South Block will continue its steady march to bring smoothies, acai bowls and cold-pressed juice to health foodies throughout Northern Virginia in 2025.
The Arlington-based chain anticipates opening its newest juice shops at Fair City Mall in Fairfax City and at Old Keene Mill Shopping Center in West Springfield early next year, founder and CEO Amir Mostafavi told FFXnow.
The Fair City Mall location will be of particular significance, since Mostafavi’s family lives nearby. His kids attend Woodson High School, right across the street from the future cafe.
“We are super excited about this location because it will be in our neighborhood!” Mostafavi said.
Started by Mostafavi in Clarendon in 2011, South Block has picked up its pace of growth in recent years, reaching 16 locations with an opening in Chantilly on June 8. That shop in The Field at Commonwealth is the company’s first since it partnered with the private equity firm Savory Fund, QSR reported.
South Block can also be found in Vienna and McLean, and it has a concession stand coming to Dulles International Airport.
While the Dulles stand doesn’t have a firm timeline yet, Mostafavi says they hope to start construction in the next couple of weeks and open before the winter holiday travel season.
At Fair City Mall, South Block will be part of a new row of retail stores next to Kokee Tea (9668-A Main Street). Constructed out of a single suite that belonged to Bed Bath and Beyond until the furniture store closed in 2021, the subdivided row has two other spaces leased to Chase Bank and Dave’s Hot Chicken, according to a site plan.
Over at Old Keene Mill Shopping Center, South Block will have a 1,401-square-foot shop next to a future Crimson Coward Chicken, a Nashville-style hot chicken restaurant that property owner Federal Realty previously confirmed will open in early 2025.
“Crimson Coward Nashville Hot Chicken is proud to expand further in the Virginia area with our fourth location opening in Springfield,” franchise owner Nabil Asad said. “The food is freshly made at all of our chicken joints and we hope the locals will embrace the experience of a Crimson Coward when they stop in to try one of the five heat levels — there’s something for everyone.”
In a press release sent out yesterday (Monday), Federal Realty noted that South Block and Crimson Coward will be joined by McAlister’s Deli, European Wax Center and ZIPS Dry Cleaners, all filling space that Whole Foods left empty when it moved to Springfield Plaza in October.
All of those retailers are expected to open early next year.
“These five new merchants provide an elevated selection of premium fast-casual dining and service options for our Old Keene Mill customers,” Deirdre Johnson, Federal’s senior vice president of asset management, said.
More immediately, Old Keene Mill will welcome Kanji Sushi sometime this summer, Federal Realty says. This will be the first location in Virginia for the Japanese restaurant, which can currently be found in South Carolina and New York, per its website.
