below and tell us in the comments which other ones you are ready for.

Shoppers can expect to find Sephora and Drybar in Mosaic District in the near future.

Several newcomers are planning to come to the mostly-empty building that also houses West Elm (2921 District Avenue), according to building permits.

Drybar, a national hair salon chain that specializes in blowouts, has a building permit for suite 110. Next door, a Connecticut-based eatery called The Granola Bar has a permit for suite 120.

Madison Reed, which sells hair color products, has a permit for suite 130. Beauty store Sephora plans to occupy suite 140.

Can’t wait for the stores to come to Merrifield? The nearest locations for Drybar and Sephora are at Tysons Corner Center.

The stores will join several other newcomers to Mosaic District. Here are the other stores and eateries Tysons Reporter previously discovered plan to come to Merrifield:

• U.K.-based health food chain LEON
• Neapolitan pizza chain Pupatella
• Urban Hot Pot
• French bistro Parc de Ville
• Japanese BBQ and soba noodle restaurant RyuKai

Tysons Reporter also recently spotted signs for Gyu Shige, a Korean BBQ chain that will soon share the same building as Pupatella.

Taco Bamba is celebrating National Taco Day by challenging patrons to a contest raising money for Hurricane Dorian survivors.

This Friday (Oct. 4), each Taco Bamba location will host its second annual “Bambathon” competition to see which of the five locations in the D.C. and Northern Virginia areas will be able to sell the most tacos.

Anyone interested in participating can visit the two nearby Taco Bamba locations at Falls Church (2190 Pimmit Drive) and Vienna (164 W. Maple Avenue). Both locations are open from 8:30 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Each location that serves 1,500 or more tacos will donate $1,000 to World Central Kitchen’s mission in the Bahamas, according to a press release.

Wold Central Kitchen aims to ease the effect of poverty and hunger. They have served more than 250,000 meals to Hurricane Dorian survivers so far, according to the website. “Meals are being delivered to community centers, clinics, churches, and into local neighborhoods that have been isolated by the storm.”

Restaurant patrons can track the progress of each location on Taco Bamba’s Instagram.

Photo via Taco Bamba/Facebook

Whole Foods’ new store in The Boro development is set to open by the end of October.

The new 70,000 square-foot grocery store will be the region’s largest Whole Foods and feature a food hall. It will be Whole Food’s Mid-Atlantic flagship store.

The store (1635 Boro Place) is set to open Oct. 30 with a celebration featuring music, samples of products and giveaways starting at 8 a.m., according to a press release.

The first 200 customers will receive a custom “Whole Foods Market Tysons Corner” reusable tote bag along with a savings card with a value ranging between $5 and $100.

“We can’t wait for this community to experience their new Whole Foods Market,” Carl DePree, the store’s team leader, said in the press release. “From its responsibly-sourced, local and innovative product offerings, to its in-store food hall, bar and game room, to its modern design elements, this store is unlike any other.”

The store will have a food hall on the first floor, including:

• Italian food from Officina, which was founded by Chef Nicholas Stefanelli
• Sushi, poke, dumplings and ramen from Genji Izakaya
• Curiosity Doughnuts
• Rappahannock Oyster Co.

Shoppers can also expect a pub and game room on the second floor, an in-house bakery, butcher and seafood departments, a specialty foods section, an Allegro coffee and tea bar and a JRINK juice bar.

Prepared foods at the hot and cold bars will have a pizza bar, an Indian venue with two in-store tandoori ovens, a barbecue bar and a deli, the press release said.

The store plans to donate 5% of its net sales on Thursday, Nov. 7, to Food For Others, a local nonprofit that helps hungry families.

Additionally, all donations from Whole Foods Market’s bag credit program for shoppers who bring their own bags will benefit Fairfax Casa, which advocates for abused or neglected kids, from opening day until the end of the year.

Whole Foods is also currently hiring for jobs at the Tysons spot, with hiring events this Friday and Saturday (Oct., 4-5). The location plan to employ roughly 325 full- and part-time employees, according to the press release.

After the grand opening, the store will be open from 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Merrifield will soon have a new Popeyes — and its infamous chicken sandwich.

The fast-food restaurant will be located in the Merrifield Plaza Shopping Center (2835 Gallows Road) and is expected to open by the end of September, Nader Saleh, the owner and operator of the upcoming location, said.

Signage outside the upcoming location and in the parking lot advertises a full menu, including the wildly popular chicken sandwich.

The eatery will be open every day from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m., Saleh said.

Currently, two other Popeyes locations are in the nearby area, including one in Fairfax (9661 Fairfax Blvd) and Vienna (325 E Maple Avenue).

For anyone seeking employment, the location is hiring and people are welcome to apply online.

Tysons may not have the liveliest nightlife at the moment, but that could soon change as more late-night restaurants and places to hang out open. “Tysons After Dark” will highlight a different spot every week.

Today is National Pepperoni Pizza Day and to celebrate, Tysons Reporter has rounded up eateries and pizza chains in the area serving up pepperoni pies.

New York-style pizza fans are in luck — many of the pizzerias in the area offer that type.

Here’s a list of local pizza places and mostly regional chains that serve up pepperoni pizza options:

• Crust Pizzeria Napoletana (8415 Old Courthouse Road): The locally-owned restaurant serves up Neapolitan pizzas, including a pepperoni one with tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella and fontina.
• Andy’s Pizza (2001 International Drive): Located in Tysons Galleria, Andy’s Pizza offers pepperoni pizza by the slice and whole pizza.
• Lost Dog Cafe (1690A Anderson Road): Known for its specialty sandwiches and dog-themed murals, the local cafe offers three gourmet pizzas with pepperoni — and diners also have their option to create their own.
• Paisano’s (8603 Westwood Center Drive): Diners have their choice between “Paisano’s Supreme” with pepperoni, sausage, ham, meatballs, onions, mushrooms and green peppers and “Meat Lovers ” with pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, ham and cheese. Paisano’s also offers a create-your-own option.

