Santa Claus is coming to Tysons this November, giving kids plenty of time to put in their gift requests for Christmas.
Tysons Corner Center announced Tuesday (Nov. 1) that Santa will arrive on Nov. 11 for photo sessions at the mall’s Fashion Court, located on the first floor of the Nordstrom wing.
Advance scheduling is now open. The mall recommends pre-booking a session “for the best experience” and to get a free, personalized call “from Santa.” Visitors who also purchase a photo package will get a “free, personalized video from the North Pole after the visit.”
Santa will be at the mall on most Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 24, though his hours will vary. There are pet nights on Mondays from Nov. 14 to Dec. 5, and the 9-10:30 a.m. slot on Sunday, Dec. 4 will be exclusively for children and families who need a sensory-friendly environment, according to the event webpage.
All sessions are free, but the professional photo packages range in cost from $39.99 to $49.99.
St. Nick — presumably played by a different person — will also take up residence at Tysons Galleria from Nov. 18 to Dec. 24, including for pet nights and a Santa Cares Day on Dec. 4 for kids with disabilities.
In addition, Tysons Galleria’s Neiman Marcus will host a “Breakfast with Santa” event at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. Tickets are currently available through Eventbrite, costing $65 for adults and $55 for kids aged 3-12.
The department store made waves last year by inviting its first-ever Black Santa. The event proved so popular that it morphed from a three-hour storytime to two days of photo sessions with hot chocolate and cookies provided to those waiting in line.
In other events, the Town of Vienna will usher in the winter holiday season with its annual Church Street Holiday Stroll at 6-8:30 p.m. on Nov. 28. The festivities will include a tree lighting, music and deals from local businesses, though it’s unclear whether Kris Kringle will be in attendance.
The high-end gowns of Dior will soon grace the halls of Tysons Galleria.
The Parisian fashion house will open a clothing boutique at the mall, its first in Virginia, Tysons Galleria recently announced on Instagram. The store is currently expected to open in June 2023.
Brookfield Properties, the property owner, says it views Dior as a complement to the mall’s existing roster of luxury clothing stores, including Versace, Chanel and Saint Laurent. The latter two are set for future expansions.
“It continues to be an exciting time at Tysons Galleria,” said Kirsten Lee, Brookfield’s executive vice president of luxury leasing. “The Brookfield Properties’ leasing team curates the shopping center to ensure it remains the best luxury shopping destination in the region.”
Founded in Paris in 1946 by designer Christian Dior, Dior has 47 boutiques in the U.S., though its only location in the D.C. area right now is at CityCenterDC. The company didn’t return FFXnow’s request for comment by press time.
An electrical work permit issued by Fairfax County on Sept. 29 indicates that the Tysons Galleria store will be located on the mall’s second floor in suite 2218.
Fashion and accessories have been the primary focus of recent newcomers to Tysons Galleria, including Balenciaga, Van Cleef & Arpels, Jacadi Paris, Montblanc, Ralph Lauren, and Omega. Earlier this year, the mall reopened its Urbanspace food hall.
In addition to Dior, tenants coming to the mall will include watchmakers Panerai, Breitling and IWC Schaffhausen, along with Azzuri Kitchen and Bath, according to Lee.
Also on the way are the Singaporean restaurant Jiwa Singapura, sports bar Yard House, and CMX CinéBistro, though the movie theater-restaurant hybrid no longer has a set opening date.
CMX CinéBistro has now taken its Tysons Galleria premiere off the release calendar.
Initially set to launch in September, the dine-in movie theater later announced that its grand opening would be delayed to Oct. 14.
However, CMX Cinemas now says that timing won’t work either, and no new date has been established.
“They are facing supply chain issues that are delaying some of the finishing touches,” a public relations representative for the company said. “We are confident that the theatre will be ready to open in the coming weeks.”
Started in 2017 in Florida, CMX has 33 locations with 358 screens across the U.S., including traditional theaters and ones provide “grab-and-go” service, according to the company’s website.
The Tysons Galleria theater is 43,268 square feet in size with over 800 seats across eight screening rooms. It will double as a restaurant, providing full food and drink service to moviegoers with films that start after 8 p.m. limited to patrons 21 and older.
