McLean Big Buns and Matchbox set grand opening with free food samples

After a few months of settling into McLean, Big Buns Damn Good Burgers and Matchbox are evidently ready for a housewarming party.

The two restaurants paired with McLean’s Lidl grocery store on Chain Bridge Road will get a grand opening celebration, complete with an official ribbon-cutting, this coming Wednesday (April 26).

Both owned by Thompson Hospitality, Big Buns opened its doors to customers on Jan. 16, while the pizzeria followed suit in early February.

The event will take place at 1340 Chain Bridge Road from 5-7 p.m., bringing free food and drinks, a live DJ and giveaways.

“Enjoy complimentary samples of burgers, sliders, nuggets, pizza, and beer from both restaurants as well as tunes from a local DJ all night long,” Thompson Hospitality said in a media alert. “A percentage of proceeds from other items purchased during the evening will be donated to [the nonprofit] Food for Others.”

Expected attendees of the ribbon-cutting, which will be at 5:30 p.m., include Thompson Hospitality president and board chair Warren Thompson, Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Andrew Clark, and Fairfax County Economic Development Authority Director of Diversity Business Investment Karen Smaw.

There are now 14 Matchbox restaurants and 10 Big Buns in existence, including another joint location at Reston Station. Both eateries were also in Fairfax City’s Point 50 shopping center until Slice of Matchbox — a pared-down version of the pizzeria — shuttered last month.

Thompson Hospitality says it currently owns and operates over 60 restaurants and hopes to expand to 100 restaurants by the end of 2023. Its other brands include Chick-fil-A, the Reston-based pub Makers Union, and Milk & Honey Cafe, which has a Fairfax location.