Coming Soon to Clarendon: Mad Rose Tavern?
A planned restaurant called Mad Rose Tavern has applied for a liquor license at 3100 Clarendon Boulevard. The license application, filed on July 27, describes the future establishment as a restaurant with a seating capacity of over 150 seats.
The restaurant’s parent company, Mad Rose Inc., was incorporated on July 7 , according to state records. Little else is known about it.
Curiously, all the storefronts at 3100 Clarendon Boulevard are either currently occupied or have “retail space for lease” signs in the window. A call to the leasing agent has not been returned.
As mentioned in this morning’s Notes, 3100 Clarendon Boulevard is home to such businesses as SoBe Bar & Bistro and Mister Days Sports Rock Cafe.
Hat tip to @jamesp326 for the link to the liquor license.
Time Runs Out for Cherrydale Clockworks
Cherrydale Clockworks, at 3510 Lee Highway, went out of business about a month ago. Now, at least one former customer whose clock was being repaired at the store is trying to figure out how to get it back.
The store, once filled with clocks of all shapes and sizes, is now empty. A sign on the door indicates that the landlord changed the locks. “For Lease” signs hang in the front window. A phone number for the store is forwarded to a full voicemail box.
An employee at a business next door says a steady stream of former customers have been coming to him with questions about the store. He said the store always seemed busy, but noted that the owner kept irregular hours and irked neighbors by using his rear parking space as a junkyard.
One tipster tells us: “At least one of my neighbors has a clock that was being repaired by Cherrydale Clockworks, and now can’t get the clock back.”
It’s not clear what could be done to get it back. Locals tell us that at one point a sign directed customers to call a number to get their clocks back. That sign has since been taken down.
A call to the Virginia Department of Consumer Affairs revealed that the last complaint filed against the store dates back to 2008.
The Old vs. New Crystal City
Crystal City is in the early stages of a transformation that is turning it from a gloomy strip of monolithic office and apartment buildings into a vibrant, modern urban village. Among the changes in the works are a new entrance to the Metro station, a dedicated transit way along Crystal Drive, the removal of older buildings and the realignment of several streets.
In the third of a series of videos, Arlington County Board Vice Chairman Chris Zimmerman and Crystal City Business Improvement District President Angela Fox discuss some of the differences between the “old” Crystal City and the “new” Crystal City, as seen from the perspective of 23rd Street.
Sat Truck Still Parked on Park Drive
Last week we gently poked fun at whoever called police to complain about a satellite truck that was illegally parked at Park Drive and South George Mason Drive. Well, guess what? The truck is still there, and people are still complaining about it.
Police received another call about the truck last night at 6:00. We checked it out and found not a single vehicle parked near it. We noted that the four hour zone parking restriction has already ended, so at that time the truck was actually legally parked.
Also of interest: There were no parking tickets visible on the truck’s windshield.
We called the company that operates the truck, PSSI Global Services, to find out why such an expensive piece of equipment has been parked on a random residential street for so long. The individual on the phone said a company representative would call back later that night. That, of course, never happened.
So the mystery of why the truck is parked there, and why people are so bothered by it that they’re still calling police, continues.
Morning Notes
The Portofino Restaurants Celebrates 40th Anniversary — Portofino, the family-owned Italian restaurant on 23rd Street in Crystal City, is celebrating 40 years in Arlington this month. The restaurant opened its doors on August 17, 1970. Since then, three generations of the Micheli family have been cooking up authentic Italian dishes for thousands of patrons. Current and former employees and restaurant regulars will gather to celebrate the anniversary at an invitation-only bash later this month.
Arlington Library Director Rocks Out With Summer Tunes – Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh has compiled a list of her favorite summer songs. “School’s Out” by Alice Cooper, “Hot Fun in the Summer Time” by Sly and the Family Stone and “Stoned Soul Picnic” by Laura Nyro round out the top three. Also on the list: the David Lee Roth cover of “California Girls.” See all 20 selection on the Library Blog. Just don’t sing along if you happen to be listening in a library.
WaPo Reveals Secret Tenant in Clarendon Office Building — Ever wonder why there always seems to be security standing outside the office tower at 3100 Clarendon Boulevard? The address, which houses Pacers Running Store and SoBe Bar & Bistro, is also home to the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Washington Post reports. But DIA will soon be moving from its Clarendon and Crystal City offices as a result of BRAC.
Flickr pool photo by Philliefan99.
