Four years after BoConcept closed its doors at Tysons Galleria, the high-end furniture retail chain is preparing to try again.
From 2004 to 2015, BoConcept operated out of the mall’s third floor until the area was converted into a food hall — first the ill-fated Isabella Eatery, now Taste of Urbanspace. But Washington, D.C. franchisee Tim Machenaud said the new location on the main floor will give the store more visibility.
Machenaud said there have also been a few changes in the store and in the mall since then that make him more encouraged about the prospects a second time around.
“BoConcept ownership change three years ago has shifted the brand to a slightly more premium positioning,” said Machenaud. “We still have affordable furniture items but we have increased our quality standards as we want to be the leader in quality design furniture. This position shift is in line with the premium brands that you can find at Tysons Galleria.”
While stores nationwide have faced increased competition from online retail like Amazon, Machenaud said creating a superior retail experience in showrooms, like the one at Tysons, is integral to the furniture shopping experience.
Machenaud said feedback from clients has shown that most people buying furniture will visit and average of three to four stores before making their decision.
There are currently two other furniture brands in Tysons Galleria — Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams and Calligaris — and Machenaud said having multiple furniture brands in one location will help turn the mall into a quality furniture destination.
Meanwhile, the mall is planning to replace the now-closed Macy’s at the north end of the mall with a new suite of retailers like an Apple Store, an iPic movie theater, and a Balducci’s grocery store. A new fitness-themed area is also planned inside the space that was Legal Sea Foods.
“Retail is changing… so the malls need to review their approach, their offers, their client’s experience,” said Machenaud. “Being next to the upcoming extension of this mall gives us the responsibility and honor to be at the gate between the current and the future.”
Free Rides to Tysons — The new Fairfax Connector Route 467, which runs from Tysons to Vienna to Dunn Loring, is now operating and is free for the month of April. [Twitter]
Law Firm Finishes Move to The Boro — “Womble Bond Dickinson is excited to announce that it has completed its move to the new Boro Tower effective April 1… [The law firm] will occupy the entire 15th floor of the Boro Tower, consisting of approximately 24,000 square feet of office space.” [CityBizList]
New Falls Church Ice Cream Shop — “Falls Church just got a little sweeter with the opening of Kiln & Custard at Lincoln at Tinner Hill, 455 South Maple Avenue. The business will celebrate its grand opening Sunday, April 7 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.” [Patch]
Vienna Named ‘Tree City’ Again — “Vienna has been certified as a ‘Tree City USA’ by the Arbor Day Foundation for the 18th time, and will host a special event on Friday, April 26 at 5 p.m. at the Vienna Community Center.” [InsideNova]
Mamma Mia! in McLean — “Langley High School concludes its 2018-2019 theater season with an international hit sensation: Mamma Mia!. It will play on April 25-27 at 7 p.m., April 28 at 2 p.m. and May 2-4 at 7 p.m. and May 5 at 2 p.m., 2019 at Saxon Stage Theater at Langley High School.” [McLean Connection]
Falls Church Van Break-ins — “Falls Church Police are seeking two suspects for breaking into the same van three times. Video from the latest break-in shows one suspect inside the van.” [Patch]
The New York School of Arts — formerly Open Art Studio — has a new home in Vienna at 320 Maple Ave E.
The school, founded ten years ago, is focused on individual-based education in art and design with faculty from programs like Brown and Columbia universities.
The studio had previously been located at 225 Mill St NE.
The school programs range from art programs for children to portfolio reviews for students applying to arts programs.
Registration is currently open for the art foundation summer camp, aimed at students in grades 6 through 8. Classes range from $245 for children under two years old to $760 for older students.
Photo via Facebook
Tysons Corner Center plans to welcome two newcomers — a 7-Eleven on the first level and an Italian legwear store one flight up.
Calzedonia Italian Legwear & Beachwear, an Italian fashion brand that sells socks, leggings and beachwear, will sit directly across from Lord & Taylor. The sign covering the storefront also says that Intimissimi, which is also a part of the Calzedonia family, will bring Italian lingerie.
On the first level, 7-Eleven is coming to a spot next to GNC Live Well, a health product store, across from the Gap and H&M. While this reporter did not see any signs, the mall’s website says that the convenience store chain is “coming soon.” The space was once home to a Starbucks.
The two stores join a growing list of newcomers, including Arabian Oud, a luxury perfume store, and Morphe Cosmetics.
Tysons Reporter previously noted that two stores on the second level — Aldo and Francesca’s — will have new locations on the first level.
There’s no word yet on specific opening dates for either of the two stores.
Kriser’s Natural Pet, a pet store chain featuring natural food, treats and supplies, will open soon in the Mosaic District.
Sandwiched between Sweetgreen and Nordine Salon and Day Spa, the store will include a grooming area at 2905 District Ave, Suite 180.
Kriser’s offers a variety of food types and supplies available for cats and dogs, along with daycare, grooming and training services.
An employee at Kriser’s told Tysons Reporter that the soft opening is slated for April 13, followed by a grand opening on May 4 for the store.
