Friday, May 10, 2013
This week: As shops open and close in Vienna, a look at what the role town plays (or doesn't) in new businesses coming to town.
"Ask the Town" is a weekly series that features Vienna Public Information Officer Kirstyn Barr answering reader questions about anything and everything Vienna. Have a question? Leave it in the comments below; we'll answer it next week. There has been a lot of discussion around town lately about what business might occupy the old Magruder’s space and some talk about ‘bringing in’ particular businesses to fill the void. As far as the Town’s involvement (as a government entity) goes, to put it simply, we do not “recruit” businesses to come and open up shop in Town, regardless of the location. The Town only becomes involved with a particular property when a building or occupancy permit application is made. At that time, the Department of …
Friday, May 3, 2013
And if you don't venture out for the celebration, here's how to make the best margarita from a Northern Virginia bartender.
Cindo de Mayo is Sunday. There is no shortage of places in Vienna to raise your glass in celebration. Tell your neighbors - who makes the best margaritas? Is it a traditional Mexican spot like Anita's? Tequila Grande? Alegria? Or do you venture to another favorite watering hole in town? Somewhere out of the ordinary? Tell us in the comments — and if you're planning on staying at home, watch the video for how to make the best margarita on your own. Sign up for Vienna Patch’s daily newsletter "Like" us on Facebook "Follow" us on Twitter
Friday, April 12, 2013
Company announces plans to close 80 locations across the country by Sunday.
Caribou Coffee, which operates more than a dozen shops in Northern Virginia, plans to close 80 of its coffee shops nationwide. But the shop on Maple Avenue won't disappear: instead, it will become a Peet's Coffee & Tea sometime in September, an employee told Patch. The store opened in Vienna last September. Peet's, based in San Francisco, was founded in 1966 in Berkeley, Calif. by Alfred Peet, according to its Web site. See more about Peet's on its Facebook page. In a statement this week about the closures, Caribou CEO Mike Tattersfield said: "Over the past few months, we at Caribou have revisited our business strategy, including closely evaluating our performance by market to make decisions that best position us for long-term growth. "…
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Northern Virginia pizza chain moves into former Greek Grill location.
Vienna has another pizza place in town. Paisano's, a local pizza chain, opened a Vienna location at 312 Maple Ave W this week. It replaces the Greek Grill, which had served up omelets, gyros and other greek fare for nearly 15 years in the spot until it closed in October. Vienna restaurant goers might recognize the new shop's pizza from George Mason University's Patriot Center, or a number of other nearby locations, including those in Tysons Corner, Reston and Falls Church. The Pasiano's location in the Vienna Plaza shopping center is the company's 18th location, says Jennifer Kaine, an assistant manager in Reston. It offers a range of pizzas, including thin crust and New York Gourmet style, but also subs, wraps, salads, wings and deserts, …
Sunday, April 7, 2013
We'll give a "shout out" to local small businesses who fill out the form below and upload a picture.
We want to help Vienna businesses spread the word about their specialties, their hours and their history. So, take a few minutes to fill out this easy form, upload a photo or two of your workplace and we'll take it from there. We'll use some of the information you submit to write a post in the coming days or weeks that spotlights your business. Please be sure to submit your responses before attempting to upload a photo of your business by clicking the "Upload Photos and Video" button attached to this article. Not seeing the form above? It doesn't always show up properly on mobile devices, so please try visiting our site from a laptop or desktop computer.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Business owners can claim their free listing in Patch Places to promote their business and inform local Patch readers.
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Thursday, March 28
When Patch launched in late 2010, editors and freelancers ventured to local businesses to collect information for our directory. They made Patch Places into a spot where local consumers can find descriptions, hours, accepted payment methods and much more for stores and restaurants around town. All Vienna Patch readers can add information about local events, can rate the business on a scale of one to five stars and can add a review. But many owners of local businesses don't realize the full advantages and extra bonuses they get when they claim a listing. How to Claim Your Listing—and Why Owners or managers should search for their business listing on Patch in the search box above, click on your business listing and then click on "claim your …
Saturday, March 16, 2013
The branch on Maple Avenue — robbed three times in as many months in 2011 — shut its doors as of last month.
United Bank is no longer operating on Maple Avenue. The branch of the bank, which has 16 other locations in Northern Virginia, apparently closed its doors Jan. 31. Customers emailed Vienna Patch this week showing a dark office with "we're closed" signs hanging from the inside of the doors. The bank made its mark on Maple Avenue with a large digital thermometer sign, which buffered the large building in which it was located from the road. A representative from the bank could not be reached at press time. In 2011, the bank was a victim of three armed robberies in as many months. A suspect was not apprehended in those cases. The bank's Tysons branch, at 2071 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna, remains open Keep track of all business news by …
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Vienna shop that specializes in wedding items, furniture and unique gifts is marking down its inventory until it's gone.
Curtsies & Petals, a quiet shop on the edge of the Village Green, is closing its doors sometime this month — the second shop in the shopping center to announce its closing this week. The shop, which in addition to wedding items sells "eclectic gifts, personal accessories" as well as home items, was owned by Divya Chadha for the past two years. Chadha said she hopes to be out of the shop by March 20 and is marking all items down until then. In addition to the normal merchandise, there are furniture pieces on sale as well as formal dresses. Neighboring store Cafe Nemooneh shut its doors earlier this week. A few weeks beforehand, Plush Gelato left its space at Maple Avenue and Park Street; it will continue to sell its gelato at area Smart …
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 …
Friday, March 1, 2013
A roundup of the top food headlines this month in Vienna.
February was a newsy month in the Vienna food scene. Residents, still reeling from the January loss of Magruder's, also saw Plush Gelato shut its doors. The shop, which said on its Facebook page the rent was too high to stay in business, will apparently be selling its treats at local Smart Markets. Readers spoke out about the empty space, saying it was an eyesore and lacked adequate parking. Some questioned whether any business, food-based or not, can survive at all. On the other side of town, just beyond town borders, several businesses set up shop in the ever-growing Mosiac District. One of Vienna's own chefs also got an unusual accolade, and some restaurants are worried about the impacts of sequestration. Stay tuned in March for news …
Andrew B
6:46 pm on Thursday, April 25, 2013
At the end of the day, the Germans see Peets as a better profit opportunity in the DC area, since they consider it more upscale than Caribou and with more national brand recognition to boot. Its all about the bottom line..m more ›