(Updated at 3:07 pm to clarify opening date) Reston Town Center’s new steak house is gearing il for a launch this year.
Fogo de Chão plans to on open in the spring at 11915 Democracy Drive.
The restaurant, which has locations in Tysons, North Bethesda and Penn Quarter, will feature an open-air churrasco bar where guests can watch chefs prepare multiple cuts. Another bar area includes whiskey and bourbon.
This is the second Fogo location in northern Virginia. It takes space formerly vacated by Big Bowl, which called RTC home for nearly two decades.
“We are proud of our brand’s rapid growth in recent years as we expand in new and existing cities, and credit that to our differentiated, experiential dining and broad guest appeal,” said Barry McGowan, Chief Executive Officer of Fogo de Chão. “We’ve been fortunate to be able to bring our experience to the Metro DC area for nearly 17 years, and we look forward to sharing the culinary art of churrasco with guests at Reston Town Center soon.”
Here’s more from the company on the opening;
The new restaurant will feature unique design aesthetics, including wood-beamed ceilings, modern chandeliers and a towering glass wine case displaying many of South America’s finest varietals. Dry aged meat lockers for in-house aging display indulgent cuts such as a 32 oz. long bone Tomahawk Ribeye, aged for a minimum of 42 days for rich flavor. Fogo’s “next level” design concept includes an elevated bar experience for guests to enjoy all-day happy hour and relax with a craft cocktail, premium South American wine, whiskey, or bourbon. The Reston location will also offer Fogo To-Go and Offsite Catering so guests can enjoy Fogo in any space.
The restaurant was first founded in southern Brazil in 1979 and has since expanded throughout the world.
Image via Fogo de Chão
After 31 years of business, Clyde’s of Reston is closing its doors.
In an announcement yesterday, Clyde’s Restaurant Group said the Reston Town Center will close on May 21, bringing an end to a business that has been a part of Reston’s urban core for decades.
CRG’s president John McDonnell said the company has enjoyed being a part of the community.
“From its earliest days, Clyde’s of Reston has been a part of the extraordinary Reston neighborhood as a comfortable and timeless gathering place,” says John McDonnell, CRG President. “Clyde’s has had a tremendous 31-year run in the Town Center and we are so grateful for the steadfast support of the community.”
Clyde’s lovers may not need to grieve for long, however. The company is considering opening another location in the Greater Reston area.
“We are very excited about the growth and development activity in the area and are eager to share some big news soon,” Jeff Owens, CRG’s chief financial and corporate development officer, said.
The company plans to retain its 73-member staff roster in other locations.
Boston Properties did not indicate what will replace the business once it shutters.
“Reston Town Center continues to offer a variety of restaurants to suit different tastes and budgets and we look forward to announcing some exciting new additions in the coming months,” the company’s marketing director wrote in a statement to Reston Now.
Photo courtesy of Molly Quigley
It appears that a Reston staple of nearly 30 years has closed.
The Bird Feeder, a specialty shop that sells supplies for feeding and housing birds, has closed up shop at the Home Depot Center.
Located at 1675 Reston Parkway, the store was the first to call the shopping center home. It opened in the same location 28 years ago.
Over the last few months, the business held several major sales. Signs have been removed from the exterior of the building.
The business did not immediately return a request for comment.
Photo by Tom Newberry
Herndon Police Warn of Scam — After reports of a scam, the Herndon Police Department is reminding residents that town employees do not request access to homes in order to check water quality or for any other reason. Water meters are always checked outside and town employees always present proper identification. [HPD]
Local Businesses Make Best Workplaces List — County-based companies dominated Virginia Business magazine’s 12th annual list of 100 best places to work in Virginia. Reston-based Troika Solutions came in at number two. [Fairfax County Economic Development Authority]
Spanish Captioning Available for Public Meetings — Beginning Feb. 8, Spanish closed captions will be available for all public meetings and live events on the county’s governmental channel. [Fairfax County Government]
Reston Man Charged with Assault for Punching Window — City of Fairfax police charged a Reston man with assault Tuesday afternoon in Old Town. The victim said the man walked up to a car, pushed the passenger side of the window and cursed at them. [Reston Patch]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
A Chinese restaurant that’s been at a Reston-area shopping plaza for 17 years is closing next month.
Hunan East Restaurant told Reston Now that the permanent shuttering is due to a variety of factors and will occur at the end of February.
The COVID-19 pandemic led many customers of the restaurant to get takeout orders, but the business said it didn’t use assistance to restaurants adversely affected by the shutdowns.