Some national chains in the area include:

• California Pizza Kitchen (7939 Tysons Corner Center, Suite L): The chain offers a variety of pizzas with pepperoni, like “The Works” with spicy Italian sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms, mozzarella, red onions, green peppers, olives and wild Greek oregano or the “Mushroom Pepperoni Sausage” topped with everything in its name. Diners can choose from thin cust, regular crust and gluten-free options.
• Sbarro (1961 Chain Bridge Road): Based on the “original New York slice,” Sbarro serves up a pepperoni pie and stromboli.
• Famous Famiglia (1961 Chain Bridge Road): Don’t want a whole pizza? The Famous Famiglia chain offers pepperoni pizza by the slice, in addition to whole pizzas and pepperoni strombolis.
• Papa John’s (8501 Tyco Road, Suite 1A): Diners have until midnight to decide if they want a pepperoni or meatball pepperoni pizza from the chain at its Tysons location.
• Manhattan Pizza (8365 Leesburg Pike): Located along Leesburg Pike, the pizza place sells the “Brooklyn Meat Pie” with tomato sauce, pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham and meatballs and the “Manhattan Supreme” with tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, Italian sausage, onions, green peppers and mushrooms.
• &pizza (1961 Chain Bridge Road): &pizza offers gluten-free and vegan dough options. While people can create their own pizzas, one of the popular pizzas there is the “American Honey” with spicy tomato, mozzarella, pepperoni, arugula, goat cheese, hot honey and red pepper flakes, according to the website.
• MOD Pizza (8350 Leesburg Pike): The newly opened eatery in Pike 7 Plaza offers artisan pizzas. The “Mad Dog” has mozzarella, pepperoni, mild sausage, ground beef and red sauce, while the “Tristan” has mozzarella, asiago, roasted red peppers, mushrooms and pesto.

Photo via Lost Dog Cafe/Facebook

A Neapolitan pizza place plans to open a new location in the Mosaic District.

Pupatella, a local Italian pizza chain, put up signage announcing their new location at 140 Penny Lane, adjacent to Penny Lane Park.

The restaurant chain was founded in 2007 by Enzo Algarme, whose craving for authentic and homemade pizza inspired him to open his own pizzeria, according to the pizza chain’s website.

The menu offers customers a variety of pizza options, including traditional fried Italian food, salads, wine, dessert and coffee.

The Mosaic District spot is the latest in Pupatella’s expansion in Northern Virginia. The pizza local announced new locations in Arlington and Reston earlier this year.

Tysons Reporter reached out for more information and is waiting to hear back.

A new fast-food restaurant in Tysons Corner Center wants to help refugees.

Falafel Inc. opened for business at their new location on level one of the mall earlier this week, according to a staff member. Besides just serving an array of Mediterranian fare to customers, the company also provides jobs and food for refugees, according to its website.

“Falafel Inc. is the world’s first falafel quick-service food social enterprise,” according to the company’s website. Tysons Reporter has reached out to learn more about how the proceeds benefit refugees.

Menu items include falafels, hummus, various dips and fries, with prices ranging from $3 to $4.

The company has three spots in the D.C. area and six “coming soon” to Boston, Palo Alton and Los Angeles in California, Amman in Jordan, Dubai and Mexico City.

Falafel Inc. will celebrate its new Tysons spot with a ribbon-cutting on Saturday, Sept. 28.

Urban Hot Pot is expanding to the Mosaic District, adding to the several other eateries and shops popping up in the commercial center.

The restaurant, known for its traditional Chinese-style dining, will move into an open space at 2980 District Avenue, Suite 110, according to a construction permit application.

The location is preparing to open this winter, a company spokesperson said, adding that owners are still awaiting county approval to redesign the space’s interior.

The original location in Rockville, Md. at 1800 Rockville Pike will remain open for business as the company expands.

Unlimited lunch prices start at $19 and $26 dinner, according to the menu. The price includes unlimited food featuring sliced meats, vegetables and noodles that diners cook themselves in a pot of steaming broth.

The hours of operation for the new location have not been announced yet.

Photo via Facebook

School is back in session, and a local McDonald’s is hosting a fundraiser for public education.

The McDonald’s at 3009 Galls Road is donating 5% of their profits to charity now until Friday (Sept. 13). Each day — with the exception of the weekend and Monday — the proceeds will benefit a different school in the area.

The store will also offer students free ice cream cones from 3-5 p.m.

Community members can come to support specific schools on the days shown below.

• Wednesday (Sept. 4) — Camelot Elementary School
• Thursday (Sept. 5) — Stenwood Elementary School
• Friday (Sept. 6) — Fairhill Elementary School
• Tuesday (Sept. 10) — Pine Spring Elementary School
• Wednesday (Sept. 11) — Woodburn Elementary School
• Thursday (Sept. 12) — Jackson Middle School
• Friday (Sept. 13) — Falls Church High School

“As owners of the restaurant and members of the community, we wish to honor the schools in our market area to celebrate,” a press release said, adding that the owner wants to use this event as an opportunity to celebrate the location’s recently remodeled building.

Photo via Moving Merrifield Forward