local business | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published May 23, 2017 at 9:00AM | Updated May 23, 2017 at 9:24AM

Fourth High School Option Floated — Arlington Public Schools Superintendent Patrick Murphy has added a fourth option for adding additional high school seats to the three finalists announced last month. Murphy said the existing Arlington Education Center near Washington-Lee could be used to house 600 students while adding another 700 seats in an expansion of the Arlington Career Center. [InsideNova]

World of Beer Sues Local Owner — Just a week after it was first reported that the owner of the World of Beer franchises in Ballston, Reston and Fairfax was rebranding the restaurants as “Crafthouse,” comes word that the World of Beer corporate office is suing him for allegedly violating their franchise agreement. [Reston Now]

Events

Seven Local Companies Named Best Business Award Winners

By Chris Teale

Published May 5, 2017 at 1:45PM

Almost 200 people gathered May 2 for the awards, which are presented to area businesses for their customer service, industry leadership, growth or stability over the lifetime of their business and interest in the success of the Arlington community.

This year’s winners, by category, were:

Around Town

House of Steep Looking To Add Alcohol, More Massage Options

By Chris Teale

Published May 5, 2017 at 9:55AM

House of Steep is applying for a liquor license

Saved from closure by a new owner, House of Steep on Lee Highway is now in the process of adding new ways for its customers to relax.

The Cherrydale business at 3800 Lee Highway had been set to close late last year, after founder and previous owner Lyndsey DePalma suggested it was not making enough money.

Around Town

Casual Adventure Set To Close After Spring Sales, But No Closing Date Yet

By Chris Teale

Published May 4, 2017 at 4:05PM

The store does not have a firm closing date

Long-time Virginia Square outdoor retailer Casual Adventure is still open, but will close once its spring stock has sold out.

The 61-year-old store at 3451 Washington Blvd announced its closure last month. After the announcement, the retailer kicked off its “End of an Era Sale,” featuring up to 50 percent off any remaining outdoor, tactical and sporting goods in stock.

Around Town

Current Boutique Celebrates 10th Year With New Website, Weekend Activities

By Chris Teale

Published April 28, 2017 at 4:45PM | Updated April 28, 2017 at 5:16PM

Photos via Maurisa Potts/Spotted MP

Ten years after it began in Clarendon, the Current Boutique consignment clothing shop is beginning a new chapter as it launches a new website.

The boutique, which owner Carmen Lopez first opened at 2601 Wilson Blvd in 2007 before expanding to Alexandria, D.C. and Bethesda, intends for its new website to allow women to consign clothes from their homes anywhere in the U.S.

Around Town

Price Increases, Upgrades Coming to Arlington Cinema & Drafthouse

By Chris Teale

Published April 26, 2017 at 10:00AM

The iconic local business at 2903 Columbia Pike is about to shift to playing movies on a first-run basis, meaning it has quicker access to films. Owner Greg Godbout has said previously that showing mainstream movies several months after the initial release has hurt business given the rise of video on-demand services.

But to show first-run films, the Drafthouse will need to increase its ticket prices to meet the requirements of its film distributors. In an email sent to customers Tuesday, Godbout said tickets will now cost $8 for matinee screenings, and for students and other discounted groups like children and seniors, and $10 for screenings after 6 p.m.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published April 25, 2017 at 9:00AM

File photo of a fox in Arlington (Flickr pool photo by GM and MB)

How to Fix a “Stuck” Homepage — A few users have been reporting that our homepage has been “stuck” for the past few weeks, frozen in time after March 31. This is a browser caching issue that is affecting a very small subset of users. To resolve it, press the “refresh” button on your browser.

Park Volunteers to Be Honored — Two Arlington residents will be recognized as “outstanding park volunteers” at tonight’s Arlington County Board meeting. This year’s honorees are Paul Holland and Yu-hsin Hsu. [Arlington County]

Events

Finalists Set For Chamber’s Best Business Awards

By Chris Teale

Published April 24, 2017 at 2:35PM | Updated April 24, 2017 at 3:55PM

The awards recognize businesses that go above and beyond to serve their clients and make the county a great place to live and work. Businesses earn the awards through good customer service, if they are industry leaders or offer a unique approach, or if they are active in the community.

This year, the awards will be given out on May 2 at the Key Bridge Marriott Hotel in Rosslyn. A VIP past winners reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the main ceremony at 7 p.m.

Around Town

Podcast: Matt Hussmann of the Clarendon Alliance

By ARLnow.com

Published April 12, 2017 at 5:30PM

The alliance is a booster for local businesses and helps to put on the annual Clarendon Day festival and a number of other events.

In this week’s 26 Square Miles podcast, we asked Matt about the current state of Clarendon, about turnover among restaurants and retailers, and about the future of the neighborhood — including development projects in various states of planning or construction.

Opinion

Morning Poll: Shop Local vs. Shop Online

By ARLnow.com

Published April 6, 2017 at 10:15AM | Updated April 6, 2017 at 10:44AM

Casual Adventure (photo via Facebook)

The owners wrote that it’s “no secret that the old retail model no longer works” at a time when online retailers keep gaining market share.

There is a reason why Amazon’s market value is now almost twice that of Walmart.

Around Town

Aussie Eatery Oz Is Doing Bonzer Biz, Owners Say

By ARLnow.com

Published April 5, 2017 at 1:15PM | Updated April 5, 2017 at 2:13PM

Oz restaurant's Ashley and Michael Darby (courtesy photo)

Heaps of new customers have been saying g’day to Oz restaurant in Clarendon over the past year, its owners say.

Contrary to its portrayal on the new Real Housewives of Potomac season — a teaser video showed proprietors Ashley and Michael Darby arguing about it “not doing well” — Oz (2950 Clarendon Blvd) is currently a profitable business, according to Mr. Darby.

Around Town

Long-Time Outdoor Store Casual Adventure Is Closing

By ARLnow.com

Published April 3, 2017 at 10:10AM | Updated April 3, 2017 at 10:29AM

Casual Adventure (photo via Facebook)

The store, at 3451 Washington Blvd, made the announcement this morning. The owners “received a reasonable offer for the sale of our building” and took it, they said.

E-commerce has made the bricks-and-mortar retail business increasingly difficult. “It’s no secret that the old retail model no longer works,” said Eric Stern, whose family has owned the store for 61 years.