Wegmans announced today (Tuesday) that 300 part-time employees are currently being hired and trained for the upcoming Tysons store.

The supermarket chain previously said that it plans to employ roughly 480 people at the store at 1835 S. Capital One Drive. Right next to the McLean Metro station, the 80,000-square-foot store will be a part of Capital One’s campus.

Now, Wegmans says that “the vast majority [are] hired locally.”

More from Wegmans on its job opportunities:

Part-time positions are available in all departments, offering competitive pay, flexible scheduling, and a workplace known for a caring, family atmosphere. Select full-time openings remain for cooks, produce, and bakery…

Applicants may apply online at jobs.wegmans.com/tysons-corner or call 571-423-0707 for more information.

Wegmans also announced the Tysons store’s leadership.

Kevin Russell, who started as a produce clerk at a Wegmans in New York and was most recently the store manager for one in Massachusetts, is the opening store manager in Tysons.

As the executive chef, Patrick Deans will manage a team of 135 culinary employees. Meanwhile, Matt Collalto will be the service area manager and Claudia Worley will be the merchandising area manager.

Photo courtesy Wegmans

Unemployment claims due to the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic continue to pour in.

Nearly 14,500 Fairfax County residents filed unemployment claims on the week of April 11, according to the latest unemployment data.

Overall, the number of statewide claims between March 21 and April 11 — 410,762 — is only 67,000 fewer than the average of all initial claims filed during the last three economic recessions, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. More than 121,000 Northern Virginia residents have filed claims since business closures began.

The latest claims figure, however, represents a decrease of 42,750 statewide claims and 6,848 countywide claims from the previous week, according to data from the commission.

The commission noted that the overall 29 percent decrease in the number of claims suggests that most people filed unemployment claims during the week of April 4.

Here’s more from the commission:

Initial claims measure emerging unemployment and the recent increase in initial claims in the Commonwealth is clearly attributable to impacts from the COVID-19 virus. The accommodation and food service industries have comprised the majority of these initial claims. Because of their prevalence in those and other affected industries like retail and health care, younger workers and female workers have been disproportionally impacted. The number of initial claims filed during the week ending April 11, 2020 was 45.6 times higher than the comparable 2019 week-an increase of 102,326 claims.

Despite a dip in the number of claims, the commission noted that claims still remain at historically high levels.

On the national level, the number of initial claims has totaled roughly 5.2 million, a decrease of 1.4 million from the previous week. During a comparable week in 2019, only 196,364 claims were filed countrywide.

Image via Virginia Employment Commission

A new apprenticeship program in Tysons will allow a wide range of job seekers in the technology industry to get a foothold in the workforce.

The initiative welcomed 10 apprentices at a signing event last Friday (Feb. 21) at the Alarm.com headquarters, where the apprentices will be working for a year, according to a press release.

The 10 chosen participants were selected from over 600 applicants, according to Megan Johns, the apprenticeship program manager. “It was a pretty rigorous process,” she said.

Applicants went through an aptitude test, which consisted of computer skills, a phone call and an in-person panel interview, Johns said.

Apprentices range in age and background according to Johns, who added that the participants are roughly 20-40 years old. 

The Tysons-based company helps clients with home and business security, according to its website. Founded in 2000, the website said Alarm.com lets people secure their homes remotely using technology that coordinates with personal devices.

As a state-funded initiative created in partnership with the Northern Virginia Community College and GO Virginia‘s economic development initiative, the program will include three members from the military community, the press release said.

One program participant spent more than 20 years serving in the army and National Guard, while another is a marine and the third is a military spouse, Johns said.

“There are more than 100,000 job openings right now in Northern Virginia, half of them in technical fields, so the need for connecting companies with talent is obvious,” Fairfax County Economic Development Authority CEO Victor Hoskins said.

At the signing event, speakers discussed talent acquisition efforts, the growing demand for on-the-job learning experiences and technical education, according to the press release.

After their initial year at the company, program participants will be able to apply for long-term positions within the company, according to Johns, who said Alarm.com is “rapidly growing” and looking for talent.

