Nothing in Between Studio wants its customers to relax.
The nail salon opened the doors of its Tysons location on May 28, becoming one of the first retail tenants to take up residence in the Capital One Center development emerging near I-495 and the McLean Metro station.
Ongoing construction isn’t especially conducive to a stress-free environment, but Nothing in Between believes its emphasis on non-toxic products and wellness will prove enticing to the young professionals who populate the Tysons area.
“I really do think the aesthetic and experience and quality that we offer is very different, and we’re really excited to be able to offer that to the Tysons community,” Nothing in Between brand manager Amanda Vega told Tysons Reporter.
Nothing in Between opened its first location at 6410 Arlington Boulevard in Falls Church in November 2018.
A South Korean immigrant who worked in fashion before moving to Falls Church in 2014, founder Jade Kim Trusso wanted to offer an eco-friendly, cruelty-free option for nail care, avoiding the use of plastics, toxins, chemicals, and animal-based products like leather, according to Arlington Magazine.
Capital One Center then offered the business space for an expansion, according to Vega.
The studio’s reputation and mission made it an appealing addition to the development, Capital One Center Manager of Marketing and Community Affairs Meghan Trossen says.
“Nothing in Between’s great brand reputation in the Northern Virginia market and commitment to organic, non-toxic products stood out to our team,” Trossen said by email. “This zen oasis complements the dynamic environment at Capital One Center and has been a wonderful amenity to our mixed-use development.”
When Nothing in Between arrived in May, it was one of just two retailers operating at Capital One Center after Wegmans opened its 80,000 square-foot grocery store on Nov. 4, 2020.
The development previously had a City Works Eatery and Pour House, but the restaurant permanently shuttered last summer. The Starbucks at Capital One’s headquarters is also gone for good.
Since Nothing in Between opened, Capital One Center has add two dining options: Starr Hill Biergarten on The Perch and the Japanese restaurant Wren in The Watermark Hotel.
Vega says the development has been “very supportive” in helping market Nothing in Between and ensuring its success, even as Capital One’s return-to-office plans remain on hold.
While business was initially slow, it has picked up as more people have become aware of the new location, according to Vega.
“That Falls Church location, we do really well,” she said. “We’ve had clients come over that usually go to Falls Church, and they’ve come and tried Tysons.”
While the locations share a health-focused philosophy, massage services are only available at the Tysons site, which features four massage rooms as part of the team’s plan to ultimately expand beyond nail care to offer a wider range of wellness services.
The Tysons salon also aims for a more sophisticated atmosphere. Inspired by Japanese American artist Isamu Noguchi, it has oak wood flooring, a tea bar, and paper lantern lighting.
The studio offers manicures, pedicures, and massages from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.
Vega says walk-in customers are accepted, but she recommends making an appointment, since space is limited.
Nothing in Between doesn’t have any additional locations in the works, though some customers have asked about getting a salon in D.C. or the Ashburn area of Loudoun County, Vega says.
“We’re definitely open to the possibility if the opportunity is right,” Vega said. “But for right now, we’re focusing on two locations and continuing to build up our clientele.”
After more than a decade on Church Street, Caffè Amouri has some competition in the Town of Vienna’s independent coffeehouse scene.
As shared by Vienna Business Association Executive Director Peggy James on the Vienna VA Foodies Facebook page, newcomer 29th Parallel Coffee opened its doors just down the road in Windover Square (106 Lawyers Road), the shopping center occupied by Plaka Grill and Papa John’s Pizza, on Nov. 21.
While they share a similar neighborhood-centered mindset, 29th Parallel differs in focusing on pour-over or hand-drip coffee and bringing in a variety of roasters, while Caffè Amouri roasts its own beans.
Co-owner Amir Khalil describes the shop as “counterculture” to chains like Starbucks, catering more to coffee connoisseurs who might prize craft over convenience.
“Everything is to-go, very fast. We take our time [with an] artisan kind of coffee,” Khalil told Tysons Reporter last week. “You come in, you order, and it takes a couple of minutes, but if you don’t have that [time], we have a different way to please that client.”
