Weird Brothers Adapts to Coronavirus — The local veteran-owned coffee shop has adapted to takeout curbside pick up and is offering local deliveries in the Herndon and Reston area. The owner says he’s seen a 50 percent drop in sales. [Patch]

Reston IT Company Names New CFO — “Reston-based information technology company Contegix announced Thursday that it has named Mike Dunn as its new chief financial officer. Dunn was most recently the CFO of systems integrator and managed hosting provider NeoSystems LLC.” [Virginia Business]

More Postponements for County Dockets — Although the Fairfax County Courthouse remains open, the Circuit Court, General District Court and Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court have changed their bond and arraignment schedule until further notice. [Fairfax County Government]

Verisign Inc. Donates $500,00 — The Reston-based company has donated the money to Northern Virginia’s COVID-19 response fund “as part of a broader effort to support those in the region.” [Community Foundation for Northern Virginia]

Metro Scales Back Service — “Metro will operate significantly reduced rail and bus service on Saturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5, maintaining a core network of 27 “lifeline” bus routes and providing twice-hourly rail service on all lines for the region’s essential travel need.” [Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority]

Photo via vantagehill/Flickr

State Gov. Ralph Northam recently ordered restaurants, bars, and gym to enforce a 10-person limit in their establishments.

Unlike DC and Maryland where restaurants were ordered to close earlier this week, many local restaurants are continuing operations. Some are open with reduced hours and while others are shifting entirely to carry out and delivery.

Small businesses are reporting financial distress as COVID-19 continues to spread. So far, the county’s health district has 16 confirmed cases — a number that’s expected to rise as more people receive tests.

Here’s a list of spots to check out for takeout and delivery options. Please note that restaurants are updating hours and policies on a daily basis.

Carryout and Delivery

• Amphora: Reduced bakery hours on weekdays from 8 am to 6 pm and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call ahead for curbside delivery
• Ariake: To-go orders only between 11:30 a.m. and 9 p.m.
• Bobby’s Bagel Cafe: Carryout and delivery offered
• CAVA: Some locations have closed, but the Reston location is open for pick up orders
• CarPool Herndon: Carryout offered; 10-guest limit for dine-in
• Charred: Customers can grab a $10 cheeseburger with chips and drinks all week.
• Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant: Foodservice discontinued, but the tasting room remains open
• Elden Street Tea Shop: Customers can place an order online
• Jimmy’s Old Town Tavern: Delivery and pick-up only via Doordash. Free delivery is offered within a 10-mile radius. The kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
• Lake Anne Brew House: A new “taproom to go” site was launched yesterday (Thursday)
• Lucia’s Italian Ristorante: The restaurant is also open for dine-in
• Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls — The owner tells us the Reston Town Center location is open from noon to 7 p.m. Carryout, curbside pickup and free delivery in RTC are available
• Mission BBQ: Open for take-out and delivery only. Free delivery for all orders of $25 or more through March 31
• Founding Farmers: Delivery and takeout offered, with first respondents. Current and formers employees get 50 percent off for curbside pick up orders.
• Finn Thai: Open for dine-in, delivery and carryout
• Glory Days (North Point and Fox Mill Locations) — Carryout, online ordering and delivery
• Gregorio’s Trattoria: Open and also offering delivery and carryout
• Kalypso’s Sports Tavern: Free delivery and takeout
• Mezeh Mediterranean Grill: Pickup and delivery available. Buy one bowl, get one free.
• Morton’s The Steakhouse: Takeout offered from noon to 8 p.m. daily. Half off of select wines with purchase of food.
• Nando’s Peri-Peri: Delivery and carryout
• Nordic Knot: Orders can also be placed online
• North Italia: Delivery and carryout offered only
• Silver Diner (11951 Killingsworth Avenue): Carryout, curbside, and delivery online available
• Ted’s Bulletin: Dine-in is open “with strict sanitation and health checks,” according to the company
• The Counter: Online orders open
• The Melting Pot: Reduced hours from Sunday through Thursday, with an early closing time of 9 p.m.
• The Counter: Online orders open
• Virginia Kitchen: Open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Curbside service highly encouraged
• Weird Brothers Coffee: The Worldgate Metro Plaza location is open on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The roasting factory is open on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The coffee shop is also offering takeout, curbside delivery and local delivery

Temporary Closures

• Big Bowl
• Bombay Velvet
• Crafthouse: Gifts cards available for purchase online
• Mon Ami Gabi
• Not Your Average Joe’s
• PassionFish
• Uncle Julio’s

Help us update this list by commenting below with the name of the business and a link with details

Photo via Lake Anne Brew House/Facebook

The last thing Army veteran Paul Olsen and his brother Kenny wanted was another pretentious coffee shop in Herndon.

After spending two years learning the fine art of roasting coffee beans in Paul’s backyard, the brothers — embracing their self-described weirdness– opened the first coffee roaster in Herndon. 

Their business, Weird Brothers, quickly took off after modest beginnings as a mobile coffee bar on wheels in early 2015.

Now, the locally-owned coffee shop has two brick-and-mortar locations: the first shop and roastery at 321 Sunset Park Drive and a new coffee bar that opened — at the request of the property owners — at 12825 Worldgate Drive.

But with each big step, the family-run business experienced hiccups along the way.

Shortly after the first Weird Brothers location opened, co-owner Kenny and the expert barista and go-getter of the brothers’ duo, died unexpectedly. Then, a few months before the second location’s opening, Paul’s father, Daryl, a retired businessman and teacher at a California High School who helped the business start-up, also died.

Despite difficult times in the family, Paul says the coffee shop has remained committed to brewing coffee and community spirit.

“We just keep pushing forward,” Paul said, describing the business as a family affair, “We have to make Kenny and my dad proud.”

Weird Brothers prides itself in selling a product that is unpretentious and different from corporate coffee.

The owners were inspired by the coffee culture on the West Coast and Paul’s experience traveling the world in the Army. After retiring from the Army in 2009 and with six years of government contracting experience, Paul decided to launch the business.

Having little roasting experience of their own, the brothers, who grew up in California with their parents, worked on their technique.

Now, as the business expands, they hope to create a place where people can experience the whole process of coffee from the bean to the cup. 

For the Weird Brothers, coffee has always been about fostering community and personal connections. Olsen and his family — including three children — live in Herndon.

“We take our coffee seriously,  but we don’t take ourselves too seriously,” Paul says.

Every Sunday, 15 percent of the day’s proceeds are donated to the charity of the day.

Even though Paul prides the now growing list of flavors the business serves, he concedes a simple truth that he often tells customers about:

“The best coffee is the coffee that you enjoy the most,” he says.

Photos by Jay Westcott

This story is part of a recurring feature on independent businesses in Herndon and Reston. To submit suggestions on businesses to profile, email us at [email protected].

 

A local coffee shop has something exciting brewing. Weird Brothers Coffee has opened a second location in Herndon (12825 Worldgate Drive). The first day of business is today (Tuesday).

The community-based and family-run coffee roaster and coffee shop is the first coffee roaster in Herndon (321 Sunset Park Drive). 

Brothers Paul and Kenny Olsen, who describe themselves as “weird brothers,” first began serving fresh-roasted coffee from a mobile coffee truck along major commuter routes.

When the coffee hit off, the family opened a location at Sunset Park. Although Kenny passed away soon after the coffee bar opened at the roasting factory, the family continued the business.

Paul, an army veteran, drew his inspiration for quality coffee after traveling to Ethiopia and its ancient city of Harar.

Photo via Weird Brothers Coffee