South Block is plotting another expansion in Fairfax County.
The regional juice and smoothie chain has leased one of the new storefronts created out of the former Whole Foods space at Idylwood Plaza. Signage announcing that South Block is “coming soon” recently appeared at the shopping center.
South Block already has multiple locations in the surrounding area, including one about 3 miles away in Arlington near the East Falls Church Metro station. The chain can also be found in Vienna and McLean at the Chesterbrook Shopping Center.
According to founder and CEO Amir Mostafavi, those locations have all “received tremendous support from the community,” but the company believes having an additional shop in Idylwood will enable it to better serve residents in West Falls Church and Tysons.
“Many customers from that area already visit our surrounding locations, but we wanted to make it more convenient for them to enjoy more frequent visits, as a lot of people visit South Block multiple times a week as part of their routine,” Mostafavi told FFXnow by email. “We are very grateful for their continued love and support.”
A longtime Fairfax County resident who grew up in McLean and graduated from McLean High School, Mostafavi started South Block in 2011 with a shop in Arlington’s Clarendon neighborhood that served fruit smoothies, açai bowls, burritos, soups and more with an emphasis on healthy ingredients.
The business has changed its menu over the years, phasing out the burritos and soups and adding more organic juices, smoothie bowls, toast and coffee. But it still touts the nutritional value and organic nature of its ingredients, along with a commitment to supporting the local community.
All 19 of South Block’s existing locations are in the D.C. region, mostly in Northern Virginia, though its first North Carolina shop is expected to open in late 2025. The company also donates a portion of all sales to Fruitful Planet, a nonprofit started by Mostafavi in honor of his mother to help distribute fresh fruits and vegetables to communities with limited access to them.
Mostafavi says they hope to open at Idylwood Plaza in summer 2026.
South Block’s next location will likely be one at the Spectrum at Reston Town Center (1835 Fountain Drive), which is replacing the Robeks that closed at the end of June and expected to launch sometime in late 2025. An expansion to Burke Centre Shopping Center also appears to be in the works, with Fairfax County reviewing plans for a new tenant buildout at 5765D Burke Centre Parkway.
At Idylwood Plaza, South Block will occupy a 1,500-square-foot space near Hair Social, according to a site plan from property owner Federal Realty.
More than 23,000 square feet of the former Whole Foods store will be taken over by Lidl, which is expected to open as the shopping center’s new anchor grocery store in late 2026. Three more suites created out of the subdivided space, ranging in size from 1,158 square feet to 1,800 square feet, are still listed as available.
