Plans for a new beer garden in Crystal City appear doubtful as the space has gone back up for lease.
The property at 556 22nd Street S. — which includes several thousand vacant square feet of indoor and outdoor patio space — had re-entered the market as of last week, despite a local chef’s previous plans to open Scapegoat Beer Garden there.
The space, known as Crystal Hill, was listed for lease on LoopNet on May 27. It includes 3,500 square feet of restaurant space and 6,500 square feet of outdoor seating along the neighborhood’s popular Restaurant Row corridor.
Plans for Scapegoat Beer Garden included a Korean fusion menu alongside beer, wine and cocktails from operator and chef Kendrick Wu. The restaurant intended to fill a vacancy left by the Greek restaurant, Athena Pallas, in 2022.
There, the business hoped to accomodate about 79 people indoors and 208 guests across a large outdoor seating area that Athena Pallas constructed without county permission during the Covid pandemic.
In January 2025, the Arlington County Board approved a site plan amendment to allow for the outdoor seating area, but the property reportedly still faced some complications to opening.
This past January, Board members extended the restaurant’s use permit by another six months, as the business aimed to address other outstanding issues.
“We’re really looking forward to being a part of the community — we do want to be a positive influence,” Wu previously told the board.
Wu did not respond to inquiries about the business, and property broker A. Paul Voutsas declined to comment.
Scapegoat Beer Garden has not yet received a building permit, inspections or a certificate of occupancy, according to Rachel LaPiana, spokesperson for Arlington’s Department of Community Planning, Housing and Development. She said:
In March, the County required Scapegoat Beer Garden to resubmit materials for a building permit. Until they have received a building permit, no construction or use of the space is allowed. If they receive a building permit, construction may begin, and associated inspections must be scheduled. Once complete, they can apply for a certificate of occupancy (CO). A building permit, inspections, and COs require separate applications and review processes.
