(Updated at 12:10 p.m.) Fairfax County’s police helicopters have a new base of operations.

The emergency choppers and their crews will now be housed at the Fairfax County Police Department’s new David M. Rohrer Aviation Center, which was welcomed with a grand opening celebration yesterday (Wednesday).

Located at 4604 West Ox Road, the two-story, 23,000-square-foot facility replaces a smaller heliport that was built on the same site in 1984 but no longer met the helicopter division’s staffing and equipment needs.

Known by the call sign “Fairfax 1,” the division includes two helicopters and flight officers, pilots, paramedics and maintenance crews.

They were performing over 150 helicopter missions per month and more than 80 medical evacuations per year out of the now-demolished, 9,500-square-foot heliport, the FCPD reported when pitching the project for bond funding in 2015.

“Similar to a firehouse, staff remains on-site throughout their shift, but locker space, helicopter equipment space, storage areas and training space is insufficient to meet current operational needs,” the department said. “The helicopter hangers are not large enough to house the county’s two twin-engine helicopters, and the sloped landing pad causes safety issues especially during winter months.”

The project received $13 million from that public safety bond referendum, though the county ultimately approved $14.1 million, according to the current capital improvements program.

In addition to a landing pad for the helicopters, the new aviation center has a two-bay hanger, parking for 25 vehicles, and upgraded locker, storage and training spaces.

At my request, the Board honored Chief Davis’ request to name the heliport after Chief Rohrer in recognition of his 41 years of outstanding service to the County.

The operational needs of our flight officers, pilots, paramedics and maintenance crews have grown significantly. pic.twitter.com/LS0D1Kynrx

— Supervisor Pat Herrity (@PatHerrity) March 22, 2023

The facility is named after former deputy county executive for public safety David Rohrer, who retired last year after a 41-year career that he started as a patrol officer. The name was requested by Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis and Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, whose district includes the heliport site.

“The operational needs of our flight officers, pilots, paramedics and maintenance crews have grown significantly,” Herrity said after participating in the grand opening. “This new facility will provide lifesaving medical treatment and crimefighting services to our citizens.”

Speakers at the ceremony included Herrity, Davis, Rohrer, Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay, County Executive Bryan Hill and Department of Public Works and Environmental Services Director Chris Herrington.

At the time of the opening ceremony, helicopter crews hadn’t officially moved in yet, but the FCPD anticipates they’ll be able to operate out of the aviation center starting at 8 a.m. Saturday (March 25).

“That depends if everything gets moved over in time,” the police department said.

Mezeh is ready to open its doors at Tysons Corner Center.

A grand opening for the fast-casual Mediterranean chain’s new location at the mall will be held tomorrow (Wednesday). The restaurant is in the former Le Pain Quotidien next to Bloomingdale’s.

“We knew that Tysons Corner would be a great place to have a mezeh, but we didn’t know when it would happen,” Mezeh Managing Partner Patrick Mika said by email. “With this free-standing location outside of Bloomingdale’s, we expect to gain a lot more exposure for the mezeh brand at this mall location compared to our other mall locations.”

Mezeh has over 30 locations across the mid-Atlantic region, including spots in Reston, Fair Oaks and Springfield. It serves build-your-own pita pockets, flatbread wraps and rice, salad or pilaf bowls.

The 3,134-square-foot Tysons restaurant will have the unique twist of serving as a test kitchen, where the company will try out new recipes and entrees, according to Mika.

“[That] will be very exciting for both us and our customers,” he said.

To celebrate, the eatery will give customers at the grand opening a free bowl with the purchase of a drink and a $10 credit that can be used during a future visit. The promotion will be available for purchases made in the store that day from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5:30-8:30 p.m.

The free bowl will still carry a $2 charge if the order includes steak or lamb.

Other recent changes at Tysons Corner Center include a Peachwave frozen yogurt stall that opened in the third-floor food court last week. In addition, two interactive pop-ups centered around candy and Dr. Seuss are on their way to the mall.

Fairfax County leaders will celebrate the grand opening of a community center in Annandale’s Heritage Mall tomorrow (Saturday).

Braddock District Supervisor James Walkinshaw and the county’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services will open the Annandale Community Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony, an open-house, and community activities, according to a release.

The county is partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington to provide affordable after-school activities and youth programming in the 2,100-square-foot space. The center will add more programs and resources after the grand opening.

“The Annandale Community Center name was selected following multiple community engagement forums where the community gave input on the vision for the space, including resources, activities, programs, and names,” the release states.