Photo courtesy Alarm.com

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

Job Shadowing For High School Students — “Approximately 20 local businesses and organizations are hosting Fairfax County Public Schools students in job-shadowing events that began in January and will run through March.” [Inside NoVa]

Local Pizza Places Now Hiring — “Baddpizza, a takeout restaurant bringing Buffalo-style pizza and wings to Northern Virginia, are hiring for future locations in McLean and Falls Church.” [Patch]

Tysons Building For Sale — “The Tysons office building where Booz Allen Hamilton maintains its global headquarters is under contract to trade for $10M less than its previous sale.” [Bisnow]

Local Company Tops Fortune List for Best Workplaces — “The business magazine Fortune, in partnership with analytics firm Great Place to Work, has released its annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States… McLean-based Hilton took home the top spot on the list for the second year in a row, with Ultimate Software and Wegmans Food Markets rounding out the top three.” [Patch]

Former Dranesville District Supervisor Dies — “Barbara Phillips, a former ballet dancer and interpreter who once ran for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, died in her sleep Feb. 11 at age 85.” [Inside NoVa]

Starting this Sat, Feb. 22, there will be 13 #absenteevoting locations open across #FairfaxCounty for the March 3 Democratic Presidential Primary. Hours & addresses: https://t.co/HTUvwhSY0b#2020election #supertuesday #virginiaprimary #presidentialprimary #vote pic.twitter.com/m2xG7mhJJr

— Fairfax County Votes (@fairfaxvotes) February 21, 2020

Ahead of its opening in Tysons, Wegmans is looking to hire people for 180 full-time positions now — and employ roughly 480 people in total.

The grocery chain announced today (Wednesday) the number of positions for hire, noting that the store is expect to open this falls at 1835 S. Capital One Drive.

Wegmans said it expects to hire roughly 480 people, “most of whom will be new to the company and hired locally,” according to the press release.

“These jobs offer competitive pay and benefits, flexible scheduling, and a fun workplace with caring people,” Tysons Store Manager Kevin Russell said in the press release.

People interested in the jobs, which range from entry-level management to line cooks, can look online or call 571-423-0707 for more information.

“Interviews are conducted by appointment only and hiring for part-time jobs will begin at a later date,” according to the press release.

The upcoming 80,000 square-foot store will be a part of Capital One’s campus next to the McLean metro station.

The store will include a Market Café with indoor and outdoor seating, The Burger Bar and a 1.2-acre rooftop park atop the building that will house the store, residential units and parking.

Photo courtesy Wegmans

Tysons Corner Center has a few new tenants — including a bubble tea place and kids’ clothing store.

Moge Tee officially opened on Thanksgiving, according to the store manager, and now offers customers a variety of drinks including bubble milk tea, taro tea, tea made from fresh juices, Yakult yogurt drinks and cheese tea, which takes a form of foam on the top of the drink.

The tea shop is a chain with roughly 300 locations across the world, according to the company’s website.

Besides the new location in Tysons, there are several other stores in the U.S. — including a Falls Church location (6122-B Arlington Blvd).

When asked about potential competition with the preexisting Kung Fu Tea in Tysons Corner Center, the manager said it shouldn’t be an issue since Moge Tee offers specialized items like brown sugar bubble milk tea or cheese tea.

Moge Tee also carries Dorayki, a type of red bean pancake dessert that comes in various flavors including Oreo and taro.

Beginning next week, Moge Tee is running a buy-one-get-one-free promotion for customers who share a post on either WeChat, Facebook or Instagram and get at least eight likes, the manager said.

Nearby Moge Tee on the first level of the mall near Nordstrom, Abercrombie Kids opened roughly a month ago, according to store employees.

Business was slow at first because of the location in the mall, another employee said, adding that things began to pick up after Black Friday.

For anyone seeking employment, Abercrombie Kids is actively hiring and people can apply in-person.

(Updated 11/21/19) A recruiting company in Tysons wants to hire hundreds of employees in Tysons — making them the largest job creator in recent months in Fairfax County.

In the third quarter of 2019, the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority announced that 14 companies are adding 456 jobs to the county — including 358 positons in Tysons.

Randstad North America, Inc., an IT recruiting and staffing firm whose parent company is based in the Netherlands, announced they will add 300 information technology jobs in fiscal year 2020.

INADEV, another information technology company, is the runner up for job creation in Tysons for the third quarter by bringing 25 jobs to the area.

Here is the alphabetical list of the rest of the companies bringing jobs into Fairfax County:

• American Office (Chantilly): 10 jobs
• BITS (Herndon): 10 jobs
• Blue Ridge Networks, (Chantilly): 2 jobs
• Bode Cellmark Forensics, Inc. (Lorton): 16
• Chenega MIOS (Chantilly): 16 jobs
• CT Solutions, Inc. (Tysons): 3 jobs
• Global Guardia (Tysons): 15 jobs
• Korea Innovation Center Washington (Korea) (Tysons): 4 jobs
• Learning Tree International, Inc. (Herndon): 25 jobs
• Mathtech, Inc. (Merrifield): 6 jobs
• Signet EV (Korea) (Vienna): 5 jobs
• Sysnet Technologies, Inc. (Fairfax): 10 jobs

Companies in the Tysons area also topped the list for the most added jobs when FCEDA worked with 35 businesses in the second quarter.