Federal funding through the CARES Act in 2020 gave money to Fairfax County, which distributed around $53 million to over 4,800 small businesses and nonprofits through its RISE program.
The American Rescue Plan Act in 2021 provided further money to the county, which has already awarded over $16 million of $25 million set aside for its PIVOT program.
Last year, Weber’s Pet Supermarket, another longtime tenant also located in the Fox Mill Shopping Center, announced it would relocate.
Photo via Google Maps
(Updated at 7:51 pm)
Library Testing Kits Put On Hold — County libraries will no longer provide COVID-19 rapid tests for distribution. The program, which is managed by the Virginia Department of Health, is on hold due to supply chain issues. The program will restart when the issues are resolved. [Fairfax County Government]
Deadline for Reston Association Fee Approaches — The association’s annual fee is due on March 1. Payments can be made online, over the phone or by mail. [RA]
Reston-based Company Prepares for Growth Spurt — Science Logic, a software company, is embarking on another hiring spree. It plans to boost its workforce by 40 percent this year, a spree that could lead to a Wall Street debut. [Washington Business Journal]
Creative Ways to Fill Substitute Shortage — WTOP chronicles how the son of an elementary school principal wound up filling in as a long-term substitute. [WTOP]
Reston Firms Buys Student Financial Aid Firm — Reston-based education technology firm Ellucian has acquired CampusLogic, a Minnesota-based company. [WTOP]
First Fire Marshal and Fire Administrator Dies — The county’s first Chief Fire Marshal, Willis Bill Burton Jr.. passed away on Jan. 9. He began his firefighting career as a volunteer with the Herndon Volunteer Fire Department. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]
Northern Virginia Cyber and IT Virtual Career Fair Later This Month — Microsoft, Amazon, Leidos, General Dynamics and other companies will take part in a Jan. 27 career fair organized by the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority. [FCEDA]
Photo by Terry Baranski
Banana Republic is planning to close its location at Reston Town Center by the end of the month.
A store representative tells Reston Now that the retailer, which sells women’s and men’s business casual clothing, is expected to close by Jan. 24.
No word yet on what will replace the store at 11905 Democracy Drive.
Banana Republic has other locations in Dulles Town Center, Tysons Corner Center, and Montgomery, Md.
County permits do not indicate what will take up the space, once it is vacated.
The parent company, Gap Inc., plans to close 350 Gap and Banana Republic stores by the end of next year. The closures are part of the company’s plans to move out of malls and other areas where foot traffic is low.
The company did not return several requests for comment.
Boston Properties has indicated that seven new businesses are expected to open this year.
Compass Real Estate, for example, is in the permitting process to open at 11943 Democracy Drive.
Crunch Fitness closed on Dec. 20.
Image via Google Maps
A Fairfax County business is expanding to a small plaza near Home Depot.
Beauty Nail Bar, currently operating out of Tysons, should open at its new location (1675 Reston Parkway) by the end of February, according to owner Nam Huynh of Wolf Trap.
He said he decided to move his operation for more space, but it will otherwise be exactly the same.
A county database shows that electrical, plumbing/gas, and other permitting for the business is still pending.
The plaza currently lists several empty spaces with signs for leasing. Businesses currently located in the strip include a barbershop, Pizza Boli’s, and the Peruvian chicken restaurant Pollo Peru.
Huynh started Beauty Nail Bar in 2014. It provides manicures, pedicures, nail extensions, and waxing services.
Reston Company Adds New Domains — Public Interest Registry is adding .giving, .charity, and .foundation to its network. The Reston-based company hopes to give more options for nonprofits, mission-driven organizations, and other entities. [Technical.ly]
Where to Find the Best Holiday Trees — There are many options to find the biggest and brightest trees in Northern Virginia. One local option is Reston Town Center, which is also hosting horse-drawn carriage rides and min train rides. [Northern Virginia Magazine]
County Issues Guidance on COVID-19 — The county is encouraging residents to maintain social distancing as the holidays draw near. Cases of COVID-19 are increasing. Northern Virginia has returned to a high transmission level this week, although the Omicron variant has not been identified locally. [Fairfax County Government]
Photo by Marjorie Copson
A software company has signed a lease for 85,000-square-feet of space at Reston Station — a big move that will bring 400 new jobs to Fairfax County.
In a release today, Gov. Ralph Northam announced that Qualtrics will invest $15.9 million as it moves from former offices in Reston. Virginia courted the experience management software company from other competing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.
