Brighton Collectibles is closing its Reston Town Center store.
The last day for the store at 11858 Market St. will be Sunday, May 22, store management said.
Brighton, which sells handbags, wallets, costume jewelry and other accessories, opened at Reston Town Center in late 2012.
There are no special sales happening as the store stock is being shipped back to the chain’s national headquarters.
That part of Market Street near Presidents Street will soon undergo redevelopment as Boston Properties plans to construct a 17-story office building there.
The redevelopment was approved last year. A Boston Properties spokesman said the start date for the project has not yet been determined. However, look for Ann Taylor and FedEx Kinko’s to also be affected by the project.
Reston Town Center is going to a paid parking system on Aug. 1. While RTC owners Boston Properties has softened on employee parking — retail and restaurant workers will get passes — it is going to cost $2 an hour for the rest of us (though many places say they will offer some validation).
Parking will be free on and weekends. But a weeknight dinner, a Wednesday business meeting or a free concert with Mr. Knick Knack on a Monday morning are all going to cost you.
Boston Properties says the paid system, managed by an app, is necessary to cut down on commuter parking now that the Metro is in Reston. But Boston Properties executives have also said on earnings calls that they can make tens of millions of dollars by charging for parking.
Here is what many consumers say: that they are done with Reston Town Center. More than 5,000 have signed petitions urging Boston Properties to reconsider. Hundreds have commented on Reston Now’s Facebook page that they will never visit on a weekday again if it means paying for parking.
Others say it is just as easy to go to restaurants at One Loudoun or Tysons, where parking remains free. But won’t more gas to get there actually cost you more than paying a couple of bucks to park at RTC?
What say you? Are you really going to avoid Reston Town Center come August?
More than 200 artists — along with live entertainment and family fun — return to Reston Town Center May 21 and 22 for the 25th annual Northern Virginia Fine Arts Festival.
Festival artists from across the nation have been selected by jurors to exhibit and sell their paintings, photography, mixed-media, sculpture, jewelry, and fine crafts. This year’s lineup will include 38 artists exhibiting at the festival for the first time.
Complete list of festival artists.
Also among the artists: 28 artists from the D.C. metro region, including Reston-area artists Ann Barbieri, Laura Edwards, Dana Ann Scheurer, and Connie Slack.
Festival artists are selected on the basis of quality, originality, and craftsmanship by a panel of expert, independent jurors appointed by the Greater Reston Arts Center (GRACE). This year’s jurors – artist, Tim Doud; curator, Ashley Kistler; and interior designer, Judith Weisman – will also serve as judges for the 2016 festival.
More than 30,000 visitors are expected to check out the festival this year. Here is what you need to know:
Hours and Prices — The festival is open from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, and 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 22 at Reston Town Center, 11900 Market Street, Reston, VA 20190. A gate donation of $5 to GRACE is suggested and provides a festival program and dining certificates for local restaurants. Parking is free.
Launch Party — There will be a Festival Launch Party in the Reston Town Center Pavilion on Friday, May 20 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The party will feature fun food and beverages and a silent auction. Tickets are limited, so purchase soon if you want to attend. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased online. Read More
Retail employees at Reston Town Center will not be charged for parking when a paid parking system goes into effect this summer, RTC owner Boston Properties has confirmed.
On Aug. 1, Reston Town Center will roll out RTC Park, an app-based system for paid parking. Parking will cost $2 an hour for a maximum of $24 a day. Some retailers will validate parking.
But originally, workers — from the CEO of a tech company on Freedom Drive to a sandwich maker at Potbelly — were going to to have to pay too, though they were going to be offered $50 or $70 a month passes.
Now retail and restaurant workers will get free parking. Office workers will still have to work out any subzidies with their employers or pay for parking.
Boston Properties says it is going to the new system to discourage commuter parking. There is evidence people are parking in some of RTC’s seven parking garages, then taking a shuttle to Wiehle-Reston East to board Metro’s Silver Line. The problem will likely get worse when the Reston Town Center station opens in 2020.
