Santa Claus is coming to Tysons Corner Center tomorrow (Friday), ushering in what promises to be a busy winter holiday season at the D.C. region’s biggest mall.
Returning to Tysons Corner Center for a 39th year, the big man in red will be stationed for photos on the mall’s lower level near Wasabi starting at 11 a.m. tomorrow through Christmas Eve (Dec. 24).
Visits are free, but families are encouraged to reserve a time slot in advance — a move that comes with a complimentary, personalized digital message from Santa himself as a perk. Photo packages will be available for purchase.
Santa’s hours will vary throughout the season. Designated Pet Nights are scheduled for Mondays from Nov. 23 through Dec. 14 at 4-7 p.m., and children with sensory sensitivities will be able to enjoy a quieter, less crowded “Santa Cares” experience on Dec. 6 from 9-10:30 a.m.
“Families are encouraged to plan ahead, due to limited availability and donations are welcome to support Autism Speaks,” the nonprofit advocacy organization hosting the Santa Cares event, Tysons Corner Center said in a press release.
Santa will be formally welcomed during the mall’s annual Holiday Kick-off Celebration on Nov. 13. Slated to run from 6-8 p.m., the free festivities on PenFed Plaza will include live musical performances, a retail market, giveaways, complimentary candy and hot cocoa, and the return of the Enchant Holiday Light Experience, a series of illuminated displays sponsored by George Mason University.
In a new addition for this year, the mall’s owner Macerich launched a “Jingle All the Way” sweepstakes on Monday (Nov. 2) with a $100,000 grand prize. Five Tysons Corner Center shoppers who enter the contest by Dec. 24 could also win a Nespresso coffee machine.
Tysons Corner Center has also rolled out curated gift guides to help shoppers find retailers that suit their needs. The guide groups stores into different categories, such as style setter, tech lover and wellness junkie.
To accommodate the holiday shopping rush, the mall will open early at 6 a.m. on Black Friday, which falls on Nov. 27 this year. Extended hours will also be offered on other days, particularly weekends, in the lead-up to Christmas.
New restaurants and shops expected
On top of holiday events, Tysons Corner Center visitors can expect to see a number of new retail openings over the next two months.
Following last month’s opening of Joe and the Juice, the mall recently welcomed On, a Swiss running and athletic shoe brand. Located in a second-floor space filled last holiday season by a Harry & David pop-up, the Tysons store is On’s first in Virginia and second in the D.C. area, joining a location that opened in Georgetown last December.
“The new Tysons store takes inspiration from Virginia’s natural landscape, including its stream valleys, as well as the architecture of Dulles International Airport,” Tysons Corner Center said in its holiday press release. “Guests can shop the brand’s latest running shoes, athletic apparel and accessories for running, training and everyday wear.”
Coming up, the Southern food restaurant Milk & Honey is on track to open on Nov. 16, a spokesperson confirmed to FFXnow.
Taking over a second-level storefront previously filled by the Indian eatery Dhoom, the location will be Milk & Honey’s largest yet and first to feature a grab-and-go window where customers can purchase coffee, breakfast items, dinner selections and other favorites designed to be eaten on the move.
The introduction of the Milk & Honey Express concept makes the upcoming Tysons location “especially exciting,” says Alex Berentzen, chief operating officer for its Reston-based parent company Thompson Restaurants.
“We’re excited to bring Milk & Honey to Tysons Corner Center, one of the region’s premier shopping and dining destinations,” Berentzen said in a statement to FFXnow. “As we continue expanding throughout the DMV, Tysons was a natural fit given its vibrant mix of residents, professionals, and visitors.”
The Tysons location will be the regional chain’s 22nd overall, joining a roster that also includes outposts in Fairfax City and West Springfield.
According to Tysons Corner Center, other retailers slated to open this November or December include:
November
- Figs: As previously reported, the medical apparel maker is opening a store on the mall’s second floor near Nordstrom
- Tiny’s Corner Play Cafe: Located on the mall’s second floor near the future Dick’s House of Sport, the open-ended play area for kids aged 1-9 will include a cafe where their parents can relax.
- Neuhaus: The Belgian chocolatier known for inventing the Belgian praline will bring a 649-square-foot store to the mall’s second floor near Nordstrom.
- Timeless Living: The furniture company will return to Tysons Corner Center with a temporary showroom opening this month. Though the mall didn’t specify a location, an occupancy permit issued by Fairfax County indicates that the store will be over 17,000 square feet in size.
December
- Kiokii and…: The Toronto-based Asian beauty shop is set to open in the former Francesca’s storefront, which was vacated this spring after the fashion company filed for bankruptcy. Located on the mall’s first floor near Wasabi, the shop will sell an assortment of skin care and cosmetic products.
- Maman Joon: The Persian eatery is coming back to Tysons Corner Center after the original location it opened at the mall in 2023 closed earlier this year to make way for Joe and the Juice. A mall spokesperson says details about the new location will be shared “soon.”
- Layered: The Fairfax City dessert cafe is expanding with a second location on the mall’s first floor near Barnes & Noble.
- Free People Movement: The activewear brand will be located on the mall’s second floor, adjacent to Under Armour.
- Great Big Game Show: Coming from the same team that brought The Escape Game to Tysons Corner Center in February, the new entertainment venue will be located near Level 99 on the mall’s second floor. A company spokesperson previously said an opening was expected in 2027, but FFXnow has now been told that a December time frame could be possible.
