Updated: The entire Cosi chain filed for bankruptcy on Wednesday. Also, about half of the chain’s stores, including a branch in Arlington, closed this week.
Cosi at Reston Town Center has closed its doors. The restaurant’s last day in business at 11909 Democracy Dr. was Monday.
Manager John Paul said the store was at the end of its lease and a new lease was going to be more expensive.
No word yet on a new tenant for the space.
Get your beer stein ready: The Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce’s Oktoberfest Reston returns to Reston Town Center on Oct. 8. Food, wine, music and vendors will fill the area around Market Street.
Here is what you need to know:
The fun begins at noon and runs until 11 p.m.
Admission is free. Food and drink tickets are $1 per ticket or $20 for 24 tickets. You can purchase advance tickets online at www.OktoberfestReston.com or at the festival.
Beers on tap include Samuel Adams Oktoberfest, Warfteiner, Blue Moon and Miller Lite. There will also be a Craft Beer Alley featuring Fair Winds, Flying Dog, Heritage, Old Ox and Old Bust Head.
Among the local restaurants with food for sale: Tavern 64 Regional Kitchen; Vinifera Wine Bar & Bistro; American Tap Room; Neyla; Buffalo Wing Factory; The Melting Pot; Pittsburgh Ricks; The Melting Pot; and GreenFare.
Among the entertainment: Alpine Dancers, The Low’nBrows German Band, Dr FU, DJ Edward Daniels and DJ Moon Man. Check the event website for the exact schedule at the two stages (RTC Pavilion and on Library Street).
The fun continues on Sunday, Oct. 9 with the Pumpkin 5K and Kids Pumpkin Dash. Participants are encouraged to run in their Halloween costumes. The race begins at 8:15 a.m. and goes on a flat course around Reston Town Center.
Registration is now open online.
Paid parking at Reston Town Center may have been postponed until January, but town center officials are hoping thousands of people will download the free ParkRTC app in the meantime.
The app, available in Apple and Google Play options, will enable patrons to punch in a zone number and pay the $2-an-hour parking fee without a ticket or stopping at a gate. The app also gives users access to LiveSafe, a safety feature that allows one to report suspicious behavior to RTC security or Fairfax County Police, as well as ask for help in a potentially dangerous situation.
The app has not been well received by Reston Now readers, who have made hundreds of comments on our site saying they are concerned by privacy issues or simply won’t download the app as they plan on never visiting Reston Town Center if they have to pay to park.
It’s a different story, though, if one reads customer reviews on the Apple or Google play sites. Since paid parking is not yet in effect, the app is not really functional. That leads to the thought that the reviews are, well, fabricated. Take these examples:
Simple, easy to use by heather_am
Quick setup. Appreciated the reminder when time was almost up. Receipt function useful when visiting RTC for business. Much easier than the frustrating MoCo parking app that was not easy to use and required a minimum $20 upfront to park.
HAITI ??
Fast and easy to download; One of my fave places, so ready to park RTC.Great app Easy to use. Love it
This app is fast and simple to navigate. Will make the paid parking process at RTC an easy transition!
Of course, there are also the negative reviews, mostly based on glitches with the app, the privacy policy or the principle of paid parking in general:
Camera and No Phone Sleep? Why do you need access to my camera? Why do you need to prevent my phone from sleeping? Do I have to pay you in battery life too?
Nope. Never paying to park in RTC. Will park elsewhere or take my business elsewhere.
I get it. Transitioning from free to pay parking is a big step, and obviously a shock for those patrons that have been parking free at this location for over a decade. But this app just throws gas on the fire.
To whomever was responsible for this abomination: if you’re going to upend people’s routines and expectations with paid parking, at least put in the time and investment in creating a user experience that isn’t laughably amateurish, if not downright hostile.
Seriously. Someone should get fired for thinking this onboarding experience (from the blurred-out location services permissions sheet to the 7 pt TOS link) is remotely acceptable for any viable app, let alone an app requiring such dramatic changes to user behavior.
Have you checked out the app yet? What are your thoughts?
Reston Town Center’s Starbucks closed more than a week ago, but officials say it is just temporary as the store does some remodeling.
Town Center reps said in a tweet Monday that the store — one of a half-dozen in Reston — will remain closed through Sept. 26.
Sorry folks… @Starbucks is still closed for renovations in RTC. New opening date is 9/26, but check back for updates!