Previously, the center was tentatively known as the Community Space at Heritage Center.

The facility occupies a former CrossFit space in the shopping center at 7879 Heritage Drive. It has been in the works since the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved a townhouse development behind the mall that included a commitment to providing a community resource center.

The grand opening will start at noon.

Join me + @FairfaxNCS this Saturday, March 4, to celebrate the opening of the new Annandale Community Center @ Heritage Shopping Plaza @ 12pm!

NCS is partnering w/@BGCGW to offer affordable youth programming + afterschool activities in the new space.https://t.co/p4O0aTHNGe pic.twitter.com/R8iXLfF3Kw

— Supervisor James Walkinshaw (@JRWalkinshaw) March 2, 2023

A new Singaporean restaurant at Tysons Galleria is ready to serve its first patrons tonight (Wednesday).

After offering a preview in December, the mall will officially welcome Jiwa Singapura at 5 p.m. on the third floor of its redeveloped Macy’s wing, across from the recently launched CMX CinéBistro movie theater.

The restaurant comes from international chef Pepe Moncayo, who’s best known in the U.S. for the Spanish-Japanese fusion establishment Cranes in downtown D.C.

“Jiwa Singapura blends street food and high-end dining, for a taste of some of the Asian city-state’s boldest, nuanced flavors,” the restaurant said in a press release. “The menu features classics like Hainanese chicken rice, laksa and chili crab, as well as nods to the family recipes of Singapore native and Moncayo’s wife, Aishah Moncayo.”

Though originally from Spain, Moncayo moved to Singapore in 2010 to work at a new restaurant. He met his wife and launched his first solo venture on the island before relocating to D.C. to open Cranes in 2019.

Brookfield Properties, which manages Tysons Galleria, previously told FFXnow that it made a deal with the Cranes team for Jiwa Singapura because the restaurant would be “a unique offering” not just for the mall, but for the D.C. area as a whole.

Moncayo says the “diverse and collaborative” community in Tysons is something he values after working and living in Singapore.

“Tysons has an urban presence with a small community feel and we felt it would be the perfect place to open this new and exciting concept of Singaporean cuisine in the Northern Virginia area,” he said in a statement to FFXnow. “We look forward to this new chapter and collaborating with our neighbors and other stakeholders in the community.”

Designed by the architectural firm //3877, the 10,000-square-foot restaurant features a main dining room with 170 seats, 30-foot-high ceilings, an open kitchen, and a bar area with 10 seats and four stand-up tables.

There is also a 16-seat “semi-private” dining room and a 3,000-square-foot outdoor terrace with 80 seats and a mini-bar.

The drink offerings include a wine list with nearly 60 labels, sake, a house rice pilsner developed in partnership with local favorite Caboose Brewing Company, and a signature rum and apple brandy cocktail named after Singapore’s iconic Merlion.

For now, Jiwa Singapura is only open for dinner, operating from 5-10 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays, but lunch hours are coming soon, according to the press release.

Restonians looking to trade in their old phone after getting the latest model for Christmas are in luck.

Paymore, a national company, will open at 1675 Reston Parkway in Suite J on Friday (Feb. 17), a little later than previously anticipated. The grand opening event, which takes place from noon to 2 p.m., will include a giveaway for a PlayStation 5.

The business is an e-commerce and brick and mortar resale shop. Customers can get cash for electronics or retrade items for other technology.

“PayMore stores provide an attractive, boutique retail experience and offer a safe and easy way for consumers to sell their used electronics and purchase needed electronic devices,” the company said.

PayMore was founded in 2011 in New York as a way to repurpose and recirculate old electronics. Since then, it has opened several locations across the country.

The Reston location is managed by franchisees Dan and Lindsay Lowe, who have previous experience with Dominos in Orlando and Firehouse Subs.

The first 100 guests will get complimentary Firehouse Sub sandwiches.

A new crafters’ playground is set to open tomorrow (Saturday) in Chantilly.

Craftspace will hold a grand opening for its maker space, studio and store at 3675 Concorde Parkway in Suite 1500.

The ribbon cutting is slated to take place at 11:30 a.m., although the event starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. The event includes prizes, giveaways, craft souvenirs, and refreshments.

The business offers supplies for scrapbooking, jewelry making, sewing, and stamping. Crafting classes are catered towards children and adults.

The idea came from owner and CEO Amy Robinson. Manager Sarah Christensen assisted in the effort, bringing a team of two local entrepreneurs together in the venture.

