South Block’s expansion to seemingly every corner of Fairfax County will continue tomorrow (Saturday) with its debut in Burke.
The homegrown juice and smoothie chain will open at the Burke Centre Shopping Center (5765D Burke Centre Parkway) with an all-day block party, highlighted by free mini warrior acai bowls for the first 100 customers in line.
Kicking off at 11 a.m., the festivities will also feature a live DJ, exclusive merchandise and more giveaways, according to a press release.
“We’ve always believed that South Block is about more than what’s in the bowl. It’s about how our guests feel when they walk through our doors,” South Block founder and CEO Amir Mostafavi said.
Raised in McLean, where he opened a location in early 2023, Mostafavi gained experience working in retail for his family’s Box Office Video rental store that proved useful when he launched a juice bar named Campus Fresh on George Washington University’s campus in 2006.
That college venture became the foundation for South Block, which opened its first location in Arlington’s Clarendon neighborhood in 2011.
Filling a 1,218-square-foot suite previously occupied by Subway, South Block’s Burke cafe will be its 24th overall. The company has been growing rapidly over the past couple of years across the D.C. region and into North Carolina, where it made its introduction with a Ballantyne store on Jan. 16 of this year.
“Burke has a strong sense of community, and we’re excited to be part of it while continuing to give back in meaningful ways,” Mostafavi said. “Our mission is simple: to make people feel awesome one block at a time by spreading good vibes and fresh food.”
Coming on the heels of openings last year in Fairfax City and Reston, the Burke location won’t be the end of South Block’s expansion in Fairfax County: construction is underway on a shop at Idylwood Plaza.
Mostafavi previously told FFXnow that he hopes to open there this summer, but an inquiry to confirm whether that timeline still holds didn’t receive an immediate response.
Following its grand opening tomorrow, South Block will be open in Burke from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.
Like at other locations, the cafe will serve a variety of acai bowls, smoothies, cold-pressed juices and toast. The menu has recently expanded to include mini acai bowls and protein smoothies, along with a seasonal cherry blossom smoothie that will be available for a limited time.
