Best Buns Bakery & Burgers is adding another location to the Northern Virginia region. The bread company is opening a location in Springfield towards the end of this year, adding to locations in Shirlington and Vienna.

Erica Herrera, a spokesperson for the company, confirmed the opening to FFXnow. She said since opening in 1995, the Shirlington Best Buns location has grown in popularity while producing all the burger buns for Great American Restaurants’ 15 restaurant locations.

“It has grown so popular as a neighborhood mainstay for freshly baked breads, breakfast sandwiches, pastries, sandwiches, cakes, and cupcakes that we are moving our home-made burger buns for all our locations to Springfield,” Herrera said, adding that the Vienna location is also growing steadily.

The new location will be across the street from Mike’s American Grill, located in the Concord Shopping Centre.

“The Springfield location will also offer burgers, breads, cookies, sandwiches, salads, and fresh pastries made in house throughout the day,” Herrera said.

She said given the popularity, the company is actively looking to open additional locations in Virginia.

Updated at 9:25 p.m.: The man was safely apprehended by police.

Earlier: Local police are responding to an incident this evening at Springfield Mall where a man is reportedly “experiencing a crisis,” according to the Fairfax County Police Department.

The man is standing on the top deck of a parking garage, according to police.

“Our co-responder unit and officers are attempting to negotiate with the man,” FCPD wrote in a statement.

As of 5:45 p.m., police are urging people to avoid the area.

Officers are at the Springfield Mall for a man experiencing a crisis. He's standing on the top deck of a parking garage. Our Co-Responder Unit and officers are attempting to negotiate with the man. Please avoid the area. #FCPD pic.twitter.com/tAa07uKEbi

— Fairfax County Police (@FairfaxCountyPD) September 6, 2023

Things were looking up for Richard Romero, founder of Seichou Karate in Alexandria. The Old Town dojo is facing imminent closure thanks to redevelopment, but Romero finally found a new home just northeast of Springfield.

But, like a crane kick at the end of a karate championship, Romero said some surprising zoning issues have cropped up that could spell trouble for plans to open Seichou Karate at 5710 General Washington Drive.

“We found a place on General Washington Drive in Fairfax,” Romero said. “It’s in a warehouse-type structure. The space is just off I-395. It’ll be a good new home for us but we’ve encountered some difficulties.”

After 18 years in Old Town, Romero struggled to find a new space to fit the needs of the dojo. Romero said larger businesses like Amazon have been buying up warehouses and flex space in the area and, after 18 months of searching, he found a suitable location in Springfield.

Romero admitted he was so excited by the new location and worried he’d lose it that he didn’t do a feasibility study.

“I didn’t do a feasibility study and that was a mistake,” Romero said. “I had no idea we would run into so many bureaucratic complications.”

The main issue, Romero said, has been parking. Romero said the school will have 20 students and two staff and Fairfax County has told him that it means he needs 22 parking spaces, which is unlikely for the shopping center-like space.

“That’s where we’re really hung up right now,” Romero said. “They say I need 22 parking spaces, 24/7. But that doesn’t reflect how our business works.”

Romero said his classes get started around 4:30/5 p.m., which is when many of the nearby light industrial and supply businesses close.

“There’s plenty of parking if you go there any time of the day,” Romero said, “but the county says this space — with maybe 20 tenants in the whole building –simply doesn’t have enough parking spaces to include all the tenants.”

A Fairfax County spokesperson said because Seichou Karate is a new use for the site, it has different parking requirements than the previous tenant.

“When a new tenant has different parking requirements than the previous tenant, it requires a more in-depth review of the application by the county,” the spokesperson said. “The previous use was an establishment for production that only required four spaces. Seichou Karate is a school of specialized instruction that requires several more parking spaces to accommodate staff and students.”

The spokesperson said in these cases, the applicant must submit a parking tabulation to demonstrate the site can accommodate the parking required for this use, which the spokesperson said Seichou Karate has not.