Locals may have spotted the other nearby locations in Vienna at 144 Maple Ave W. and in Tysons at 7505 Leesburg Pike inside the Whole Foods shopping center.
The Mosaic District spot is also hiring humans — furry four-legged friends need not apply.
“Turns out corgis are adorable but make terrible employees,” a sign on the storefront says.
The Whole Foods in The Boro is officially scheduled for a launch sometime in late summer or early fall, and several restaurants and smaller retailers are waiting in the wings to piggyback off that launch.
The Whole Foods is part of Boro Place, which has commonly been dubbed the retail spine of The Boro.
Furniture retailer Ethan Allen is set to form another entrance to the Boro Place, filling a two-story location at the corner of Boro Place and Westpark Drive.
Caroline Flax, a senior analyst for the Meridian Group, told Tysons Reporter that the restaurants and retail of Boro Place are planned to launch alongside the Whole Foods.
The idea of the development phases being brought online together rather retail than trickling in one-by-one as they were completed is part of a broader strategy to make The Boro feel like a commercial sector to rival the Tysons Corner Center mall.
Flax said a few contracts are still being finalized for the development, but here’s what we know is opening along Boro Place:
- North Italia — A full-service Italian restaurant planned to occupy 6,200 square feet
- Flower Child — A fast-casual restaurant with a focus on healthy food
- Fish Taco — A D.C.-based taco chain
- Tasty Kabob — The brick-and-mortar location for a popular local food truck
- Tropical Smoothie Cafe — A national smoothie chain
- Colour Bar Studio — A second floor of The Loft building on Boro Place
- Akira Ramen & Izakaya — A soba noodle restaurant offering a variety of ramens
- Poki DC — A Hawaiian-inspired cuisine with counter-serve style poke bowls.
California-based Morphe Cosmetics is coming to Tysons Corner Center as part of a large-scale expansion.
The chain — known for its make-up palettes and brushes — is planned to open sometime in the spring. More specific dates have not been announced yet.
The store will be located on the mall’s second floor, between Lush — another cosmetics store — and women’s apparel store Francesca’s.
There are four open positions at the new location:
Hästens, a self-described luxury bed company based out of Sweden, is opening a new store in Tysons Galleria.
According to an employee in the Tysons Galleria management office, construction hasn’t started on the store yet. The opening is expected sometime late in the summer.
Hästens was founded in 1852 and is the official bedding supplier of the Swedish royal court.
Some of the beds are over six-figures, though the most popular model is $27,500.
There are approximately 200 locations worldwide. This is the first location in the region for the chain, whose next closest store is in New York City.
Photo via Facebook
Firefighter Training in McLean Home — “[Fairfax County Fire and Rescue] units have been conducting ladder truck training exercises at a donated home, in the McLean area, that is slated for demolition.” [Twitter]
New Store Opening in Tysons Galleria — “Lafayette 148 New York has ventured into the nation’s capital, opening its first Greater Washington location this week in the Tysons Galleria shopping center. Its first freestanding boutique in the Mid-Atlantic region, the new Lafayette 148 shop measures 2,500 square feet.” [Washington Business Journal]
Silver Line Test Train Doesn’t Get Far — “The first test train on Metro’s Silver Line extension to Dulles Airport made it only 1,000 feet out of the Wiehle-Reston East station before running into trouble, sources told News4.” [NBC Washington]
Falls Church Development Includes Micro Units — “If approved by the F.C. City Council going forward [the new West End development will] include an extra 150,000 square feet in residential density, including 50,000 square feet for senior housing and 100,000 square feet for 40 or so of the first new condominiums built in the City in over a decade, and even more notable, some 150-175 ‘micro unit’ rentals.” [Falls Church News-Press]
Turmoil in Richmond, Leaders’ Future Uncertain — Under fire for each of their own controversies, resignations by Virginia’s Democratic governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general could end up triggering a special election or even elevating a Republican state lawmaker into one of the top jobs. Meanwhile, the chaos in Richmond was the lead story on the national evening news this week — twice — and made the cover of this morning’s New York Post, with the headline “Virginia is for Losers.” [Politico, Twitter]
Bebe Gol Market, a new store offering goods from countries ranging from Iran to Turkey to Greece, is now open in McLean.
The store offers everything from canned goods to freshly made pastries.
If Jamileh Ardebily, one of two women who own the new market at 1349 Chain Bridge Rd, looks familiar, that’s likely because she spent the last several years working at the nearby Sun Trust Bank. But two years ago, Ardebily said she decided she wanted to leave the bank and make something for herself.
As she looked around, she said the location felt like a natural fit for a store offering a diverse selection of international goods.
“Vienna has stuff like this, but not McLean,” Ardebily said, “and I love the people in McLean. Everyone here is so supportive.”
The name, Bebe Gol, means “ladies’ flower”, reflecting that store is owned by a woman.
Ardebily said many of the people she’s seen stopping in the store have been people she knew from when she worked at the bank. Her husband owns Red Tomato Pizzeria less than a block away, which was how Ardebily found the empty location and knew the property owners.
The official grand opening was in mid-January, and Ardebily emphasized that all of the locals who have come by the shop have made the store feel like a part of the community.
