Black Dog Beer Shop, a craft beer store inspired by the owner’s dog, is gearing up to open next year in Avenir Place.

Owner Tyler Cohen told Tysons Reporter that the shop is planning to open in early February — about a year after Cohen started work on the new store.

“We’re here to support the local scene,” Cohen said.

Cohen, who lives in the Mosaic District, said that he originally picked a location that was closer to his residence, but that his idea didn’t fit the landlord’s vision of a bar or restaurant.

“That fell through, but I’m glad it did,” he said.

Even though the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station and other Orange Line stations in NoVa are set to close temporarily next summer, Cohen said he still thinks the spot he nabbed at 2672M Avenir Place will add to the restaurants and townhouses already there.

Cohen is also happy about the discounted rent on the spot “because it had a column in it.”

“The goal of Black Dog Beer Shop is to provide a craft beer store with a large variety of local craft beers,” according to the beer shop’s website. People can expect to find local brews, including Port City Brewing, Aslin Beer Co. and Ornery Beer Company, along with taps for growler fill-ups.

The website says that he is opening the store because “I wanted a place to grab a beer with my dog.”

Cohen told Tysons Reporter that he struggled to come up with a name for the store and his limited liability company, ultimately deciding on “Black Dog Beer Shop” to honor his dog, Ash.

“I think they just, like, go together,” he said. “Dogs and beer is the thing.”

Ash is a fan of beer and will go “snout first into my thing of beer,” Cohen said, adding that his dog’s German ancestry must be influencing the pup’s taste buds.

To gear up for his opening, Cohen has been visiting breweries across Virginia and detailing the tours on the website’s blog. Recently, he’s been to Port City Brewing Company and Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.

“I’ve met so many cool people,” Cohen said.

Cohen has also hired a store manager and assistant store manager, both of whom are “beer sommeliers,” Cohen said.

Ultimately, Cohen said that he hopes to grow the store and expand to North Carolina and Maryland.

But for now, he’s aiming for a “walkable neighborhood beer store” that will attract craft brew lovers and newcomers.

“I see the main customers as two types of people — serious beer lovers who want to try all sorts of different stuff, the  “beer explorer” — and the other type we want to capture is those just starting off drinking macro-brews and want to explore micro-breweries but don’t know where to start.”

Dog photo courtesy Tyler Cohen

Updated at noon — An employee at Thai’s Corner Restaurant told Tysons Reporter that it has closed permanently.

Earlier: Diners seeking Thai food will have to find an alternative to Thai’s Corner Restaurant, which appears to have closed its Tysons spot.

The restaurant (8607 Westwood Center Drive) served a variety of sushi, soups, fish and curries by the Spring Hill Metro station, according to its Facebook page.

The inside of the restaurant appeared disheveled today (Thursday), with letters and mail piling up on the floor just on the other side of the front door, along with furniture missing. A sign in the window said, “Sorry we’re closed.”

A server at a nearby business said that he ate at the restaurant about a month ago. A tipster told Tysons Reporter that the restaurant was closed earlier this week.

Tysons Reporter reached out to the business owner but has not heard back.

Hat tip to Mia O. 

Sechoir is moving to a new spot — but it’s not far from where its currently located near the Dunn Loring-Merrifield Metro station.

The medical spa and hair salon is currently located at 2674D Avenir Place. Signs say that it is moving to 2672J Avenir Place.

According to the signs, Sechoir offers facials, Botox, waxing, eyelash extensions, laser hair removal, cellulite reduction and more.

Along that street, a Fairfax County permit indicates that iFix is coming to 2674E Avenir Place.

Metro riders now have tentative dates for when they can expect four stations along the Orange and Silver lines to close in Northern Virginia next year.

“While full-service information will be announced in March, Metro is advising customers today that three stations will be closed between Memorial Day and Labor Day 2020” — the Vienna, Dunn Loring and East Falls Church stations, Metro said in an announcement yesterday.

The work will include rebuilding the platforms.

Meanwhile, the West Falls Church station will stay open, becoming the “western terminus of the Orange Line during the summer months,” Metro said, adding that riders can expect trains to run less frequently from the station.

Over at the East Falls Church Station, trains will still pass through the station even though it will be closed to riders.

Last week, Metro revealed several preliminary concepts that would change the Silver, Orange and Blue lines.

The concepts are a part of a two-year study to address both short- and long-term needs.

For people in Tysons, one option would let trains turn back at different areas along the Orange, Blue or Silver Lines, like the West Falls Church or East Falls Church Metro stations, while another option would create new Silver Line connections north or south of I-66.

Now, Metro wants to hear from community members that would be affected by any changes.

People can provide feedback about the ideas at several meetings this month, including a Tysons-area meeting next week.

The meeting is set to take place on Tuesday (Dec. 17) at the Courtyard by Marriott Tysons-McLean (1960A Chain Bridge Road) from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

People can also provide feedback via an online survey that will be open until Jan. 6.

Yesterday, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) released several preliminary concepts for alternative routes affecting Metro riders in Northern Virginia.

For people in the Tysons area, two concepts would create new Silver Line connections by I-66 — one north and another south of the highway.

The concepts stemmed from a study to find solutions for bottlenecking of the Silver, Orange and Blue lines at the Rosslyn Metro station, according to WMATA.

“This bottleneck limits the number of trains that can serve customers during rush hour,” according to WMATA. “In addition, running three lines on one track requires precision, and even a minor problem with a single train can impact the entire rush hour for all three lines.”

