Columbia Pike | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published August 3, 2021 at 5:00AM

Pupatella Gets Millions for Expansion — “Arlington’s own Pupatella pizza restaurant chain has raised $7.5 million to continue its growth spurt, with plans to open more more than a dozen restaurants in the coming years. The round was fully subscribed and had participation from almost all of the investors who participated in the company’s first round in 2018, when it raised $3.75 million.” [Washington Business Journal]

Steel from WTC Donated to Arlington — “Two pieces of steel from the World Trade Center will now be on permanent display in D.C. and Virginia ahead of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. The words ‘never forget’ are written on the front of a piece of steel beam unveiled during a ceremony in front of the Arlington County Police Officer Memorial on Sunday.” [WTOP]

Around Town

New ‘Free Blockbuster’ Boxes Let Locals Donate and Borrow Movies

By Dana Munro

Published July 29, 2021 at 10:10AM | Updated July 29, 2021 at 4:59PM

Free Blockbuster in Columbia Pike (via Chris Slatt)

Next to a park bench, across from Bob & Edith’s Diner on Columbia Pike, there’s a converted newspaper box with the words “Free Blockbuster,” framed by that nostalgic dark yellow movie ticket stub, spray-painted on the front.

Inside, passersby can find free movies, popcorn and candy to enjoy a movie night at home.

News

Apartment Building with Grocery Store Proposed for Ballston Macy’s

By Jo DeVoe

Published July 29, 2021 at 9:00AM | Updated July 29, 2021 at 10:16AM

A rendering of the proposed development for the Ballston Macy's department store (via Arlington County)

Plans are taking shape for an apartment building set to replace the Macy’s store in Ballston.

Insight Property Group proposes to demolish the long-time department store and vacant office building at 685 N. Glebe Road, in the heart of Ballston. In its place would go a 16-story, 555-unit apartment complex atop a planned grocery store.

Around Town

Columbia Pike McDonald’s Gets a Major Facelift

By ARLnow.com

Published July 16, 2021 at 1:30PM

Newly-renovated McDonald's at 3013 Columbia Pike (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The McDonald’s at 3013 Columbia Pike is celebrating its newly-completed renovations.

The fast-food joint ditched the old-school, red-and-white motif in favor of a more modern gray-and-tan exterior.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published July 16, 2021 at 7:30AM

Peak Heat, Statistically Speaking — “Based on history, we are now at the hottest point of the summer. While it can still be brutally hot in the weeks ahead (and probably will be at times), we are about to begin our gradual descent into winter, using average temps.” [Capital Weather Gang, Twitter]

Arlington Home Prices Keep Rising — “A total of 369 properties went to closing last month, up 62 percent from 228 in June 2020… The average price of single-family homes in the county was $1,217,376 last month, up 9.8 percent from $1,109,179.” [Sun Gazette]

News

Newly Renovated Columbia Pike Library Reopens After 16 Months

By Matt Blitz

Published July 9, 2021 at 1:30PM | Updated July 9, 2021 at 2:53PM

Children and Arlington Public Library Director Diane Kresh, right, prepare to cut a ribbon to open the newly renovated Columbia Pike Public Library (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 2:40 p.m.) With a snip of a ribbon, the newly-renovated Columbia Pike Branch Library officially opened for the first time since March 2020.

The library on S. Walter Reed Drive, which first opened in 1975, underwent a significant makeover including new furnishings, updated carpeting, fresh coats of paint, additional meeting rooms, modernized audio-visual equipment and new lighting.

Around Town

Takohachi Japanese Restaurant Has Closed But Will Reopen Elsewhere on the Pike

By Matt Blitz

Published July 6, 2021 at 1:30PM

Takohachi Restaurant is moving out of the soon to be redeveloped Westmont Shopping Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Takohachi Japanese Restaurant, one of the last holdouts at the soon-to-be redeveloped Westmont Shopping Center, closed over the weekend, but will be reopening just down Columbia Pike.

The Japanese and sushi restaurant’s last day of service was this past Saturday (July 3), confirmed the owner, Nakano, to ARLnow.

News

Community Saves Wounded Snapping Turtle From Penrose Window Well

By Matt Blitz

Published June 29, 2021 at 10:30AM | Updated June 29, 2021 at 12:04PM

Snapping turtle found in the Penrose neighborhood (Photo courtesy of the Animal Welfare League of Arlington)

The Penrose community helped save a wounded snapping turtle from being stuck in a window well last week.

On Wednesday (June 23), The Animal Welfare League of Arlington received a call from a concerned citizen about a rather large turtle inside of a window well of a Penrose house on the 800 block of S. Wayne Street.

Events

Weekly Drive-In Movies Return to Columbia Pike on Saturday

By Dana Munro

Published June 28, 2021 at 2:45PM

Scenes from a Columbia Pike drive-in movie showing last summer (courtesy of CPRO)

Outdoor movies are returning to Columbia Pike.

The Columbia Pike Revitalization Organization will be screening summer cinema from the Arlington Career Center parking lot starting this Saturday.

News

EXCLUSIVE: Pike Businesses Leaving Due to Parking Challenges at County-Financed Garage

By Matt Blitz

Published June 25, 2021 at 10:55AM | Updated June 25, 2021 at 2:48PM

The entrance to the Avalon parking garage (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 11:10 a.m.) A pair of Columbia Pike businesses say they’re planning to leave when their leases are up due to parking challenges at a county-financed garage.

Lost Dog Cafe and Joule Wellness Pharmacy both tell ARLnow that relatively high and confusing parking fees in the garage are costing them thousands of dollars a year in customer business. The owners of both say they will not be renewing their leases when they expire come 2023 and 2024, respectively.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 25, 2021 at 7:30AM

The nearly full Strawberry Moon in June 2021 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington is ‘Best City for Road Trips’ in Va. — “In each state, there are some cities with particularly novel and exciting opportunities to soak up some of the local history and culture without breaking the bank. From underrated smaller communities to large metropolises, these are the cities you want to hit on your road trip this summer in 2021.” [Insurify]

Attempted Art Theft from Garage — “4700 block of 36th Street N. At approximately 10:32 p.m. on June 23, police were dispatched to the report of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, officers located the suspect on scene and detained him without incident. The investigation revealed the male suspect gained entry into the victim’s garage and attempted to remove paintings.” [ACPD]

News

Video: Car Fire Blocks Part of Columbia Pike

By ARLnow.com

Published June 22, 2021 at 8:30AM | Updated June 22, 2021 at 9:59AM

A car caught fire in the middle of a Columbia Pike intersection last night.

The carbeque happened around 8:30 p.m. Monday at the intersection of the Pike and S. Jefferson Street, near Arlington’s western border. Video shared with ARLnow (below) shows the car being driven while flames shoot from the engine compartment, before it finally comes to a stop and the flames and smoke intensify.