(Updated at 3:20 p.m.) Crafthouse, a growing beer-centric restaurant chain with a prominent Reston location, recently signed a $250 million deal to start franchising across the country.

As first reported by the Washington Business Journal, Crafthouse owner Evan Matz signed a deal with development firm American Development Partners to provide site selection, acquisition, and construction services for more than 100 new Crafthouse locations over the next five years.

Crafthouse currently has locations in Reston, Fairfax City, and Arlington’s Ballston neighborhood.

It’s a turnaround for Matz, who started his restaurants as franchisees of Florida-based World of Beer before going independent and rebranding the locations as “Crafthouse.” The move prompted a lawsuit from World of Beer, which has since been settled, according to the Business Journal.

Matz told Reston Now that the core idea of Crafthouse is not just locally sourced beer, but entire menus built around local specialties.

“Eat local, drink local,” said Matz. “I want to try to showcase local craft beer or local spirits. As we go forward, if we open one in North Carolina or Tennessee, I want to focus on the local beers there, like their whiskey or wine, but they’re also known for their ribs. If we open in Maryland it might be crab cakes or conch in Key West.”

As they begin looking at locations throughout the country, Matz said he’s excited by the variety of different locales and what they have to bring to the table.

“People love the concept, so I wanted to bring it to other possible franchisees to expand it throughout the country,” said Matz. “There’s a lot of exciting markets out there. Each one is unique in its own right.”

Crafthouse has arranged with American Development Partners to provide 100 percent funding for franchisees planning on placing a Crafthouse inside newly built, freestanding buildings.

While Matz said he plans to go to every location as they open and make sure they are being properly run, he said the emphasis is going to be on local owners independently owning and operating the restaurants.

Matz said Crafthouse is already beginning to get inquiries from across the country about potential new locations, and that he aims to have a franchised location open by late 2019 or early 2020. Matz said interested parties should reach out to Crafthouse through email at [email protected] or through the website.

Among the requirements for a new franchise location is at least $300,000 in liquid assets, a net worth over $1 million, and a credit score of 700 or above. But just as importantly, Matz said he’s looking for franchise owners who understand their community and are committed to it.

“Being directly involved as a local owner is key,” said Matz. “You have to be in touch with the community. Be involved and listen to what the customer wants. Forming your Crafthouse around the local area is key to success.”

Founding Farmers Reston is now open and has all of your lunch needs covered! Get out of the office and take a real break while you lunch or meet with friends for some light bites and drinks at the bar.

Located on the Silver Line at the Wiehle-Reston East Station, the restaurant is just steps from the Metro. With validated parking and $3 valet, parking is easy! Reserve your table today.

They’re also open for full service breakfast Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. with complimentary Wi-Fi, or grab & go style at their First Bake Café. The café is your on the go, one stop shop for coffees, teas, cold pressed juices, breakfast burritos, donuts and more!

Open seven days serving up breakfast, lunch, dinner and a can’t miss Farmers Market Buffet Brunch on weekends. Make your way over to Reston Station to see all that Founding Farmers has to offer. To view menus or to make a reservation, visit WeAreFoundingFarmers.com.

Dining in Reston just got more delicious!

Founding Farmers Reston is opening next Wednesday, April 11, and they offer something for everyone. Their full-service restaurant and bar is open seven days a week serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and a decadent Farmers Market Buffet Brunch on weekends. The restaurant’s beautiful design, comfortable spaces and original art are worth the trip alone. Reserve your table today.

Or stop by their Founding Farmers First Bake Cafe for freshly-made Grab & Go goodies.

• Get your day going with a quick and healthy breakfast.
• Quench your thirst with a farm health fresh-pressed juice.
• Grab a dozen donuts and a carton of their specialty-roasted Compass Coffee to share with everyone at the office.
• Enjoy an afternoon treat with a fresh-baked cookie or their house-churned ice cream.

As a farmer-owned restaurant, almost all of Founding Farmers food and drink — even the Founding Spirits they use in their craft cocktails — is made from scratch, using high-quality ingredients from American family farms.