WMATA is looking to get community feedback on the ideas and plan to host a meeting on Tuesday (Dec. 17) at the Courtyard by Marriott Tysons-McLean (1960A Chain Bridge Road) from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Let Tysons Reporter know what you think of the new concepts and which one(s) would affect you. Feel free to share ideas in the comments below.

Metro riders could see some new routes for the Silver, Orange and Blue lines in the future.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority released today (Thursday) several preliminary concepts for the three lines that include alternative routes. The concepts are a part of a two-year study to address both short- and long-term needs, according to WMATA.

More from WMATA:

Today customers on Metro’s Blue, Orange, and Silver lines experience delays, crowding, and congestion due to limitations in the system’s design. The three lines share one set of tracks from the Rosslyn tunnel, through downtown DC, to Stadium- Armory. This bottleneck limits the number of trains that can serve customers during rush hour. In addition, running three lines on one track requires precision, and even a minor problem with a single train can impact the entire rush hour for all three lines.

The BOS Study has identified several draft concepts to improve service and position Metro to serve the future needs of our region. Input from the public and stakeholders will help Metro evaluate the concepts and recommend a comprehensive strategy with a “locally-preferred alternative” to move forward with federal environmental review, design and funding in late 2020.

For people in Tysons, one option would let trains turn back at different areas along the Orange, Blue or Silver Lines, like the West Falls Church or East Falls Church Metro stations.

Another concept would create new Silver Line connections north of I-66:

Concept: Provide new Silver Line service through a new tunnel under the Potomac River into DC and Maryland, north of I-66.

A new tunnel under the Potomac River would provide a new Silver Line “corridor” north of I-66 that could operate as local service, express service or a mix, with different service options:

Option A: Operate new Silver Line service between West Falls Church, Mid-City DC, Union Station, Northeast DC and Prince George’s County.
Option B: Similar to Option A, but Silver Line service would operate from McLean instead of West Falls Church.
Option C: Operate new Silver Line service between Tysons, Bethesda or Friendship Heights, northern DC and Prince George’s County.

Yet another concept would create new Silver Line connections south of I-66:

Concept: Provide new Silver Line service through a new tunnel under the Potomac River into DC and Maryland, south of I-66.

A new tunnel under the Potomac River would provide a new Silver Line “corridor” south of I-66 that could operate as local service, express service or a mix, with different service options:

Option A: Operate new Silver Line service from West Falls Church along Route 7 and Columbia Pike, then across the Yellow Line Bridge to Southeast DC and Prince George’s County.
Option B: Similar to Option A, but the Silver Line would turn southward to Crystal City and National Airport rather than heading to DC.

WMATA plans to solicit feedback from the public about the ideas at several meetings this month. The Tysons-area meeting is set to take place on Tuesday (Dec. 17) at the Courtyard by Marriott Tysons-McLean (1960A Chain Bridge Road) from 4:30-7:30 p.m.

The online survey will be open until Jan. 6.

People can find more information about the preliminary concepts online.

Metro releases preliminary concepts for public feedback to improve service on Blue, Orange, Silver lines https://t.co/bFqZLN1iwX #wmata pic.twitter.com/mm3vvVdaPH

— Metro (@wmata) December 5, 2019

Two images via WMATA

Work is gearing up on a new office tower that is part of the redevelopment of the sites once home to Tysons Biergarten and Clyde’s in Tysons.

Named Tysons Central, the new office tower is coming to 8332 Leesburg Pike — the former spot of Clyde’s — next to the Greensboro Metro station in the Tysons Central 7 neighborhood.

The building, which plans to have a private roof terrace and parking garage, is a part of a development that was approved in 2014.

More from Foulger-Pratt:

Tysons Central is the first step in the massive redevelopment of Tysons, made possible by the Metro’s Silver Line extension. This signature office tower will reside adjacent to approximately 1,100 residential units, 200 hotel rooms, and 135,000 sf retail at full build out.

Right next door you’ll find The Boro — a 4.2 million sf development featuring a variety of shopping, dining and entertainment options, including a Whole Foods and Showplace Icon multiplex.

Developer Foulger-Pratt is ready to start construction to get the project done by early 2021, the Washington Business Journal reported.

(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.

Pedestrians will have to wait a few more weeks before the northbound sidewalk along Dolley Madison Blvd (Route 123) by the McLean Metro station reopens.

The sidewalk is maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), Jenni McCord, a VDOT spokesperson, told Tysons Reporter.

“This sidewalk has been closed for about three weeks for construction under a developer site plan and permit,” McCord said.

The sidewalk is closed due to work related to Cityline Partner’s Scotts Run project, which will add an 8 million-square-foot mixed-use development.

The project includes several apartments and office buildings — including the completed 425-unit apartment complex called The Haden and the 14-story office building Mitre 4 — along with the Archer Hotel and retail space.

“Our site contractor is completing a new road connection to Route 123 and was required by VDOT to close the sidewalk during construction,” Cityline’s Managing Director Tasso Flocos told Tysons Reporter.

The new connection will include new asphalt pavement, ADA-compliant handicap ramps and pavement markings, McCord said.

The sidewalk will stay closed until paving is finished, Flocos said, adding that the contractor expects to be done by the end of October depending on the weather.

Until then, pedestrians can use the detour that takes them around the work area.