29th Parallel also has a coffee shop in Fairfax Station Square on Ox Road that opened in 2017.
The name comes from the 29th parallel south circle of latitude, which passes through countries like Brazil, Australia, and South Africa with strong coffee cultures. It also coincidentally nods to the business’ original Fairfax location on Route 29, according to Northern Virginia Magazine.
Like the rest of the food service industry, 29th Parallel has grappled with its fair share of challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, surviving by pivoting to online ordering and reducing its operating hours to manage labor costs.
However, the team also saw an opportunity to expand. Drawn to Vienna’s small-town atmosphere, they landed a space previously filled by Oreck Vacuum.
“I think this is a great fit for the community here,” Khalil said.
Like its Fairfax Station counterpart, the Vienna 29th Parallel gets beans from a couple of primary roasters — in this case, Delaware-based Brandywine Coffee Roasters and Black & White Coffee Roasters from North Carolina, with Annapolis-based Ceremony Coffee Roasters as another mainstay.
Starting next year, the shop will also rotate through different guest roasters, including Corvus Coffee Roasters and, potentially, Norway’s Tim Wendelboe, who Khalil describes as “a rock star of coffee.”
In choosing its distributors and vendors, 29th Parallel emphasizes community-based, independent businesses as much as possible, even bringing in milk from Amish farmers in Pennsylvania.
“It’s just how the economy and money stays within the community,” Khalil said. “…Locals coming to support local coffee shops, and we support local distributors and all those things. It’s all connected.”
Currently in soft-opening mode, 29th Parallel operates from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
Khalil expects to have a grand opening sometime around Christmas or New Year’s Day, after which the shop will expand to regular 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. hours and offer a full menu of beverages and food, including sandwiches and pastries.
The gradual rollout stems in part from the global supply chain issues that have disrupted industries from grocery stores to automobile manufacturers. For 29th Parallel, those issues have affected product deliveries as well as the construction process. Replacing the building’s HVAC system, for instance, took two months, according to Khalil.
In the meantime, Khalil hopes community members in Vienna and the surrounding area will stop by to see what makes 29th Parallel different.
“People really loved it over there [in Fairfax], and I’m hoping that is the case here,” he said.
After making its Virginia debut in the Town of Vienna last year, Crumbl Cookies will add a second location in the Tysons area, this time at Birch & Broad (1200 W. Broad Street) in Falls Church.
Slated to open in March, the gourmet cookie shop will fill a 1,597 square-foot space in between Jersey Mike’s Subs and Domino’s Pizza at the shopping center formerly known as Falls Plaza, property owner Federal Realty announced yesterday (Wednesday).
The chain is also planning to open a Reston location in January.
“We’re looking forward to sharing Crumbl’s specialty cookies with the Falls Church community once we open at Birch & Broad,” franchise co-owner Brigg Bunker said. “…Crumbl will be the perfect place to stop in and grab dessert after a meal or for a sweet treat on the go.”
The shopping center will also add Taco Rock, Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen, and Aqua-Tots Swim Schools in the coming months, while finishing a renovation project that began in April, according to a press release.
“As we approach the completion of the renovation, we are thrilled to welcome the addition of three more notable merchants advancing Birch & Broad to almost full occupancy,” Federal Realty Vice President of Asset Management Deirdre Johnson said.
Taco Rock
Taco Rock announced in June that it had closed a deal to build a 2,815-square-foot taqueria and tequila bar at Birch & Broad.
At that time, the Rosslyn-based restaurant expected its new venue to be ready in October, but beverage manager Ana Barrera tells Tysons Reporter that they now hope to open in December.
“We were anticipating on opening the first week of December,” Barrera said by email. “Unfortunately, since the supply chain for equipment is so backed up, we are moving our opening date to the last week of December if all goes smoothly…We look forward to opening our doors sooner rather than later!”
Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen
Created by CEO Chris Gannon and his father, Outback Steakhouse founder Tim Gannon, Bolay is a fast-casual concept that sells salad, rice, and noodle bowls with an emphasis on healthy ingredients.