CMX CinéBistro was originally scheduled to open later this month, but the upscale theater chain has pushed its showtime back to October.
According to a release, the opening date is now Friday, Oct. 14. The theater/restaurant is opening at 2001 International Drive on the third level.
CinéBistro is a hybrid restaurant-theater, with meals presented alongside blockbuster films. The release said the Tysons Galleria CinéBistro menu features entrees like steak au poivre with duck fat fried truffled pommes frites along with a selection of wines.
“Another signature dish is the Artichoke Cakes with Old Bay Remoulade and Brazilian Tomato Slaw,” the release said, “an adventurous, vegetarian-friendly preparation that evokes all the rich flavors of Chesapeake Bay and pairs perfectly with a flute of bubbly or glass of chardonnay.”
“Classic movie theater snacks” will also be available, the release said, along with both alcoholic and nonalcoholic milkshakes.
Guests who want to dine-in at the theater are encouraged to arrive 30 minutes prior to showtime.
The grand opening will launch alongside Olivia Wilde’s, director of Booksmart, new movie Don’t Worry Darling, starring Harry Styles and Florence Pugh. The release makes no mention of the extensive internal drama and feuding that’s dominated the headlines around the film’s release.
“It’s great to be able to open alongside the premiere of such a sophisticated film,” Guy Austin, vice president of film and operations, said in the release, “So we’re really looking forward to elevating the dinner and movie experience for our region.”
In just over a month, Tysons Galleria patrons will be able to get dinner, a drink and a movie — all from the same reclining, leather armchair.
The mall’s new CMX CinéBistro will open on the third floor of the redeveloped Macy’s wing on Sept. 23, as noted on the movie theater company’s website.
“Tysons Galleria is a natural fit for the surrounding D.C. suburbs, which is known for its upscale shopping, world-class cultural attractions, and fine dining scene,” CMX Cinemas told FFXnow by email. “We believe CMX CinéBistro at Tysons Galleria will exemplify the pedigree residents and visitors to Tysons Corner have come to expect.”
Between the nearby AMC at Tysons Corner Center, The Boro’s ShowPlace ICON Theatre, and Angelika Film Center in the Mosaic District, the Tysons area isn’t exactly starved for moviegoing options, but the CinéBistro promises a different kind of experience, where the food is as much of an attraction as what’s playing on screen.
Each of the theater’s eight screening rooms will essentially double as a dining room, with servers who bring in food and drinks from the restaurant and Stone Sports Bar outside.
With appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees, desserts, and a drink menu, including wine and cocktails, the restaurant will feature “rustic New American cuisine” with dishes like steak au poivre with duck fat and fried ruffled pommes frites. Vegetarian and gluten-free options include artichoke cakes with Old Bay remoulade and Brazilian tomato slaw.
Patrons must arrive at least 30 minutes before their showtime to get in-theater dining service. Standard concessions are also available.
“This allows them to get comfortable in their recliners and it gives our team time to take, create, and serve their orders before the film starts,” CMX said, noting that all seats have a swivel table, cupholders and a reading light.
All showings after 8 p.m. will be limited to people 21 and older. CMX says the age policy doesn’t have a huge effect on what movies are shown and when, but the showtimes can be adjusted for the anticipated audience. For instance, kid-oriented, animated movies may have more daytime screenings.
“What that does is it helps foster a more mature, refined experience that really mirrors the Tysons Galleria ambiance,” CMX said by email. “But overall, we think we’ve built something that is truly a destination, even if you’re not watching a movie. Our food and drinks are top-notch; the films are a bonus.”
CMX Cinemas launched with its first dine-in theater in April 2017 in Miami, Florida. It now has 33 locations with 358 screens across the U.S., including traditional theaters and CMX Market Cinemas that provide “grab-and-go” service, according to the company’s website.
The Tysons Galleria location is 43,268 square feet in size with over 800 seats.
CinéBistro will be an anchor tenant for the former Macy’s space, which was subdivided after the department store closed in 2019. Home to Bowlero, Crate & Barrel, and other retailers, the new wing is fully leased with the restaurant Jiwa Singapura and sports bar Yard House also expected this year.