“After two years of careful planning, tools and material acquisitions, and space renovations, it is amazing to see the business finally come to life,” Robinson said, adding that her team has fully embraced the underlying business concept that “if you can think it, we can help you make it here.”

Here’s more from the company on the launch:

Crafters of all experience levels are invited to experience Craftspace. Basic tools and supplies are included in the hourly rate for using the space. Premium tools are available for an additional charge. Classes are priced by the event. Memberships are available for those who plan to use the space for several hours each month. The convenient location is perfect for gathering with friends, working on your favorite project or trying a new craft or tool without investing in the needed supplies upfront.

Deli Italiano has officially opened its doors to the public in the Town of Herndon (700 Lynn Street) after a grand opening ceremony earlier this month.

The pizza chain held a grand opening on Dec. 8, alongside a ribbon-cutting with Midtown Jewelers, a Reston-based business that moved to the town earlier this year. A soft opening took place earlier this season.

“We are appreciative of the support from the community of Herndon. The store has been doing well over the past two weeks. We’d love to see more people in store as well as more deliveries. We’re looking to let people know we deliver all over Herndon,” Bianka Moskaitis, a representative for the company, wrote in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Reston location is still undergoing renovations. Located at 1631 Washington Plaza, that spot plans to open at Lake Anne Plaza in early 2023.

Deli Italiano serves a variety of salads, sandwiches, pizzas, subs, pastas, and calzones. The menu is available online. It has other locations in Leesburg, Sterling, Great Falls, Arlington and Burke.

(Updated at 8:55 a.m. on 12/15/2022) A new sports bar is brewing at Tysons Galleria, and it will arrive just in time for the NFL playoffs.

Yard House will hold a grand opening for its location in the mall’s redeveloped Macy’s wing on Jan. 15, the team announced on the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Instagram last week.

“We’re ready to take care of ya’ll,” Dylan Wieder, the restaurant’s executive chef, said in the announcement.

Yard House’s planned entry into Tysons was first reported in August 2021 by the Washington Business Journal. The restaurant has taken over a 14,236-square-foot space with an outdoor patio next to Arhaus Furniture.

Known for an extensive menu and draft beer lineup, Yard House was envisioned by its founders as “the world’s greatest tap room” when it launched in Long Beach, California. Its December 1996 opening featured 250 beers and “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark” actor Cassandra Peterson as a guest bartender, according to the Press-Telegram.

The company was acquired in 2012 by Darden Restaurants, the group behind chains like Olive Garden and The Capital Grille. It now has over 80 locations around the U.S., including ones at Springfield Town Center and D.C.’s Chinatown.

The Tysons Galleria location will feature 130 taps, ranging from American craft and import beers to “local and regional pours hand-picked by the restaurant’s management team,” according to the business.

“Nothing unites better than beer,” Yard House said in a statement to FFXnow. “Tysons Galleria is already known for bringing people together, and we’re excited to join the community and the party with great beer, great food and great music.”

Here’s more on what to expect from the new restaurant/bar:

The glass-enclosed keg room showcases hundreds of steel barrels containing as much as 4,000 gallons of beer that flow to the center-island bar through an extensive network of beer lines positioned overhead.

While beer is Yard House’s heart, food is its soul. With more than 100 menu items made from scratch, there’s something for everyone on the menu. Featured menu items include the Poke Nachos, Nashville Hot Chicken, Street Tacos and Proprietary USDA Prime Blend burgers. Gluten-sensitive, vegan and vegetarian options are also available.

The restaurant is open daily for lunch, dinner and late night dining. Guests can toast to happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-6 p.m. featuring half-price appetizers and $1-$4 off beer, wine and cocktails.

Tysons Galleria owner Brookfield Properties created a new wing by subdividing 260,000 square feet of space that had belonged to Macy’s until the department store closed in 2019. Major tenants in the fully leased wing include Crate & Barrel and Bowlero.

In addition to Yard House, the mall is awaiting the arrivals of the restaurant Jiwa Singapura, which slated to open in early 2023, and CMX CinéBistro, a dine-in movie theater whose premiere has been put on hold.

(Updated at 2:10 p.m. on 11/13/2022 to correct zip code) It’s going to be a busy Saturday for Settle Down Easy Brewing. In addition to marking its fourth anniversary, the Merrifield area brewery will throw a grand opening party for its new Oakton restaurant and bar from noon to 8 p.m.

Replacing the shuttered Austins Big and Tall store in Hunter Mill Plaza at 2952E Chain Bridge Road, The Oakton Tasting Room is envisioned as not just a place to grab dinner and drinks, but as the kind of hangout spot that Settle Down Easy owner Frank Kuhns says is missing from Oakton — despite nearly 37,o00 people calling it home.

