Mexican restaurant El Sol is currently under construction after recently opening in Vienna. 

El Sol has two locations, one in D.C. and one in Vienna’s Cedar Park Shopping Center. The restaurant is working on renovations and — as of a few months ago — was aiming to finish construction by the end of the summer or early fall of this year, according to Natalie Monkou, Vienna’s economic development director.

The parking lot construction and construction on the Cedar Lane Bridge, a central line to the shopping center, is making business tricky for businesses in the shopping center and other nearby businesses, according to Peggy James, the executive director of the Vienna Business Association. 

“I have been in three locally-owned restaurants over there, and it is really bad for all,” said James, emphasizing the importance of supporting El Sol during the construction.  

The Cedar Lane Bridge construction is scheduled to last from May through November, according to James. 

El Sol has been serving Mexican cuisine since 2014. Chef Alfredo Solis and his sister Jessica opened up the restaurant together and serve Mexico City staples such as huaraches, tortas, and tacos, according to the restaurant’s website. 

Another restaurant in the shopping center that is experiencing business trouble due to the construction is Crepes & Karak Cafe. The restaurant sells crepes, salads, coffee, smoothies and more.

“They have a nice social distance going on between their tables,” said James on the Vienna VA Business News Facebook group. 

James encouraged Vienna residents to continue to support these businesses during the pandemic and the construction. 

Photo via Lydia Russo on Vienna VA Foodies/Facebook

A 5K in the Town of Vienna has raised $6,000 so far to benefit people facing food insecurity.

Caffe Amouri and the Vienna Business Association (VBA) are hosting the Feeding Families 5K, which started on Friday, May 15. The VBA announced the latest donation amount in an email today (Tuesday).

The route winds from Caffe Amouri to Auto Body of Vienna, then to Plaka Grill over to Waters Field and then up to Skorpio’s Maggio’s Greek Family Restaurant before heading back to Caffe Amouri.

Participants who sign up will have until May 31 to run the route and turn in their results via email. Prize categories include “best time running” and “best time walking.”

All donations — including the registration fee — will buy food for families in need, according to the VBA.

Image via Caffe Amouri/Facebook

To support other businesses around Vienna, locally-owned French Press Printing created a fundraiser that has collected more than $7,000 so far.

By selling specially designed t-shirts, owner Sarah Bohn said that she not only managed to raise funds for her neighboring buisnesses challenged by COVID-19, but also drawn attention to the compassion shared by Vienna residents.

Part of the reason the fundraiser has been so successful is that “people want to be involved in their community,” she said. “People didn’t want to miss out on an opportunity to participate.”

For $20 people can purchase a dark blue t-shirt, which comes in two styles and has white lettering listing the 35 participating buisnesses on the back and the word “community” on the front.

Though all of the local buisnesses featured benefit from the extra advertising, some of them chose to forgo the money and either request it be given to other local buisnesses who need it more or take it to donate to a charity of their choice, Bohn said.

Frame Factory, for example, took its share and purchased fresh groceries from Caboose Tavern to share with locals facing food insecurity, according to Bohn.

Originally, Bohn ran a trial fundraiser in April and brought back a second edition out of popular demand. New orders will be accepted through June 5, according to the website.

More than 100 shirts have been ordered so far in the second fundraising round, Bohn said.

Currently, Bohn said she is in the process of sending out the original orders, adding that people who ordered recently will receive their shirts after the June 5 order deadline. 

Despite the hardship many buisnesses are facing, Bohn commented on the “wonderful energy” around town. She said she noticed that more and more buisnesses are reaching out to one another and forming partnerships, finding ways they can coordinate packages and deals for customers. 

Around town, Bohn said she looks forward to watching people walk down the streets in their #supportingvienna shirts as a reminder of the small-town feel that Vienna shares with residents.

Besides just t-shirts, French Press Printing also sells pillows, custom made fabric items, glassware, bags and jewelry, according to its website.

Photo via French Press Printing/Facebook

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.

https://twitter.com/chrisbruno84/status/1148600133833166855

At an upcoming event, a local business owner is planning to talk about growing up with one of America’s most notorious white supremacists.

On Friday (April 12), the Vienna Business Association (VBA) is planning to host a lunch and discussion with Kelvin Pierce, a local business owner and son of a prominent racist and antisemitic author.

Today, Kelvin Pierce is the co-owner of Commonwealth Home Design, Inc., a Vienna-based residential design and remodeling firm operating since 1986.

Pierce’s father was William Luther Pierce, a neo-Nazi and author of the novels Hunter and The Turner Diaries, which inspired the Oklahoma City bombing.

A description for the event says it will be an uplifting discussion of hardship and recovery.

“Kelvin was profoundly influenced by his father while growing up and tells his story of rampant abuse, mental illness and eventual recovery,” the VBA website said.

The event is scheduled to be held in the Vienna Moose Lodge (9616 Courthouse Road) from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Advance RSVPs are due by 4 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday). Tickets for VBA members are $15 or $20 for non-members. Late registrations and walk-ins are $25.

Photo via Commonwealth Home Design