The highly anticipated Lego Discovery Center has launched in Springfield, though it’ll be a few more days before the brick-building mecca officially welcomes the general public.

With a ribbon cut by scissors made out of Lego bricks and a burst of confetti, the 32,000-square-foot attraction opened its doors at Springfield Town Center (6563 Springfield Mall, Suite 12004) around 11 a.m. yesterday to dozens of kids, parents and other adults who snagged advance tickets.

A prebooked ticket is required for admission until the official opening on Monday, Aug. 14.

Under construction since December, the discovery center features a variety of play and building areas, a Mini World with models constructed from more than 1.5 million bricks, a 4D theater, a climbing gym, an indoor train ride and a cafe. There’s also a store with exclusive sets and a customize-a-figure station, among other offerings, that can be accessed separately.

“It’s been such a long time coming,” said Andrew Litterst, the D.C. area’s Master Model Builder. “I was here at the Springfield Town Center back in February, competing for my job title. Six months later, here we are. We’re very excited to finally be at this point. It’s an amazing attraction, and I can’t wait to get inside and work with people.”

A former environmental sciences teacher at Marshall High School, Litterst was anointed master builder for Lego’s first discovery center in the D.C. area after winning a Brick Factor competition where he raced to build models inspired by different themes, like the Super Bowl or space, WAMU reported at the time.

As master builder, he serves as a spokesperson for the center, and he’s responsible for building and maintaining its many Lego models. His creations range in scale from dragons with movable wings to replicas of D.C. landmarks, such as the Capitol and a Nationals Park with an actual view of the National Mall.

Given his background as an educator, perhaps it’s not surprising that Litterst is especially looking forward to delivering the center’s workshops and building challenges, which invite kids to create models in a set amount of time.

“Lego is the embodiment of the scientific method,” Litterst said. “Whatever you’re trying to build, that’s your problem. That’s the question you’re trying to answer, and how you go about building that, that’s kind of the rest of that discovery process. So, I’m going to try building something this way. Oh, that doesn’t look quite right. Let’s tear it down and try a different way, and so, it’s a learning process through trial and error and it’s just a great group activity as well.”

Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk says the combination of entertainment and education makes the Lego Discovery Center a valuable addition to Springfield, particularly at a town center seeking to become a destination for more than just shopping.

Despite a major renovation and rebranding from its original name of Springfield Mall, Springfield Town Center remains dominated by retail and has seen little progress over the past decade toward fulfilling Fairfax County’s vision of accessible, mixed-use development.

An economic market study released last year found that the town center drove an uptick in retail vacancies in Springfield during the pandemic, but the 2-million-square-foot area is “well positioned” to support growth in other sectors, including 800 to 1,200 multifamily residential units and 100,000 to 200,000 square feet of office. Read More

A new shop in Old Town Fairfax hopes to spark fresh joy with its shelves of vintage wares.

Lucy Loves celebrated its official grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony yesterday (Thursday) after initially opening its doors at 10414 Main Street on Saturday, July 1.

With its eclectic, handmade items, the vintage shop is appropriately located down a small alleyway tucked behind the Vietnamese restaurant East Wind, offering the impression of a hidden gem.

Though narrow, the hallways of the store managed to fit local residents, Old Town Fairfax Business Association members, Fairfax City Economic Development Authority officials and Fairfax City Mayor Catherine Read.

“This kind of business is the kind of business that Old Town Fairfax has been missing,” Read said.

Lucy Loves is an outgrowth of the Fairfax Funky Flea, an outdoor flea market that operates on the last Saturday of every month from April to November. Owner Sharon Buttram says she and longtime friend Kathy Hackshaw decided to launch the now-popular flea market in 2021 after bonding over a mutual love of hunting for vintage odds and ends at thrift shops and estate sales.

“I love mixing old stuff and new stuff, and I like making it current,” Buttram said. “…I don’t want my house to be a museum of old stuff. I like to mix it up and be really eclectic in my approach. So we just thought we should do a flea market. We love going to flea markets.”

Lucy Loves currently sells a mix of items like clothing, jewelry and pottery from 16 commissioned local vendors, many of whom Buttram recruited from Fairfax Funky Flea. But in the future, Buttram hopes to also use the cozy space for community gatherings.

