The Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse will soon be getting a new neighbor.
Mazagan Restaurant, at 2901 Columbia Pike, recently put up posters on the windows of its storefront, advertising a restaurant with “Cuisine. Cocktails. Culture.”
Chef/owner Riyad Bouizar signed the lease for the space last month and said construction will begin next week, with an estimated opening in late December or early January. Mazagan will be a Moroccan restaurant, Bouizar said, with three different sections: a “big bar” with seating for about 50, a dining room with seating for about 60 and a lounge area in the back for cocktails and appetizers.
Bouizar, who was born in Morocco, where he went to culinary school, also owns Ristorante Murali and Brasserie Creperie at Pentagon Row. He said Mazagan’s future location on Columbia Pike inspired him to re-enter the kitchen and open a restaurant that builds on his culinary passion.
“It’s an upcoming area, I like it because of the international people there, and they’re from everywhere,” Bouizar said. “That’s where the concept came there, to do something a little different, bring something new. I’ve always wanted to open a Moroccan restaurant, and there are not too many around here.”
Mazagan said he envisions a “half-open kitchen” concept with a wood-fired grill in the middle of the dining room. The fare will stray a little from traditional Moroccan cuisine; Bouizar wants the theme to be a “kebab bar,” offering more than 20 different styles of kebabs from the grill.
Bouizar plans to start dinner slightly early, at about 5:00 p.m., and continue serving it later, to accommodate the movie-going crowd at the Drafthouse.
The restaurant replaces Venus Stereos & TVs, a quirky electronics store that also sold soccer jerseys, which closed February 2012.
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Arlington and its neighbors have become more segregated in the last 10 years while fair housing legislation at the state level faces significant roadblocks. Arlington’s fair housing enforcement, education, and commitment to equity practices in housing policy and programs are beginning to show signs of improvement but much more needs to be done.
Join the NAACP Arlington Branch, HOME of Virginia, and Equal Rights Center for the 2nd Annual Arlington Fair Housing Conference on April 15th to discuss the threats and opportunities to advancing fair housing policy across the state and within Arlington.
The half-day, in-person event will feature speakers from fair housing advocacy organizations and government agencies including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and focus on fair housing policy trends in Virginia and Arlington County. The conference aims to advance the understanding of issues and policies related to equity and affirmatively further fair housing among local officials, advocates, and members of the public.
2nd Annual Arlington Fair Housing Conference
Is home ownership a goal of yours in 2023? Now is the time to make it happen! Grab a (virtual) drink with the area’s top Real Estate experts, learn all about the home buying process and on how you can get $1,500 towards your closing costs immediately!
Did you know the average Arlington renter will spend $150K in 5 years of renting? Stop paying down someone else’s mortgage! Join us for a Rent vs. Buy Happy Hour on Wednesday, April 5th at 6 p.m. via Zoom. If this time doesn’t work, we also are offering times convenient for your schedule!
A lot has happened in the local market since the beginning of the pandemic. Sip on your drink of choice and learn from Northern Virginia, Arlington and Washingtonian Magazines top producing agents! We will discuss the latest market updates, the home buying process and rent vs. buy cost savings. Please RSVP by clicking here.
Call/text Manavi at 703-869-6698 with any questions!
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Join us at the WHS Spring Festival on April 22, 2023, from 10am- 3pm at Wakefield High School(main parking lot). Come out to shop, play, and eat!
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