“I’ve tried to reason with them,” Romero said. “I’ve said ‘please, look at the parking lot during the daytime’ but they say no, the rules are the rules.”

Romero said that parking tabulation required by the County is costly, around $5,500, with a $1,000 filing fee.

“To boot, since July, I’ve been paying two landlords,” Romero said. “We’re not causing congestion and there’s plenty of space… They’re not willing to apply those rules in a way that makes sense.”

Romero said he has to be out of his current space in Alexandria by Dec. 31 and it’s looking unlikely that Seichou Karate will be open in Fairfax by that time.

“Getting that ready by December, even if it were approved now, is fanciful at best,” Romero said. “It’s really a kafkaesque nightmare.”

Rain, rain, it’s not going away just yet.

Another storm has emerged in the D.C. area, once again bringing the potential for flash flooding, according to the National Weather Service.

A Flash Flood Warning is in effect for southeastern Fairfax County, from Springfield to Mount Vernon and Lorton, until 7:30 p.m.

Excessive runoff may be particularly an issue in areas notably affected by thunderstorms yesterday (Monday) afternoon, when 2 to 4 inches of rain fell in the Springfield and Route 1 areas within the space of an hour.

“Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area,” the NWS said at 4:32 p.m. “Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 3 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area.”

Flash Flood Warning including Springfield VA, West Springfield VA and Woodlawn VA until 7:30 PM EDT pic.twitter.com/MF9OwDjcsc

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) August 15, 2023

In Fairfax County, yesterday’s storms mainly resulted in power outages, but they had a deadly impact in D.C., where rapidly rising waters killed 10 dogs at a local canine day care.

A Flood Watch has also been issued until 8 p.m.

The full alert is below.

* Flash Flood Warning for…Southeastern Fairfax County in northern Virginia…

* Until 730 PM EDT.

* At 432 PM EDT, Doppler radar and automated rain gauges indicated thunderstorms producing heavy rain across the warned area. Between 1 and 2 inches of rain have fallen. The expected rainfall rate is 1 to 3 inches in 1 hour. Additional rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches are possible in the warned area. Flash flooding is ongoing or expected to begin shortly.
HAZARD…Flash flooding caused by thunderstorms.
SOURCE…Radar and automated gauges.
IMPACT…Flash flooding of small creeks and streams, urban areas, highways, streets and underpasses as well as other poor drainage and low-lying areas.

* Some locations that will experience flash flooding include…

Alexandria… Springfield…Fort Hunt… Groveton…Huntington… Fort Belvoir…Burke… Lincolnia…Lorton… Franconia…Hybla Valley… Newington…I395 and I495 Interchange…West Springfield…Mount Vernon… North Springfield…Hayfield… Mason Neck…Jefferson Manor…

FLASH FLOOD…RADAR AND GAUGE INDICATED EXPECTED RAINFALL RATE…1-3 INCHES IN 1 HOUR

The dalmation and husky from “Paw Patrol” will be on call at Springfield Town Center (6500 Springfield Mall) tomorrow (Saturday) to give kids a day of fun before school resumes on Aug. 21.

Appearances by the animated dogs Marshall and Everest — or at least people costumed to look like them — are among the attractions promised for the mall’s “Fuel for School” event, which will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Grand Court near the newly opened Lego Discovery Center.

Other planned festivities include entertainment, games, food, a selfie station, face painting, a balloon twister and notebook decorating.

As suggested by its name, the main goal of the event, however, is to collect donations for the Capital Area Food Bank, which distributes more than 50 million meals annually across the D.C. region.

“The Capital Area Food Bank is a phenomenal organization in the Washington, DC region and we are pleased to partner with them on this effort,” Springfield Town Center Marketing Director Justin Roth said. “Their efforts to combat food insecurity in our communities are commendable, and their location in Lorton, just a short drive from our Center, made partnering with them a no-brainer.”