The Weekly Planner is a roundup of interesting events coming up over the next week in the Tysons area.

We’ve scoured the web for events of note in Tysons, Vienna, Merrifield, McLean and Falls Church. Know of any we’ve missed? Tell us!

Tuesday (Nov. 12)

• Mayor @ Your Service — 7:30 p.m. at Town Hall (127 S. Center Street) — Mayor Laurie DiRocco is set to chat with Victor Hoskins, the president of the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority, tonight about the future of Fairfax County economic development.

Wednesday (Nov. 13)

• Homeowners and Condominium Association Forum in McLean — 7 p.m. at McLean Community Center (1234 Ingleside Avenue) — This event will walk community members through policies of the McLean Citizens Association. Everyone is welcome to this free event.

Thursday (Nov. 14)

• Women in Technology Job Fair — 4 to 7 p.m. at Sheraton Tysons Hotel (8661 Leesburg Pike) — Women in the STEM industry are invited to attend this free event if they are currently seeking a job. Registration is still open for applicants and hiring companies.
• Professional Networking Night — 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tea with Mrs. B (136 W Jefferson Street) — This event allows people across the community to network and meet new people. Tickets are $10 and include drinks and appetizers.
• Trace Bundy — 6:30 p.m. at Wolf Trap (1635 Trap Road) — Folk singer and guitarist Trace Bundy will take the stage for a performance. He is known for his harmonics, looping and multiple caps, according to the event website. Tickets start at $27.

Friday (Nov. 15)

• Tree Lighting — 6 to 9 p.m. at The Plaza (1961 Chain Bridge Road) — The public is welcome to watch as the Christmas tree at Tysons Corner Center be decorated with lights. There will be live music from Kris Allen at this free event.
• Bright Lights in the Little City Community Celebration — 7 to 10:30 p.m. at The State Theatre (220 N. Washington Street) —  The Falls Church event will include food and dessert, live music by The Grandsons and an online auction. Tickets are $85.
• Improvicon — 7:30 p.m. at 1st Stage  Tysons (1524 Spring Hill Road) — This event will feature several improv groups throughout Northern Virginia. General admission tickets can be purchased for $15.

Sunday (Nov.17)

• 5K Turkey Trot — 8 a.m. Central Park (Tysons Blvd and Galleria Drive) — This 5K, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Tysons Corner, invites community members to participate to raise money for local charities. Until Nov. 15, tickets are $35 and will go up to $40 after that. Tickets include food and swag. The first three women and men to place will receive cash prizes.

Photo via Tysons Corner Center/Facebook

(Updated 11/20/19) People have some casual food and drink newcomers near the Spring Hill Metro station.

Jersey Mike’s and B.GOOD both have signs in their windows in Tysons West Phase III — a redevelopment that added new retail buildings across from Walmart — saying that they are hiring.

The development recently welcomed a Dunkin’ Donuts (1495 Cornerside Blvd, Suite 1C) and Smoothie King.

B.GOOD, a Boston-based eatery that offers a variety of grain bowls, salads, burgers, milkshakes and smoothies, also has a sign saying it’s opening this fall.

Next to the new Smoothie King, construction is currently underway on the new spot for the sandwich chain.

Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) is hiring bus drivers again.

FCPS held two hiring events in July and August to bring onboard new bus drivers. Back in July, FCPS was short-staffed by roughly 100 drivers — primarily in the McLean area, FCPS Director of Transportation Francine Furby said.

Now, FCPS has 80 bus driver openings to fill, according to a press release.

“FCPS is seeking full-time bus drivers to join its force of 1,120 drivers who drive more than 16,000,000 miles each year,” according to FCPS.

The pay is $19.20 per hour and drivers would need to work at least 30 hours per week.

The bus driver fair will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Gerry Hyland Government Center (8350 Richmond Hwy) in Alexandria.

“In order to qualify to work as a bus driver with FCPS, applicants must be at least 21 years old; have a good driving record; pass a physical exam, drug screening, and background check; complete a five-week training program, take the commercial driver’s license road test, and obtain a commercial driver’s license,” according to FCPS.