Parking at Reston Town Center will be free on weekends and at special events, management says.
RTC patrons have not been happy with the change. Thousands have signed petitions asking Boston Properties to reconsider. Many others have said they will no longer visit RTC during the week.
Refraction, a coworking space sponsored by Canvas, has taken over new space at Reston Town Center and will hold an open house on Thursday to show it off to prospective tenants.
The Grand Opening event is from 6 to 9 p.m. at Refraction, 11911 Freedom Drive, Suite 850.
Refraction says it will have space for 50-60 companies in the new digs. The 23,000-square-foot expanded space has room to “house 250+ entrepreneurs, 23 meeting spaces, 14 offices, 2 kitchens, 1 multi-purpose event space and heaps of room for informal collaboration,” Refraction representatives say.
Refraction memberships will include free coffee and Wi-fi, meeting rooms and other collaborative space. Rates start at $30/daily for a drop-in desk to $300 for a co-working desk. Full offices are also available; inquire for prices.
From Refraction:
For three years and across three continents, we have studied every aspect of a successful startup office — speaking to entrepreneurs and their teams, boomers, millennials, investors, mentors, unicorns, academics, designers, and architects. The result of this research and consultation has been distilled into Refraction’s expanded space and the brand new HQ of Canvas, our major sponsor. We know what a team needs to be productive, collaborative and engaged.
Want to attend Thursday’s event? RSVP with Refraction.
Reston Town Center’s Ben & Jerry’s is now open in a new location.
The owners of the local franchise of the Vermont-based ice cream company are now at 11916 Market St. The store was formerly at 11928 Market, about five doors down, but closed last fall to make way for a Madewell store.
Reston Ben & Jerry’s owner Cliff Hallock said there will be a special grand re-opening event on Friday, May 13. There will be “Buy One, Get One Free” on all different sized ice cream cups and cones all day long.
“It will give our customers a great chance to try our new flavors: Brownie Batter and Bourbon Brown Butter,” said Hallock.
Ben & Jerry’s is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. weekdays; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekends; and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays.
Boston Properties executives said on a recent earnings conference call that the new parking app — which will manage Reston Town Center customers’ paid parking — will be “a significant enhancement for customers.
Boston Properties, which owns Reston Town Center, is set to introduce the paid parking system on Aug. 1. Visitors and employees to RTC will be charged $2 a hour for parking, which has previously been free for most of the center’s 25-year history.
Parking will be free on weekends and for special events. Customers are encouraged to download an RTC Park app for automatic payment. They can also visit a kiosk to pay. Some stores and restaurants will validate, but a complete list has not yet been made available.
The change to paid parking has not been well-received by most store owners and RTC visitors, though Boston Properties Executive Vice President Ray Ritchey said on the call that retailers at other properties “actually noted an increase in sales of up to 10 percent … because the people who do come to the malls now find it way more convenient and, as a result, spend more time there and spend more dollars.” Read More
Balducci’s Food Lover’s Market has signed a lease to open at The Signature, Boston Properties’ new building at Reston Town Center.
The gourmet market is expected to open when The Signature opens its 508 residential units and nine levels of underground parking in 2018. It is currently under construction at Reston Parkway, Freedom Drive and New Dominion Parkway, on the site of the former surface lot.
“We are thrilled about joining the Reston community and look forward to bringing our exemplary food selections and impeccable service to new area customers,” John Coleman, a Balducci’s spokesperson, said in a release.
The Reston site will be the eighth full-service store for Balducci’s, with locations operating in New York, Connecticut, Maryland and Virginia, the company said.
Balducci’s formerly had a store down the street at The Spectrum, where PetSmart is currently located. The location, formerly a Sutton Place Gourmet, opened in 1996 and closed in 2005. The Balducci’s CEO at the time called it an “underperformer.”
But with hundreds of new apartment and condo units built or planned in the Town Center area, the 2018 timing — and population density — may be better for a new store.
Boston Properties Vice President of Development Rich Ellis said the market will be a “tremendous amenity” for the area.
