A proposal for a seven-story mixed-use development over a parking lot next to the WillowWood Plaza office center in Fairfax City cleared another hurdle this week.

A majority of the Fairfax City Planning Commission voted Monday (April 22) to recommend that the city council approve a mixed-use development at 10306 Eaton Place featuring 260 residential units and 5,000 square feet of retail space over top of a 328-space parking lot.

D.C.-based developer Capital City Real Estate first submitted a conceptual plan in 2022 to add housing on the 2.96-acre site, which is separate from the four office buildings developed in 1987. Since then, the developer has revised the design several times following staff reviews.

Originally, the developer planned a second phase following the construction of the seven-story, mixed-use building, proposing an additional 64 multifamily units and a 375-space parking garage on the opposite side of the office complex.

However, city staff determined Capital City couldn’t submit one application with multiple phases because the two parcels were not contiguous. Instead, the developer must submit two standalone applications for each site.

According to Chris Love, one of Capital City’s managing partners, work on phase two is still “underway.”

“We’re still in the early phases of the entitlement process,” he told FFXnow.

The initial design of the mixed-use development at 10306 Eaton Place was also updated, reducing the number of dwelling units from 282 to 260 and doubling the amount of retail space.

Additionally, the developer has proposed installing several sidewalks, planting trees, and building a stormwater improvement system.

While most planning commissioners generally supported the project, they expressed disappointment that the developer didn’t devote more of the planned building’s 40,927-square-foot first floor to commercial uses.

Under Fairfax City’s zoning ordinance, at least 75% of the ground floor area in upper-story residential and mixed-use buildings must be allocated for non-residential uses.

“There have just been way too many proposals that have been coming in as a commercial/residential, but it’s essentially 99% residential with just a little kind of a whiff or a smell of commercial, and that’s difficult,” Commissioner Matthew Rice said during the public hearing.

Commissioner Paul Cunningham, the only member to oppose the project, said he thought the city is too focused on residential development without enough commercial space to meet its residents’ needs.

“We’re bringing in a middle demographic age group to an apartment area, and by the time we bring in these thousands of people who are different than the rest of our community, they have got to be integrated into the activities that we have,” he said.

During the hearing, Love said his firm didn’t further increase the retail space because a retail consultant advised that 5,000 square feet is the maximum the market could support.

“We have increased it to 5,000 feet because we feel that over time, the market will support that,” he said. “The challenge we run into is, if we have vacant retail in a building, it’s not really helpful to anyone. It’s not helpful to our project getting leased, and I think in the long term, it’s not helpful to the city.”

Still, several commissioners argued that they believe the demand for retail space exists.

“For the size of the building, I personally don’t think it will be hard to fill in Fairfax City, and I think it would be important to the residents in the building,” Commissioner Betsy Briggs said.

The proposal will now go to the city council, though a public hearing has not yet been scheduled.

The proposed Tommy’s Express Car Wash at Fairfax Blvd and Lion Run in Fairfax City passed its first hurdle last week and will advance to the planning commission next.

The Fairfax City Board of Architectural Review has unanimously recommended that the city council approve a proposal for a 4,553-square-foot car wash at 9917 Fairfax Blvd. The site was formerly home to The Espositos, a 40-plus-year-old Italian restaurant that closed permanently last month.

Behind the project is D.C.-based private equity firm Olympus Pines, which submitted an application for a special-use permit to repurpose the 1.15-acre site earlier this year.

According to a city council staff report, the car wash is designed to process up to 200 vehicles per hour, anticipates serving a “peak volume” of 50-75 cars per hour with a maximum staff of four to five. The site, which currently features a one-way entrance and exit on Fairfax Blvd, would also include three “stacking lanes” to prevent backups.

During a January work session, city council members expressed concerns that the high volume of traffic at the site might lead to congestion. However, at their April 17 meeting, the developer’s attorneys informed the architectural review board that no changes have been made to the design.

The city planning commission must review the application before it makes its way to the city council.

The Fairfax City Council recently approved several bicycle network enhancements along Fair Woods Parkway, its first project since adopting a bicycle master plan in 2021.

The unanimous adoption of the resolution gave city staff the go-ahead to engage engineering consultants to design the bike routes.

The final concept adds curb extensions at four intersections, including Cardinal Road, Cavalry, Scout and Blue Coat Drive, to help slow down cars and make it safer for people to walk. Improvements initially planned for Continental Lane were removed from the project after nearby residents raised concerns.