Make your way over to Reston Station to see all that Founding Farmers has to offer.

The most booked restaurant in the Nation on Open Table is opening their latest restaurant at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station.

Founding Farmers Reston has something for everyone.

Their full-service restaurant and bar is open seven days a week serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and a decadent Farmers Market Buffet Brunch on weekends. The restaurant’s beautiful design, comfortable spaces and original art are worth the trip alone. Reserve your table today.

You could also stop by their Founding Farmers First Bake Café, located within the restaurant, for freshly-made Grab & Go goodies.

• Get your day going with a quick and healthy breakfast.
• Quench your thirst with a farm health fresh-pressed juice.
• Grab a dozen donuts and a carton of their specialty-roasted Compass Coffee to share with everyone at the office.
• Enjoy an afternoon treat with a fresh-baked cookie or their house-churned ice cream.

As a farmer-owned restaurant, almost all of Founding Farmers food and drink – even the Founding Spirits, made in their DC distillery and used in their cocktails – is made from scratch, using high-quality ingredients from American family farms.

Make your way over to Reston Station to see all that Founding Farmers has to offer.

The Northern Virginia Restaurant Week is back this year. The annual event, which runs from March 19-26, offers reduced price at more than 50 restaurants in Northern Virginia.

Customers are strongly encouraged to make reservations.

Several eateries in Reston and Herndon are participating in the event, including:

• Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants (12130 Sunset Hills Rd)
• GreenFare (408 Elden Street)
• Gregorio’s Trattoria (428 North Point Village Center)
• Kalypso’s Sports Tavern (1617 Washington Plaza N)
• Mon Ami Gabi (11950 Democracy Drive)
• Red’s Table (11150 South Lakes Drive)
• The Melting Pot (11730 Plaza America Drive)

For a complete list of all eateries taking part, visit the event’s website.

Photo via Northern Virginia Restaurant Week

Foodies can enjoy discounted prix fixe meals through Sunday, Jan. 28 during this year’s Metropolitan Washington Winter Restaurant Week.

More than 250 restaurants in the District, Maryland and Virginia are participating in the event, which kicked off on Monday.

In Reston, four eateries are also taking part. Restaurants will offer three-course lunch and brunch menus for $22 and a three-course dinner for $35. The annual event is sponsored by the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington.

Participating Reston restaurants include:

• McCormick & Schmick’s (11920 Democracy Drive)
• Morton’s The Steakhouse (11956 Market Street)
• The Melting Pot (11730 Plaza America Drive)
• Passion Fish (11960 Democracy Drive)

The Belgian bakery and restaurant Le Pain Quotidien will celebrate its opening earlier this month at Reston Town Center today through a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony.

Light refreshments will be served from 5 – 7 p.m. The formal ribbon cutting ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. Complimentary garage parking is available after 5 p.m.

The cafe opened on Nov. 2 at 11909 Democracy Drive. It is open from 7 am. to 9 p.m. daily. It will offer special seasonal items throughout the year. For the fall, they plan to offer treats such as a turmeric latte, spiced apple cider, Turkey Bánh Mì, a roasted pear and spinach salad, chicken “zoodle” soup and “Speculoos Tiramisu,” which the cafe describes as “a Belgian twist on the classic Italian treat.”

According to promotional material, LPQ is a privately-held company with headquarters in New York City and more than 200 locations on five continents. Its signature loaves come from the experiment of Alain Coumont, a young chef in Brussels, who opened a small bakery where he could knead flour, salt and water in 1990. Coumount struggled to find the right bread to serve at his restaurant.

Nando’s PERi-PERi restaurant opened today at 11 a.m. on 12120 Sunset Hills Road in Reston Town Center. The Portuguese restaurant will host a grand opening on Saturday to support music programs at South Lakes High School and Herndon High School.