“Balducci’s is a best in class gourmet market that will serve as a tremendous amenity not only for residents of The Signature, but for the Reston community as a whole,” he said. “Our team is very excited to be partnering with Balducci’s on this exciting new destination.”
Balducci’s will have gourmet groceries, as well as a large prepared food and retail wine selection.
Photos: Top, rendering of Signature/Boston Properties; Bottom, Balducci’s of McLean/Credit: Yelp
Is your new best friend waiting for you at the 2016 Pet Fiesta?
The annual event sponsored by Good Dogz Inc. will feature more than a dozen rescue groups, who will bring pets in need of homes to meet potential owners at the Fiesta this Saturday at Reston Town Center.
The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will also feature fun for the whole family. Here’s what is planned:
Live Music and a dog fashion show. See live event schedule.
Tails on Trails Dog Walk — This is a scenic walk to raise money to help homeless dogs find homes. The route will take you and your furry pal around the Reston Town Center on a walk along the W&OD trail, sidewalks & footpaths. The Dog walk begins at 10 a.m., rain or shine. Cost: $20 for one dog, $5 for additional dogs, payable online.
Pet contests — including best dressed, best trick, best howl and a Frosty Paws eating competition.
Vendors — Lots of cool pet products and services will have demonstration booths.
Photo: 2015 Pet Fiesta/Gooddogz.org via Facebook
Madewell, a younger relative of JCrew, opened its doors at Reston Town Center last week.
The store is part of a rehabbed retail row aimed at young women shoppers. The stretch, formerly home to Gap and Gap Kids, includes bluemercury and Kendra Scott.
Madewell is owned by JCrew (also located at Reston Town Center) and is geared towards younger — and more price-conscious — customers.
Some of the best sellers: jeans, of course. Madewell has a Denim Bar with a wide variety of fit and washes. The company is also known for its signature Transport Tote, a $168 leather all purpose bag.
Also top sellers: casual dresses, delicate costume jewelry, and peasant blouses.
The store also has a jeans recycling program. Bring in your old pairs and the staff will give them to Blue Jeans Go Green, (and you will get $20 off on a new pair). Blue Jeans Go Green keeps denim out of landfills by turning jeans into housing insulation.
Madewell is located at 11928 Market St. Hours: Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Phone: 703-481-1020.
Hundreds will be walking to support the health of premature infants at the March of Dimes’ March for Babies (Fairfax) Sunday, May 1, at Reston Town Center.
The march begins at 10 a.m., with on-site registration at 9 a.m. There will be a walk, picnic, music, and children’s activities to support March of Dimes.
Funds raised in the March for Babies support research and programs that help moms have full-term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives. They are also used to bring comfort and information to families with a baby in newborn intensive care.
March for Babies events are held annually in about 500 communities, the March of Dimes says.
Also Sunday, march participants and visitors to Reston Town Center can shop to give back to the March of Dimes. Kendra Scott will have food and drinks and will donate 20 percent of all purchases from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. to the March of Dimes. The store will also make a donation with online purchases during that time frame. Just call the Reston store (571-599-7792) to let them know.
“Kendra Scott is a great organization, and we’re so pleased to have them in RTC,” said Pete Otteni, senior vice president of development at Boston Properties. “Their commitment to charitable giving fits perfectly with RTC ethos, and I want to make sure that we do everything we can to bring out Reston’s finest to shop at Kendra Scott and support the March of Dimes.”
Reston Town Center owner Boston Properties has raised more than $10,000 in donations to the cause. To donate, visit their online fundraising page.
Reston Town Center will get a second salon dedicated to men when Roosters Men’s Grooming Center opens at 11990 Market St. on May 13.
Owners Amy and Larry Hall of Ashburn are the owners of nearby local Roosters franchises in Loudoun County. They say Reston, particularly in the ground floor if the Midtown Condominium, is a great spot for their store.
