La Sandia is no longer dishing out fajitas and margaritas in Tysons.
The Mexican restaurant served its final customers yesterday (Sunday), more than 16 years after it opened at Tysons Corner Center. The permanent closure was announced in emails to supporters and on social media on June 10 — a development that FFXnow missed in last week’s round-up of changes at the mall.
In the message, the restaurant’s team said they made a “difficult” decision not to renew their lease but thanked patrons “for their loyal support over the last 16 years”:
To Our La Sandia Tysons Corner Family,
We would like to personally thank you for your loyal support over the last 16 years and for welcoming us so warmly to Tysons Corner.
Unfortunately, we have come to the decision to not renew our lease, and our last day of service will be June 23, 2024.
This is a decision that was very difficult for us to make. We were so fortunate to work with such a wonderful team and have such fantastic guests over the years, you all will be truly missed.
Thank you,
La Sandia
La Sandia opened in Tysons on May 4, 2008 as the second location of a Mexican restaurant and tequila bar concept developed by chef Richard Sandoval, who aimed to reinterpret “traditional Mexican food with contemporary techniques and skillful presentation,” per its website.
The first La Sandia was in Denver, Colorado, but that location shuttered on Sept. 30, 2022 after 15 years in business. A third spot that was also in Denver closed in 2018.
Sandoval’s restaurant group, Richard Sandoval Hospitality, still operates over 60 establishments around the world, including Dleña and El Centro D.F. in D.C.
Sandoval Hospitality didn’t immediately return a request for comment, but a La Sandia employee told FFXnow that the owners decided to close because the mall has “another restaurant coming” to its space, suggesting the business would’ve had to move to a different location if it wanted to stay. The employee said they don’t know what the new restaurant will be, and a Tysons Corner Center spokesperson didn’t respond by press time.
Maggiano’s is expected to open later this year on that end of the mall, along with fellow Tysons Galleria import The Cheesecake Factory.
La Sandia’s departure continues an overhaul of the area near Coastal Flats. Barnes & Noble closed in early May so it can relocate to a smaller space next year, and Shotted’s kiosk appears to be slated for demolition, per a Fairfax County permit, after the coffee shop opened an in-line space on the second floor last month.
Work is underway on the entertainment venue Level 99, which will open in the space occupied by Old Navy until the clothing retailer moved to a second-floor space near Bloomingdale’s.
