Duck Donuts is wading into the Town of Vienna.
A spokesperson for the North Carolina-based donut chain confirmed it will open a new franchise at 256 Maple Avenue East, filling a space vacated by T-Mobile. The shop will join Smoothie King, MetroEyes and Sweet Leaf Cafe in the retail building.
“We are in the early stages of permitting to begin moving forward with construction, and unfortunately, at this time, do not have an expected opening timeframe to share,” the Duck Donuts spokesperson told FFXnow.
The company says it’s “excited to continue” expanding into Virginia with the Vienna location, which is owned by first-time franchisee Matthew Yiengst. This will be the first new Duck Donuts since a Springfield shop opened at Old Keene Mill Shopping Center in October 2022.
Shops can also be found in Herndon and Fairfax City.
Deriving its name from its original location of Duck, North Carolina, Duck Donuts was founded in 2007 by Russ DiGilio, who saw a lack of donut options in the Outer Banks while vacationing there with his family. Since then, the business has grown to more than 100 locations, including ones in Egypt, Qatar and Thailand.
The menu offers both prepared and made-to-order donuts that can be customized with various coatings and toppings. Shops also sell breakfast sandwiches, ice cream and coffee.
Cinnamon lovers can soon rejoice as a cinnamon roll shop prepares to open in Herndon.
Cinnaholic is set for a grand opening at 2451 Centreville Road in Suite 20 on Feb. 9, according to Jessica Papa, a representative for the Herndon location.
“Customers can create their own rolls with over 20 frostings + toppings or order one of our classics. Our original founders opened the first Cinnaholic bakery in July 2010, which quickly became a local favorite — with lines out the door,” Papa wrote in a statement.
Launched in July 2010 with a bakery in Berkeley, California, Cinnaholic got a boost when it was featured on the reality show “Shark Tank” in 2014, leading it to start franchising. It now has nearly 100 bakeries across the U.S. and Canada, all of which are locally owned and operated.
However, the new, 600-square-foot location in the Village Centre at Dulles will be the company’s first in Virginia.
In addition to cinnamon rolls, which can be customized with over a dozen toppings and types of frosting, the menu includes cookie cakes and other treats that are dairy-free, egg-free and cholesterol free. Seasonal rolls include raspberry cheesecake swirl and maple mocha rolls.
A Merrifield bakery that specializes in poffertjes — a traditional Dutch snack that resembles puffed-up pancakes — has closed up shop.
Poffy ceased operations during the weekend after Thanksgiving, opening its doors in the Mosaic District (2985 District Avenue, Suite 170) for the last time on Nov. 25, the business announced on Instagram.
“We have enjoyed meeting and getting to know each one of you,” Poffy said. “THANK YOU for getting to know us…for cheering us on and supporting us…for your friendship.”
Opened in May 2021, Poffy was started by owners Lilian Wanandy-Perez and Kevin Perez, who adapted a poffertje recipe from Wanandy-Perez’s grandmother to avoid dairy, eggs and other allergens, according to a profile by Northern Virginia Magazine.
Here’s more from Poffy’s farewell message:
Our journey started as a scribble of ideas in our notebook.
✨ An idea to create food & space that are safe for those diagnosed with food allergies just like our kids so that they can have fun and eat without worry (even just for a bit)
✨An idea to create ‘not your everyday’ culinary experience that is simple, delicious and fun for everyone
✨An idea to create a space to connect with one another and form human connection in this instant, fast paced environment
✨An idea to be able to make a positive impact even in the smallest way for anyone we serve each dayTHANK YOU for being part of our journey … .our journey in an effort to make an impact in one’s life… our journey in an effort to bring joy to your day!
Unfortunately the twists & turns, ups & downs have brought us to the end of this journey.
Come & visit us this week as we would like to meet you all and thank you in person!
For our allergy community and beyond, please head to #linkinbio or DM us as we would love to continue connecting with you as we craft our new journey… to receive updates on our upcoming projects.
