Noodles & Company has closed its doors in the Town of Vienna.
The fast-casual noodle chain had anchored the Vienna Marketplace shopping center at the corner of Maple Avenue and Park Street for nearly 20 years. Now, the windows at 201 Maple Avenue East have gone dark, the linguine-ladling storefront sign stripped down.
“We’re sorry to say, this Noodles location is permanently closed,” a flyer posted to the eatery’s door says. “We’ve thoroughly enjoyed serving you and appreciate all your support.”
The notice encourages customers to visit the company’s closest remaining location, which is in Idylwood Plaza at 7501 Leesburg Pike.
An employee at that location confirmed to FFXnow that the Vienna restaurant closed Wednesday, Jan. 24 due to the high rent. Press contacts for Noodles & Company and KLNB, the retail broker for Vienna Marketplace, didn’t immediately return requests for comment.
Noodles & Company had been in Vienna since at least 2007, the days of its earliest Yelp reviews, though one reviewer said they’d previously ordered from that location “years ago.” That makes the Vienna restaurant one of the brand’s first sites in the D.C. region after it arrived in Fairfax City in 2002 and began more rapidly expanding a decade later, according to the Washington Post.
In addition to Idylwood and Fairfax City, Noodles can still be found in Kingstowne, Mount Vernon, Chantilly, Fair Lakes, Herndon, Reston and Springfield. It has 26 Virginia locations.
Though it’s not clear yet what will replace Noodles & Company, The Burn reports that the vacated Cold Stone Creamery two doors down will be filled by the D.C. deli Call Your Mother — not Taïm Mediterranean Kitchen as previously confirmed.
According to The Burn, the deli “swooped in” to take over the 1,300-square-foot space after Taim’s deal “fell through.” FFXnow has reached out to both Taim and KLNB for confirmation.
Known for its bagels, Call Your Mother entered Northern Virginia last May when it launched a “Lil Deli” at Chesterbrook Shopping Center in McLean. The business is expected to move out of the mobile truck and into a permanent, brick-and-mortar location later this year.
Taim, a fast-casual Mediterranean eatery that originated in New York City, opened restaurants in Pimmit Hills last July and at Plaza America in Reston on Dec. 5.
Remaining tenants in Vienna Marketplace include Crumbl Cookies, South Block, Chipotle, AT&T and Lacrosse Unlimited.
The St. James Performance Club is shutting down its operations in Reston Town Center less than two years after opening.
The 25,000-square-foot athletic facility opened in April 2022, boasting 70 group fitness programs, turf areas, a sauna, a cycling studio and other amenities to its location at 11985 Market Street. It also added rooftop pickleball courts last summer.
A company representative told FFXnow that the last day of business is March 1.
“We have made the strategic decision to focus on the success of our Springfield, VA and Bethesda, MD, locations to meet the significant market demand we’re seeing while taking into account the changes in consumer behavior driven by the global pandemic and the new, persistent norm of remote work,” the company wrote in a statement to FFXnow.
The St. James says most employees in Reston will be given “other roles in the organization.” Members can still visit the company’s flagship sports complex in Springfield (6805 Industrial Road) and its performance club in Bethesda (6828 Wisconsin Avenue).
“The success of our flagship in Springfield and our performance club in Bethesda have created significant growth opportunities in the greater Washington region and around the country,” the company said. “We look forward to sharing more details regarding those exciting opportunities soon.”
Romano’s Macaroni Grill is ending a two-decade stay in Kingstowne.
The chain Italian restaurant served its last customers at 5925 Kingstowne Towne Center on Monday (Jan. 15) and officially closed its doors the next day. Now, all of its decor, furniture, equipment and supplies is being auctioned off.
Bidding on tables, gas fryers, art deco-style chandeliers and more is currently open online to anyone 18 and older, starting at $5. The items are also available for in-person browsing until the auction closes at noon tomorrow (Friday).