All sales on Saturday will be donated to the schools, according to a press release. The funds will be directed to help fund Herndon High School’s marching band as the team goes to Normandy, France to represent the United States at the 75th commemoration of D-Day in 2019. South Lakes High School will use the donations to send their band to Hawaii to perform at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade this year and other program needs.

According to the SLHS Parent Teacher Association, raffle prizes will be up for grabs at noon, 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.

“This is all about being good neighbors, and Nando’s looks forward to becoming an integral part of the Reston community,” said Sepanta Bagherpour, the restaurant’s vice president of marketing. “We are proud to support musical programs at two of the most impressive public high schools in Virginia.”

Nando’s has 40 locations in the country and nine in Virginia. The chain made its U.S. debut in 2008 with its first location in the Chinatown neighborhood of Washington, D.C.  According to promotional information, the chain has about 1,200 restaurants in 23 countries on five continents. It was founded in 1987 in South Africa. Other area restaurants include at One Loudoun and in the Mosaic District.

Photos courtesy of Seven Oaks Media. For more photos, visit the online album. 

Management has begun hiring for all positions as Nando’s Peri-Peri (12120 Sunset Hills Road) as the Portuguese-style chicken restaurants gears up for its opening day on Nov. 13, according to a company representative.

Nando’s has about 1,200 restaurants in 23 countries on five continents. It was founded in 1987 in South Africa, with its first location debuting in the United States in D.C. nearly nine years ago. Other restaurants are located at One Loudoun and the Mosaic District.

The business will open a little over a month after a Starbucks opened next door. The Starbucks is the fifth in Reston and progress continues at Mezeh Mediterranean Grill, which will also sit next to Nando’s.

The company is hiring for all positions. Company representatives dispersed information outside the location early this week.

The Reston Community Players’ 2017-18 season opens tonight as the curtain rises on their presentation of Elton John and Tim Rice’s musical “Aida.” The show, winner of four Tony Awards, will be performed through Nov. 11 at Reston Community Center’s CenterStage (2310 Colts Neck Road).

This weekend, the show is being performed at 8 p.m. both tonight and Saturday night. Tickets are $27, with student/senior tickets available for $23.

For more information about the show or about other upcoming events from the Reston Community Players, call 703-476-4500, ext. 3.

There is plenty else scheduled to take place this weekend in the area as well. Take a look at our list below.

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

• A trail of illuminated hand-carved pumpkins is welcoming visitors to “THE GLOW: A Jack O’Lantern Experience,” now through Oct. 29 at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive). Presented by Townsquare Live Events, the “enchanting Halloween wonderland” features a third-of-a-mile trail decorated with more than 5,000 pumpkins. Tickets, which are $16 for kids ages 3-12 and $22 for adults, are available online and must be purchased in advance.
• The South Lakes High School football team, 6-1 on the season and ranked No. 13 in the region by the Washington Post, return home tonight for a 7 p.m. game against McLean.
• “Sue Wrbican: Well Past the Echo” will be on view at Greater Reston Arts Center (12001 Market St.) through Nov. 18.
• The Woodland Park Crossing HarvestFest will take place from 1-4 p.m. Saturday in the plaza, located at 12960 Highland Crossing Drive in Herndon. The event will feature strolling performers, tenant giveaways, face painting and entertainment, and participating restaurants will offer specials and samples.
• A digital scavenger hunt is planned in downtown Herndon from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Participants will explore various businesses and areas in downtown Herndon to find what they seek. Prizes will be given to winners who discover all the hidden treasures. The event is open to all ages, but parents must accompany any children who play.
• The bluegrass series at Holy Cross Lutheran Church (1090 Sterling Road, Herndon) will present a performance by The Blue Moon Cowgirls at 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $15, with children 12 and under admitted free.
• At 11 a.m. Saturday, kids ages 6-12 are invited to take part in the “Halloween Science Spectacular” at the Reston Regional Library (11925 Bowman Towne Drive). Kids will explore fun Halloween science experiments that are “gooey and foggy.”
• During “Giraffe-toberfest,” celebrate fall with animals at Roer’s Zoofari (1228 Hunter Mill Road) on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can meet the zoo’s giraffe, “Waffles.” Tickets are $20 and all proceeds will support giraffe conservation.
• The Reston Farmers Market will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Lake Anne Village Center.
• Fashion illustrator Joanna Baker will be at Scout & Molly’s (11944 Market St.) from 2-6 p.m. Saturday. Her prints will be available for purchase and she will be on hand to answer questions.
• Many restaurants and bars in Reston will have live music this weekend. These include Crafthouse (1888 Explorer St.) every Friday and Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; and Tavern64 (1800 Presidents St.) every Friday from 6-10 p.m; and Kalypso’s Sports Tavern (1617 Washington Plaza N.) every Saturday from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Beautiful homes around the community will be on display Saturday during the 16th annual Reston Home Tour.

