Monday, March 4, 2013
Family-owned Persian pastry, sandwich shop shuts down, marking the end of a three-generation family business that spanned from Iran to Northern Virginia.
After two and a half years in the Village Green shopping center, Café Nemooneh, a specialty Persian pastry, sandwich and coffee shop, is shutting its doors. Not only does the Monday announcement mark the end of business at the Vienna shop — located along a popular route for the area's Iranian population as it travels to and from the Iranian Community School on Maple Avenue — but also the end of the Maleki family's five generations in the food business. Owner Sam Maleki, whose grandfather first opened up shop in 1960 on Shmeran Street in Tehran, Iran, said he couldn't overcome the issues that also plagued the recently-shuttered Plush Gelato: The rent was too high, and the customers — though loyal — didn't come by often enough. "These past …
Monday, February 25, 2013
What do you want to see in the former shop at Park Street and Maple Avenue?
Though Plush Gelato will apparently sell its frozen sweets at local Smart Markets this year, their storefront at Park Street and Maple Avenue is gone. On its Facebook page, the business — which opened in fall 2010 — cited high rent as main motivation for shutting its doors. Plush Gelato was the creation of Dinh Luong and her husband Henry. While there are a number of places to get Gelato and other frozen treats around town — including Sweet City Desserts and Nielsen's Frozen Custard — fans would flock to the store in summer months for its fresh ingredients and unique flavors, randing from Tiramasu to Basil Mint. The business expects to start selling at Smart Markets this year, it said on its Facebook page. Now that the storefront is vacant…
Friday, February 22, 2013
The coffee and sweets shop has apparently closed its doors on Maple Avenue, but it's not clear why.
Plush Gelato has quietly disappeared from Vienna. The cornerstone storefront of Maple Avenue's intersection with Park Street is now vacant: there are no signs on the door nor furniture inside, save the counters from which cashiers used to ring up cups of fresh gelato and specialty coffee. It's not clear when exactly the store, which first opened in November 2010, shut its doors. Calls to the shop by Patch were not returned, though its website is still up and running. But fans on Yelp said the last day of business was Jan. 27. The reason: supposedly, it "can't support the business in the winter." "I am so sad that this great small business will not be continuing because they have such a great product!" one fan wrote on Yelp. "I guess the …
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Restaurant picked in Washingtonian Magazine's roundup of best eateries in the region
Looking for one of the best eateries in Washington, DC? You don't have to look farther than Maple Ave Restauarant, which was recently named one of the area's top 100 restaurants by Washingtonian Magazine. It was also recently named by the magazine as the No. 3 "readers' choice" favorite eatery. (And if that wasn't enough, Chef Tim Ma was ranked No. 3 by the magazine last month, too). "We can only say that this year has definitely been a great one so far," said co-owner Joey Hernandez, noting the honor "is just awesome." "We are lucky that we get to do what we love and humbled by the continued support for MAR," she told Patch. The restaurant has come a long way since it opened in August 2009. The restaurant, located in the former Anita's …
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Alegria, Anita's, Pho'n'More named in Northern Virginia Mazagine callout for best dishes in NOVA.
The best dishes in Northern Virginia could very well be in Vienna. At least that's what three celebrities told Northern Virginia Magazine on the publication's EAT THIS NOW! hunt to find the best dishes in Northern Virginia. The magazine asked 28 local celebrities — from singers to politicians, writers to athletes — where they sought out their favorite entrees. The Washington Post's Tom Jackman, who writes the State of Nova blog, told the magazine the Mr. T (Pork Platter), at Anita's on Maple Avenue, was his pick among all other dishes in the region. (Click here to find out why ... hint: it's not the tortilla). The Roasted Portabello Taco at Alegria, owned by Bazin's on Church, is a favorite of swimwear designer Karla Colletto, who gave the…
Friday, December 7, 2012
D.H. Scarborough, chair of the newly-formed group, answers five questions for Patch.
The Vienna Business Association formed late this summer, after the Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce announced it was dropping Vienna from its name. Patch spoke with D.H. Scarborough, chair of the newly-formed group, about the new organization. Patch: The VBA is a relatively new organization. What has been the response to the organization from members of the business community in Vienna? Tell Patch a little bit about how the organization came to be. D.H. Scarborough: The Vienna Business Association had the first meeting to form the organization on Aug. 31. The response from businesses and the entire community has been really exciting and amazing. We started by contacting local businesses by email to invite people to our organizing …
Friday, August 10, 2012
Ira Glass says company's podcast infringes on name of his program "This American Life."
A Vienna-based tech company has been named in a lawsuit filed by radio personality Ira Glass, who says its podcast — "This American Startup" — infringes the copyright held by his own program for the past 20 years. The Washington Business Journal reported Friday the suit by Glass claims Immersonal Inc.'s use of the name confuses listeners of his Chicago Public Media program and weakens its brand. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court in Richmond, claims the company is intentionally playing off "This American Life" to deceive consumers and benefit from its name recognition. The case has been transferred to the U.S. District Court in Alexandria. "This American Life," which has operated under that name since 1996, "captures contemporary …
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Town seeks names of businesses who went above and beyond in late June storm
Hundreds of thousands of people across Virginia, including many in Vienna, were without power, a refrigerator, fresh food and air conditioning after the derecho struck the area June 29. But the damage didn't completely shut Vienna down. A month later, the Town of Vienna is looking to recognize those businesses that opened their doors and made a difference -- through food service, a helping hand or morale boost -- before, during and after the storm. "We want to recognize those businesses who continually support our community in all kinds of conditions," Public Information Officer Kirstyn Barr said Monday. Typically, the town recognizes all volunteers during Mayor Jane Seeman's annual volunteer day, Barr said. "But we wanted to take this …
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Caffe Amouri celebrates second birthday as Caribou Coffee marks grand opening
Vienna residents will have plenty of opportunities to celebrate coffee across town on Saturday, as one business celebrates its second year of business and another prepares to officially launch a location of its own. Caffe Amouri owner Michael Amouri will mark his shop's second anniversary with a free all-day celebration at the store on Church Street. The event will have live music, free hot dogs, door prizes and half-priced hot or cold "Caffe Amouris," the shop's signature drink. "We want to celebrate with the community that we have grown to love so much. JOIN US!" Amouri wrote of the event. The celebration will take place outdoors from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and move inside from 7 to 10 p.m. Caribou Coffee, which opened its doors on Maple …
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
For customers, few answers as to why "Vienna icon" no longer serves burgers, breakfast
For more than 30 years, Wolftrap Cafe and Catering was an iconic part of the shopping center at Route 123 and East Street, a casual restaurant that attracted both families and old regulars for takeout or a meal in one of its wooden booths. But the deli, which has been in the same spot off Maple Avenue since 1979, closed suddenly this month, leaving longtime customers with few clues about what made the family-friendly restaurant close without fanfare, or, much of a trace at all. The restaurant's phone number is not in service; its website has been disconnected. A single sheet of white paper reads "sorry, we're closed" on the door to the now-empty deli counter that anchored the restaurant's front lobby. What was once a gathering place for …
Teresa Schultz
5:56 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Loved their sandwiches. Great service. Will miss Sam and his friendly greeting. He had the best memory. more ›