The Falls Church location will be Bolay’s first outside its native home of Florida. The 2,972 square-foot space is expected to open across the street from Birch & Broad’s CVS Pharmacy next summer.
“We’re in a growth phase and this will be a really exciting opening for us” Chris Gannon said. “Guests can expect fine dining food at the speed and cost of fast casual.”
Aqua-Tots Swim Schools
Aqua-Tots will open a 7,287 square-foot space adjacent to Staples next year.
Despite its name, the franchise provides swimming lessons and services to all ages. Its Northern Virginia presence currently consists of sites in Centreville, South Riding, and Leesburg.
“This is a moment of major expansion for the franchise, and we are excited to invite local families to register their little ones for world-class swimming lessons,” Andrew George, owner of the Falls Church site, said. “There are a lot of kids in the Falls Church area, and we can’t wait to get them in the water.”
A dessert bar featuring gourmet popcorn, milkshakes, and more has popped its way into Tysons.
The Popcorn Bag DC is opening this week at Tysons Corner Center, where it landed reduced rent there as part of a 2021 “Shark Tank”-like competition along with two other businesses.
The Popcorn Bag DC is located next to Coastal Flats and La Sandia. The hours are Thursdays through Sundays, starting at noon until they’re sold out.
It will have a private invite-only event on Thursday (Nov. 18), followed by specials and giveaways when it opens to the public starting Friday (Nov. 19).
Promotions for the grand opening weekend include coupons with all purchases on Friday and Saturday (Nov. 20), special gifts with Saturday purchases, and an additional reward for those who buy milkshakes on those two days between noon and 3 p.m.
A live DJ will also be there Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. A free mimosa will be given with purchases on Sunday.
The business offers popcorn flavors ranging from buffalo ranch and key lime pie to a Hennessy-inspired Chocolate Henny, chicken and waffles, and Ladies Night (a strawberry, champagne, and cheesecake mix). It also lists what treats are dairy-free and nut-free.
The business launched Oct. 8, 2020 in Maryland by the Metro’s Green Line in Hillcrest Heights.
“We don’t have anything like this in the area, and I wanted to be different,” owner Teia Hill said of its Maryland location in a video with the Prince George’s County Economic Development Corporation.
The Popcorn Bag was one of three winners of Tysons Corner Center’s DreamStart Competition, which offered businesses three months of free rent, among other prizes.
The first-place winner was the traditional Italian bakery Bisnonna Bakeshop, which opened next to Barnes & Noble in September. The Popcorn Bag was a runner-up, along with Garçon Mèlaninè & Co., a Black-owned children’s fashion brand that opened near the restaurant Wasabi at the end of August.
An Idylwood brewery that launched in 2018 is expanding to Oakton at Hunter Mill Plaza on Chain Bridge Road and Hunter Mill Road.
Settle Down Easy Brewing Co. will open Settle Down Easy — Oakton Tasting Room, an 80-seat, 4,000-square-foot space slated to open in the spring. Its website prominently displays the change as “coming soon.”
A marketing representative says to-go orders doubled the brewery’s production amid the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing for the expansion.
Announced at Settle Down Easy’s three-year anniversary celebration on Saturday (Nov. 6), the new space will also offer cider and wine as well as artisanal meats and more through an exclusive food partnership with The Fermented Pig.
Per a news release:
The new 4,000-square-foot, 80-seat tasting room aims to become a community staple, celebrating local purveyors and businesses as well as providing an upscale yet relaxing atmosphere for customers to enjoy. Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.’s original location in Falls Church/Merrifield opened in November 2018 with a high-quality and approachable selection of craft beers and seasonal varietals. Now, three years later, the brand will expand to include this new addition in Oakton.
‘We experienced wonderful success following our initial opening, and even throughout the global pandemic we were able to expand our customer base through our to-go program,’ said Settle Down Easy Brewing Co. owner Frank R. Kuhns. ‘We are thrilled to open a new location in Oakton and really integrate our concept with the many incredible local food and beverage producers in the area.’