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Health Food Stall Now Open in Tysons — “#MakawSuperfoods’ grand opening is Friday at noon! The health food restaurant that offers fresh açaí bowls and smoothies, recently opened in @TysonsGalleria. For their grand opening, they will be offering a buy ONE get ONE 50% OFF deal and a FREE gift for the first 25 orders.” [Tysons Partnership/Twitter]
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It’s Thursday — Clear throughout the day. High of 87 and low of 68. Sunrise at 5:48 am and sunset at 8:40 pm. [Weather.gov]
Updated at 8:10 p.m. — The power outage in Tysons has been isolated to Tysons Corner Center, with Dominion Energy identifying a failed piece of equipment as the cause.
“Repairs are underway,” Dominion spokesperson Peggy Fox said at 7:44 p.m. “We’re hoping to have power back on within the hour.”
Tysons Galleria was able to restore electricity sooner.
Earlier: Both of Tysons’ primary malls have lost power.
Dominion Energy’s outage map indicates that the outages in Tysons are only affecting 17 customers, but two of those customers are Tysons Corner Center and Tysons Galleria, the utility company confirmed to FFXnow.
“Our crews are arriving to locate the problem and isolate the issue so we can switch back on as many people as possible,” Dominion Energy spokesperson Peggy Fox said.
According to a tipster, Tysons Corner Center lost power starting around 5:30 p.m.
As of 6:50 p.m., Dominion estimates that power will be restored between 8 and 11 p.m. for Tysons Galleria and between 9 p.m. and midnight for Tysons Corner Center.
Outage Update:
Tysons Corner area— we believe outage is affecting both malls.
Our crews are on the scene locating the problem to isolate.
I will update ASAP.
We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.— Peggy Fox (@PeggyDomEnergy) April 27, 2022
Tysons Galleria’s transformation of its former Macy’s store is nearly complete.
The mall has fully leased the redeveloped, 260,000-square-foot wing with the addition of a new restaurant from Malaysian chef Rashidin Abd Rashid expected to open this fall, Brookfield Properties public relations and marketing manager Rachel Willie says.
Willie confirmed that Rashid, also known as Chef Mamu, has signed a deal for roughly 10,000 square feet of space that will house Jiwa Singapura, which translates to “soul of Singapore,” as reported on Thursday (March 31) by the Washington Business Journal.
Located on the wing’s second floor, the restaurant is scheduled to open in October and will offer a variety of Singaporean and Malaysian dishes, such as Hainanese chicken rice, with an emphasis on seafood, according to the WBJ.
Jiwa Singapura will feature 30-foot-high ceilings, two bars, a chef’s table, and a patio, according to a job posting for a general manager.
It is being developed by the team behind the D.C.-based Spanish and Japanese fusion restaurant Cranes, whose chef Pepe Moncayo is also venturing into Tysons with a new concept at Capital One Center.
Keith Isselhardt, Brookfield’s senior vice president of restaurant leasing, says the deal with Chef Mamu reflects the property manager’s efforts to distinguish Tysons Galleria by adding “one-of-a-kind” tenants that can’t be found elsewhere.
“Jiwa Singapura will not only bring a unique offering to Tysons Galleria, but to the entire Washington D.C. metro area,” Isselhardt said. “Tysons Galleria is the sole regional location for a number of restaurants and retailers in the market, making it a destination for both locals and tourists alike.”
In addition, Brookfield told FFXnow that the movie theater CMX CinéBistro is on track to open on the third floor of the redeveloped Macy’s space in the third quarter of 2022, which falls between July 1 and Sept. 30.
Also coming to the former Macy’s space is the sports bar chain Yard House, which currently has a location in Springfield Town Center. The WBJ reported the news in August and says that, like Jiwa Singapura, the craft beer-focused restaurant is slated to open in the fourth quarter of this year.
Tenants currently in Tysons Galleria’s redeveloped wing include Bowlero, the luxury fashion boutique Balenciaga, and four different furniture stores: Arhaus, RH, and Crate & Barrel and its sister brand CB2, which opened in mid-March.