“I’d also like this to become a cornerstone of the community as well as an event space,” Buttram said. “Like, if you want to have a conversation about something, let’s have conversation nights. I think after a couple of years of isolation with Covid, we were starved for person-to-person [interaction]. We want to touch things…Everything you see here, you can find online, but it’s a different experience when you go, and you can touch it, and you’re supporting somebody small.”

Read sees Lucy Loves as “exactly the kind of business that people want in a historic downtown.”

“They want some place where they can go to lunch or go to dinner and wander around and pop their head into shops and spend 30 minutes looking at everything in the shop,” she said.

According to Read, Fairfax City has been working to attract more businesses and shoppers so it can better compete with major shopping centers like Fairfax Corner, Mosaic District and Tysons Corner Center.

“I think Lucy Loves is the beginning of seeing more of this kind of retail want to come to our downtown,” Read said. “This is a very promising turn of events for the City of Fairfax because we want to attract visitors. But we also want our residents to stay here. We want our residents to dine here, shop here, attend our events here and to support businesses just like this one.”

In the future, Buttram envisions collaborating with George Mason University students to further engage them in the creative process.

“I’m really excited about a bigger partnership with GMU, and I’ve talked to them about doing workshops for students in their makerspace,” Buttram said. “But I’m also talking to them about even [giving] makers on campus that want to sell things [an opportunity to sell here].”

But for now, Buttram is proud of what she’s accomplished, finally cutting a ribbon on a shop named after her grandmother — “an original thrifty soul” who loved everything, she says.

“I’m really proud of the shop and the turnout today and of all my friends and family in the city,” Buttram said. “I love doing it here in the city. I’ve lived here for 30 years, and it’s just my absolute favorite place here in Virginia. So to have this here is the culmination of all the things I’ve wanted and then to have all my friends come out and support me, it’s been really meaningful to me.”

“This is a small shop, and I fully expect that one of these days, they will outgrow this space,” Read said. “But for now, having a space that’s over full of things is a good thing.”

Big Blue Swim School is ready to make another splash in Fairfax County.

The school is slated to open at Springfield Plaza this Saturday (Aug. 5). A grand opening ceremony is slated for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 7202 Old Keene Mill Road.

A barbecue food truck will be on-site, and arts and crafts are planned inside the school. Registration is open online.

Tom Dolan, a franchise partner of the school, told FFXnow that the company chose the location because of the market demand in the area.

“The shopping center has fantastic retailers and with three grocery stores, it is a highly sought after destination for Springfield and the greater Fairfax County families,” Dolan said.

The school offers lessons for children ages 3 months and up. Currently, the school will be open on Monday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesday through Friday from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. On the weekend, the school is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Customers can schedule multiple kids of different levels and ages during the same 30-45-minute timeframe.

Competitive swimmer Chris DeJong founded the business in 2009 in Wilmette Illinois. The Springfield location is the 29th in the country and the fifth in Northern Virginia, joining sites in Fairfax, the Fair Oaks area, Falls Church, and Dulles.

A wellness center that says it can help people defy the signs of aging, if not the actual process, has set up shop in Vienna.

After a recent soft opening, Restore Hyper Wellness will celebrate its arrival at 214 Maple Ave West more officially tomorrow (Thursday) with a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony, starting at 10 a.m.

To mark the occasion, the studio will offer some deals on services and memberships through Sunday (July 30), including $125 cryoskin facials, $100 off premium hydrafacials and 50% off the retail rate for select single services, according to a press release.

“Restore addresses the fastest growing segments of wellness, helping people looking to manage persistent pain, defy the signs of aging, boost athletic performance, and dial up their natural defenses,” the company says.

Restore started as a cryotherapy clinic in Austin, Texas, in 2015. While training for a triathlon, its founders turned to the practice involving exposure to extreme cold that proponents say can reduce muscle and joint pain and give a mood boost — though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expressed skepticism of the purported benefits.

Restore’s version of whole body cryotherapy immerses the client in temperatures as low as -165 degrees for up to three minutes. The Vienna location can accommodate up to four people at a time, per the press release.

Other available services include compression, infrared saunas, red light therapy, IV drip therapy and skin-cleansing facials.

Employing about seven staff members, the Vienna center is led by general manager Christopher Pursell, a Manassas resident who worked for PetSmart for 18 years before pivoting to the health and wellness industry.