The Fermented Pig, a family-owned business that specializes in artisan meats and charcuterie, will partner with Settle Down Easy Brewing Co. to open its first brick and mortar location inside SDE — Oakton Tasting Room. The seasonal ‘farm to fork’ menu will offer artisanal paninis, fresh salads, local cheeses, charcuterie, entrees and more — all sourced from local suppliers within 100 miles of the tasting room. In addition to the food offerings, Settle Down Easy Brewing Co.’s flagship brews, SDE — Oakton Tasting Room will feature a rotating selection of taps from other Fairfax County breweries, as well as local ciders on tap and a curated wine list.
While many return-to-office plans have been put on hold, companies seeking to bring workers back in person might face a challenge of an unexpectedly furry nature: employees reluctant to leave the pets they acquired during the pandemic.
A new business, Connected Canine, aims to help businesses alleviate that potential conflict. It operates out of the coworking space Industrious (1660 International Drive, Suite 600) in Tysons as well as out of Boulder, Colorado.
“We provide an HR toolkit with resources such as a health and behavior assessment used to understand a dog’s history before inviting them into the office and hands-on support to make the process of establishing a dog friendly office as simple as possible,” Jeff Skalka, founder and CEO of Connected Canine, said in an email.
Skalka said the company provides largely free resources and employs a team of veterinarians, an architect, and human resources professionals who have found ways to ease the process.
“Once a company establishes their dog friendly office, we charge a low, variable fee based on the number of participating employees and dogs to provide software and other services,” he wrote. “For example, our software allows employees to schedule time to bring in their dog, take pictures of their dog’s vaccination records to ensure offices remain healthy and safe for everyone, and gives employers the ability to track who is bringing in a dog and how often and ensure only approved dogs are allowed onsite.”
Skalka formed Connected Canine in December after talking with friends and fellow dog owners who shared concerns about leaving their pets back at home when they returned to the office.
Over 11 million households acquired a pet during the pandemic, The Guardian reported, citing a survey by the American Pet Products Association.
“One thing companies really like is that our solutions are customized to their exact needs which we uncover through employee surveys and conversations with senior leaders,” Skalka wrote.
The surge in pet ownership coincided with the pandemic-prompted shift to remote work for office-based employees across the U.S., many of whom say they would quit rather than go back to the office.
Though some companies have shifted back to in-person work, telecommuting may continue to prevail, with research and consulting firm Gartner projecting that over half of U.S. workers will be remote in 2022.
Photo via Google Maps
George Mason University student Adel Batterjee and his friends had one of Bowlero’s first games yesterday (Monday) following the opening of the new Tysons Galleria venue, which combines an arcade with a restaurant and bowling alley.
Bowlero has taken over the basement of the mall’s former Macy’s. The racks of clothing that Batterjee remembers from the old space have been replaced by almost wall-to-wall bowling lanes. Next to a sweeping 26-lane section is a classic Mustang and bar, and another 10-lane section stretches by 70-plus arcade games.
A grand opening for the Tysons Bowlero, which joins existing locations in Annandale, Centreville, and Arlington, is slated for Nov. 6. People can register online for the event, which runs from noon to 3 p.m and will feature free bowling and arcade play
“People are excited,” said Siarra Foster, Bowlero’s Northern Virginia district area manager. “It’s a fun addition of things to do in this area.”
The 39,000-square feet space, which began construction this spring, includes arcade games ranging from “Mario Kart Arcade GP,” complete with race car seats and steering wheels, to classic pinball machines, one of which features “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
Other modern twists to the classic bowling alley concept include arcade games with virtual reality headsets and electronic menus on lanes to assist customers.
Food items include a kids’ menu, grilled items such as burgers, salads, milkshakes and other desserts, hand-stretched pizza, party-sized options, and more.
It’s not just for kids, though, given the selection of beers, and screens throughout the location can play NFL games as well as slideshows. Company logos can also be featured on screens for when groups rent a section of lanes or the entire facility.
A prize area features quirky items, too, such as a Bob Ross version of Monopoly.
Even with the soft opening, the business is already inviting stores to participate in a friendly competition for bragging rights in a Tysons Galleria bowling league.
The location opened Friday (Oct. 15) for families and friends and is currently open to the public, Foster said.