The nonprofit broke ground on an expansion of its facility at 6833 Hill Park Drive back in May. The new, 43,000-square-foot warehouse will provide additional storage and distribution space, as the need for food assistance remains high in the pandemic’s wake.

Donations will be optional at “Fuel for School,” but the town center encourages attendees to contribute money or an accepted food item:

• Plant Proteins: Canned or dry beans, whole nuts & seeds, or lentils
• Canned Tuna, Salmon, or Chicken in water
• Grains: Brown & White rice, pasta, whole oats, corn & flour tortillas
• Peanut Butter: no hydrogenated oils
• Pantry staples: cooking oils, tea, non-dairy/shelf stable milks
• Canned vegetables: low sodium, no salt added
• Canned fruits in 100% juice
• Whole grain hot and cold cereal containing less than 7g of sugar per serving
• Non-salt spice: e.g. black pepper, cinnamon, garlic powder, etc.

Donors will get a chance to spin a prize wheel.

Approximately 34% of Fairfax County Public Schools students are eligible to receive free or reduced-price meals, as of Oct. 31, 2022, according to the school system. At some schools, all students can get a free breakfast and lunch after FCPS joined the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) last year.

For anyone looking for other ways to support students as school returns, the Fairfax nonprofit Britepaths is still raising funds for its Back to School supply drive, which will continue until Aug. 31.

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

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.

(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) An extra $150,00 is being requested to add a “unique lighting feature” to the colorful “Springfield” welcome sign set to be installed on a pedestrian bridge near Old Keene Mill Road later this year.

At last week’s Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting, Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk proposed that the board consider spending $150,000 from the fiscal year 2023 carryover adjustment on a lighting feature to “complement” a welcome sign going up on the pedestrian bridge near the new Springfield Commuter Parking Garage.

The lighting would be part of a branding project to install colorful welcome signs at four different sites around the greater Springfield area in the fall. It’s being done to “raise the visibility and reputation of Springfield as a great place to live and do business,” per the project’s website.

One of the signs will be on the pedestrian bridge connecting the commuter parking garage to Springfield Plaza. The bridge and garage are expected to be completed in December.

The requested lighting feature would illuminate the pedestrian path underneath the bridge, known as the Frontier Drive underpass.

However, an extra $150,000 is needed for the feature, which was not part of the initial planned project. Lusk is requesting that the money be allocated from the FY 2023 Carryover Budget, which has a balance of about $203 million (which is slightly more than last year).

“This lighting feature will improve the connection with the Franconia- Springfield Metrorail station while also improving pedestrian safety and comfort,” Lusk’s board matter said. “This installation is beyond the budget of the initial gateway project, so additional funds are being sought to complete the gateway system for Springfield.”

Lusk noted in a follow-up statement to FFXnow that the extra lighting is needed for safety and security and to enhance the signage visually.

The priority for the lighting is to provide increased pedestrian safety beneath the underpass. The new lighting will enhance visibility and security for pedestrians who are walking from the Metro to the Springfield Towne Center. Additionally, the lighting will be designed to highlight the new Springfield Branding elements including color and design from the Springfield logo and new gateway signage. The preliminary design intends to project lighting on the columns of the underpass providing a brighter, more well-lit space with color.

A public hearing and board action on the package is scheduled for Sept. 26. Other items suggested for consideration by individual supervisors include funds to continue an economic visioning study for Lake Anne in Reston.

If the Springfield lighting feature is approved for inclusion, then the final design work and construction would move forward.

Construction on the gateway signs is now underway and expected to finish between October and December, according to Lusk’s office. However, the Frontier Drive underpass lighting is more likely to come along next year, depending on when funding, the final design and permits are secured.

“The lighting installation for the Frontier Drive underpass is conceptual at this time, and subject to change,” a spokesperson for Lusk’s office said.

Updated at 1:55 p.m. on 7/24/2023 — Sadly for local taco lovers, a public relations representative for District Taco says the openings for its Springfield and McLean locations will be delayed. No new dates have been provided, beyond that the restaurants are “coming soon.”