“In Oakton, there’s one zip code — 22124 — and we are going to promote that and the level of how proud you are to be a resident of Oakton,” Kuhns told FFXnow. “We’re going to create this family-friendly, energetic, exciting space for the residents of Oakton, but everyone is welcome of course. We want Oakton to have its own special place to call its own.”

A resident of Oakton himself, Kuhns started looking to expand Settle Down Easy at his wife’s suggestion. As COVID-19 pandemic restrictions eased, the couple was looking to go out for wine and appetizers but noticed a dearth of happy hour options in the area compared to nearby Vienna and Fairfax.

They hope The Oakton Tasting Room will fill that void, with a still-casual yet more refined ambiance than the industrial feel of Settle Down’s existing brewery at 2822 Fallfax Drive.

Opened in 2018, the Merrifield location serves food from a taco stand run by El Tio Tex-Mex Grill, but it primarily focuses on brewing, manufacturing five barrels of craft beer at a time to serve at a 40-seat bar.

The Oakton Tasting Room will be as much a restaurant as a brewery. Along with beer, it will offer wine, cider, and food for both lunch and dinner in a collaboration with local farmer’s market staple, The Fermented Pig, whose handcrafted meats and charcuterie boards made an impression at earlier events with Settle Down Easy.

An official menu isn’t available online yet, since it will likely evolve as the restaurant figures out what works and what doesn’t. However, all ingredients will be sourced from farms within a 100-mile radius, according to Kuhns.

“We want to be hypersensitive to our carbon footprint, we want to respectful to the environment, and we want to provide something to support other local businesses within 75 to 100 miles of our Oakton Tasting Room,” he said.

At nearly 4,000 square feet in size, the tasting room has the capacity for 150 customers. While there’s no outdoor seating at the moment, Kuhns says they hope to work with their landlord to add that next summer.

Nods to Oakton will range from black-and-white photos in the bathrooms showing the area’s history to a beer exclusively available at the tasting room called 123, after Route 123. Settle Down already serves a 2 Cloud 9 beer in Merrifield, reflecting its location near Route 29.

Expected to draw a sizable crowd, The Oakton Tasting Room’s grand opening will include a ribbon-cutting, cake at 3 p.m., and surveys of food and drink offerings. Merrifield patrons can get in on the excitement too: the first 50 customers who get a beer at both locations that day will receive a free gift and a commemorative coaster.

After inflation, supply chain issues and increased personnel expenses doubled the cost of the Oakton buildout from what was planned, Settle Down has no immediate plans to expand further, but the team is considering ways to help its Merrifield location stand out.

“I think probably in early 2024, we will look for the next venture for Settle Down Easy,” Kuhns said. “…That could be us doing a manufacturing warehouse. That could be a collaborative partnership with The Fermented Pig. We don’t know yet, but I know we want to continue to grow, so our plan in the next two years is to have more growth for our business in Virginia.”

A new CBD retail store is set to open in Alexandria’s Rose Hill Shopping Center this week.

Healthy Vibez CBD, a health and wellness store for CBD products, will hold its grand opening on Friday (Oct. 28). The store will sell CBD beauty products, crafted drinks, health bars, vapes, and more.

Chairman Riz Nasar tells FFXnow that the store will also serve as an education and resource center for CBD products. He says it’s for anyone who wants to try CBD and needs to know where to start.

“A lot of people think that it makes you high–it doesn’t. It actually does totally the opposite. It makes you even calmer, it makes you relaxed, it makes you sleep better, it helps with PTSD, it helps with anxiety,” Nasar explained.

He says he was in a car accident when he was a child and CBD was the only thing that helped him with lingering pain.

“It’s really helped, it really works–and we want to share our experience and my personal experience,” Nasar says.

Another reason he wants to educate people on CBD is because of the confusion he faced with landlords and other officials when trying to launch the business. He says some people were hesitant after confusing CBD with marijuana.

“Finally, I found a like-minded agent who said, let me let me work with you, and so he took our business plan, and he was able to get us this place in Rose Hill Shopping Center.”

Nasar added that the store works with a local lab “to ensure every single product is being manufactured under the watchful eyes of experienced scientists and chemists.”

He says the products are made in small batches to ensure quality and freshness.

For its grand opening, the store will ask visitors to cut a ribbon to enter the store. The store’s hours are Monday-Saturday 11 am-7 pm, and Sunday, 12-5 pm.