Its hours are 2 p.m. to midnight Monday through Friday, noon to midnight on Saturday, and noon to 11 p.m. on Sunday.
A new primary care medical office is having its grand opening in Tysons today (Tuesday).
Heale Medical is opening at 8300 Boone Boulevard, an office building just south of the Chain Bridge Road and Leesburg Pike interchange, at 11 a.m.
Founder Dr. Amit Newatia told Tysons Reporter that, despite the area’s swelling population, there’s limited access to primary care treatment. There are, at least according to Google, around a dozen medical clinics or general practitioners in Tysons, along with a new emergency room opening next year.
“Despite this population growth, the area suffers from a dearth of options for modern primary care offices that customize care to the individual,” Newatia said. “Traditional primary care offices fail to fully cater to this evolving group of highly discerning patients, especially when it comes to long-term and preventative care. Heale Medical offers a unique perspective on primary care where patients are treated with great dignity and are given incredible empowerment over their health.”
According to the Heale Medical social media page, the office works with all major insurance carriers, though co-pays apply depending on the insurance.
Annual membership fees for Heale Medical are $199, but a press release said the practice is offering free membership for the first year for locals who sign up between Sept. 1 and Dec. 1.
The press release noted that patients have access to health an wellness support services, as well as “health screenings, management of acute and urgent illnesses or injuries, and chronic conditions.”
Shake Shack wants to take over a closed restaurant in the Mosaic District.
The burger-and-shake chain has been working through Fairfax County’s permitting process to move into the former Choolaah space at Suite 110, 2911 District Avenue, but it still lacks health, building, and other approvals.
Construction Journal and the Washington Business Journal previously reported the news, though the latter noted that plans could fall through. That was the case with a former Arby’s location that Shake Shack had planned for North Bethesda.
According to the WBJ, Shake Shack’s plans include an outdoor patio and bar-style seating inside:
Per the Mosaic plans, drawn up by Gensler, the Shake Shack will break down as 4,070 square feet inside and 668 square feet on the outdoor patio. Inside there will be bar-style, linear and open seating and four order kiosks. In addition to Gensler, the team includes Henderson Engineers, engineer KPFF and TriMark, a food service consultant and supplier.
An email sent to a Shake Shack spokesperson yesterday (Wednesday) wasn’t returned by the time this article was published.
The company’s only other location in Fairfax County is at Tysons Corner Center. It opened in 2014.
Choolaah, an Indian fast-casual food chain, opened in the Mosaic District in 2016 and temporarily shuttered amid the pandemic before announcing in January that the closure would be permanent.
Health, building, mechanical, and other reviews are listed as incomplete after Shake Shack saw permitting setbacks in September. Its application to the county was processed July 13 and is still listed as pending.
Health Department Tweaks Approach to Quarantined Students — Starting today (Thursday), students who have been exposed to COVID-19 can complete wellness checks and get guidance from the Fairfax County Health Department online instead of having to wait for a phone call. The change is part of an ongoing effort to speed up the contact-tracing and quarantining processes so students can return to school buildings. [FCHD]
Local Arts Groups See Bright Spots Amid Upheaval — “Fairfax County’s art scene is under-funded, under-capacity and still weathering the pandemic, but several upcoming projects will bring it closer to its potential, the president of ArtsFairfax said. The county’s prospects are changing more quickly than at any other point in her 12 years with the organization, Linda Sullivan told the Greater Tysons Citizens Coalition during a Sept. 9 roundtable.” [Sun Gazette]
Vienna Schedules Meeting on Economic Strategy — The Town of Vienna will hold a public meeting from 6-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 30 for residents to discuss a draft economic development report that looks at how the town could more effectively attract and support businesses. The town hired a consultant in January to conduct a market study and propose an economic development strategy that were released in June. [Patch]
Italian Bakery Sets Tysons Corner Grand Opening — “Handcrafted Italian pastry is coming to Tysons Corner Center! Celebrate the Grand Opening of DreamStart Winner Bisnonna Bakeshop on Saturday, 09/18 with family-friendly activities starting at 10am” [Tysons Corner Center/Twitter]