Construction is underway at the long-vacated Cosi restaurant in Rosslyn — but it’s not for a new dining tenant.
Instead, the Department of State is expanding its lobby, located next door, into the empty retail space at 1801 N. Lynn Street, an agency spokesperson told ARLnow. The expansion is intended to “accommodate security upgrades, visitor badging, and updated finishes” at the building, which is home to the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.
The former retail bay has remained empty since Cosi closed in early 2021, following a string of Rosslyn restaurant departures in the wake of the pandemic. The fast-casual chain had also closed down locations in Ballston, Crystal City and Virginia Square around late 2019 to early 2020, after filing for bankruptcy in 2016.
Construction on lobby expansion began in January. New window coverings and job site signage were spotted there recently this spring.
“The Department has no other construction or renovation projects planned for the Rosslyn building at this time,” a spokesperson said.
In March 2025, the Rosslyn building was briefly among 443 federal properties under consideration for potential sale, appearing on a former General Services Administration list of “non-core” properties.
However, the agency now appears to be interested in maintaining the building, at least for now. A current list of assets “identified for accelerated disposition” on the agency’s website does not include any buildings in Arlington.
The site’s assessed property value has been on a steep decline over the past three years, according to county records. As of January, its assessed value is $185.3 million — a decrease of 17% from the year prior and 35% since 2023.