Last but not least, a special THANK YOU to all Poffy crew members that have become an integral part of our journey. Thank you for being YOU…for your heart…your grit…your hardwork….your creativity..your passion. We’re forever grateful!
Thank you Mosaic!
There’s no indication yet of what will replace Poffy, but the ice cream shop Mimi’s Handmade opened next door around the same time that its neighbor closed. The Mosaic District is also slated to add Beaufort Bonnet Company, a children’s clothing store, and the Asian street food chain Hawkers in the coming months.
Hat tip to Adam Rubinstein
A bakery that regularly appears at farmers’ markets around the D.C. area recently opened a permanent production facility and shop in Chantilly.
Toimoi Bakery announced the soft opening of its new “croissant hub” at 4520 Daly Drive in Chantilly Square on Nov. 20. During the week, the shop focuses on making the buttery, flaky pastries that are its specialty, but it opens to walk-in customers on Saturdays and Sundays.
Walk-in hours are currently 9 a.m. to 2 or 3 p.m. for the soft opening, as staff gets acclimated to the flow of operations, Toimoi owner Shurou Pu says. Pre-orders and special requests are also accepted online.
“So far, it’s been pretty good,” Pu told FFXnow. “We get a lot of walk-in customers who really want our stuff, but sometimes they can’t make it to the farmers market, because we normally sell out even before noon. So, it gives them different options.”
Pu started Toimoi in 2021, baking croissants and other pastries at her home and selling them at Fairfax City’s farmers market. The bakery soon expanded to FreshFarm’s market in Arlington and now participates in markets throughout the region, including the year-round markets at the Mosaic District in Merrifield and at One Loudoun in Ashburn.
In addition to being crafted in house and by hand, Toimoi’s baked goods are distinguished by the use of Asian ingredients, such as matcha, ube and pandan, Pu says. The bakery will tailor its flavors to different seasons and holidays.
Pu is one of many local Asian American bakers tapping into their culture to introduce Asian treats to new audiences or put fresh spins on western, usually French pastries. Other businesses working in that vein include Herndon’s macaron-focused Chiboo Bakery, the recently opened taiyaki shop Rice Culture and the slew of mochi donut chains that have cropped up in the area.
Even with a new brick-and-mortar location, Pu says Toimoi will continue to focus primarily on farmers’ markets, where it has built up loyal customer bases. There are no plans for additional locations yet, as the team is still settling into the Chantilly shop, aiming to ramp up production to support an eventual grand opening.
“It’s a lot of things to consider,” she said. “So far, we’re doing only two days. [We] probably want to expand to maybe three days in the future, like Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”
Rice Culture is now serving taiyakis and ice cream just outside the Dunn Loring Metro station.
The pop-up bakery, a regular at several D.C. area farmers’ markets, kicked off the soft opening phase of its first brick-and-mortar shop last week on Nov. 30. Its location in the Shops at Avenir Place (2672D Avenir Place) had been vacant since Bruster’s Real Ice Cream closed in 2020.
“Come through and bring a friend,” Rice Culture said in an Instagram post announcing the opening. “We want to extend our thanks ahead of time for everyone’s patience as we get adjusted to our new space and find our footing.”
Founder MikkiJo Bayawa started Rice Culture in January 2021 with her fiancé Kevin Tsai after getting delivery requests for her homemade taiyakis, a Japanese waffle snack that’s shaped like a fish and stuffed with sweet fillings.
The business quickly gained traction and moved production to Frontier Kitchen in Chantilly, Bayawa previously told FFXnow. It has appeared at the Mosaic District’s weekly FreshFarm market and The Block in Annandale, among other locations across the D.C. region.
With its new, permanent space, Rice Culture has expanded its menu to include soft-serve ice cream, which can be purchased by itself in a cup or with a taiyaki on top. The ice cream flavors — ube, black sesame, corn and pandan — can be swirled, and toppings are available.
Inspired by Bawaya’s Japanese and Filipino heritage, taiyakis can be filled with ube, pandan, nutella, Oreo, or corn and cheese, along with the traditional flavors of traditional red bean paste and vanilla custard. They come in single, three-pack and six-pack orders.