“What I love about Restore is that there are benefits for everyone — from elite athletes to people like me, who’s just looking to be a better, healthier dad,” Pursell said. “Full-body cryotherapy is like my afternoon coffee — giving me a boost to my mood and metabolism as well as promoting better sleep. I look forward to introducing the many ways Restore can help the Vienna community live life to the fullest!”

The center’s operating hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Restore has hundreds of locations across the U.S., including in Arlington and Alexandria, but this is its first Fairfax County site. The company says it plans to open 500 locations by the end of 2024.

Some of New York City’s finest falafels will be available in Pimmit Hills starting this week.

The fast-casual eatery Taim Mediterranean Kitchen will give the community a preview of its first Virginia location at 7502 Leesburg Pike in the Tysons Station shopping center tomorrow (Wednesday), followed by an official grand opening on Thursday (July 27).

The community preview day will kick off at noon and continue to 5 p.m., offering $5 entrees to guests with proceeds going to the Capital Area Food Bank, according to a press release.

The restaurant’s regular hours of 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day will begin Thursday. Plans for the grand opening include a ribbon-cutting ceremony supported by the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce, swag bags for the first 50 people in line, and a prize wheel.

“Whether grabbing a bite on a visit to the shopping center or looking for a shareable, family-friendly dinner, taim is as deliciously satisfying as it is convenient,” said Phil Petrilli, founder of Untamed Brands, which owns Taim. “Our friendly team can’t wait to serve the Tysons community and share some of their favorite menu items.”

Taim started as an all-vegetarian shop in the West Village in 2005 before adding more locations both within New York City and out of the state. The company has picked up the pace on its expansion efforts since becoming part of Untamed Brands in 2018.

While most known for its falafels, the restaurant also offers chicken and cauliflower shawarma, meatballs, egg plant and Impossible meat kebabs as options for its build-your-own pitas and bowls.

The 1,849-square-foot Pimmit Hills location is Taim’s 15th, and Fairfax County already has more sites on the way.

“I’ve watched taim’s fan love grow from Dupont Circle to College Park, Maryland and into Virginia,” Petrill said. “We’re constantly asked to bring more of our restaurants to the suburban communities where families and commuters are looking for convenient, flavorful and healthier options on the go.”

A 1,815-square-foot location in Fairfax City’s WestFair shopping center at 11011 Main Street is on track to open in mid- to late August, according to Taim.

The business is also preparing to replace Cold Stone Creamery in Vienna and move into Reston’s Plaza America. Both locations are expected to open this year, but more exact timelines aren’t yet known.

A new cupcake business has landed at Fair Oaks Mall, adding a sprinkle of delight to visitors’ shopping experience.

Located near the mall’s upper-level food court next to a smoothie shop, Irresistible Cupcakes (11750 Fair Oaks Mall) celebrated its soft opening on Thursday, June 29.

Though Sunday, July 1 marked Irresistible Cupcakes’ official grand opening, founder and owner Fatima Reid has decided to extend the celebration through the entire month of July.

Until Aug. 1, Irresistible Cupcakes is sweetening the deal with a discount in honor of its grand opening: buy four or six cupcakes, get one free. Purchases of a dozen cupcakes are also discounted.

Reid says her cupcakes are freshly baked in the morning, and she hand-makes all of the cupcake batter and buttercream.

“Irresistible Cupcakes does everything from scratch,” Reid said. “So we use high-quality products and whatever I think are the finest products to produce a good quality cupcake and cake. I don’t cut any corners on that at all.”

Reid turned to baking cupcakes as her full-time career after losing her job in 2017, inspired by friends and family who insisted that there was something “special” about the cakes she would make during the holidays, she says.

Though Reid didn’t initially believe in her ability to perform physical labor and questioned whether her cupcakes could truly stand out against the pack, her husband and a higher calling gave her the final push to pick up a whisk and get to work.

“My husband said if you’re going to do this, you’ve got to be all the way in,” Reid said. “So I just researched and prayed about where I should go next.”

Launching her cupcake business out of her home kitchen, Reid went from selling baked treats at her local Bible study to opening her own store, which migrated across the D.C. region from Joint Base Andrews in Maryland to Fort Belvoir to Springfield Mall.

Reid settled on Fair Oaks Mall as Irresistible Cupcakes’ next spot after her storefront in Springfield Mall closed, because she would have access to an in-store kitchen, something she has long sought.

“My wonderful big fat oven that I love so dearly has brought me much joy in this last month here,” Reid laughed.

