Ballston Buffalo Wild Wings Opening Next Week
Buffalo Wild Wings is preparing to open its newest location (950 N. Glebe Road) in Ballston next week.
Passers-by may notice a lot of activity at the site right now, because new employees are going through training this week. But the sports themed restaurant won’t open to the public until Monday, July 16, after a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m.
Regional manager Don Rizzie said based in part on the success of the Buffalo Wild Wings in Crystal City, the decision was made to expand in Arlington.
“It’s a great area, it’s bustling,” said Rizzie. “Northern Virginia is the place to be right now.”
Rizzie said the Ballston location is expected to be a top five store within the company. The Crystal City location, which has been open for about a year and a half, came in third in sales last year for all Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants across the country. It’s anticipated that the one in Ballston will perform as well, if not better.
“You’re not going to be able to beat the lunches we do around here,” said Rizzie.
Although the Ballston area is quickly accruing sports bar style restaurants, such as the recently opened Greene Turtle, Rizzie doesn’t think competition will be a problem. He said there are things that set Buffalo Wild Wings apart from the competition, specifically the high energy employees who put an emphasis on customer service.
“What really makes Buffalo Wild Wings is our people. That’s why we’re so selective about hiring,” Rizzie said. “Anybody can have signature sauces and put up TVs and show all the sporting events, but what we have is the energy.”
The restaurant has outdoor seating for 75 people. There will be some TVs inside the establishment that face out toward the patio for those who want to keep up with the games while getting some fresh air.
Rizzie points out that even though the chain is known for its wings, there is a full menu available for anyone who wants something a little different. There will be a variety of lunch specials on weekdays.
As part of the opening festivities, next week the restaurant will be raffling off a year of free wings every hour, along with other freebies.
“Come out and see us next week,” said Rizzie. “It’s going to be a party!”
Car Flips on George Washington Parkway
(Updated at 2:50 p.m.) The Alexandria Fire Department and U.S. Park Police were on the scene of a car that flipped on the George Washington Parkway this afternoon.
The Honda landed on its roof in the median between the northbound and southbound lanes, in the area between Reagan National Airport and Daingerfield Island. There’s no word on injuries, but we hear that the driver was not trapped and did not need to be extricated by rescue personnel.
As of 2:35 p.m. the scene had been largely cleared, though residual delays remained in the southbound lanes of the parkway.
McDonald’s on Wilson Closes for Construction
The McDonald’s at the Corner of Wilson Blvd and George Mason Drive has suddenly closed, at least for now.
Although a couple of employees were spotted milling around inside, the restaurant is dark and the parking lot is taped off. A sign hanging in the window says the restaurant is closed for construction.
McDonald’s has not yet responded to our request for information about how long the Bluemont location will be closed and exactly what type of construction is taking place.
Weekend Track Work to Close Airport, Crystal City Metro Stations
Trying to get to the airport this weekend could prove to be a challenge for anyone who thought they could get there via Metrorail. The station at Reagan National Airport is going to be closed.
Workers will be installing cable to provide better cell phone coverage along the Blue and Yellow lines, in addition to doing work on ties and insulators. Starting at 10:00 p.m. on Friday, July 13, and continuing through closing on Sunday, July 15, free shuttle buses will replace trains between Pentagon City and Braddock Road on the Blue and Yellow lines. The Reagan National Airport and Crystal City stops will both be closed.
Blue Line trains will operate in two segments: between Franconia-Springfield and Braddock Road and between Pentagon City and Largo Town Center, at regular weekend intervals. Yellow Line trains will also operate in two segments: between Huntington and Braddock Road and between Pentagon City and Mount Vernon Square, at regular weekend intervals. Customers traveling through the work zone should allow about 30 minutes of additional travel time.
Orange Line customers may also experience some delays, due to work on ties and insulators. Trains will single track between East Falls Church and West Falls Church. Customers should expect minor delays.
Details about all of the weekend track work and delays can be found on WMATA’s website.
Ask Adam: The Upfront Costs of Home Buying
Editor’s Note: This periodic sponsored Q&A column is written by Adam Gallegos of Arlington-based real estate firm Arbour Realty. Please submit follow-up questions in the comments section or via email.
Question: We are thinking about purchasing our first home and are wondering if you can help us budget for the upfront costs of buying a home?
There are going to be some variables involved depending the size of the home, price and amount you plan to use as a down payment. That said, I’ll do my best to give you a general idea of the costs involved in purchasing a home in Arlington.
Different loan programs are available that require a down payment of 0%, 3.5%, 5%, 10% and 20% or more. You will need to discuss the different options available to you with a loan officer that you trust.