“We were met with such an overwhelmingly positive response when we opened our locations in Ashburn and Leesburg that our dream of opening an additional location in Reston Town Center is now becoming a reality,” the Halls said in a release. “We are thrilled to become active members of the Fairfax business community.”
This will be the second salon dedicated to men’s haircuts, shaves and other treatments that opened at RTC in the last year. A few blocks down Market St. is PR Barbers, formerly Joe Grooming.
Roosters aims to offer modern services in an environment reminiscent of an old-style barbershop. The interior features oversized leather barber chairs in eight barber stations with personal shampoo bowls. Read More
When Reston Town Center initiates paid parking beginning Aug. 1, it will be under an app-based system developed by Passport Parking.
While Reston Town Center officials say the gateless, ticketless license plate recognition system is secure, a quick look through Passport Parking’s privacy policy says otherwise.
Parking will be $2 an hour in RTC’s seven garages on weekdays starting this summer. It will remain free on weekends (12 a.m. Saturday to 12 a.m. Monday). Patrons as well as RTC employees will have to pay. Many stores will validate for some free parking, but the exact system and which stores will participate has not been finalized.
RTC is encouraging customers to register their license plate and payment information with the app.
“When customers download the app, they will then be able to pay for their parking from the comfort of their vehicle or extend their parking session remotely,” says the Frequently Asked Questions section on Reston Town Center’s website.
“There will be no need to visit a pay station, as the fee will be automatically charged to their designated credit card at the end of the parking session. Multiple license plates and credit cards may be added into your account when using the Park RTC app.”
Furthermore, RTC says “Park RTC solely hosted by Passport Parking, Inc. will keep all details secure in accordance with their privacy policy, which can be found online when the system goes live. ”
While your credit card info will probably be secure, the rest is open to interpretation.
Passport says users can opt out of sharing some personal info, but “if you choose not to share, some parts of our sites and some services may be more difficult or impossible to use.”
Visitors to RTC do not have to use the app, though RTC management is encouraging them to do so. Visitors will also be able to pay manually via a kiosk.
Reston Town Center’s Concerts on the Town series will return for the summer beginning on June 4.
Concerts are held rain or shine at 7:30 p.m. at the town center pavilion. Bring your own chairs or blankets for seats. Admission is free.
- June 4: David Akers & THE SOUL SHAKERS – Motown & more
- June 11: Hard Day’s Night – Beatles tribute
- June 18: No concert, but music at the Taste of Reston: restontaste.com
- June 25: Big Joe & The Dynaflows – Swing, jump blues
- July 2: Chuck Redd & Friends, featuring renowned clarinetist Anat Cohen and bassist/vocalist Nicki Parrott – Jazz, Bossa Nova, American standards
- July 9: Bio Ritmo – Cuban salsa & other Latin rhythms
- July 16: Landau Eugene Murphy, Jazz crooner / 2011 America’s Got Talent winner – Celebrating Sinatra, Motown & The Great American Songbook
- July 23: The Congress – Alt-country, rock & roll, soul
- July 30: Unity Reggae Band – Reggae and other Caribbean rhythms
- August 6: Chubby Carrier & The Bayou Swamp Band – New Orleans zydeco, high-energy rhythm & blues
- August 13: In Full – Classic rock and hits from the 50s till today
- August 20: Airman of Note – U.S. Air Force – big band jazz
- August 27: Leonard, Colemand & Blunt Former lead singers of The Temptations, The Platters &The Drifters Doo-wop
Photo courtesy of Reston Town Center
Ben & Jerry’s, which closed at Reston Town Center last fall, is slated to re-open April 30 in its new space at 11916 Market St.
Reston Ben & Jerry’ owner Cliff Hallock said the new space should be fully ready, pending any permit issues, to be offering scoops of Cherry Garcia, Americone Dream and Cookie Dough ice cream, among other favorites.
Ben & Jerry’s was formerly located at 11928 Market St. That space has been taken over by clothing store Madewell, which plans to open next week.
Hallock said the new space is being built out and is still being configured to its long-and-narrow shape. He said he plans outdoor seating and limited indoor seating at the new store.