Now, she makes the 26-mile commute from Upper Marlboro, Maryland, to Fairfax every morning to open the store at 11 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

“I’m excited at being welcomed at Fair Oaks Mall and to the Fairfax community,” Reid said. “It’s a wonderful community, and it seems like the people are very kind and very welcoming to us.”

Reid says she’s observed over the last five years that, wherever her business operates, the residents seem to gravitate towards different cupcake and cake flavors, creating different lineups of best-sellers.

“Here, they love pineapple upside-down, strawberry shortcake, strawberry cupcakes,” Reid said. “And definitely the red velvet and the caramel. The caramel is a huge hit…and the rum is a great cake as well.”

In the future, Reid hopes to expand her menu to include more vegan options, and she is seeking another store manager to help run day-to-day operations when she isn’t there.

Until then, she’s focused on “figuring out what works best for Irresistible to flow” seamlessly and giving her customers “a great experience” when they come into the mall, she says.

“It’s not just a bite of heaven, but it’s a good experience,” Reid said.

A Canadian retailer that specializes in outdoor apparel and climbing gear is ready to brave the wilds of Tysons Corner Center.

Arc’teryx will launch its new Tysons store with a grand opening party on Saturday (July 22), featuring music, food, raffles and giveaways.

The 3,306-square-foot store is located on the mall’s second floor at the Bloomingdale’s end. It’s sandwiched between Adidas and Tempur-pedic, and across the hall from the jewelry shop Kendra Scott.

“We are problem solvers, always evolving and searching for a better way to deliver resolved minimalist design. Good design that matters makes lives better,” Arc’teryx said in a press release, noting that its products are sold at more than 2,400 retail locations around the world.

Initially named Rock Solid Manufacturing, Arc’teryx was founded in 1989 by Vancouver climber Dave Lane, who felt that, using his experience, he could make better climbing harnesses and chalk bags than what was available at the time, according to the magazine Gripped.

Lane soon partnered with another climber, Jeremy Guard, and the company rebranded to Arc’teryx in 1991 as a nod to the Archaeopteryx Lithographica, which was believed to be the earliest bird in existence when it was discovered in 1861.

Still based in Vancouver, the business now sells clothing, backpacks, footwear and accessories, including hats, gloves and belts, along with the climbing gear that was its original forte.

The store’s doors at Tysons Corner Center will open at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

Refreshments will be provided by Urban Chefs Table and the upcoming D.C. bakery Rick’s Cookie Co. There will also be music throughout the day, courtesy of DJ Jerome Baker III and DJ Main Event.

In addition, Arc’teryx is giving away prizes worth $40 to $300 to the first 50 people who RSVP to the event, follow the store on Instagram and attend the grand opening.

This is the company’s first store in Northern Virginia, but its products can be found at REIs in Fairfax and Bailey’s Crossroads as well as Sun & Ski in Seven Corners. Arc’teryx opened a store in the District at CityCenterDC in 2014, its first location on the East Coast.

A new housing option has opened up in Tysons — at least for those who can spare $1.7 million.

Developer Renaissance Centro recently celebrated the grand opening of Monarch, a 20-story, 94-unit condominium high-rise in the Arbor Row neighborhood.

“The opening of Monarch brings a human dimension, new technology and open spaces which enriches Tysons,” Providence District Supervisor Dalia Palchik, who participated in a ribbon-cutting at the ceremony, said. “I am simply delighted and excited for the community, and for my district.”

Located at 7887 Jones Branch Drive, Monarch’s condos range in size from 880 to 4,100 square feet and have sold for up to $4.1 million. There are 18 units still available after the developer touted strong pre-sales at record-high prices for Tysons.

Prices for the remaining five model types average around $1.7 million, according to Renaissance Centro President David Mayhood.

Designed by WDG Architecture and built by Hoar Construction, the 202,200-square-foot building has 6,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Resident amenities include 24-hour concierge service, a fitness center, a garden terrace with a swimming pool, co-working space, a pet wash station, and a private dining room.

The grand opening included open house tours of the development’s “grand spaces,” according to a press release shared by Renaissance Centro yesterday (Thursday).

