Around Town

A Northern Virginia-based cafe selling sandwiches, salads and smoothies has set its sights on Falls Church for its newest location and its first drive-thru.

Sweet Leaf Cafe is coming to 603 W. Broad Street, the former location of a drive-thru Smoothie King. According to the business, this is the first new Sweet Leaf to open in five years.


News

Falls Church election officials are once again planning to try to persuade school leaders to close one or more of the city’s schools during major future elections.

They’re particularly focused on Oak Street Elementary School, which serves as a polling place for one of the city’s three voting wards. (The Falls Church Community Center is the polling location for Wards 2 and 3.)


Around Town

The forthcoming Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Falls Church is targeting an opening date one month from now.

Grocery Outlet, the replacement for a shuttered small-format Target store at 500 S. Washington Street, plans to open on Feb. 12, the company announced in a press release today (Monday).


Around Town

Quite a few Arlington establishments are serving mocktails and other non-alcoholic drinks this January — and year-round — for those looking for a sober start to 2026.

For customers looking to try out the “Dry January” trend — which some see as a way to improve health and wellbeing, especially after an indulgent holiday season — zero-proof menus in Arlington and Falls Church offer a way to enjoy drinks without getting drunk.


News

Falls Church will be able to hold ranked-choice City Council elections as early as 2027, if current Council members want to make the switch.

The city is on track to acquire new voting equipment that would accommodate the ranked-choice format in time for the 2027 elections, city elections director David Bjerke told the Falls Church Electoral Board on Monday.


Around Town

A New York-style deli, a hot pot place, a French-inspired cafe and other restaurants are expected to open in Arlington in 2026.

Following an eventful 2025, which saw the opening of numerous restaurants like Nettie’s Tavern in Clarendon, Scolapasta in Ballston and Bar Chinois in Crystal City, dozens of restaurants are expected to open this year.


News

Falls Church’s incumbent mayor narrowly won reappointment to a new two-year term yesterday (Monday).

Letty Hardi was selected by colleagues to continue in the post on a 4-3 vote, with new Council member Arthur Agin delivering the slim margin of victory.


News

A plan to consolidate and then subdivide three parcels in Falls Church to build 15 townhomes is heading to the Planning Commission.

The commission will be briefed on Madison Homes’ plans for the parcels at 701, 703 and 705 Park Avenue, just north of W. Broad Street, on Wednesday.


Around Town

Domino’s Pizza is getting ready to open in a new spot in Falls Church, about a mile and a half away from the chain’s current location in the city.

“Coming soon” signage has appeared outside 438 S. Washington Street, where Domino’s plans to relocate from its current store at 1106 W. Broad Street.


News

A Democrat is taking over for a Republican on the Arlington Electoral Board in the new year.

David Leichtman, a veteran political activist, will succeed electoral board vice chair Richard Samp, a Republican whose term expires Dec. 31.


News

The closure of a nearly 200-year-old book wholesaler will impact how soon new materials turn up on the shelves at Falls Church’s Mary Riley Styles Public Library.

Like many library systems nationally, the Falls Church library dealt with Baker & Taylor for many of its materials purchases. But the North Carolina-based company, founded in 1828, is wrapping up operations after announcing earlier in the year that its planned acquisition by another firm would not materialize.


News

Do Falls Church’s new trio of HAWK pedestrian signals have minds of their own?

The signals went live in late spring along Broad Street, and on rare but multiple occasions, ARLnow staff have observed them turn on without any pedestrians nearby seeking their activation.


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