Author: Katie Taranto

Katie Taranto is a reporter at Local News Now, primarily covering business, public safety and the city of Falls Church. She graduated from the University of Missouri in 2024, where she previously covered K-12 education at The Columbia Missourian. She is originally from Macungie, Pennsylvania.

Around Town

Vegan cookie shop MidnighTreats aims for Reston reopening later this spring

By Katie Taranto
The future MidnighTreats storefront by the pavilion at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

A vegan dessert shop known for its giant, fresh-baked cookies hopes to return to Reston this spring.

MidnighTreats is planning to open around late May to early June at Reston Town Center, owner Jemal Mahdi told FFXnow. It’s a relocation for the plant-based bakery, whose original storefront in Plaza America closed after about two years in business.

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Around Town

Ramen chain Kyuramen opens new restaurant at Arrowbrook Centre

By Katie Taranto
Kyruamen in Herndon (courtesy of Kyuramen)

A new spot for ramen and Japanese cuisine has opened for business at Herndon’s Arrowbrook Centre.

National ramen chain Kyuramen opened yesterday (Wednesday) at 2330 Silver Arrow Way and is currently offering a limited “soft service” menu of the brand’s popular dishes. The opening marks the Kyuramen’s second location in Northern Virginia and first outpost in Fairfax County.

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Around Town

Paris Baguette hosts ‘soft opening’ today at Reston Town Center

By Katie Taranto
Paris Baguette at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

A French-inspired bakery and cafe chain is opening for business this week at the Reston Town Center.

The new Paris Baguette at 2004 Opportunity Way is holding a “soft opening” today (Wednesday), owner Farooq Siddiqui told FFXnow. The franchise offers dozens of sweet and savory pastries in addition to cakes, breads, sandwiches, coffee and seasonal drinks.

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Around Town

Award-winning restaurant Clarity aims for May opening in Reston

By Katie Taranto
Clarity is being built out at Reston Town Center (staff photo by Emily Leayman)

An award-winning restaurant from Vienna is getting closer to opening its second location in Reston.

Clarity aims to open next month at the Reston Town Center. The RAMMY-studded, upscale American restaurant is “progressing rapidly and [is] looking to tentatively open on May 1,” joining its initial location that opened in 2015 at 442 Maple Avenue, a spokesperson told FFXnow.

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Around Town

Playa Bowls plans grand opening this weekend at Greenbriar Town Center

By Katie Taranto
Playa Bowls menu items (courtesy Playa Bowls)

Festivities are in order to celebrate a new spot for acai and smoothie bowls at the Greenbriar Town Center in Chantilly this weekend.

Playa Bowls is hosting a grand opening at 11 a.m. this Saturday (April 11) for its shop at 13059-A Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, replacing a vacancy left by Subway. The New Jersey-based franchise serves up a variety of acai bowls, smoothies and oatmeal, in addition to juice and cold brew coffee.

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Around Town

Sheeba Restaurant plans new Yemeni eatery in Vienna this summer

By Katie Taranto
Yemeni restaurant Sheeba is coming soon to 111 Church Street NW in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Vienna is slated to welcome a new, family-owned destination for Yemeni cuisine over the next few months.

Sheeba Restaurant, a franchise offering both Yemeni and Mediterranean cuisine, is currently preparing to open at 111 Church Street NW, where it’ll offer a variety of specialties, including sandwiches, salads, shawarma platters, all-day shak-shookah and spreads like hummus and baba ghanouj.

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Around Town

Mom’s Organic Market confirms plans for new Springfield grocery store

By Katie Taranto
6640 Loisdale Road in Springfield, Virginia (via Google Maps)

A regional grocery store specializing in organic goods is planning a new supermarket in Springfield.

Mom’s Organic Market is preparing to open a new, 12,000-square-foot grocery store in the Loisdale Center, CEO Scott Nash told FFXnow. The grocer is expected to open at 6640 Loisdale Road in a space left vacant by Party City after the company went out of business in 2024.

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Around Town

Regional Mexican-Korean fusion eatery coming to Groveton

By Angela Woolsey and Katie Taranto
The storefront where Taco Chinoz is slated to open at 6852 Richmond Highway in Groveton (staff photo by James Cullum)

A Northern Virginia restaurant will soon bring its tacos infused with Korean flavors to Groveton.

Taco Chinoz is targeting an early December opening for its newest location at 6852 Richmond Highway, general manager Pess Oh says.

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