Bayawa says a grand opening will be held in January, but an exact date is still being determined.
For now, the shop is operating during limited hours of 4-9 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Paris Baguette has officially opened its first location in Herndon.
Located in Arrowbrook Centre at 2324 Silver Arrow Way, the French-inspired bakery serves pastries, croissants, sandwiches, cakes and coffee.
The franchise location is owned by Alma Siddiqui, a local construction estimator, who dreamed of owning her own bakery since childhood.
Siddiqui says that her passion for architecture and design are interconnected with her love for baking.
“When I stumbled upon Paris Baguette, I immediately fell in love with the quality and variety of its products and knew I wanted to bring it to my local community,” Siddiqui said. “With a strong global reputation for high-end bakery café, Paris Baguette had a business model that would offer us great support throughout the process.”
She called Herndon the “perfect place” for Paris Baguette.
“With continued growth of Herndon’s population, there will be an increase in businesses opening as well. I hope both residents and visitors will make it a point to visit Paris Baguette Herndon,” she said.
Siddiqui said she hopes the company will expand to other locations throughout the region. Started in South Korea in 1988, Paris Baguette can now be found around the world, including in Tysons, Fairfax, and Centreville. The company’s U.S. operations, which are based in New Jersey, are expected to reach 200 stores by the end of this year.
An official grand opening is slated for tomorrow (Friday). The bakery is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
A new bakery and cafe will open its doors in Reston Town Center next week, just missing Thanksgiving and Black Friday.
Tatte Bakery & Cafe is set to open on Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 11910 Market Street at 7 p.m. The date was first reported by The Burn.
The business, which has 10 locations in the area, sells breakfast items, tartines, quiches, soup, shakshuka, sandwiches and salads.
The company, which was started about 15 years ago by Boston pastry chef Tzurit Or, has a location in Clarendon that opened in 2021. Another location is anticipated in Old Town Alexandria.
When announcing that it had leased 3,750 square feet in Reston Town Center, Or told the Washington Business Journal that Tatte was eager to be in “the true core of Reston.”
The bakery is located near the town center’s renovated Mercury fountain and across the street from the pavilion, where an ice skating rink opened earlier this month. The annual Reston Holiday Parade will pass through Market Street this Friday (Nov. 24).
In December, Reston Town Center will add the wine-focused restaurant Sixty Vines, though an exact opening date hasn’t been announced yet.
Best Buns Bakery and Burgers is set to open its new Springfield location shortly after Thanksgiving Day.
A company representative tells FFXnow that the location is expected to open on Dec. 5 in Concord Shopping Center at 6119A Backlick Road.
The eatery and bakery, which kicked off in 1995, sells baked good and sandwiches, salads and burgers. It has other locations in Shirlington and Tysons.
“The bakery is celebrated for its outstanding hospitality, commitment to quality, and dedication to the art of baking,” the company said in a press release.
A product of Great American Restaurants, Best Buns will offer all-day breakfast, lunch, dinner, pastries and coffee.
Anchored by the grocery store Aldi, Concord Shopping Center is also home to a Planet Fitness, Eleni’s Greek Taverna and Paisano’s Pizza. Best Buns will be located at the end next to the cafe Fonda Latina, replacing Mattress Warehouse.
Great American Restaurants CEO Jon Norton highlighted the shopping center’s proximity to Mike’s American Grill — another one of the restaurant group’s brands — as part of its appeal. Located at 6210 Backlick Road, Mike’s American suffered from a fire on Valentine’s Day this year, but it managed to reopen just a week later.
“We are excited that the next location of Best Buns Bakery & Burgers will be nearby Mike’s American, which has been popular in Springfield since 1987, in a community we love,” Norton said.
Paris Baguette, an internationally known bakery and cafe, is opening its Herndon location in mid-November.
The nearly 4,000-square-foot restaurant — which serves bread, pastries, desserts and French-style sandwiches — will open at Arrowbrook Centre, a mixed-use development located at 2324 Silver Arrow Way.
