A new cafe is on its way to RTC West in Reston.
Kook Dogg Cafe, a new concept, will sell delicatessen sandwiches, toasted hot subs, salads and fresh pizzas, along with a selection of craft beers. It’s slated to take over space at 12100 Sunset Hills Road that was vacated last year by Little Beast Cafe and Bistro.
The incoming tenant was first reported by The Burn, which noted that a “coming soon” banner has been draped on the storefront.
The restaurant was established in 2021 by chef Paul Huckler, a Northern Virginia native, for the “sole purpose” of opening and operating a “neighborhood” specialty sandwich and pizza restaurant, according to company business materials.
After exploring restaurant sites, Kuchler settled on the Reston Town Center area for a flagship restaurant.
The business has four partners: Kuchler and his wife Noel, along with Walter Hodges and his wife Karen.
“We are currently renovating the space and plan to open in early April of 2024,” Hodges told FFXnow.
Hodges said the decision to sign a lease at RTC West was an easy one.
“The location has high visibility, easy access, free parking and pleasant surroundings. The location is well sited to serve the Reston residential community as well as a thriving business community which we hope to feed regularly either through our catering business or for a relaxing after-work beer or cocktail,” he said.
Little Beast Cafe and Bistro and Red Velvet Cupcakery closed their RTC West locations at the end of 2023. They can still be found in D.C.’s Chevy Chase neighborhood at 5600 Connecticut Avenue NW.
(Updated at 4:25 p.m.) This year will be the end of Reston’s Little Beast Cafe and Bistro and Red Velvet Cupcakery.
The businesses at 12100 Sunset Hills Road in RTC West will close permanently on Saturday (Dec. 23), Northern Virginia Magazine reported.
“We are going to miss Reston and our regulars dearly,” the company wrote in a social media comment confirming the report. “If you are ever in D.C., come visit our Chevy Chase location.”
The D.C. location at 5600 Wisconsin Avenue is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Little Beast and Red Velvet Cupcakery opened in September 2021 in RTC West’s retail center, which is also home to Tiki Thai, Bombay Velvet and Cooper’s Hawk. Red Velvet previously had a location in Reston Town Center that closed in 2018 after paid parking was implemented there.
Northern Virginia Magazine reported that the Gordon Food Group, which operates Little Beast and Red Velvet Cupcakery, already has another concept lined up for the space that will offer pizza, sandwiches and craft beer.
Image via Google Maps
(Updated at 11:40 a.m.) Reston Town Center and its neighboring development RTC West now have one thing in common: paid parking.
Real estate investment trust company JBG Smith plans to institute paid parking at the office and retail complex, a representative for the company told FFXnow.
The first three hours of parking will remain free at the site, said a spokesperson for JBG Smith. The timeline for implementing paid parking and the parking rates have not yet been determined.
The spokesperson said no further information on the change — including why it is under consideration — was available.
Tenants of the center reported varying understandings of how and when paid parking will go into effect. A representative for Starbucks noted that a parking garage tucked away behind the building still remains free.
Other tenants said it was unclear if parking will be validated beyond the three-hour free period.
This is not the first time parking has been a topic of discussion at the development, which has tenants like Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, Bombay Velvet, and Tiki Thai.
In the past, frequenters have reported challenges navigating tight turns and on surface parking lots.
RTC West is also served by a four-level parking garage with 1,619 parking spaces.
H/t to Katie Faust
