More sandwich options just arrived in Reston.

Sprout Cafe recently opened at One Reston Overlook (12011 Sunset Hills Road).

Retail brokerage firm Rappaport tweeted a picture outside of the cafe that shows writing on a window advertising its salads, sandwiches and “savory soups.”

This is the Rockville, Md.-based cafe’s second location, according to the tweet.

Image via Rappaport/Twitter

Updated at 10:45 a.m. — Includes information about feeding the TSA workers from Gaurang Shah.

Vapiano in Reston Town Center has been pitching in to help government workers as the partial federal government shutdown looms on without an end in sight.

The recent efforts stemmed from a desire to “take care of those who take care of us during this political standoff,” according to a press release.

Earlier this week, the Italian restaurant at 1875 Explorer Street offered 50 percent off for furloughed federal workers on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Gaurang Shah, the local behind the Reston Going Out Group on Meetup.com and a Vapiano regular, approached the restaurant with an idea: ask for food donations to serve to TSA workers.

Vapiano then created a menu of homestyle Italian meals. Shah told Reston Now that he pitched in supplies and other food, along with reaching out to a TSA Supervisor at Dulles International Airport who agreed with the proposal.

Shah said that hundreds of TSA workers came to the restaurant for the food.

Our Team Vapiano Reston Town Center ❤️ did treat our Washington Dulles International Airport #TSA Team ❤️ Thank you for your service ❤️ #GovernmentShutdown #GovernmentShutdownstories pic.twitter.com/GzfoQ95oxV

— Vapiano USA (@VapianoUSA) January 21, 2019

On MLK Day we'd like to give back to the community & offer all furloughed Federal Workers 50% off their entire check. Just come by & show your government ID when checking out. See you in a bit!#GovernmentShutdown #MLK2019 pic.twitter.com/7K5GqIiuXd

— Vapiano USA (@VapianoUSA) January 21, 2019

Image via Vapiano/Twitter

Plans for Jinya Ramen Bar to open at a vacant spot in Reston Town Center are still undetermined.

Reston Now previously reported in December that the Japanese ramen restaurant chain said on its website that it was “coming soon” to 11964 Market Street, the former spot of a Thai restaurant. 

A reader pointed out yesterday (Jan. 17) that the Reston location is no longer listed.

An employee for La Brea Dining Group, the parent company of the Jinya brand, told Reston Now that nothing has been finalized yet on the Reston Town Center location. The employee said she wasn’t sure why the Reston address was posted on the website, since the plans are still in the process.

When contacted by Reston Now, Jinya Ramen Bar said, “We are looking for better opportunities in that area!”

The chain has nearby locations in D.C. and Fairfax, Va.

Photo via Google Maps

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.

Another Reston Town Center restaurant is joining the fight against paid parking just months after the settlement of the first lawsuit challenging Boston Properties’ controversial parking system.

Uncle Julio’s filed a suit against Boston Properties and several affiliated limited liability companies for at least $5 million over the paid parking, the Washington Business Journal reported today (Jan. 11).

The Tex-Mex restaurant at 1827 Library Street claims in the suit that it has lost approximately $1 million in sales annually since paid parking was implemented in January 2017, according to the article.

Uncle Julio’s is suing RTC’s owners on several counts, including breach of contract and conspiracy, according to the story. Boston Properties has not yet responded to the lawsuit, which was filed on Dec. 21 in Fairfax County Circuit Court.

Nearly two months ago, Boston Properties and Jackson’s Mighty Fine Food & Lucky Lounge settled a dispute over the developer’s paid parking system. Jackson’s filed its suit, which also alleged breach of contract, in March 2017, Reston Now previously reported. 

Boston Properties continues to face an uproar from many local businesses and residents. In 2018, nine businesses closed at RTC, with several owners and employees telling Reston Now that the paid parking drove customers away.

In December alone, two restaurants — Hen Penny and Obi Sushi — left.

This year doesn’t look any better. Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn, which are both operated by Williams-Sonoma Inc, are set to close at RTC later this month.

Image via Google Maps

(Updated at 4:55 p.m.) Jerry’s Subs & Pizza is set to reopen soon after temporarily closing in the North Point Village Center.

The Reston location (1432 North Point Village Center) for the chain “closed due to a small fire-related incident that has been resolved,” according to a Facebook message from Jerry’s Subs & Pizza.

The Reston spot “will be reopening soon,” the company wrote, adding that there is no specific reopening date yet.

(Updated at 11:43 a.m.) Reston teen killed in a pedestrian hit-and-run crash — Marvin Daniel Cruz Serrano, a 16-year-old South Lakes High School student, was hit by a car while crossing South Lakes Drive Saturday evening. Fairfax County Police are still looking for the driver who killed the Reston teen. [Reston Now]

Metro’s “Rush Hour Promise” starts today — Starting today, Metrorail or Metrobus customers using a registered SmarTrip card who experience a rush-hour delay of 10 minutes or more will receive a Metro credit for future travel. [WMATA]

A look inside the upcoming Bombay Velvet — More details emerge about the Indian restaurant set to open in early 2019 at 12100 Sunset Hills Road. [Washington Business Journal]

Tons of toys — People donated more than three tractor-trailer loads worth of toys to Fairfax County’s fire and rescue stations for this year’s Toys for Tots campaign. [Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department]

What a difference a year makes — for Reston Town Center’s retailers, that is.

While RTC has welcomed a number of new tenants this year, including Honeygrow, Balducci’s, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, &pizza, and Lululemon, the closures outnumber the newcomers.