— Reston Town Center (@RestonTwnCenter) September 19, 2016
There is no shortage of places to get coffee at RTC. Among other nearby spots: Panera, Community Canteen, Pitango Gelato and Cosi, as well as the many full service restaurants.
Meanwhile, Reston’s newest Starbucks store is slated to open at Reston Station by the end of September.
Davelle Clothiers is showing off its new store at Reston Town Center with a special event on Friday.
The locally owned men’s clothing store recently moved from 11904 Market St. to 11921 Freedom Dr. That location is basically in the same building, but facing Freedom Drive rather than the Mercury Fountain.
The ribbon-cutting event is on Friday, Sept 23, from 1 to 3 p.m.
There will be a display of exotic cars and new vehicles from Acura on display, followed by an in-store wine tasting from Tarara Winery from 6 to 8 p.m.
Davelle will also be offering a special gift-with-purchase throughout the weekend.
Paid parking at Reston Town Center is still coming.
While the postponement until January of the app-based paid parking system ($2 an hour on weekdays) may seem like a victory for those in favor of free parking, it is only a temporary one.
A source familiar with the thinking of Boston Properties, which owns town center, says there is “no indication” to amend the plans, which feature the app; a safety component called LiveSafe; a complicated Bluetooth-enabled validation feature at some merchants; the ability to pay by cash or credit card at four kiosks; and wayfinding systems to determine locations of available spots.
According to the source, the backlash from thousands of consumers (both in an online petition and in comments of Reston Now and other news and social media sites) had nothing to do with the delay.
Rather, the system is complicated (also a top complaint from users, along with privacy concerns). Boston Properties said it needs additional time to “educate” merchants and Reston Town Center visitors how to use it.
“Boston Properties wanted more time for outreach,” said Rob Weinold, the communications rep hired by the RTC owner for the parking rollout, which has been scheduled to be put in place on Sept. 12.
“We will be working with merchants,” he said. “We will be doing outreach at events such as concerts. We will update out FAQs on our website and doing ads and promotions. We need to get people more comfortable with the technology.”
As of Thursday, about 6,500 people have downloaded the ParkRTC app, Weinhold said.
But at least that many are likely saying they refuse to download the app because privacy concerns. Still more are saying they will avoid the town center altogether when they have to pay to park.
And still more take issue with the idea that they need more instructions and education, as Boston Properties said earlier this week.
Said these commenters on Reston Now’s Facebook page:
Really? We don’t need no education (to quote Pink Floyd). We’re just not going to add this app on our smart phones. … and we’re not going to pay to eat and shop. Period. …
Additional time to educate customers? It’s truly hilarious that Boston Properties thinks the public believes this baloney. They are just worried about losing revenue from holiday shoppers. The fact that they had to start a gift card raffle in order to entice people to download the app speaks volumes. …
I think it is Boston Properties that needs some education. We the consumers know what we want…free parking. Perhaps they will get it when their tenants move out because they are losing the foot traffic they depend on.
What say you? Will additional time and instructions make pay parking easier for you? Or have you gotten the message loud and clear already?
New Belgium Brewing’s national Clips Beer & Film tour stops in Reston next week for a free event that will benefit Fairfax Advocates for Better Bicycling.
This event, now in its seventh year, features short films and a selection of small-batch beers. It takes place Sept. 16 at Reston Town Center at 7 p.m., with the films starting at 9 p.m.
Last year, the Reston event contributed more than $4,000 of the national total of nearly $160,000 raised for nonprofits, a New Belgium spokesman said.
“This year is actually New Belgium’s 25th anniversary, so we’re doing things a little differently,” said Christie Catania, Clips national special events manager. “We asked 10 filmmakers to incorporate the year 1991 into their film, as a way to salute the year that New Belgium got its start. The films do a great job of bringing us back to the glory days of big hair, questionable fashion, and outdated technology!”
There will be more than a dozen beers to try, including New Belgium’s hard-to-find Lips of Faith varieties. For a complete list of beer available in Reston, check out New Belgium’s website.
Admission is free, but beer will cost: $1.50 (3-oz. sample) or $6 (12-oz size).
There will also be food vendors on site, including, Doug the Food Dude and Bacon ‘N Eds.
Other things you need to know:
- Please bring your government issued ID. No ID means no beer.
- Bring low chairs or blankets —or lounge on the grass.
- No outside alcohol .
- Picnics are welcome.
- Bring your water bottle. There will be free water filling stations.
