Barnes & Noble has closed up shop at Tysons Corner Center for the year.
Yesterday (Sunday) was the bookstore’s last day serving customers in the two-level space it has occupied since the mall’s expansion wing opened in 2005. In the month leading up to the closure, shelves were emptied and some areas closed, including the cafe, as the store cleared merchandise through “last chance sale” discounts.
Fortunately for local book lovers, the chain’s absence won’t be felt as long in Tysons as it was in Reston: Barnes & Noble announced that it will return with “a beautiful new store here in Tysons Corner Center,” as first reported by Northern Virginia Magazine.
“We thank our wonderful Tysons Corner booksellers for their many years of hard work and dedication,” the B&N Tysons Corner team said in the announcement. “They, as we, cannot wait to welcome you back into our brand-new bookstore.”
Barnes & Noble is still in the planning and design stages for the new store, but it hopes to reopen in the late spring or early summer of 2025, according to Janine Flanigan, the company’s senior director of store planning and design.
With the move, Barnes & Noble will trade approximately 30,000 square feet of space for a one-level, almost 17,000-square-foot spot that was vacated by Arhaus when the furniture store relocated to Tysons Galleria in 2021.
The store will follow the theme-oriented layout that Barnes & Noble adopted for new locations after CEO James Daunt took over in 2019. Expect “light oak-colored bookcases” with Victorian lace and a “soft pink paint color,” Flanigan told FFXnow.
“The store is designed [by] creating book rooms for categories that lead one on a journey of discovery,” she said. “…The store will house all the best books, toys, games and gifts that our customers expect from their Barnes & Noble store.”
Flanigan confirmed that the smaller location will still have “well curated selections” of DVDs, Blu-Rays, CDs and vinyl music, along with an “updated” B&N Café.
The bookstore’s last days in its current spot came during a busy weekend for the mall, which hosted its second annual Taste of Tysons Corner on Saturday (May 4). Renovations to improve the look and accessibility of some parking garages are also under construction into October.
During its temporary closure in Tysons, Barnes & Noble is encouraging customers to visit its other locations in the Spectrum at Reston Town Center and the Mosaic District in Merrifield. The Northern Virginia Book Crawl showcasing local independent bookstores is also underway.
Planned facility upgrades will require the Reston Regional Library to close for an extended period this summer.
Friday, June 28, will be the last day of public operations for the aging building at 11925 Bowman Towne Drive before construction on interim renovations starts on July 1, Fairfax County Public Library announced yesterday (Thursday).
“This brief and necessary refresh will enhance library visitors’ experiences and complete important facility modernizations to ensure that it remains usable, clean and safe for the duration of the building’s lifespan,” FCPL said in a news release.
According to the county library system, work on the project is expected to take about 10 weeks and will include:
- Full ADA updates and refurbishment of the main public restrooms;
- Updates to all public and staff area lighting fixtures;
- Replacement of carpet in key areas such as the entry way and teen area;
- Cleaning and updates to the public meeting rooms;
- Paint, cleaning, blind repair, etc; and
- Replacement of the drinking fountain and addition of a bottle filling station
During the closure, FCPL will encourage Reston patrons to visit other libraries in the area, including the Herndon Fortnightly Library, Great Falls Library and Chantilly Regional Library. Reston Regional Library staff will be relocated to other branches.
FCPL previously told FFXnow that the facility updates will extend the existing Reston library’s lifespan for the next seven to 10 years, as planning for a brand-new building continues.
The county hopes to replace the library as part of a sweeping overhaul of Reston Town Center North, an area bounded by Baron Cameron Avenue, Town Center Parkway, Bowman Towne Drive and Fountain Drive.
As recommended by a task force in November, the future redevelopment will also deliver a new homeless shelter and county human services building, affordable housing, Inova health facilities, an athletic field, a recreation center and a future school site.
The county spent months working on an earlier development plan with Foulger-Pratt, but the private developer abruptly withdrew its proposal in February 2023, citing escalating costs related to construction and interest rates.
Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn then assembled a task force to revise the county’s vision for RTC North, and a land swap with Inova Health System is in the works, which would allow the project to move forward.
FCPL confirmed plans for a new library are still “moving forward,” noting that voters authorized the county to pay for the facility with bond sales in a 2012 referendum.
“It is planned to be constructed in the next few years,” the county library said. “Land acquisition and design of the new facility is in the development phase.”
The Town of Herndon’s indoor tennis center has closed early for the season, the Herndon Parks and Recreation Department announced yesterday (Tuesday).
The closure was prompted by damage to the tennis enclosure, according to Reid Okoniewski, a spokesperson for the town’s parks and recreation department.
Located next to the Herndon Community Center at 814 Ferndale Avenue, the tennis enclosure was “significantly deflated and a door was open for unknown reasons, which had caused the air to escape,” Okoniewski said. The town learned of the issue early Sunday (March 24) morning.