Everything must be sold and removed from the restaurant by 4 p.m. Saturday (Jan. 20), according to LocalAuctions.com, which is hosting the liquidation sale.
“This is an amazing opportunity for the general public and other restaurant owners,” Gabriel Prado, founder and CEO of LocalAuctions.com, said. “Rarely does the public get a chance to bid on and purchase assets from such a well known restaurant chain.”
Opened in 2003, Romano’s Kingstowne Towne Center location was its last in Virginia, leaving the chain without a presence in the D.C. area. The company didn’t immediately return a request for comment on the closure.
LocalAuctions.com described the closure as a “difficult decision” for Romano’s in a press release.
The American casual dining chain Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar submitted plans to Fairfax County in December for a 10,596-square-foot restaurant that would replace Romano’s. At the time, a Romano’s spokesperson said the change hadn’t been confirmed and declined to comment on a closing date when contacted by FFXnow.
TGI Fridays has shuttered another Fairfax County location.
The chain’s restaurant in Springfield Commons at 6751 Frontier Drive permanently closed on Tuesday, Jan. 2, part of a slew of closures that took effect nationwide that day.
“We regret to inform you that Fridays has made the difficult decision to close our doors at Springfield VA effective Jan. 2,” a notice posted to the restaurant’s door said. “We are extremely grateful to our loyal Guests and our Team Members at our Springfield restaurant.”
A generic version of that message was sent to local members of TGI Fridays’ loyalty rewards program. One member told FFXnow that they had visited the Springfield location just last Friday (Dec. 29) and saw no indications of the impending closure.
The Jan. 2 closures targeted 36 restaurants across the U.S. that were “underperforming,” TGI Fridays announced on Wednesday (Dec. 3). Locations in Manassas, Woodbridge’s Potomac Mills shopping mall and Fredericksburg were also affected, according to the company’s guest relations team.
The company said more than 1,000 employees, or over 80% of those affected, were offered the option to transfer to a different location.
“Our top priority has always been delivering a superior experience for each and every TGI Fridays guest, and we’ve identified opportunities to optimize and streamline our operations to ensure we are best positioned to meet — and exceed — on that brand promise,” TGI Fridays U.S. President and Chief Operating Officer Ray Risley said in a statement. “By strengthening our franchise model and closing underperforming stores, we are creating an unprecedented opportunity for Fridays to drive forward its vision for the future.”
TGI Fridays had been at Springfield Commons since at least 2007, according to the location’s Yelp page, where it has an average rating of just 2.2 stars.
The 6,830-square-foot space is now available for leasing. Rappaport, which manages and leases the strip mall, told the Washington Business Journal that it’s actively seeking a tenant for the storefront, which is adjacent to a recently opened Pure Hockey store.
This round of closures was preceded by TGI Fridays shutting down its Fair Lakes location late last year. That restaurant at 12249 Fair Lakes Promenade Drive will be replaced by First Watch, a daytime cafe expected to open this summer.
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
Customers that bank at Truist in Reston and Springfield may soon have to make some changes.
The company, Truist Financial Corp., plans to close its Reston (11100 South Lakes Drive) and Springfield (6810 Commerce Street) locations early next year.
The closures were disclosed in a letter to customers in this month, according to the Washington Business Journal.
Here’s more on the closures from the WBJ:
A Truist spokesperson said declines in foot traffic and transaction volume in its branches drove the decision to close these locations, along with others it’s shuttering in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and other markets within its footprint. On average, there’s another Truist branch within about a mile of any location it’s closing, the spokesperson said.
There will also be layoffs associated with the move, though the company didn’t specify how many. A spokesperson said the bank is “committed to supporting teammates affected by these branch closures through this transition.” There are some new positions being created at other branches and employees will have “elevated access” to other jobs within Truist, the spokesperson said.
Truist has nearly 200 branches in the D.C. area, 11 of which will close in March. Five of the ones slated for closure in March are in D.C., four are in Prince George’s County and two are in Fairfax County.
