After three years in the works, Pop-Up District, a new food hall and lounge at Eden Center, plans to open for business sometime next month.
The hall will offer two distinct experiences depending on the time of day, company president Jay Tran told ARLnow. The space is designed to be a casual coffee, food and treat destination during the day, before transitioning into a Vietnamese-inspired evening lounge for drinks, EDM and dancing at night.
“We tried to bring a new vibe to Eden Center,” Tran said. “You can hang out with your friends, get some drinks, get some snacks, get some good food. [It’s] like a fun place for you to hang out with your friends.”
The food hall has confirmed five restaurants and a bar across its 8,000 square feet.
- Eatsy, a Thai street food restaurant
- The Beat, a bakery and soft-serve Korean ice cream shop
- Sun-C, a Vietnamese restaurant
- Honey Pig Cupbop, a customizable Korean barbecue restaurant
- Doppo, a Vietnamese cafe and banh mi shop
- .08% Soulbar, a full-service liquor bar
A seventh kiosk is reserved for a rotation of businesses to temporarily sell products — hence the name Pop-Up District.
“I think that’s the main goal of Pop-Up District, to give people an opportunity to be a business owner,” said Tran, who also owns Northern Virginia bubble tea franchise TeaDM.
The hall’s daytime hours will be 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Free high-speed internet and breakfast offerings are intended to cater to risers and remote workers.
“I would [also] love to have families coming over for lunch, for good food, for dessert,” Tran said.
From 6 p.m.-2 a.m., Tran hopes to host events like a DJ night, dance night and live music performance. The range of potential activities is inspired by Saigon nightlife, which he said leans less heavily into alcohol than in the states.
“Basically, you come out and drink only,” Tran said. “But in Vietnam, you can go to, let’s say, to the lounge, and then puff, and then you can order food, sit down, chat with your friend … It’s just like a couple drinks, chilling after work, like happy hours.”
“I’ve been doing business here since 2016 and I’m very familiar with our Vietnamese culture,” Tran added. “I know what people want.”
With a December grand opening on the horizon, Tran said the venue is “about 80-85% done.”