A later safety check found that 75% of the lighting was damaged, along with a portion of the courts due to fall lights.
“The lead time to get the specialized bulbs and the contractors to install them would extend beyond the April 14 season closure, which would not allow us to have it repaired safely in the time that remains,” Okoniewski said.
Individuals with tennis contracts, classics and leagues were notified of next steps earlier this week. Indoor classes will move outside, and men’s double league and indoor tennis contracts have been cancelled for the reminder of the season. Patrons who are affected will have their refunds processed.
“We apologize for the inconvenience and hope we see you on our outdoor tennis courts,” the town wrote in a statement.
A new, temporary tennis structure will be installed for the new indoor sports season by the fall.
(Updated at 3:30 p.m. on 3/29/2024) Clogged-up pipes will force Scott’s Run Nature Preserve to close for more than a month, starting later this week.
Contractors will begin work on the “emergency project” to clear and repair wastewater pipes in the McLean park this Thursday (March 28), the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services recently announced.
The 385-acre park at 7400 Georgetown Pike will be closed throughout the project’s first phase, which is expected to take about six weeks and will remove an estimated 80 tons of sediment from the pipes, according to DPWES.
Also known as siphons, the pipes carry wastewater from McLean across the Potomac River and into Maryland, connecting to a DC Water interceptor through Carderock National Park.
“During a recent inspection two of the three pipes at the wastewater siphon were found to be non-operational,” DPWES said in a news release. “An emergency repair is necessary, as there is no reasonable bypass alternative if the last pipe fails, which would mean millions of gallons of sewage per day going into the Potomac.”
According to the project page, the park needs to close during the project so construction crews and equipment can access the trails without creating conflicts for visitors or pushing pedestrians off-trail, which would damage the natural environment.
Work will take place Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., depending on the weather. The closure will apply to all trails and the east and west parking lots.
In addition to removing sediment, which will be transported out of Scott’s Run daily by truck, the project will involve replacing valves and cleaning the siphon barrels. The siphon barrel cleaning will be done in Carderock National Park.
A second phase of work focused on maintenance repairs is expected later, requiring another park closure, but the exact timing will be determined after “additional investigations are made during the cleaning process,” DPWES said.
In total, the work at Scott’s Run is expected to take three months, though the overall project has an anticipated timeline of six to nine months.
DPWES says no other properties should be affected by the project, and traffic into and out of the Scott’s Run parking lot will be “limited” after the contractors arrive Thursday morning.
“Materials and construction equipment for the project will be safely stored onsite,” the project page says. “Additionally, Fairfax County McLean District Police have been notified of the project and will be monitoring traffic patterns in the area to ensure safety of residents and commuters.”
The county says it’s identifying “methods to optimize and enhance its inspection and cleaning procedures to reduce the likelihood” that an emergency response of this level will be needed in the future.
Correction: DPWES says 80 tons of sediment are being removed from the Scott’s Run pipes, not 80,000 tons as first reported.
Starbucks is preparing to update its shop in McLean’s Chesterbrook Shopping Center.
The coffee house at 6214 Old Dominion Drive will temporarily close for about a month during the interior renovation, which is slated to begin on next Monday, March 18. A sign posted to the door says that the last day of business before the closure will be this Saturday (March 16).
According to Federal Realty, which owns the shopping center, the renovation will include:
- Alterations to the current bar setup
- Updated partition arrangements
- Installation of new lighting
- Incorporation of modern furniture and fixtures
- Application of fresh finishes
- New, inspiring artwork
- Redesigned second story seating
“We are excited to bring this transformative Starbucks renovation to Chesterbrook Shopping Center, which aligns with Federal’s commitment to creating vibrant and modern spaces for the community,” Federal Realty Senior Vice President of Asset Management Deirdre Johnson said in a press release. “This project builds on our long-term vision and unwavering commitment to delivering an outstanding experience for all visitors.”
Federal Realty told FFXnow last fall that a renovation of the Starbucks in Chesterbrook would be coming in the first half of 2024.
At that time, Starbucks didn’t respond to a request for comment, and when contacted again last week, a spokesperson said the company had “no store renovation plans to share.”
“We remain focused on serving customers in the McLean community,” the Starbucks spokesperson said.
But the renovation plans have now been confirmed by Federal Realty, which says the store will be closed for “approximately four weeks.”
The sign on the door encourages patrons to “please visit us at other locations.” The only other standalone Starbucks in McLean is at 1438 Chain Bridge Road, though the chain can also be found inside Giant at 1454 Chain Bridge Road.
Anchored by Safeway, Chesterbrook anticipates adding several tenants this year, including the beauty services retailer SkinSpirit, which will open this summer, and a Small Door Veterinary clinic coming in the fall.
