Author: Jared Serre

Jared Serre covers local business, public safety and breaking news across Local News Now's websites. Originally from Northeast Ohio, he is a graduate of West Virginia University. He previously worked with Law360 before joining LNN in May 2024.

Around Town

Sweetgreen seeks drive-thru use at potential McLean location

By Jared Serre
Chesterbrook Shopping Center is adding new tenants, while undergoing renovation (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The closure of a bank in McLean’s Chesterbrook Shopping Center could be a gain for a national chain of salad restaurants.

Sweetgreen has asked Fairfax County’s Zoning Office to clarify how a potential restaurant could take advantage of a drive-thru lane previously installed during a property’s last life as a bank.

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Around Town

Recently opened Chantilly restaurant serves Korean food ‘Chipotle-style’

By Jared Serre
KoBo Korean Chicken in Chantilly (staff photo by Jared Serre)

A new restaurant in Chantilly is working to make Korean food more approachable to curious foodies.

KoBo Korean Kitchen has seen a steady flow of customers since opening on Oct. 28, and it hasn’t just been the locals who are familiar with the cuisine, co-owner Chloe Jungae Lee told FFXnow.

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News

Man charged with shooting near Aldi in Woodlawn

By Jared Serre
Dominique Witaker (photo courtesy of FCPD)

An Alexandria man believed to have shot another man in Woodlawn yesterday (Wednesday) has been arrested.

According to the Fairfax County Police Department, Dominique Witaker, 36, was engaged in a verbal argument with another man — who was known to him — when he allegedly shot the other man in the lower body.

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Around Town

Fast-casual restaurant Z!Eats to open in Fairfax Circle next week

By Jared Serre
The Z!Eats Pick 2, featuring the Farmstead Classic Tomato soup and the Cali Chicken sandwich (photo courtesy of Z!Eats)

Fairfax Circle is playing a key role as a national restaurant chain unveils a new identity.

The second Z!Eats restaurant in the U.S. is scheduled to open at the Scout on the Circle Apartments in Fairfax City on Dec. 12, according to a spokesperson.

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Around Town

National pizza chain eyeing store in Belle Haven shopping center

By Jared Serre
The future site of Papa John's in Belle Haven (staff photo by Jared Serre)

A national pizza chain is targeting Belle Haven’s Kings Crossing Shopping Center for its next Fairfax location.

Permits have been filed to install a Papa Johns location in the shopping center, nestled into a space next to anchor tenant Walmart.

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Around Town

McAlister’s Deli opening tomorrow in Springfield, giving away free tea for a year

By Jared Serre
A king club sandwich from McAlister's Deli (courtesy McAlister's Deli)

Diners in West Springfield will soon be able to combat falling temperatures with warm soup and sandwiches from a new restaurant.

McAlister’s Deli will celebrate its grand opening at the Old Keene Mill Shopping Center tomorrow (Wednesday), offering vouchers for a year of free tea to the first 50 customers in line for the ribbon-cutting at 10 a.m.

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Around Town

Kids’ soccer facility in Fairfax area targets December opening

By Jared Serre
One angle of the future location of the indoor pitch at Fairfax's KidsUnited (photo courtesy of KidsUnited)

A new facility allowing kids to work on their soccer skills year-round is expected to open in the Kings Park West neighborhood next month.

KidsUnited, which uses soccer as a means of athletic and emotional development for kids, is targeting a December grand opening for its forthcoming Fairfax location, a company spokesperson told FFXnow.

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Around Town

Mike’s American company to open new BBQ restaurant in Springfield

By Jared Serre
Stupid Good BBQ will open in Springfield in December (photo courtesy of Great American Restaurants)

The company behind Mike’s American, Coastal Flats and other popular Northern Virginia restaurants is adding a “fresh and quality-driven take on classic BBQ” to its collection of eateries.

Stupid Good BBQ, the newest dining endeavor from Great American Restaurants, is scheduled to open in Springfield’s Concord Shopping Center early next month, the company announced today (Tuesday).

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Around Town

Fairfax City Duck Donuts reopens after tax-related closure

By Jared Serre
Duck Donuts in Fairfax City (staff photo by Jared Serre)

A Fairfax City donut shop is back in business today (Thursday) following three days of tax-related closures.

Employees at Duck Donuts confirmed that the store was shut down on Monday (Nov. 18) by the Virginia Department of Taxation, which had placed multiple tax liens on the business.

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