Finn Thai Restaurant and Bar is planning to open soon in the North Point Village Center.

An employee told Reston Now that the restaurant is almost finished with the inspections process. If everything goes as planned, the restaurant could open as soon as the middle of next week — right around Valentine’s Day.

An exact date, though, has not been set yet.

The Reston opening will mark the third Finn Thai restaurant. Currently, one location is in Purcellville and a second one is in Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Finn Thai will fill the vacant spot at 1466 North Point Village Center, which has been empty since Payless left in 2017.

Photos via Finn Thai website and @GigiBennett_DC/Twitter

Reston Town Center now has two large vacant spaces flanking the pavilion after two large, home goods retailers closed three days ahead of schedule.

Spokeswomen for Pottery Barn and Williams-Sonoma, which are both operated by Williams-Sonoma Inc., told Reston Now earlier this week that the stores were set to close on Sunday (Jan. 27). Yet surprised customers last night (Jan. 24) discovered that both stores planned to close for good by the end of the day.

Employees at both of the stores confirmed to Reston Now that Thursday was indeed the final day. Employees at the Williams-Sonoma said that the corporate office suddenly alerted them to the Thursday closing date after telling them that it would be Sunday.

A handful of customers were browsing the last few items left in Pottery Barn (11937 Market Street) when a store employee locked up the doors at 6 p.m.

The store had mostly barren shelves, a few barstools for sale and boxes of packaged merchandise. A sign in the storefront window that read, “Today is our last day!” advertised 70 percent off bedding, barstools, dining tables and dining chairs, along with 50 percent off everything else.

Down the street, the Williams-Sonoma (11897 Market Street) still had a selection of items ranging from kitchenware to candles. An hour before its closure at 7 p.m., about half of a dozen customers were still roaming the store, which offered 40 percent off everything. An additional 50 percent off was available for open cutlery, and furniture was 60 percent off.

The two closures are the first large retailers to leave Reston Town Center after several restaurants and small businesses left in 2018.

While replacements for the now-empty spaces haven’t been announced, Reston Town Center unveiled yesterday six newcomers slated to open later this year, including Peet’s, DC Row and True Food Kitchen.

The announcement did not indicate the expected opening dates or addresses.

Locals looking for another Williams-Sonoma store can find ones at Tysons Galleria, the Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax and in the Mosaic District. Pottery Barn has locations in Tysons Corner and the Fair Oaks Mall.

Who’s hungry for more dining options?

As Winter Restaurant Week winds down this weekend, foodies in Reston and Herndon may have noticed some changes to their dining options in an area. Over the last few years, the food scene has seen newcomers pop up and long-established restaurants close.

(For comparison, Winter Restaurant Week in 2016 featured eight Reston-area participants. That’s double the number of participants for this year and 2018.)

Last year alone, several restaurants and two dessert shops shut their doors in Reston Town Center at almost the same rate as new options — Honeygrow, Balducci’s, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls and &pizza — popped up.

It’s a new year with new food. Openings already nearing for some of the seven restaurants coming to Reston and Herndon in the first three months of 2019.

Foodies, let us know your thoughts about which dining option the food scenes in Reston and Herndon really need.

The Reston Town Center spot vacated by a Thai restaurant in May now has a future tenant.

Jinya Ramen Bar, a Japanese ramen restaurant chain, is “coming soon” to 11964 Market Street, according to the website.

The move to Reston is part of a larger expansion, with more than 10 other spots slated to open across the country, including California, Georgia, Lousiana and Texas.

The chain has already set up restaurants in 12 states and has nearby locations in D.C. and Fairfax, Va. Jinya Ramen Bar also has five locations in Canada.

Busara Thai Restaurant closed on May 19 after 13 years of business at that spot, Reston Now previously reported.

Back in May, an employee with the restaurant told Reston Now the shift from free to paid parking in Reston Town Center drove the decision to shut down as “revenue just went down the drain.”

Photos via Google Maps, Jinya Ramen Bar/Facebook

(Updated at 3:46 p.m.) Foodies who are hungry for more options can start craving these upcoming restaurant openings.

Italian, Thai and Afghan cuisine and more are heading to Reston and Herndon early next year.

Reston

Finn Thai Restaurant and Bar, a Thai restaurant, aims to open at 1466 North Point Village Center “around the beginning of 2019,” according to its website.

Bombay Velvet, a fine-dining, Indian restaurant, will open later in January at 12120 Sunset Hills Road, the restaurant confirmed on Facebook. Reston Now previously reported that the owner said the restaurant was planning to open sometime near Christmas.

Famous Toastery, a breakfast and brunch restaurant, will open next in February or March at JBG Smith’s RTC West development at 12120 Sunset Hills Road, Reston Now previously reported.

Fox Restaurant Concepts plans to open its North Italia concept at 11898 Freedom Drive in Reston Town Center by early 2019, Reston Now previously reported.