- Dogs are welcome if they are under control, on a leash, curbed, and by your side.
For updated informationgo to NewBelgium.com/Clips.
Salon Nordine & Day Spa will close its doors on Saturday, but a new tenant is ready to take over the space.
Charles Schwab will move its offices from 11874 Market Street to the two-floor space at 11955 Freedom Dr.
The former salon space is on the ground floor of one of Reston Town Center’s large office towers, making it a good fit for a financial services offices. Its doors also face Freedom Drive and two of Reston Town Center’s parking garages, making it more accessible for customers than the current office, in a storefront on Market Street.
Charles Schwab has filed permits with Fairfax County for interior changes, but no moving date has been announced.
The rollout of paid parking at Reston Town Center has been put on hold until January of 2017, RTC parking spokesman Rob Weinhold said on Wednesday.
The paid parking system was slated to go into effect on Monday, Sept. 12.
RTC owners Boston Properties has invested in a ParkRTC App with LiveSafe technology, as well as electronic parking availability signs, Bluetooth-enabled validation and other high-tech systems for the 25-year-old town center, which has always had free parking.
Weinhold says the decision was made based on consumer and tenant feedback as many in the community were not embracing the technology (still more are upset at the $2-an-hour charge on weekdays and thousands have signed a petition asking Boston Properties to keep parking free).
“The postponement will allow additional time to educate customers,” Weinhold said. “We will continue our outreach efforts.”
Boston Properties says it still plans to instill paid parking. The company previously said it was going to to the new system to cut down on abuse by Metro commuters, who are using RTC’s seven garages as parking while they hop a shuttle to Metro’s Silver Line station at Wiehle-Reston East.
The Silver Line station at Reston Town Center is still years away from opening in early 2020.
“There is no question Reston Town Center remains committed to strategies which enhance overall customer experience,” Peter D. Johnston, Boston Properties’ Executive Vice President for the Washington, D.C. Region, said in a statement. “The digital parking and mobile safety integration is an enormous step in advancing both of these historical and very worthwhile goals. We will continue to invest in the Reston community through world-class facilities, family-oriented events, top brand attractions, innovative technologies and nonprofit donations. A safe, family-friendly environment is always our top priority.”
Meanwhile, tenants got this message from Boston Properties today:
Dear Tenants,
I hope this message finds you well. As you know, Reston Town Center is scheduled to fully activate both ParkRTC and LiveSafe, two integrated digital parking and mobile safety technology apps, next Monday, September 12th. However, after continuing to meet with tenants, listen to customer concerns and comprehensively assess the roll-out timing, we have decided to postpone paid parking activation until January 2017.
The LiveSafe app will continue to be available for free download and will be fully operational on October 1st of this year (after downloading the ParkRTC app). We encourage people to download the LiveSafe app so users are able to familiarize themselves with the innovative technology in a substantive manner.
While the postponement will not change our long-term parking policies, it will give us additional time to comprehensively educate our customers about the new technologies. To that end, Reston Town Center will continue its outreach efforts and work toward achieving a greater level of understanding and comfort among its customer base, while moving toward a seamless paid parking transition in January 2017.
There is no question Reston Town Center Management remains committed to strategies which enhance overall customer experience. The digital parking and mobile safety integration is an enormous step in advancing both of these historical and very worthwhile goals. And, we will continue to invest in the Reston community through world-class facilities, family-oriented events, top brand attractions, innovative technologies and nonprofit donations. A safe, family-friendly environment is always our top priority.
Our team will continue to proactively engage with you regarding these very important initiatives. However, if you have any immediate questions, please contact your property manager. Thank you very much for your continued partnership, patience and understanding.
Bebe, a woman’s clothing store, quietly closed its doors at 11957 Market St. at Reston Town Center last week.
The store, which had been located at Reston Town Center since the South of Market addition was built in 2008, is completely shuttered, with its fixtures, merchandise and sign removed.
Need something from a Bebe store? Visit them online or at nearby locations at Fair Oaks Mall or Tysons Corner Center.
A new leaseholder for the property has not yet been announced.
Salon Nordine & Day Spa, a high-end beauty salon at Reston Town Center, will close its doors on Sept. 10, employees said.
The salon has been located in a two-story space at 11955 Freedom Dr. for about 15 years.
Many of the stylists have already departed for other salons, and the once-bustling location was empty over the weekend. A salon spokesman said regular customers should have been contacted by their stylist as to where they would be relocating.