Truist’s closure in Reston will give South Lakes Village Center a second vacant bank building. The center owner had proposed turning the first building — which was filled by SunTrust — into a fast-food drive-thru, but the plan was put on hold indefinitely in May.
Image via Google Maps
The TGI Fridays in Fair Lakes has served its final whiskey-glazed pork ribs.
The American chain restaurant has permanently closed its location at 12249 Fair Lakes Promenade Drive, an employee at the TGI Fridays in Tysons confirmed.
The prospect of the closure had been swirling for months after the Washington Business Journal reported in July that First Watch — a fast-casual cafe that serves breakfast, brunch and lunch — had applied for a permit for that address. TGI Fridays had occupied the standalone restaurant building for about 15 years, according to the WBJ.
The chain still has locations in Fairfax County at Tysons Corner Center, Herndon’s Worldgate Plaza, Springfield Commons and Beacon Center in Groveton.
First Watch is expected to open in Fair Lakes this coming summer.
“For early and late risers alike, the restaurant will offer a chef-inspired menu and rotating seasonal offerings, serve signature juices and cocktails at a dedicated bar, and carry hints of First Watch’s unique ‘Urban Farm’ design, bringing the rustic feel of a farmhouse with the modern elements of an urban loft,” said Carpenter Hunter, a spokesperson for the company.
Items on the menu include avocado toast, lemon ricotta pancakes and million dollar bacon.
Started in Pacific Grove, California, in 1983, First Watch emphasizes its use of fresh ingredients and seasonal dishes that change five times a year based on “the position of the sun,” according to its website.
The company has hundreds of restaurants across the country, including at Fair City Mall in Fairfax, Crossroads Center shopping center in Bailey’s Crossroads and Greenbriar Town Center in Chantilly.
Hunter previously confirmed to FFXnow that a Franconia location in Festival at Manchester Lakes is on track to open this coming spring, and another Falls Church area location — possibly at Idylwood Plaza — is being considered.
Image via Google Maps
(Updated at 4:25 p.m.) This year will be the end of Reston’s Little Beast Cafe and Bistro and Red Velvet Cupcakery.
The businesses at 12100 Sunset Hills Road in RTC West will close permanently on Saturday (Dec. 23), Northern Virginia Magazine reported.
“We are going to miss Reston and our regulars dearly,” the company wrote in a social media comment confirming the report. “If you are ever in D.C., come visit our Chevy Chase location.”
The D.C. location at 5600 Wisconsin Avenue is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Little Beast and Red Velvet Cupcakery opened in September 2021 in RTC West’s retail center, which is also home to Tiki Thai, Bombay Velvet and Cooper’s Hawk. Red Velvet previously had a location in Reston Town Center that closed in 2018 after paid parking was implemented there.
Northern Virginia Magazine reported that the Gordon Food Group, which operates Little Beast and Red Velvet Cupcakery, already has another concept lined up for the space that will offer pizza, sandwiches and craft beer.
Image via Google Maps
A growing, Florida-based Asian street food chain has its sights set on Merrifield.
Hawkers is planning to open a restaurant in the Mosaic District next year, an employee at the company’s Arlington location confirmed to FFXnow.
According to Fairfax County’s permit database, the 5,312-square-foot eatery will be located at 8190 Strawberry Lane, Suite 1 — the space occupied by the Vietnamese restaurant Four Sisters until it closed on May 14, concluding 30 years of business in Fairfax County.
Hawkers was created in 2011 by four friends who wanted “to bring the bold flavors of Asian street food to the streets of Orlando,” according to its website. The company has since expanded to 15 locations across seven states, breaking into the D.C. area with a Bethesda restaurant in 2020 and a Ballston one that opened last year.
Drawing from a mix of East Asian cuisines, the menu features dim sum, meat and shrimp skewers, noodles, fried rice, green papaya salad, a Po Po Lo’s curry based on a family recipe and more. The beverage menu includes cocktails, sake, wine, beer and Japanese whisky.