Herndon 

Ramen and Rice will open at 482 Elden Street in Herndon Centre sometime in January or February, Owner Sirinda Liw previously told Reston Now.

Kabobi by the Helmand, a restaurant serving Afghan cuisine, plans to open in February at 2321 Dulles Station Blvd, Suite A near the Innovation Center Metro station, Owner Khaleeq Ahmad told Reston Now.

Wooboi Chicken is coming to 139 Spring Street, Suite 1 in January, according to its Facebook page.

Photos via Helmand Kabobi/Facebook, North Italia, Finn Thai and Wooboi Chicken

This story has been updated

Updated 10:45 a.m. – Ramen and Rice will be opening in Herndon (482 Elden St) early next year.

Sirinda Liw, owner of Ramen and Rice, said despite the company name being Oki Bowl of Herndon the restaurant shares no connection to the chain located in Washington, D.C.

“It’s going to be fusion ramen,” said Liw, “much tastier than regular ramen.”

Ramen and Rice will be located in Herndon Centre between The Deli and the Nail Villa. Additionally, the ABC permit in the window indicates the location will be serving wine and beer.

Liw said the construction process is still in discussion with a planned opening in January or beginning February. The interior is still vacant and decorated as Tipicos Gloria, a closed Central American eatery.

Reston’s newest restaurant, Honeygrow, is set to open this Friday, May 11 in the Reston Executive Center, 12100 Sunset Hills Road, suite R12.

Honeygrow is a fast-casual restaurant that serves up a menu of fresh stir-fry noodle bowls and salads, with made-from-scratch ingredients like egg noodles and salad dressings.

Founder and CEO Justin Rosenberg says all items on the menu are made-to-order, to ensure peak freshness–and ordering customized meals is easy thanks to Honeygrow’s touch-screen ordering kiosks.

Every location also boasts a signature “honeybar,” where guests can enjoy fresh fruits, local honey and toppings such as yogurt, dark chocolate chips, coconut shavings and house-made whipped cream.

One thing no other location will have yet, that Reston will, is catering.

“Honeygrow catering is perfect for offices and gatherings,” says Rosenberg.

Honeygrow was founded in 2012 in Philadelphia, and has since grown to a long list of locations, including Chicago, New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, and in the district.

“We’re beyond excited to continue our expansion within the Washington D.C. Metro market and into Reston,” says Rosenberg. “It’s a community that obviously values quality foods, and we’re excited to now be a part of that roster.”

To show its commitment to being good neighbors, Rosenberg adds that $5 from every salad or stir-fry ordered this Friday, May 11 on opening day will be donated to Back on My Feet.

“Back on My Feet is a national nonprofit that has helped thousands of men and women experiencing homelessness make the transition back into society with the foundation of a strong running program,” Rosenberg explains. “The program includes housing resources, as well as a job training and placement program, and Honeygrow is proud to employ many graduates of the program.”

In addition, the first 100 guests to visit the new Reston location this Friday, May 11 will receive complimentary meals of one stir-fry or salad and a beverage.

The Reston location will be open Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Photos: Stir-fry and salad entrees, courtesy of Honeygrow

Are you looking for an all natural, gluten-free treat? J-petal’s Japanese crepes and Thai rolled ice cream could be just want you need.

Inspired by Japanese crepes, J-petal’s founders put a twist on their recipes, then tested them out thousands of times before bringing them to the market. The Brooklyn-based shop has a Reston location that serves its crepes made with fresh fruit, vegetables and meats.

The J-petal Special, for instance, is loaded with in-house seasoned beef, chicken, shrimp, carrots, peppers, spinach, Japanese mayo and more. The menu offers more than a dozen crepes from savory to sweet. Plus, each crepe is crafted by a skilled chef so it doesn’t just taste great, it’s visually pleasing too.

Customers also love the made-to-order Thai rolled ice cream. Try a traditional Thai ice tea flavor or delve into a strawberry, Nutella and matcha combination. There are more than a half dozen flavors to try or you can create your own.

And don’t forget about the lightbulb drinks — there’s everything from mango colada and honey green iced tea to mojito virgin and thai ice tea. The weather is finally warming up, these are good bets to cool you down.

Japanese creperie J-Petal opened this Saturday, according to Jean Lin, the manager of the Harrisonburg, Va. location, who spoke with Reston Now on Friday.

The Hunters Woods Village Center location, at 2260 Hunters Woods Plaza, will be the fourth Virginia location for the small chain.

According to the creperie’s website, there will be fourteen total stores with the new addition.

Both sweet and savory crepe options are on the chain’s menu.

Customers can have their choice of anything from a chicken to a “fruit martini” crepe.

J-Petal also offers Thai ice cream, a rolled up variation of the global dessert.

Photo courtesy of Twitter/Prashant