A company that provides air traffic surveillance systems is expanding in Tysons, bringing more than 50 new jobs.
Aireon LLC currently leases more than 26,000 square feet at 8484 Westpark Drive, Suite 300 in Tysons.
“The company is moving its headquarters within the Tysons area of the county and will increase the square footage of its office space by nearly 150 percent, accommodating more than 50 new jobs over the next three years,” according to a press release.
Aireon’s job creation will be supported by the Virginia Jobs Investment Program, which provides state-funded services for employee training, the press release said.
“Aireon chose to remain in Fairfax County and expand the headquarters due to its proximity to downtown Washington, D.C., the Federal Aviation Administration and the area’s regional and international airports,” Rich Nyren, the chief financial officer of Aireon, said in the press release.
Nyren added that the county has “world-class public transportation, shops and restaurants and attracts some of the most educated workforce from the abundance of globally recognized local universities.”
First two photos courtesy Aireon, image 3 via Google Maps
Crescendo Studios now has plans to expand after opening a few months ago in Merrifield.
The education-oriented music studio is looking to use a currently empty space adjacent to the studio’s existing location (8101 Lee Hwy), according to Fairfax County documents.
With the extra square footage, Crescendo would offer both an expanded music education center with group and private lessons and on-site recording studios, according to the application.
The studio’s application in June to the county noted that they would be able to increase their clientele and take on around 90 students.
“The majority of the students are expected to be between the age of 7 and 17, though some adults may also enroll,” according to the application.
The music school’s proposed hours of operation would be noon- 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday. The recording studio would be available 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on the weekend.
Crescendo told the county that the expansion would not affect parking in the area.
The Fairfax County Planning Commission is slated to hold a public hearing on the proposal in November.
Photo via Facebook and image 2 via Fairfax County
There is a new job opening for an economic development manager in the Town of Vienna.
This opening is part of a larger plan to revitalize local businesses. Responsibilities of the manager will include supporting unique and independent businesses, along with working under the town council to execute a new economic strategy.
Vienna Town Council members began discussing the implementation of the new position two years ago, in order to expand economic development and diversity business, Public Information Officer Lynne Coan told Tysons Reporter. She hopes that the new position will expand the opportunity for growth and bring in residents from neighboring communities to shop and dine.
The Town Business Liaison Committee and Vienna Business Association also support the implementation of this position, she said. Coan said the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors takes the two groups’ opinions on such matters into consideration, especially the Vienna Business Association, which is run by a private group.
Though specific tasks will be required of the new manager under the economic development plan, the manager will have room to “build on their strengths,” Coan said.
According to the job listing:
Bachelor’s degree, with major work in economics, business administration, marketing or closely related field; five years’ experience in corporate or municipal administration, economic development or marketing; some experience in commercial real estate, site selection process; substantial experience in interacting with and marketing to senior-level executives.
The pay ranges from $79,475-$127,956, per year, depending on experience. Funding for the new position will come from the general town budget.
Our friends in the @TownofViennaVA are starting an Economic Development Office (for obvious reasons, we're very supportive!) If you or anyone you know has what it takes to be the founding director, check out the job posting here: https://t.co/oef6HfyjbK 🏛️
— Christopher Bruno 🌇🏗⚖️🚲 (@chrisbruno84) July 9, 2019
Pet care service Woofie’s announced plans for franchise expansion in the Vienna, McLean and Great Falls areas.
Though they don’t have set locations or opening dates yet, Vice President of Marketing Renee Ventrice said that once the company finds owners to run the franchises, locations are usually open for business within six months.
When the new locations finally open, Ventrice said that it will bring new jobs to the area as well. The company chose the three areas for expansion because they recognized an increased need for reliable pet care services. With a working median-income population, the locations fit their target market.
As a previous startup, the venture began in Ashburn under owners Amy Reed and Leslie Barron. Woofie’s slowly transformed their business into the multi-market company it is today. The company offers customers grooming, pet-sitting and walking services catering to many species of animals with varying dispositions.
Woofie’s also offers mobile dog wash stations.
“Our focus on mobile services ensures a relatively low barrier to entry when compared to other pet care franchise systems,” said Ventrice.
At their established location in Ashburn, they currently employ around 60-80 dog-walkers, 11 groomers, four to five full-time administrative employees, and other part-time seasonal employees.
For people looking into franchise opportunities, Ventrice said the company is seeking driven individuals who are passionate about pets and have a strong work ethic. Franchisees with Woofie’s have the flexibility to work with the company on important decisions. They are also guaranteed a protected territory so they don’t have to worry about competition with other locations.
Anyone interested in opening a franchise with the company can visit their website for more information or email [email protected].
Photos via Woofie’s
Local musician Ricky Parrell plans to celebrate the debut of his first album in August at Jammin’ Java.
Inspired by a prompt that asks creative writers to craft short stories about items on their keychains, Parrell decided to shift the idea toward another medium — an album he ended up calling “Keys to My Life.”
Parrell said that his talents as a musician with the United States Air Force Band and experience as an adjunct professor for the Northern Virginia Community College allow him to transcend different musical genres. Listeners can expect to hear six to eight tracks on the album each featuring a different genre or style of jazz.
Despite the variance, Parrell said the album is still meant to flow cohesively.
“It has been the most challenging thing I’ve done musically, to get everything together and off the ground,” Parrell said.
One of the largest roadblocks during the creation of his album was a problem with the licensing for one of his tracks when he wanted to cover a song from a Canadian artist. “Getting to that point was like six months of frustration because I couldn’t find the right person to talk to,” he said.