Staff are also considering adding crosswalks throughout the corridor and a shared-use path for biking and walking on one side of Fair Woods Parkway between Fairfax Blvd and the George Snyder Trail.

The city initiated its project to turn Fair Woods Parkway into a “neighborway” almost two years ago. The process included several rounds of community feedback through various surveys and public meetings.

Previously known as Plantation Parkway, Fair Woods Parkway was chosen for the first neighborway — a low-volume street designed to serve as a safe bicycle route — because of the area’s access to various local destinations and bike paths, Fairfax City Multimodal Transportation Planner Chloe Ritter told the city council during its March 26 meeting.

She noted it also addresses resident requests for improved traffic conditions and better bicycle infrastructure.

“We feel that this proposal provides a number of benefits, including shortening pedestrian crossing distances,” Ritter said. “It improves the visibility for drivers…removes uncontrolled pedestrian crossings and the requirement for vehicles to stop when the signal is green.”

The city’s bicycle master plan designates approximately 20 miles of neighborhood streets as “neighborways.”

While city staff are designing the neighborway, the public will have an opportunity to give their input about halfway through the design phase, per Ritter.

The project’s funding comes from a U.S. Department of Transportation grant via the Regional Surface Transportation Program. This program allocates funds to states and local governments for various public transportation projects, including pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.

Almost all council members fully endorsed the project — with a few words of caution.

Councilmember Thomas Ross called it a significant move towards “humanizing the transportation network.” However, he also urged staff to evaluate the project’s effectiveness upon completion.

“I would also encourage perhaps a focus group or a discussion group with the community and in a year and a half, two years, whenever it seems appropriate to say, ‘What’s your reaction to this? Is it working? Is it making it safer for people to walk and get around? Is it safer to get in and out of the neighborhood?'” Ross said.

Councilmember Jon Stehle suggested that staff consult with the local police department about incorporating safety-promoting technologies, such as blue light stations, into the design.

“We talked previously about ‘fix-a-flat’ opportunities at certain locations in different areas along bike trails, etcetera,” he said. “There has to be some technology out there that’s up and coming or someone who’s looked at this in a different way that we should at least have the conversation about.”

The city’s webpage for the project says engineering and construction work could tentatively start later this year.

After years of enjoying the homey Italian cuisine served at Esposito’s Fairfax, Colleen Lester and her family decided the time had come to give back to the woman behind the restaurant.

So, when they learned that Esposito’s would close for good on March 10, ending a 42-year run in Fairfax City, Lester created an online fundraiser to support owner Maria Esposito. The campaign has now raised $4,100 out of a $20,000 goal, as of press time.

Esposito previously told FFXnow that she was given just two weeks to vacate the building at 9917 Fairfax Blvd where the business had operated since 1982. The property had been sold and is being considered for a Tommy’s Express Car Wash.

According to Lester, the abrupt notice left Esposito with a significant financial burden.

“Since she didn’t have much notice, she didn’t really have time to prepare financially for the cost of moving out of the space,” Lester said by email. “She also wanted to provide some sort of severance for her employees, who all lost their jobs without much warning.”

She will also still need to pay business taxes and any debts resulting from food and equipment orders that were placed weeks to months in advance but then had to be canceled, added Lester’s mother, Brenda Halbrook, who remains in close contact with Esposito.

The GoFundMe campaign is intended to help ease the burden of those expenses. Boosted by multiple triple-digit donations, it will remain open until early July, according to Halbrook.

A native of Fairfax County, Lester says her family was “heartbroken” when they heard that their long-standing favorite dining spot was going to shutter.

“My parents have lived here for the past 40+ years. We have been going to Esposito’s together for decades and are long time customers/friends of Maria’s,” she wrote. “…Our family has been eating at Esposito’s since I was a child and now my kids love going there with my parents (their grandparents) so we are 3 generations of loyal customers.”

Esposito’s was “packed” during its final week of business, and based on their conversations with Esposito, Lester and Halbrook say the restaurant owner appreciated the outpouring of support.

Since the closure, Esposito has been working at the Italian Oven, which is owned by her cousin. The McLean restaurant reopened at 6852 Old Dominion Drive in June 2022 after a 20-year hiatus.

The possibility of a comeback for Esposito’s Fairfax in a new location isn’t out of the question, according to Halbrook.

“The sudden notice to close shocked Maria to her core, but the outpouring of support from her many fairhful customers has been incredibly helpful to her,” Halbrook said. “Maria is a ‘people person,’ who genuinely loves her ‘family’ of customers. Maria would like to open her own restaurant again, if she can get the needed support.”