Oath Pizza has closed
In other Mosaic District news, Oath Pizza appears to have closed, but it’s not entirely clear whether the shutdown is temporary or permanent. A sign posted to the restaurant’s door since late November states that it “will be pausing pizza operations for a short period of time.”
“We look forward to fulfilling your delicious pizza needs again soon,” says the notice signed by the Oath Pizza team. “Thank you all for your ongoing support and we look forward to serving you our brand of Feel Good Pizza again soon.”
However, the company’s website no longer functions, and other locations have also reportedly closed, including in D.C. and its home state of Massachusetts. According to the Nantucket Current, the slew of closures might stem from a lawsuit filed by investors in May that accused Oath Pizza CEO Andrew Kellogg of self-dealing.
Even with the lawsuit, though, Oath Pizza has continued adding franchises, including its first California location, which opened in early August. The Mosaic District restaurant (2920 District Avenue, Suite 150) opened in October 2017 as the chain’s first expansion outside the Boston area.
Oath Pizza didn’t respond to a request for comment.
Just a couple of doors away, interior renovations have begun on a store from the Beaufort Bonnet Company, which sells baby and children’s clothes. The shop will be 1,344 square feet in size and located at 2920 District Avenue, Suite 143.
Signs posted to the storefront indicate that the shop is “coming soon.” The company didn’t respond to inquiries from FFXnow by press time.
Hat tip to Adam Rubinstein
(Updated at 10 a.m. on 12/13/2023) A community-oriented utility company that offers chilled water for air-conditioning has iced out over 600 customers in Reston.
Reston Lake Anne Air-conditioning Corporation (RELAC) announced yesterday (Monday) that it plans to halt its cooling system after this year, citing increased electrical costs and the refusal of some customers to pay their utility bills.
The company concluded its 2023 cooling season on Oct. 10 and typically shuts down for the winter. Regulated by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, it uses water from Lake Anne to provide air-conditioning to homes around the lake.
A Reston Association spokesperson says the organization plans to work with the community to determine next steps.
“We will be diligently working in the coming weeks to understand the full impact of this action to best help out affected members know and understand what alternatives to RLAC exist and the role LARCA and RA have moving forward,” Cara O’Donnell said in a statement to FFXnow.
Reston has 600 residential properties and 25 commercial ones that rely on RELAC for air-conditioning, according to RA.
In the past, some homeowners have sought to end the mandated use of RELAC, complaining that the 1960s-era system is outdated and inefficient. Referendums failed in 2008 and 2015.
Here’s the full text of the company’s letter to its customers.
We, the owners of RELAC, regrettably and with great difficulty have to announce that the 2023 cooling season will be the last year that RELAC provides chilled water to our customers. We have reached this decision due to many factors including the following:
Electrical costs have increased 20% in the ten years we have owned RELAC.
We have considered applying for a tariff increase which would cost over $50,000. We believe it would hasten our customers applying for exemptions as rates would increase by up to 30%.
We did promise not to increase the tariff 11 years ago and thought we could cut costs with new equipment but found it impossible to secure a loan for a new chiller that would cost over $400,000.
Reston Association continues to grant “health exemptions” to customers without enforcing the rules returning homes to RELAC when they change ownership. We now have 33 homes off the system.
A significant number of customers on the RELAC system have refused to pay their utility bills. This has caused a serious problem for RELAC’s bottom line. The amount of unpaid utilities has fluctuated between $80K to $120K. We have sent letters, made phone calls, knocked on doors trying to reason with customers to pay their overdue bills. Some customers are years behind and we have no way of turning off their service as the other utilities do.
We have been a community oriented utility for over 50 years and understand the hardship we are generating on our customers. We know that the cost of retrofitting a new A/C system will be expensive. Leaving our good customers is the worse part of this decision and we feel a profound regret. The decision we have made is not an easy way to end our relationship with you, our loyal customers.