Your closing costs are likely to be between 2% and 3% of the purchase price. Closing costs include:
- lender fees
- title fees and insurance
- prepaid interest
- prepaid insurance
- prepaid property taxes
- prepaid mortgage insurance (if applicable)
- government recording and transfer charges
- survey (if applicable)
- association dues / reserves (if applicable)
If you negotiate a closing cost subsidy, it will go towards paying for the above mentioned closing costs. Your lender should be able to provide you with a loan scenario worksheet that will itemize the closing costs and monthly costs for your individual situation. There are also online closing cost calculators available, like this one from RGS Title. I recommend always consulting with your lender before negotiating a closing cost subsidy so that you are aware of any restrictions they may have.
By closing towards the end of the month, you can reduce the amount of prepaid interest collected at settlement. You also have the option of purchasing owner’s title insurance or not. Be sure to ask whether there is more than one type of policy. Many title companies present you with their “enhanced” policy by default, which may not be worth the extra money to you.
The lender may require you to pay the appraisal and application fee at the time you make application for your loan. Budget about $450 for these costs.
Bryce Harper Invited to Become Volunteer Firefighter in Arlington
Nationals star Bryce Harper, perhaps most widely known for calling out a reporter for asking a “clown question,” has received a request to try out a new career — firefighting.
The Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department recently discovered that Harper, an Arlington resident, has always had aspirations of becoming a firefighter. That prompted a formal invitation to the All Star, and any interested teammates, on Friday.
The department learned about Harper’s desire from the Nats blog, which posted a question and answer session with the player.
The department posted the following on its website:
We noticed that Washington Nationals rookie outfielder Bryce Harper, when asked by a fan what he’d be doing if he wasn’t playing baseball, responded that: “I’d probably be a firefighter. Ever since I was growing up, I wanted to be a firefighter or a baseball player. Going into the offseason, I’m going to get my EMT and do the firefighting thing so I have something to fall back on.” Recognizing Mr. Harper’s inner calling as something more than just a savvy PR move, the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department invites Bryce Harper, and any other Nat who’d like to come to check out the fire service in the offseason. We’ll look forward to seeing you at our November meeting.
So far, neither Harper nor the Nationals responded to the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department’s invitation.
Flickr pool photo courtesy D Rob
Morning Notes
Undocumented W-L Valedictorian “Still Kind of Scared” — This year’s Washington-Lee High School valedictorian, 17-year-old Nataly Montano, is one of the young people impacted by President Obama’s recent policy decision to pull back on the deportation of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. Montano, a 4.3 GPA student, says she is “still kind of scared sometimes because things could happen to get me deported.” [Sun Gazette]
New Washington Blvd Trail to Impact Trees — A new trail extension planned for Washington Boulevard between Columbia Pike and Route 50 will result in the removal of “about 350 trees.” The plan has, on some level, pitted bicycle advocates against tree huggers, according to a blog post. [Commuter Page Blog]
‘Tapping Party’ Tonight in Shirlington — Capital City Brewing Company in Shirlington Village is hosting a “tapping party” tonight (Tuesday) for one of its newest beers, a Rye IPA. “Medium to full bodied, the Rye IPA (6.5% ABV) is an American style IPA made with the addition of Rye malt that lends a spice to the flavor profile and then dry hopped with American style hops,” according to a press release. The event starts at 7:00 p.m. and will include a question and answer session with the brewmasters, a free appetizer buffet and a trivia contest. [Shirlington Village Blog Spot]
Flickr pool photo by Maryva2
UPDATE (2): Fatal Hit and Run Near the Pentagon
(Updated at 4:30 p.m.) Arlington County Police are investigating a fatal hit and run accident near Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon.
Around 6:00 this morning, police say an adult male was struck by a vehicle on southbound Route 110 near the ramp to Washington Boulevard. A witness reported seeing a man’s body in the roadway and a vehicle stopped near it. When officers arrived, the vehicle was gone, according to Arlington County Police spokesman Dustin Sternbeck.
The victim has been identified as Robert Shepard, a 62-year-old military veteran from Lawrence, Mass. Police said Shepard had a history of mental illness and was reported “missing and endangered” by his girlfriend in Massachusetts about 2 weeks ago. He was wearing camouflage pants at the time of the accident, according to Sternbeck.
The force of the impact propelled the Shepard’s body about 60 feet from the point of collision, Sternbeck said. Investigators say they’re currently working several leads, including traffic camera video, to try to track down the striking vehicle.
Two lanes of Route 110 and the ramp to Washington Boulevard were closed immediately following the accident. Investigators remained on scene through the morning rush hour, causing significant backups on Route 110.