An event featuring the stories of women returns to Fairfax City for its fifth year this week.

Organized by nonprofit Better Said Than Done, the Women’s Storytelling Festival will take place this Thursday through Sunday (March 14 through 17) in Fairfax. The event features 21 storytellers who will deliver spoken word pieces intended for mature audiences.

A virtual-only showcase kicks off the event on Thursday, while in-person performances begin at Old Town Hall (3999 University Drive) from Friday through Sunday. Tickets are available online.

The festival launched in March 2020, days before a statewide shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event switched to a virtual-only option in 2021 and kept the event hybrid in 2022.

Last year, the festival returned to in-person performances in Fairfax City. Recordings of the performances were released one month after the event.

Jessica Robinson, the event’s producer, says the event holds special meaning for her as a storyteller for 17 years and a storytelling show producer for 12.

“I can honestly say, the Women’s Storytelling Festival is what I am most proud of creating and, as a fan of storytelling, some of the best damn storytelling I have ever seen. 2024 is going to be another amazing weekend of stories, and I cannot wait to watch and enjoy,” she said.

She launched Better Said than Done in May 2011 to bring the art of storytelling to Virginia. The organization was granted nonprofit status last year.

Coinciding with Women’s History Month, the Fairfax festival will feature novice and expert storytelling from across the country.

“I’ve always been amazed at the sheer amount of talent the WSF brings together in one room,” Fairfax City Cultural Arts Manager Megan DuBois said. “From nationally known legends of storytelling to emerging artists, the tellers are all performing at the top of their game. The WSF curates an incredible cast.”

The Esposito’s Fairfax in Fairfax City will permanently close after this weekend.

Owner Maria Esposito told FFXnow that the property owner notified her last Thursday, Feb. 28, that she had two weeks to vacate the premises because the property has been sold.

Located at 9917 Fairfax Blvd, the Italian restaurant first opened over four decades ago in 1982 and will welcome its final customers on Sunday, March 10.

It’s unclear who bought the property, but the Fairfax City Council is currently mulling a special-use permit to repurpose the 1.15-acre site for a Tommy’s Express Car Wash.

D.C.-based private equity firm Olympus Pines, which submitted a pre-application in November 2021, is behind the car wash proposal. The Board of Architectural Review Board and City Council members reviewed the application at two separate work sessions held last December and this past January.

A public hearing date, required before any vote, has not been set.

Last month, Esposito assured FFXnow she had no plans to close the restaurant, but the decision was ultimately out of her hands.

“It breaks my heart, this is like a family to me,” she said. “You become family after so many years. I’ve known all the customers since before 1982 in the ’70s. We share good news. We share sad news. We have shared tears. You know, we have a history over here… It’s been very sad, but it’s not in my control.”

Esposito says she plans to work temporarily in McLean, stating that she needs “a job, but right now we don’t know what the future holds.”

When reached for comment, Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED) said it has been working with the restaurant owner to make sure they’re aware of the resources it offers to local businesses.

“Esposito’s is a long-standing Fairfax City business and we have been working with the ownership to ensure that they have access to our resources and programs designed to help businesses remain and stay in Fairfax City, regardless of the location,” FCED President and CEO Christopher Bruno said.

Taco Bell has set its sights on opening what will reportedly be its first location in Fairfax City.

The restaurant is proposing a 2,256-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru at the Boulevard Marketplace Shopping Center (10160 Fairfax Blvd).

According to an application before the city’s Board of Architectural Review tonight (Wednesday), the site was approved for a drive-thru bank in 2008 and a retail building in 2017, but neither were built.

Taco Bell needs a special use permit to proceed with its plans. Cars would enter the site along Fairfax Blvd and then either use the drive-thru, which will wrap around the building and parking area, or utilize one of the 21 provided parking spaces.

The drive-thru will accommodate 13 stacked vehicles. Bicycle parking and a small outdoor dining patio area are also proposed for the site near the fast-food eatery’s main entrance, according to the application from Taco Bell developer ABTB Mid-Atlantic.

Taco Bell says this will be its first location in Fairfax City, though the chain has a couple of spots not far from city limits, including near Fair Oaks Mall.

“The Applicant’s proposal presents an opportunity to redevelop and activate an underutilized parcel with a vibrant, high-quality community-serving use that advances the Comprehensive Plan’s objectives of enhancing commercial activities along the Fairfax Boulevard commercial corridor,” a statement of intent says. “…The Applicant is eager to bring the first Taco Bell to the City and is committed to ensuring that the proposed development fits into the fabric of Fairfax.”