Earlier: Fairfax County’s newest District Taco restaurants are almost ready to serve customers.

The regional chain will open a franchise at Old Keene Mill Shopping Center (8432 Old Keene Mill Road) in Springfield on Aug. 3, followed on Aug. 23 by a McLean franchise next to Lidl at 1330 Chain Bridge Road.

The openings will bring District Taco’s Virginia footprint up to eight stores. After starting as a food cart in Arlington, the company is in the midst of an expansion push “to keep up with the increasing demand for its concept,” it said in a press release.

Existing Fairfax County locations include Baileys Crossroads, Tysons, and near the Dunn Loring Metro station.

“We are thrilled that we can continue to expand our footprint in Northern Virginia and serve more communities surrounding the D.C. area,” District Taco Vice President of Franchise Development Tina Gantz said. “Now, with the two new locations, we can keep up with the high demand and enter two vibrant and growing communities. With our unique concept of serving fresh, healthy, and authentic ingredients, we are sure guests will love the new District Taco locations and the overall experience.”

The Springfield and McLean franchises are both owned by Hicham El Abbassi and Isalmou Boussaa, who entered the food service business “by investing in a single hamburger chain store” and now run 11 different franchises, according to the press release.

The pair are District Taco’s first franchisees. They partnered with the fast-casual Mexican restaurant in an effort “diversify their restaurant portfolio” and hope to add more locations in the future, the company said.

“I was truly inspired by the entrepreneurial story of District Taco’s founder, Osiris Hoil, and his pursuit of the American dream,” Boussaa said in a statement. “Hicham and I are living out our own American dreams by opening our two new District Taco locations and we are so excited to begin serving high-quality meals to the local Springfield and McLean communities.”

Based on Hoil’s family recipes, the menu features customizable tacos, burritos, rice and bean bowls, salads and quesadillas, including a couple of breakfast options.

With the Springfield and McLean openings, District Taco will have 16 total locations across Virginia, Maryland, D.C. and Pennsylvania. Co-founder Marc Wallace told FFXnow’s sister site, ARLnow, last year that the company hopes to expand in the mid-Atlantic region and potentially into the Midwest.

A plan to reinvigorate a 15-acre site in Springfield that was the pinnacle of the local market four decades ago has been derailed.

At a July 11 meeting, the Fairfax County Planning Commission rejected a proposal seeking a special exception to redevelop Versar Center — a site with two office buildings that sits on a floodplain between the Virginia Railway Express and the I-95/I-495 interchange.

While the property owner said the proposal would not change the floodplain boundaries, commissioners criticized it for a lack of specificity on what is planned on the site.

The applicant hopes to either demolish the buildings or redevelop the site with other industrial uses. Proposed uses could vary from self-storage facilities to a financing institution to a recycling center.

“There’s no development plan here,” Braddock District Commissioner Mary Cortina said. “It’s all sort of speculation.

David Schneider, the applicant’s legal representative and an attorney with Holland & Knight, said that flexibility was necessary to move forward with the proposal. The plan pitches no specific uses and simply states the specific exception would allow the site to be redeveloped “per the underlying zoning designation.”

“There is no market for office on this site,” Schneider said.

He said the property owner has tried but failed to make the existing office buildings work, including with interior renovations and marketing campaigns. Both buildings are mostly vacant because the site is sandwiched between VRE railroads tracks and the highway interchange known as the Mixing Bowl.

But other commissioners like Mason District’s Daren Schumate said they sympathized with the applicant’s need for flexibility, given the challenging nature of the site.

Schumate said the “orphaned” site likely should have never been an office use, and the applicant’s proposal would yield a “net benefit.”

County staff have recommended approval of the project, noting that any by-right use would be further examined at the site plan stage.

“They would be held to a very high standard of scrutiny,” said Sharon Williams of the Department of Planning and Development.

Schneider said he acknowledged the proposal was a “request for flexibility.”