The tour “focuses on six homes whose owners have moved in within the last few years and whose homes have given them a new perspective on their life, their surroundings and in some cases their attitudes.” The homes on the tour include residences on Bromley Village Lane, Hemingway Drive, Orchard Lane, South Shore Road and Spyglass Cove Lane, as well as at the Stratford condominiums. In addition, Reston Association’s Lake House and Bozzuto’s Aperture apartment building will be open for tour.

Tickets remain available online today for $30. On the day of the event, they can only be purchased in person at any of the homes on the tour or at the Reston Museum and Historic Trust (1639 Washington Plaza N.). All proceeds from the event benefit the Reston Historic Trust and Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the past, informing the present and influencing the future of Reston through its educational programming, archives and exhibitions.

There is plenty else scheduled to take place this weekend in the area as well. Take a look at our list below.

(Editor’s Note: This is just a limited list of all the events taking place in the Reston area this weekend. If you have an event you would like to ensure is listed on the website, be sure to submit it to our Events Calendar.)

• A trail of illuminated hand-carved pumpkins is welcoming visitors to “THE GLOW: A Jack O’Lantern Experience,” now through Oct. 29 at Lake Fairfax Park (1400 Lake Fairfax Drive). Presented by Townsquare Live Events, the “enchanting Halloween wonderland” features a third-of-a-mile trail decorated with more than 5,000 pumpkins. Tickets, which are $16 for kids ages 3-12 and $22 for adults, are available online and must be purchased in advance.
• Frying Pan Farm Park (2709 W. Ox Road, Herndon) will put on its Fall on the Farm festival this weekend. The event is scheduled for 5-9 p.m. tonight, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. In addition, Farm Harvest Days are slated for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
• The Children’s Fall Flea Market at Reston Community Center is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 14 at RCC Hunters Woods (2310 Colts Neck Road). The price of admission is donation of one non-perishable food item, which will go to the RCC Thanksgiving Food Drive.
• In celebration of Fire Prevention Week, all Fairfax County Fire and Rescue stations will be hosting an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Citizens are invited to meet firefighters, see the fire trucks, join in the activities and learn about fire safety. Local stations include Reston (1820 Wiehle Ave.), North Point (1117 Reston Ave.), Herndon (680 Spring St.) and Fox Mill (2610 Reston Parkway).
• Lake Anne Brew House will hold a fundraiser for the South Lakes High School band, which is raising money to travel to Pearl Harbor, from 7-9 p.m. tonight. The Brew House will donate $1 per pint or soda purchased to the band.
• The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Light the Night” Walk will take place tonight at Reston Town Center. Event festivities will start at 5 p.m., with the 1.5-mile walk to go off at 7.
• The Runway to the Cure Fashion Show is scheduled for Saturday from 11 a.m. to noon at the Reston Town Center pavilion. Hosted by Scout & Molly’s, RTC and Athleta, the fashion show will highlight many designer fashions. Models are volunteers and include breast cancer survivors, customers and local high school students. Suggested donation is $25. All proceeds will benefit Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
• “Sue Wrbican: Well Past the Echo” will be on view at Greater Reston Arts Center (12001 Market St.) through Nov. 18.
• During “Giraffe-toberfest,” celebrate fall with animals at Roer’s Zoofari (1228 Hunter Mill Road) on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visitors can meet the zoo’s giraffe “Waffles.” Tickets are $20 and all proceeds will support giraffe conservation.
• The Reston Farmers Market will take place from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Lake Anne Village Center.
• Reston Association will hold an open house at The Lake House (11450 Baron Cameron Ave.) from 10-11:30 a.m. Sunday.
• Author Karen See will discuss her book, “The Should Syndrome,” from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at Scrawl Books (11862 Market St.).
• Many restaurants and bars in Reston will have live music this weekend. These include Crafthouse (1888 Explorer St.) every Friday and Saturday night from 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.; and Tavern64 (1800 Presidents St.) every Friday from 6-10 p.m; and Kalypso’s Sports Tavern (1617 Washington Plaza N.) every Saturday from 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.