Taco Bell plans to install a 6-foot-wide sidewalk between the proposed building and parking areas. The applicant also plans to maintain and existing trail along the western property line that connects to George Snyder Trail to the north. A 3.5-foot-wide landscape strip is proposed between the drive-through lane.

Boulevard Marketplace is a 19,316-square-foot retail center near Fairfax High School. Its current tenants include Marco’s Pizza, Subway, Crazy Crab, 7-Eleven and a Virginia ABC store.

Professional pickleball players, local officials and community members are expected to turn out in abundance for the upcoming grand opening of Down the Line Sports Center in Fairfax City.

After a soft opening in early February, the indoor pickleball facility at Courthouse Plaza (10390 Willard Way) will officially introduce itself to the city tomorrow (Thursday). The event will kick off at 5 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting, followed by a meet-and-greet with six pro athletes visiting from around the country.

Those players — Rafa Hewett, Connor Garnett, Dylan Frazier, Pablo Tellez, Lea Jansen and Etta Wright — have also been enlisted for an evening of exhibition games that will start at 7 p.m. The $50 tickets for the exhibition include food and drinks at Chubby Squirrel Brewing Company, which is next door to Down the Line.

As of this morning (Wednesday), fewer than 20 tickets were left, according to Down the Line owner Jenni Bae.

“We’re really excited about our grand opening tomorrow,” Bae told FFXnow. “…Having six Major League Pickleball players here at one time to do an exhibition is a really big deal and something really special that we wanted to bring to the community, so we’re hoping that they enjoy it, and these are the kinds of things that…we want to bring to this area moving forward.”

Located in a former CVS, Down the Line Fairfax features three full-sized pickleball courts, one half-sized court and a short practice court, along with a players’ lounge and mini pro shop. Each of the full courts has a scoreboard that can be updated live, and courtside TVs will soon allow players to watch instant replays.

Bae says the soft opening has gone “really well,” describing the center’s members as already feeling like family.

Down the Line’s memberships cost $45 per month and come with discounts on private court and open play fees, a two-week window for booking private courts in advance and other perks.

“We’ve already built a community here. People have been really welcoming and excited to have this extra space as an option to play pickleball, so we felt very welcome,” Bae said.

Support for Down the Line has also come from local leaders. The facility won the Fairfax City Council’s approval in December, and construction costs were partially covered by a Façade and Interior Improvement Grant from Fairfax City Economic Development (FCED).

Being able to form those relationships, including the FCED, in advance resulted in a “very, very smooth” build-out, according to Bae, who’s excited that Mayor Catherine Read, FCED President and CEO Christopher Bruno and other city officials will participate in tomorrow’s ribbon-cutting.

“I am blown away by the unwavering commitment and dedication shown by Jenni Bae and her family to reach this milestone,” Bruno said. “Their vision and determination are commendable, and I am thrilled that Fairfax City will now reap the benefits with the unveiling of this newly activated destination for all of Northern Virginia.”

Down the Line’s arrival in Fairfax is a prelude to plans for a second, even larger facility in Annandale.

Replacing the vacant Kid’s Choice Sports Center at 4311 Ravensworth Road, the 50,000-square-foot center will feature 18 full-sized indoor courts, six golf simulators, a sports bar with food and drinks, and a pickleball and golf shop.

Bae’s team hopes to open the Annandale location around the end of 2024 or early 2025. Members of the Fairfax center will get priority access to a membership in Annandale, along with other benefits, though the details are still being worked out.

Bae says her goal is to ensure all members and customers have a “high-quality experience” at Down the Line, whether they visit the Fairfax center or the future one in Annandale.

“We’re excited to see more people come in, experience our center and the different things we have to offer,” she said. “…Everyone who comes in here, the first thing they notice is the atmosphere and the vibe here is very welcoming, makes you feel very at ease and at home, and that’s exactly what I wanted to provide for the people that come in here.”

(Updated at 11:50 a.m.) Fairfax City will soon invite community members to experience cuisines from Azerbaijan and the Caribbean to Ireland and Vietnam for its seventh annual Restaurant Week.

From Monday, Feb. 26 through Sunday, March 3, promotions will be available to diners at more than 25 restaurants, according to the event’s website.

Restaurants will offer prix fixe menus, setting prices at $25 for brunch/lunch and $40 for dinner. Specialty restaurants will offer a two-for-$10 deal, according to a press release.