The mall also relaunched its Urbanspace food hall last month, seeking to draw more traffic to new and old eateries.
Tysons Galleria’s Urbanspace food hall is back, and a key restaurant from its past hopes to soon follow suit.
More than two years after its initial, truncated opening, Hei Hei Tiger is being revived with a new chef to craft the roasted meat and noodle soup dishes that are the Cantonese restaurant and bar’s specialty.
“The main focus of Hei Hei Tiger is roasted meats, like barbecue meats. That’s the whole premise, so he has a lot of experience with that,” co-owner Nathan Beauchamp said of new chef Andrew Chiou, whose most recent venture was the Chinese takeout kitchen Lucky Danger in Pentagon City.
One of seven eateries that have opened in or are coming to Urbanspace, which officially relaunched on Tuesday (March 22), Hei Hei Tiger will reintroduce itself to Tysons diners by first reopening the food hall’s octagon-shaped bar with drink and snack menus.
The restaurant will then ramp up service for a full launch in June.
“Working with all these other restaurants here, once it’s full, I think it’s going to be great,” Beauchamp said.
Developed by the ownership team behind Tiger Fork in D.C., Hei Hei Tiger originally arrived in Tysons Galleria on Feb. 25, 2020, but it lasted only three weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted Virginia to shut down indoor dining at all restaurants.
An attempted comeback during the 2020 winter holiday season faltered, as the decline in lunchtime office workers who previously sustained the food hall left its tenants treading water.
“We weren’t getting enough traction, so we decided just to close it,” Beauchamp told FFXnow last week.
Still, the owners remained committed to their vision of a restaurant for classic Cantonese dishes like char siu pork and roast duck served in a more casual setting than the vibe at Tiger Fork.
A friend of Beauchamp and fellow owner Greg Algie, Chiou came on board after former chef and co-owner Will Fung opted to go in a different direction.
Chiou, who came to the U.S. from Taiwan and now lives in Arlington, says “it just made sense” for him to join the Hei Hei Tiger team, given his familiarity with the cuisine and past professional experience. In addition to Lucky Danger, he ran the Japanese restaurant Momo Yakitori and has worked with the State Department.
He has spent the past few months refining Hei Hei Tiger’s new menu. One item that will definitely be on it is whole roast duck.
“I think the goal is just to help bring a lot more people to this space and then kind of promote another version of Tiger Fork,” Chiou said. “[We want to] take a step up from your standard mall food court food, while still respecting the classics of Hong Kong-style dishes.”
Tysons Galleria visitors can get a taste of West African cuisine this weekend, when the new Ghanaian pop-up Hedzole opens for business.
Expanding on regular appearances at local farmers’ markets, the stall will have a three-hour soft opening tomorrow (Friday) before officially opening on Saturday (March 19), Hedzole founder and owner Candice Mensah told FFXnow.
“There’s been a lot of preparation, me juggling still working and then still doing this, coming in at night,” Mensah said yesterday (Wednesday). “We’re just about done putting the final touches on everything.”
Hedzole’s opening will precede the March 22 relaunch of Tysons Galleria’s Urbanspace food hall, which also recently added Twelve Twenty Coffee, the British eatery London Chippy, and Empanadas De Mendoza.
Those vendors will soon be joined by Makaw Superfoods, a rebranding of the Leesburg-based Makaw Bowl. The açaí bowl and smoothie shop is moving into the space near Andy’s Pizza that was previously filled by the Asian-style sandwich pop-up Laowich.
The Cantonese restaurant and bar Hei Hei Tiger is also working to fully reopen later this year.
The Hedzole pop-up will run for three months through June. The menu features staples like jollof rice and the rice and beans dish waakye that can be topped with various stews, cabbage, plantains, and proteins, such as fish, grilled chicken, and oxtails.
“I’m looking for the opportunities I expressed to you before: to be able to understand how to operate a brick-and-mortar, get more customer feedback, build my following, get people more excited about the food,” Mensah said. “That’s ultimately my goal, and then ultimately, if we can have a space here, that would be amazing too.”