Construction is expected to finish this fall on a permanent space next to Le Village Marché for Call Your Mother. Until then, the popular D.C. bagel shop will continue to operate its mobile “Lil Deli” truck. Also on track to open later in 2024 is Sorn Thai, a new restaurant from the team behind Donsak in D.C., and the beauty retailer Bluemercury is projected to open in early 2025.
Hat tip to Greg Brandon
Construction on the next phase of The Boro in Tysons has prevented pedestrians from safely walking on the streets around the site, a Fairfax County inspector says.
Matthew Stenger, an investigator with the county’s Department of Code Compliance, issued violation notices last month against The Meridian Group, The Boro’s master developer, and Silverstone Silver Living, which is constructing The Trillium Tysons, a senior living building expected to open this year.
A Nov. 15 inspection of the construction site bounded by Westpark Drive to the south and Greensboro Drive to the east “revealed that there is no safe and efficient pedestrian pathway provided along the properties street frontages,” Stenger said in the Dec. 15 notices.
The code compliance investigator also alleged that the companies failed to submit a construction management plan required as a condition of the expansion project’s approval in 2021.
Both developers have now separately filed appeals challenging the citations, stating that they have in fact provided the promised plan, which shows that a sidewalk on the southbound side of Westpark Drive would be closed throughout construction.
“Sidewalk closures are specifically identified as an appropriate method to ensure pedestrian safety,” Silverstone’s zoning appeal says. “…After consultation with County staff, due to existing sensitive fiber optics and live power infrastructure…along the Block J frontage, it was agreed that no safe interim pedestrian pathway was possible and a closure of the southbound side sidewalks during construction was necessary.”
Block J — The Trillium — is one of four blocks planned for The Boro’s expansion to the west side of Westpark Drive. Under construction since spring 2022, the apartment building for seniors will eventually be joined by two multi-family residential buildings with retail and either a health club or townhouses.
During the county’s review of plans for the development, nearby residents raised concerns about its accessibility and potential construction impacts, which led Meridian and Silverstone to agree to provide a construction management plan.
In addition to raising the possibility of fines, the code compliance department directed the developers to submit the required plan and build temporary pedestrian facilities along Greensboro and Westpark.
“Within two weeks after the date of this notice, you must complete the installation of an asphalt path along the Greensboro frontage,” Stenger wrote. “Within three weeks of the date of this Notice, you must complete the installation of that asphalt trail down Westpark Drive as close to the frontage of Block J as possible.”
However, Silverstone says in its appeal that construction on the Westpark trail — which will represent the first segment of the planned Tysons Community Circuit — can’t begin until Dominion Energy relocates its electrical utilities, a process expected to be complete this January.
Even after the utilities are moved, a temporary sidewalk can’t be safely built “due to the required installation and coordination of tree pits, bio filters, and additional underground infrastructure along the street,” Walsh Colucci land use attorney Lynne Strobel wrote in a statement on the developer’s behalf.
In a separate appeal application, The Meridian Group noted that the proposed temporary sidewalk on Westpark Drive would lead “pedestrians to a dead end at an active construction site,” which could result in people crossing the road without a crosswalk or traffic signal.
“The appropriate solution is to direct pedestrians to cross Westpark Drive at its intersection with Greensboro drive to access the existing sidewalk on the northbound side of Westpark,” Strobel wrote. “…The suggested sidewalk should only be constructed when the pedestrian signal at Boro Place is operational.”
According to the application, construction is underway on sidewalks along Clover and Broad streets, and the developer has agreed to build a temporary asphalt sidewalk on Greensboro. All of the facilities are on track to be completed and open for use “within the next several weeks,” as of mid-December.
A public relations firm representing The Meridian Group said the developer has no comment on its appeal.
Meridian and Silverstone have asked the county to dismiss the notices of violations, saying they’re “based on incorrect and inaccurate facts.”
(Updated at 1:05 p.m. on 12/6/2023) Reston Station area residents and visitors will soon be able to return to Starbucks for their coffee fix.
The Starbucks at 1908 Reston Metro Plaza will reopen this weekend after closing on Nov. 26 for a renovation, a company spokesperson told FFXnow. Operations are expected to resume on Friday, Dec. 8, Reston Station said on Instagram.
The Starbucks spokesperson described the renovations as “standard” for a store.
(Correction: Starbucks initially told FFXnow that the Reston Station shop would be closed through “winter 2024” for ongoing renovations.)
“As a standard course of business, we continually evaluate our store portfolio, using various criteria to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers,” the spokesperson said.
All Starbucks employees that worked at the store got the chance to transfer to nearby locations until the location reopens, the company said.
Hat tip to Adam Rubenstein, and to commenters Allison Kinneberg and cosmo for pointing out the timeline error.