Guests toured the grand spaces of Monarch, furnished by the French luxury home brand Roche Bobois in a style that matches well with Monarch’s soft lighting, bronze fixtures and colorful art. Walls of glass twenty feet high flood the lobby with light, and an expansive third floor entertainment space connects to a lushly landscaped roof deck. In the outside garden, residents will enjoy arbors, leisure seating, grilling stations and a pool, offering fresh air and quiet corners for reading and reflection. Glass-railed balconies extend living spaces, and some residents can take private elevators that open directly into their units.

The opening came slightly later than anticipated after a four-year-long construction process. When it broke ground, Monarch was expected to open in late 2020, but a change in building contractors stalled work for months.

Approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors back in 2012, the Arbor Row master plan calls for eight new buildings totaling 2.6 million square feet on 19.4 acres in office-heavy central Tysons. Other completed pieces of the development include The Nouvelle apartments and Arbor Row Stream Valley Park.

Still to come is a pair of senior living apartment buildings dubbed The Mather that topped off in January and is expected to open next year. In addition, Arbor Row developer Cityline Partners submitted a pitch to the county last fall to replace an approved office building with another residential high-rise.

That application is still under county review with no scheduled public hearings yet.

“This community is still emerging,” Renaissance Centro president and founder Albert Small Jr. said. “Really, we’re building a new town, adding a lot of rooftops. You will soon see walkers, joggers, cyclists and maybe even strollers energizing this corner of Tysons.”

Fairfax County has officially welcomed two new Flagship Carwash locations.

The regional car washing and detailing company recently added shops in Fairfax City and Annandale. Another location opened in Woodbridge, bringing the number of locations in Virginia to 23.

The Fairfax and Woodbridge locations are now open. A grand opening weekend event is set for the Annandale location at 7333 Little River Turnpike today through Sunday (June 16-18).

Free car washes, prize raffles and giveaways will be offered. Annandale residents will also get 50% off of the first month of unlimited membership through June 30.

Previously a Soaps & Suds Carwash, the Annandale location was renovated to “bring equipment and technology up to Flagship standards,” according to the company.

The Fairfax location is located at 10874 Fairfax Blvd. It’s open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

“We’re thrilled to open our doors to three more communities in Virginia, meeting a long-time, growing demand for an efficient and high-quality car washes,” Flagship Carwash Vice President and General Manager Dave Dittman said. “We understand the toll the DMV’s climate takes on our cars so we’re proud to offer the flexibility and convenience of our subscription programs with so many locations to choose from around your home or work.”

The company was founded in 1986. Flagship Carwash owns and operates more than 30 full-service and express car wash locations, including in Vienna and Herndon.

Barnes & Noble has officially opened a new chapter in Reston.

The national bookstore opened its newest location today (Thursday) at The Spectrum at Reston Town Center — space formerly occupied by Office Depot. The store opened at 9 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting by author Tania James, who also signed copies of her latest book “Loot.”

The opening marks a comeback for the bookstore, which had a store in the same shopping center nearly a decade ago.

Elisabeth Swift, the store manager of the Reston location, said opening the Reston location was an “obvious choice.” While working at other Barnes and Noble locations in the D.C. area, Swift said she frequently heard from customers lamenting the closure of the Reston store in 2013.

“Reston has been a community that has been passion about books and reading books forever,” Swift said.

When asked to comment on what the bookstore adds to the local mix — local bookstore Scrawl Books has a location in Reston Town Center — Swift said that the company is used to being in communities with other bookstores.

“The more bookstores the better, in my opinion,” she told FFXnow.

The nearly 28,000-square-foot store features a B&N Cafe, along with books, toys and gifts.

In a statement, the company noted that Reston’s location is the first to open in Fairfax County since 2019. The store was originally expected to open yesterday (Wednesday).

The Reston location will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays and between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m on all other days.

Grand opening day featured other events like storytime with Pete the Cat at 11 a.m. and book signings with author Liz Lawson. The store will host additional story times, author signings, and other special events over the next month.

One customer who recalled frequenting the old Reston Barnes & Noble said the new store is bigger, both in physical size and the amount of materials being sold. A self-described bibliophile, he was particularly interested in the history and current events sections.

“I’m quite pleased. I’ll hang out here sometimes,” he said while sitting at the cafe.

Reston resident Nicole Harker stopped by the grand opening with her two kids, who were drawn to the Legos in the children’s area.

“It’s a nice thing to have in Reston,” she said. “It’s a place I might take the kids to during the day. During the hot summer or if it’s too cold out for winter, we could come hang out here.”

Angela Woolsey contributed to this report.