The Reston location’s merchandise and fixtures are being moved to Salon Nordine’s other locations in Fairfax and Gainesville.
There have been no permits filed yet for a new business to take over the space.
It’s Sept. 1. That means free parking at Reston Town Center will soon be a thing of the past.
In case you have been out of town this summer, Reston Now will fill you in the details.
Boston Properties says it needs to discourage commuter parking in Reston Town Center’s seven parking garage. It will begin charging $2 an hour on weekdays (and nights) starting Monday, Sept. 12.
Saturdays, Sundays and special events will remain free.
Parking will be a with a gateless and ticketless system. Visitors must download the ParkRTC app to automatically pay by credit card. If a visitor does not want the app, he or she can pay at a credit card kiosk located in four of the garages.
Here are more details on everything you need to know:
Why Boston Properties calls this an enhancement
What will happen if I don’t pay
What may happen in the longterm
Citizens are still working on a petition in protest of the move
There are still spaces open for artists — young, grown, amateur and professional — to enter the Initiative for Public Art Reston (IPAR’s) 2016 ChalkFest.
ChalkFest, where artists create murals on the pavement on Market Street, takes place at Reston Town Center on Sept. 9 and 10.
There will be prizes for professional artists, amateur artists, families and kids, in addition to the “Audience Choice Awards.”
Want to work on your skills before the event? IPAR will host a free chalk workshop with artist Patrick Owens on Saturday, Sept. 3 from 11 am to 1 pm. The workshop will be in front of the Mercury Fountain.
Registration fees start at $15. To reserve your space, visit IPAR online.
ChalkFest/file photo
Representatives from Boston Properties want to assure users that additional privacy measures are going into place for visitors to Reston Town Center.
New technological features (electronic parking availability signage; app-based payment; Bluetooth-enabled validation; and a GPS/license plate car locater system) are about to go live at Reston Town Center prepares to switch to paid parking on Sept. 12.
Earlier this week, Reston Now reported that by typing a license plate number into the Park Assist app, anyone with a computer could find out where your car was parked.
Kathy Walsh, spokesman for Reston Town Center’s paid parking rollout, says that issue was related to testing done by Park Assist and has been remedied.
“That issue has been addressed to prevent it from happening again,” she said in an email. “The ‘Find My Car’ feature will ONLY be available by using the pay stations located onsite at the Reston Town Center garages.” Read More
When Reston Town Center paid weekday parking goes into effect on Sept. 12, it will also have the distinction of being one of the most expensive garage systems in the area.
Reston Town Center will charge $2 an hour on weekdays, with a maximum of $24 a day. Parking will remain free on Saturdays and Sundays, and there will be validation and discounts from retailers that will bring costs down.
Reston Now (with the help of reader Suzanne Zurn, organizer of the Change.org petition against paid parking at RTC) took a look at some nearby retail complexes to see how the new plan stacks up.
First of all, here is where you can park for free:
- Tysons Corner Center
- Fairfax Corner
- One Loudoun
- Dulles Town Center
- Downtown Herndon
- Fairfax Square (Tiffany Plaza in Tysons)
Now here’s where you have to pay:
Reston Town Center Parking – $2 per hour / max daily rate of $24.
Pentagon City Mall Parking – $2 for up to 2 hours / max daily rate of $18.
Rockville Town Square – $2 per hour / $3 for up to 1-2 hrs / max daily rate of $12.
Market Common Clarendon – $6 for up to 1 hour / $8 for up to 2 hours / max daily rate of $12.
Ballston Mall Parking – $1 for up to 3 hours / max daily rate of $10.
Mosaic District Parking – Free up to 5 hours.
Downtown Bethesda – $1.25 per hour in short-term parking (four hours hours or less) and .80 cents to $1 (depending on garage) per hour in long term parking (more than four hours). Street parking is $2 per hour for 1-2 hours.
Representatives for Boston Properties, which owns Reston Town Center, say paid parking has always been the plan for the 25-year-old town center. BP has invested in several high-tech features for the new system, including an app, ParkRTC, which will include a safety feature and ticketless and gateless payment.
“We realize moving from a free to a paid parking model gives some pause,” BP Executive Vice President Peter Johnston says. “However, Reston Town Center leadership continually focuses on strategies to enhance customer convenience, safety and overall quality of life. The technological integration is an enormous step in advancing both of these historical and worthwhile goals.”