“Organizations everywhere are undergoing an experience transformation and Qualtrics has an incredible opportunity in front of us. With its strong talent pool, Virginia is a perfect place for Qualtrics to grow,” said Qualtrics CEO Zig Serafin. “The investments we’re making today will put us in an even stronger position to help our customers build their next great customer, employee, product, and brand experiences.”
The office will be located at 1906 Reston Metro Plaza, part of Comstock’s Reston Station development.
Here’s more from Northam’s office on the news:
The FCEDA worked with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership to secure the project for Virginia. Governor Northam approved a $1.4 million grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund to assist Fairfax County with the project. The governor also approved $2 million in funds from the Virginia Economic Development Incentive Grant. Support for job creation will be provided through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program.
“Virginia offers access to the highest concentration of tech talent in the United States,” Northam said. “The Commonwealth’s diverse tech ecosystem is driven by our stable business climate, competitive operating costs, and a world-class workforce. We look forward to Qualtrics’ continued success in Fairfax County.”
Victor Hoskins, president and CEO of FCEDA said the news marks a second vote of confidence that the company places in Fairfax County.
“First was the purchase of Clarabridge, a homegrown tech success story, and now the expansion being announced today. We thank and congratulate Qualtrics for this tremendous growth and we stand ready to assist the company further as it expands its footprint here.”
Reston Station is already home to big companies like Google and ICF International.
Photo via Comstock
Reston Businessman Convicted of Bankruptcy Fraud — A Reston businessman was convicted on a series of fraud charges related to a bankruptcy case. Alan Russel Cook Sr., CEO of Metropolitan Aviation, discharged over is six million in personal debt when he file for bankruptcy. He reportedly transferred more than $350,000 to his former girlfriend and directed her to open accounts in her name and in the name of a fake company in anticipation of the filing. [U.S. Department of Justice]
NextStop Theatre Announces 2022 Schedule — The Herndon-based theatre has announced its line-up for the first half of 2022. Artistic director Evan Hoffman said the theatre company is excited to take programming to the next level after a gradual return to smaller productions this year. [Broadway World]
TransUnion Acquires Reston-based Company — TransUnion has acquired Neustar for $3.1 billion. The company’s CEO says he looks forward to the smooth integration of the businesses. Neustar is a network security company. [Cyber Wire]
Jingle on the Lake Returns — Hundreds of people attended the 50th anniversary of Jingle on the Lake at Lake Anne Plaza earlier this month. Santa arrived by a pontoon boat at the annual event. [The Connnection]
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
A web development and marketing firm has moved into bigger offices in Reston.
Orpheus, a company that offers web design, web development and digital marketing services, has opened at Plaza America. The firm is also increasing its footprint by 50 percent.
Benjamin Portman, lead developer at the company, said that the new office space provides a “quality experience” for staff who are not working remotely.
“A building complex like Plaza America has convenient access to Dulles Toll Road Road for employers to easily get to work and an abundance of amenities that they can enjoy making this building an ideal location.”
The business was founded in 2014. It will be located 11710 Plaza America. Orpheus was previously located
Photo via Orpheus
A new beauty bar is coming to Lake Anne Plaza by the end of the year.
Owner Dina Almashat plans to open Beauty Bar by Dina within the next 10 days. The opening date is tentative to the completion of the final steps of the project, Almashat told Reston Now.
The salon will be located at 1613 Washington Plaza. Deli Italiano, a pizza chain, also plans to open up at the plaza within the next two months.
The beauty bar will offer hair services and custom spray tans.
“I have always been fascinated by beauty and fashion. Beautiful hair plays a big role in that aspect,” Almashat said.
She hopes that her services will help women feel better about themselves.
Photo via vantagehill/Flickr
Here’s a nod to your sweet tooth: A new gourmet cookie chain that has taken social media by storm is coming to Reston.
Crumbl Cookies, a gourmet cookie chain, plans to open a location at 11686 Plaza America Drive, a county permit shows. It appears to be the location occupied by Sprint.
The Reston location is expected to open on Jan. 14, a company spokesperson tells Reston Now.
Two Utah cousins started the company in 2017. Since then, the company has slingshotted across the country with more than 263 locations in 36 states.
Cookies are made from scratch in the store and delivered or sold in the store. Customers have 60 different flavors to choose from, but flavors are available only on a rotating basis every week.
Cousins Jason McGowan and Sawyer Hemsley hoped to create a business that would allow customers to see their cookies being mixed, balled, baked and dressed in real-time. Cookies are packaged in a pink box that has become iconic on social media.
Photo via Crumbl Cookies/Facebook