Construction is about to ramp up on Dominion Energy’s undergrounding of a power line near the Spring Hill Metro station in Tysons.
The project will require an extended closure of the entire Vesper Trail from Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) to Vesper Street at Higdon Drive, starting Nov. 1, the utility company recently told residents in the area.
Expected to last until February 2024, the closure is needed so crews can work within the trail path, Dominion Energy said, noting that signs alerting users to the closure will be placed at the trail.
“We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work in your neighborhood,” Dominion said in a postcard sent to residents. “We are committed to completing this work safely and expeditiously to minimize disruptions to the Vesper Trail and your community.”
Preliminary construction activities on the Spring Hill project began this spring, necessitating a roughly five-day trail closure in late April as crews installed a manhole.
To increase the capacity of its power grid as Tysons continues to grow, Dominion is moving part of an existing, overhead electric transmission line underground. The 230-kilovolt line will run a half-mile from a Tyco Road substation to a transition pole near a new substation around the Vesper Trail’s midpoint.
Construction on the new, 75-foot-tall substation will begin after crews finish undergrounding the power line. The overall project is currently on track to be complete and in service by the end of 2025, according to Dominion spokesperson Peggy Fox.
Dominion says the project will “generally” serve its customers south of Leesburg Pike and outside of the Capital Beltway (I-495).
Graphic via Dominion Energy
As summer winds down, the Fairfax County Park Authority is gearing up to give some of its swimming pools thorough cleanings.
The pools and spas at the Cub Run, Providence and Franconia recreation centers will all be closed starting Monday (Aug. 21) for “deep system cleaning and necessary maintenance,” the park authority recently announced.
The closures will coincide with the first week of classes for Fairfax County Public Schools and continue through Labor Day. This period from late August to early September tends to see less pool usage “than at any other point throughout the year,” FCPA Regional Operations Branch Manager Kimeshia Junkins said in a press release.
“The Park Authority appreciates the patience and understanding of pool patrons as we conduct this work as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Junkins said.
The closure schedule is below:
Cub Run Rec Center (4630 Stonecroft Blvd., Chantilly)
- Leisure and Competition Pools and Spa Closed: Aug. 21
- Competition Pool Reopens: Sept. 5
- Leisure Pool and Spa Reopen: Sept. 16
Providence Rec Center (7525 Marc Drive, Falls Church)
- Pool and Spa Closed: Aug. 21
- Pool and Spa Reopen: Sept. 6
Franconia Rec Center (6601 Telegraph Road, Alexandria)
- Pool and Spa Closed: Aug. 21
- Pool and Spa Reopen: Sept. 9
The park authority typically follows a two-year cycle to deep clean the pools at each of its nine rec centers. The George Washington Rec Center pool in Mount Vernon has been closed for maintenance since July 24 but is scheduled to reopen this Sunday (Aug. 20).
“The Park Authority is coordinating this needed work to minimize any inconvenience and deliver an improved experience for Rec Center members,” the FCPA said. “Projects include deep cleaning of the pools and pool decks, retiling in showers and addressing other improvements throughout each center.”
Photo via Google Maps
Updated at 5:35 p.m. — The storm has been deemed “destructive” for Clifton, Burke and Annandale, with the National Weather Service warning of “considerable damage to trees and power lines” and that “your life is at significant risk if outdoors.”
Earlier: A storm bringing intense winds and potentially even hail or a tornado is bearing down on the D.C. area.
In anticipation of the weather, the Fairfax County Park Authority closed several outdoor facilities at 4 p.m., including the Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole at Lake Fairfax Park in Reston, the Martin Luther King Jr. Pool in Gum Springs and Our Special Harbor Spray Park in Groveton.
All golf courses and driving ranges, marinas and park amusements, like carousels, have also been shut down. Outdoor classes and activities have either been canceled or moved indoors.
With the line of storms moving eastward, the northwestern part of the county is expected to get hit first. The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning until 5:15 p.m. for that area, including Reston, Herndon and possibly Tysons.
The alert warns of 60 mph wind gusts and quarter-sized hail.
“Damaging winds will cause some trees and large branches to fall,” the NWS said. “This could injure those outdoors, as well as damage homes and vehicles. Roadways may become blocked by downed trees. Localized power outages are possible. Unsecured light objects may become projectiles.”
The storm is expected to arrive during the afternoon rush-hour around 5-7 p.m., prompting local federal government offices and other many workplaces to send employees home early.
Metro is “deploying additional resources to respond to weather-related issues” that may affect its service, activating its Emergency Operations Center.
“Severe delays, disruptions, and detours in Metro bus, rail, and paratransit service are possible due to extremely high winds, road conditions and other hazards,” Metro said in a news release.
Severe Thunderstorm Warning including Centreville VA, Reston VA and Linton Hall VA until 5:15 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/Ai5Wnyfgbu
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 7, 2023