“Restaurant Week is that nudge our residents get twice a year that says dining out is a community event,” City of Fairfax Mayor Catherine Read said in the press release. “Dining in the city can be a culinary trip around the world without needing a passport.”

Participating restaurants include:

Baku Delicious, Bellissimo, Commonwealth Brewing Co., Capital Ale House, Coyote Grille, Curry Mantra, Dolce Vita, Draper’s Steak & Seafood, Earp’s Ordinary, El Pollo Rico, Hamrock’s Restaurant, Jas & Fam Caribbean Flavor, Mackenzie’s Tunes & Tonics, Mama Chang, Meokja Meokja, Ned’s New England Deck, Old Dominion Pizza Company, ONE Bar & Grill, Ornery Beer Company, Okonomi Asian Grill, Patriot’s Pub & Grill, P.J. Skiddos, Roots Natural Kitchen, Taim Mediterranean Kitchen, The Auld Shebeen, The Wine House and Vivi Bubble Tea.

Though it wasn’t mentioned in the initial list, Pupatella says its Mosaic District location is also participating in Fairfax City Restaurant Week.

The week is co-sponsored by the Fairfax City Economic Development Authority, the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce and the Old Town Fairfax Business Association.

“Together, they have consistently expanded the event, establishing Fairfax City as a premier dining destination and fostering a strong sense of community among restaurant operators,” Fairfax City Economic Development President and CEO Christopher Bruno said.

Ever since he got into the restaurant business, Usman Saleem wanted to open a place in Fairfax City.

After mostly working in Tysons and D.C., the restauranteur finally achieved that dream earlier this year, when The Commons Fooderie officially opened at 3955 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 107, in Old Town Fairfax on Jan. 22.

Set to celebrate its opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. on Thursday (Feb. 22), the fast-casual restaurant and coffee bar brings Saleem back to his college days, which he spent studying just down the road at George Mason University.

“The area felt like home, and so, we wanted to bring our concept to the City of Fairfax because we felt like it was a venue that was kind of missing, a place where the community can meet, [with] good food at reasonable prices in a fast-casual format,” Saleem told FFXnow.

Natives of Springfield, Saleem and his wife and fellow restauranteur, Hanna, have spent more than a decade now serving up coffee and bistro-style food around the D.C. area, often in office buildings and cafeterias. Their established eateries include Bistro 1775 in Tysons and Carvings and Uptowner Cafe in D.C.

The Commons Fooderie represents a culmination of those ventures, combining their top-selling items into one menu. In addition to drinks provided by Grace Street Coffee, the restaurant offers omelets and other breakfast items, sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas, wraps, salads, rice bowls and more.

Saleem says the team is “extremely obsessed” with using fresh ingredients, including for the coffee, which is roasted within 24 hours whenever they order a batch.

“We don’t make anything in advance,” he said. “So, when you order your food, it’s made fresh to order, and I think that really resonates when people eat the food, because the response that we’ve gotten is, ‘Oh my god, the food tastes so fresh,’ and we’re like, that’s because it was literally made after you ordered it.”

During its first month of business, the restaurant has also gotten a positive community response for its “pretty and cozy” environment, according to Saleem.

Designed by Hanna Saleem, the approximately 3,000-square-foot space can accommodate 85 patrons at a time and features a variety of seating areas that Saleem hopes to complement with an outdoor patio in the spring. At that time, they might also consider introducing live music, something that patrons have suggested.

“We created a space not only for people in the community, but also for people who are working in the area and also the George Mason students who are studying in the area,” Usman Saleem said, noting that the restaurant does accept “Mason Money,” the university’s prepaid debit system for students.

The Commons Fooderie is currently open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., though the Saleems intend to extend the hours to midnight once they become more established in the community.

The concept appears to be successful enough so far that the couple is rebranding other locations, including cafes in the office buildings at 1750 and 1600 Tysons Blvd, as The Commons Fooderie. Another office-based location at 12011 Sunset Hills Road in Reston will also have that name when it opens.

Saleem says they hope to open the Reston restaurant “this month,” but the date remains to be decided. The menu will be slightly smaller than the one in Fairfax City due to a lack of fryers.

“That one serves more of the corporate environment,” Saleem said. “It’s right outside of Reston Town Center. So, there’s a lot of office buildings, a little less residential, so I think that’s different in that manner, where Fairfax City has a good mix of commercial, residential and students.”