Signs now in place at the future home of Nando’s Peri-Peri (12120 Sunset Hills Road) indicate the Portuguese-style chicken restaurant will open later this year.

The windows at the new storefront within the RTC West development are now adorned with advertisements for the coming restaurant. The largest reads that the fast-casual restaurant’s opening has been scheduled for “Fall 2017.” Others encourage future customers to send their email address to “make a date” with the restaurant, and future employees to text “RESTON” to 41-411 for information about job opportunities.

We emailed a Nando’s spokesperson for additional information about the opening date of the restaurant. We were told there will be “big news in Reston shortly.”

According to promotional information, Nando’s has about 1,200 restaurants in 23 countries on five continents. It was founded in 1987 in South Africa, and first came to the United States in 2008 with a DC location. Other area restaurants include at One Loudoun and in the Mosaic District.

Also in the RTC West development, Starbucks (12130A Sunset Hills Road) opened this week. Meanwhile, progress continues at Mezeh Mediterranean Grill, which will be located next to Nando’s.

UPDATE: The Starbucks location opened Monday, Oct. 9.

—

Another new Starbucks will soon open in Reston.

Signs inside the future coffee shop at 12130A Sunset Hills Road, within the RTC West development, indicate that the new Starbucks will be ready soon. The storefront is attached to Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, which opened in August.

A spokesperson for RTC West developer JBG Smith said she could not provide an exact opening date for the Starbucks. An “opening soon” sign hangs inside, visible through the front windows. Several “Now Open” sandwich boards are also stacked inside, ready for deployment.

This will be the ninth Starbucks in Reston, joining locations at North Point Village Center, South Lakes Village Center, Hunters Woods Village Center, Reston Town Center, the Spectrum shopping plaza, Plaza America, Reston Station and inside Target.

Six additional restaurants are also planned for the development. Significant work has been done at the sites of the future Nando’s and Mezeh restaurants, which have been in the plans since April 2016. Other coming restaurants, which were announced earlier this year, include BGR The Burger Joint, Punjabi by Nature, The Black Squirrel and Honeygrow.

A former Burger King in the North Point Village Center has been demolished this morning, as its replacement is hoping to get building soon.

According to a post on the Facebook page for Chick-fil-A North Point Village, the demolition project at 1494 North Point Village Center began at about 7 a.m. Monday. “Pending a fair winter,” according to the post, the Chick-fil-A will be built on the site and ready for the public by March 15.

The new Chick-fil-A will be more than 1 1/2 times the size of the building that had been on the site, franchisees Larry and Andrea Everett explained in an earlier post on the Facebook page.

Chick-fil-A has a very specific design just for North Point Village. This is NOT your standard restaurant footprint. The space needed to match the image for the community exceeded the footprint of the old BK. So Chick-fil-A absorbed the cost and designed a beautiful store that mirrors the expectations for the community.

The Everetts say renderings of the future restaurant “do not [do] it justice.”

The Chick-fil-A was approved by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors in March 2016. It will be the second Chick-fil-A in Reston, along with the existing location at 12160 Sunset Hills Road, about 2 1/2 miles away.

For more information, like the Chick-fil-A North Point Village Facebook page.