A delivery-centered food hall is coming to Fairfax County.
Wonder, a New York-based concept that serves food from restaurants across the country for dining in, takeout and delivery, is planning to open several locations across the D.C. area this year, including ones in Reston and Franconia.
Partnering with the nonprofit DC Central Kitchen, Wonder will make its regional debut with a flagship store on 14th Street NW in D.C. this June. Another six locations are expected to open this summer and fall in Reston, Franconia, Rosslyn, D.C.’s West End, College Park and Cleveland Park.
While a press release didn’t mention specific addresses, Wonder appears to be seeking to build out restaurants at 11690 Plaza America Drive in Reston and 7001F Manchester Blvd in Franconia, according to Fairfax County’s permit database.
Replacing Genghis Grill in the Festival at Manchester Lakes shopping center, the Franconia location will be approximately 4,403 square feet and is described by the permit as a “new fast-casual restaurant with dine-in and take-away services.”
In Reston, Wonder would occupy 4,049 square feet at Plaza America in the former Maizal spot adjacent to Grill Kabob, per the county permit, which describes the restaurant as “fine/fast-casual” with dine-in and takeout services.
It’s unclear when Maizal closed. A request for comment from the fast-casual Latin street food chain’s corporate office went unanswered by press time.
More on Wonder from the press release:
Founded by entrepreneur Marc Lore and with more than 45 brick-and-mortar outposts, Wonder represents both next-gen food hall and groundbreaking delivery service. The brand is revolutionizing mealtime by making incredible food from the likes of Bobby Flay, José Andres, Nancy Silverton and Marcus Samuelsson, as well as award-winning eateries from across the country like Tejas Barbeque, SriPraPhai, Di Fara Pizza, and Fred’s Meat & Bread, widely accessible for the first time, all under one roof.
Diners can experience any combination of these chefs’ dishes and restaurants together in one order, whether they’re dining in, picking up or ordering delivery. And unlike traditional food delivery, Wonder owns every step of the process, from menu creation, food sourcing and prep to cooking and delivery, consistently bringing customers an elevated, personalized dining experience, with deliveries quickly dispatched by Wonder’s own couriers and at your door in less than 30 minutes.
Wonder’s dozens of locations can currently be found in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
A public relations representative for the food hall didn’t respond by press time to a request for further details on where the Fairfax County locations will be and what restaurants they will serve.
Wonder’s upcoming locations might not be the last in its expansion to the D.C. area. Citing construction leads, the Washington Business Journal reports that the business appears to be eyeing Fairfax City’s former TD Bank at 9504 Main Street and 3625 Richmond Highway — which currently houses a Chase Bank — in Alexandria’s Potomac Yard neighborhood.
However, no leases for the Fairfax City and Alexandria locations have been signed, according to the WBJ.
Wonder won’t be the first food hall in Fairfax County to promise an array of dining options for takeout and delivery. The Kitchen Collective opened a “virtual” food hall at Fairfax Square in Tysons in July 2023, where customers can pick up online orders from participating chefs.