The Herndon location features a new “3.0 design,” which includes a mural, a company spokesperson tells FFXnow. The mural will feature local landmarks. The store will also have a patio.
The international brand has locations in Tysons and Centreville. Items on the menu include sandwiches, packaged roll cakes, salads, breads, cakes and seasonal specials.
Arrowbrook Centre is expecting to welcome other tenants soon, like Ornery Beer Company Public House and Hello2India.
A popular taiyaki pop-up based out of Chantilly is settling down near the Dunn Loring Metro station for its first-ever permanent shop.
After working the D.C. area’s farmers market circuit since 2021, Rice Culture will start selling the fish-shaped, Instagram-ready Japanese treats out of a brick-and-mortar store in the Shops at Avenir Place — potentially as soon as this October.
The new location at 2672D Avenir Place will offer an expanded menu with taiyaki ice cream to take advantage of the space built out by Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, which closed in 2020, Rice Culture co-founder and baker MikkiJo Bayawa says.
“We’ll be serving Asian-inspired soft-serve flavors in the taiyaki, and the taiyaki will act as the cone,” Bayawa told FFXnow. “So, that’s something that’s going to be new and exciting, a menu item that we wouldn’t have been able to serve at farmers markets.”
Rice Culture began early in the COVID-19 pandemic out of a similar craving for comfort that spurred a national frenzy of bread-baking.
A native of New Jersey, Bayawa moved to Northern Virginia about five years ago to work on Amazon’s data centers. Upon arriving, however, she found no substitute for the taiyakis hawked at the Jersey-based Japanese grocery store Mitsuwa — a void that particularly stood out once the pandemic limited her and fiancé Kevin Tsai’s travel away from their Centreville apartment.
So, she decided to fill the gap herself, buying a machine that could make up to six taiyakis at a time. Though the waffles are traditionally filled with red bean paste or vanilla custard, Bayawa experimented with different flavors, from cream cheese and Nutella to ube jam — a nod to her mixed Japanese and Filipino identity.
Within a couple of hours of posting some of her creations on Instagram, a “complete stranger” reached out and asked if they were for sale, she says.
“I just got excited and I was like, yeah, sure, I’ll deliver them to you too,” Bayawa recalled, dating that first delivery to January 2021.
From there, the operation grew quickly. After five days, Bayawa and Tsai had to cut off orders, and within a week, baking and delivering the treats became an all-day affair, prompting a search for a professional kitchen and additional staff.
In March 2021, Rice Culture moved into Chantilly’s Frontier Kitchen, and since then, it has regularly appeared at farmers markets, festivals and shopping centers throughout the D.C. region, including the FreshFarm market at Merrifield’s Mosaic District and The Block food hall in Annandale.
Rice Culture can’t claim to have introduced taiyakis to the D.C. area. That honor appears to belong to the Lai family behind the now-shuttered Vietnamese restaurant Four Sisters, who offered taiyaki ice cream at their Boba & Bites shop that opened at the Mosaic District in 2018.
However, Rice Culture remains rare in the region for specializing in the desserts and serving a wide variety of flavors, with 10 or more on rotation every month.
“I think that’s really appealing to customers in this market who want to try something new,” Bayawa said. “They want to try something different, and they want to try also something that is Instagrammable, something they can share with their friends, and our product definitely meets that market need.”
With Rice Culture now successful enough that she could leave her Amazon job, Bayawa has big ambitions for where the business could go, looking at Loudoun County, Maryland, D.C. and even the New Jersey and New York area as potential areas for expansion.
But the temporary pop-ups will be paused once the Dunn Loring store opens, possibly returning in the winter or spring depending on how long it takes to “work out the kinks.”
“We’re trying to create a recipe and a process where anyone that we hire can make the taiyakis just as delicious as me and Kevin, so that me and him can look at growing and opening multiple Rice Culture stores,” Bayawa said. “So, if that means taking a step back from the farmers market, that’s something that we might have to do.”