Businesses are closing twice as fast as they are opening in RTC. Several small businesses and restaurants that have been in the area for decades have pointed to dwindling numbers of customers due to paid parking as the main reason behind their closures.

The shift from free to the ParkRTC paid parking initiative at RTC began at the start of 2017. Then in June 2017, Boston Properties, RTC’s owner, changed its paid parking structure, which originally charged for weekday parking, following a major outcry from tenants and customers.

Still, some Restonians are boycotting RTC.

Red Velvet Cupcakery Owner Aaron Gordon previously told Reston Now that his decision to close the Reston location was driven by Boston Properties’ paid parking structure.

Employees at Busara Thai Restaurant, which served up authentic Thai cuisine in RTC for 13 years, and Obi Sushi Japanese Bistro, which recently closed after 14 years, said the paid parking drove customers away. 

When Appalachian Spring closed at the start of 2018, the store’s president told Reston Now that customer traffic dipped over the last few months and that customers often complained about the paid parking.

The handcrafted gifts and handmade jewelry store, one of the first tenants in RTC, opened its Reston location in 1990.

Reston Now reported on the following closures at RTC this year:

• Dec. 30: Hen Penny set to close at 1820 Discovery Street
• Dec. 26: Dawn Baby Price closed at 11985 Market Street
• Dec. 22: Obi Sushi Japanese Bistro closed at 1771 Library Street
• Aug. 28: Edibles Incredible Desserts closed at 11917 Freedom Drive
• May 28: The Bike Lane closed at 11943 Democracy Drive
• May 27: Red Velvet Cupcakery closed at 11939 Democracy Drive
• May 19: Busara Thai Restaurant closed at 11964 Market Street
• Jan. 24: Appalachian Spring closed at 1187 Market Street
• January: Neyla Mediterranean Bistro closed at 11898 Market Street

While 2018 saw several small businesses and restaurants shutter their doors, large department stores are slated to close in RTC next year.

Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn, which are both operated by Williams-Sonoma Inc, are set to close at RTC in January.

Pottery Barn (11937 Market Street) will close sometime around Jan. 21, a store employee told Reston Now. A specific closing date has not been announced yet for Williams-Sonoma (11897 Market Street).

File photo

Hen Penny will close its doors on Sunday in Reston Town Center roughly 20 months after it opened.

Hen Penny, a spinoff of Pheast Food Group’s Hen Quarter restaurants in Alexandria, Va. and Silver Spring, Md., opened at 1820 Discovery Street in April 2017.

An employee told Reston Now that Dec. 30 is the final day for the restaurant. The employee did not know what prompted the decision to close the location.

Hen Penny has another location in New York City.

Last Saturday (Dec. 22), another restaurant closed in RTC, citing paid parking as one of the main causes behind the closure.

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

Obi Sushi Japanese Bistro will shutter its doors tomorrow (Dec. 22) after 14 years at Reston Town Center.

Although the restaurant at 1771 Library Street is closing, the Herndon location at 2415-B2 Centreville Road will remain open, an employee told Reston Now.

The employee said that ever since Boston Properties, RTC’s owner, implemented paid parking, the restaurant has seen the number of customers dwindle. The employee added that the paid parking has also impacted other businesses by driving away patrons.

No specific time tomorrow for the closing has been announced yet.

Photo via Google Maps

Updated at 9:35 on Jan. 10 — Includes McCormick & Schmick’s. 

Four restaurants in Reston are among the 250 places in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. on the roster for Winter Restaurant Week in January.

Winter Restaurant Week will run from Monday, Jan. 14, to Sunday, Jan. 20, with prix fixe menus — $35 dinner and $22 lunch.

Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington announced yesterday (Dec. 20) that Founding Farmers, The Melting Pot and PassionFish will offer both lunch and dinner during the event. McCormick & Schmick’s is also on the roster as of Jan. 10, 2019.

Two of the restaurants have certain restrictions.

Located at 1904 Reston Metro Plaza, Founding Farmers will have its regularly priced buffet brunch instead of the prix fixe lunch available from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the weekend of Jan. 19.

The Melting Pot, a fondue restaurant located at 11730 Plaza America Drive, Suite 100, will not allow diners to share or split entrees or ask for substitutions.

Seafood-focused eatery PassionFish at 11960 Democracy Drive and McCormick & Schmick’s at 11920 Democracy Drive do not have any dining restrictions posted on Winter Restaurant Week’s website.

Photos via Passionfood Hospitality, PassionFish, Founding Farmers Reston and Google Maps

This story has been updated

Diners can help support the Herndon High School Marching Band every Tuesday this month at Not Your Average Joe’s in Reston and every Sunday at Stone’s Cove KitBar in Herndon.

The marching band, called the Pride of Herndon, is fundraising for its trip to Normandy, France in June, where the band will represent the U.S. at the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

The band has several fundraising efforts underway to help cover the costs for the trip.

Not Your Average Joe’s at 1845 Fountain Drive will donate 15 percent of sales from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesdays in December to the band. Customers need to mention or show the flyer for seated and take-out orders.

Diners at Stone’s Cove KitBar (2403 Centreville Road) from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays will be given a card where they can select the band from a list of charities. Then, 10 percent of that guest’s check will get donated.

The Pride will honor WWII servicemen and women, veterans and active duty military and their families.

“As they march, the Pride will also be paying a special tribute to the brave men of the USS Herndon, the destroyer that led the Allied naval armada in the assault on France and the named for Commander William Lewis Herndon, after whom the Town of Herndon, Va. is also named,” the flyer says.

Photo via Herndon High School Band/Twitter

(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.”