Once he was able to track down the artist, they were excited about the idea of his cover, he said, adding that most artists are excited to get their work out into the world.
Before the big album release, fans can expect two singles accompanied by music videos. Parrell said “My Bike Lock” should appear on his Facebook page before the end of July, while “Man Like You” will be released in early August.
“Keys to My Life” features well-known musicians such as Justin Stanton of Snarky Puppy and Grammy Award Winning trumpet player, Randy Brecker. Stanton and Parrell attended school together and will both perform at the album debut event on Aug. 25.
Parrell considered hosting the debut in New York City, but decided to keep it local, since he grew up in Vienna. He hopes to help put the city on the map while helping local businesses and foster the music scene.
“Places like Jammin’ Java are rare,” he said. “Big names go through there and you wouldn’t even know it.”
Tickets start at $10 for the debut performance of his album. For an extra $10, attendees can walk away with an album CD. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Second photo courtesy Ricky Parrell
Local bazaar Thieves Market Antiques is pulling out of McLean and moving back to Old Town Alexandria.
Today (Tuesday) is the last day the store in McLean (6811 Old Dominion Drive) is open. By 11 a.m., much of the store’s merchandise had already been moved outside into a truck.
Cap Cohen, the owner of Thieves Market, said new developments are planned for the small shopping center where the store had been located and so he decided it was time to move.
“It’s been wonderful in McLean,” Cohen said. “A lot of good people. It’s been great here.”
The move back to Alexandria is something of a homecoming for the store. The store has hopped around from place to place across Northern Virginia since it was founded in 1952 and for several years, the store was located in Alexandria.
No specific location has been chosen, Cohen said they are currently deciding between two, but he said they are looking to open in around eight to 12 weeks — after giving the employees a little vacation first.
EcoPlay, a new children’s playspace in Tysons, is planning to open in early July.
The indoor play area is currently under construction in Pike 7 Plaza, replacing the Performance Bicycle Shop that closed in January.
A store representative said the location had been hoping to open in June, but is more likely eyeing early-to-mid July.
According to the company’s website:
When you enter EcoPlay, your children’s eyes will light up as they encounter our beautiful indoor play space. We believe in play that encourages exploration, learning and imagination. We provide children with a space to explore new abilities through a wide variety of interactive games, learning events and educational toys. Every inch of EcoPlay was hand-selected to promote healthy and safe play.
Two-hour open playtime supervised by a parent or other responsible adult costs $20 per child, or a child can be dropped off for supervised play for $30.
The facility will also offers private or semi-private party spaces for up to 25 children for three hours.
Image via EcoPlay/Facebook
The new tenant at 1389 Chain Bridge Road isn’t attracting nearly as much controversy as the last one — the Nova Firearms gun store.
Boss Design Center is a local remodeling agency. The headquarters and showroom in downtown McLean feature displays for various kitchen and bathroom remodeling options along with a very friendly cat.
The company’s website said the company also does basement finishing and room additions.
“As our name implies at Boss Design Center, we take a keen interest in the entire design process from drawing board to completion,” according to the company’s website. “We have great ideas to help you realize your remodeling dreams from that room addition to the ultimate kitchen remodeling; we bring 10 years of experience to the design table and construction site.”
The company offers an initial complimentary consultation, followed by design and development stages where the company works with craftsmen to install cabinetry, appliances and other remodeling needs.
Boss Design operates in Maryland, D.C. and Northern Virginia.
Hot off the launch of a new Vienna location, Fairfax-based Virginia Tire and Auto recently announced a new location in Tysons.
The car repair shop is set to open in the former Merchant’s Tire and Auto Centers at 2055 Chain Bridge Road, across the street from Tysons’ Toilet Bowl building.
Noelle Malley, a spokesperson for the chain, said the Tysons location is expected to open in fall 2019 and will provide 20 new jobs.
The franchise first opened in 1976 and expanded outside of Northern Virginia for the first time with a new Richmond location.
Virginia Tire and Auto also announced that a new location in Herndon will open this fall.
Photo via Google Maps
Seven out of the 10 Fairfax County-based companies on this year’s Fortune 500 list are located in or near Tysons.
Fortune released its annual list of the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S. earlier today (May 16). The rankings are based on 2018 revenue.
The Tysons-area companies represent one-third of the 21 companies from Virginia on the list, according to a Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (FCEDA) press release.
“Only a handful of communities can say they are home to 10 Fortune 500 companies,” Catherine Riley, the interim president of FCEDA, said in a press release. “It is an important milestone, a significant recognition of the county as a prime location for corporations from a wide variety of industries looking for the assets and talent they need to grow and succeed.”
The new list includes:
- #40 Freddie Mac (Tysons)
- #92 General Dynamics (Falls Church area)
- #98 Capital One Financial (Tysons)
- #108 Northrop Grumman (Falls Church area)
- #122 DXC Technology (Tysons)
- #345 Hilton Worldwide Holdings (Tysons)
- #475 Booz Allen Hamilton (Tysons)
Leidos Holdings, an information technology company, and home construction company NVR — both based in Reston — made the list, along with Herndon-based Beacon Roofing.
Last year, Fairfax County had nine companies on the list, according to FCEDA. The company that made the biggest leap from last year’s list was DXC Technology, which jumped up 252 spots.
“The wide diversity of the industry sectors represented here — everything from our traditional strengths in IT and aerospace to financial services, hospitality and, now, construction materials — shows the value of a Fairfax County headquarters to corporations of all kinds,” Riley said.
