local business | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published November 5, 2014 at 11:20AM

New Incubator to Launch in Crystal City — Eastern Foundry, a new incubator serving small businesses that contract with the federal government, is launching next month in Crystal City. Eastern Foundry joins two other recent startup-oriented additions to Crystal City: TechShop and the Crystal Tech Fund. [Washington Business Journal]

Rosslyn Planning Meeting — The county will share “preliminary Concept Plan Alternatives” as part of its Western Rosslyn Area Planning Study at a public workshop on Saturday. The study is, among other things, considering redevelopment possibilities for the Wilson School and Fire Station No. 10 property on Wilson Blvd. [Arlington County]

Around Town

Bangkok 54 Market Reopens After December Fire

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 9, 2014 at 4:30PM

Bangkok 54’s grocery store has reopened, nine months after a fire tore through the business and forced it to shut down.

The market is connected to the Bangkok 54 Thai restaurant at 2919 Columbia Pike, which was able to open the day after the Dec. 12 fire. Owner Bundit Sookmee said the fire, which was concentrated in the front of the store, forced him to spend eight months rebuilding and restocking the store, which specializes in Asian grocery products.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 7, 2014 at 9:00AM

Buses to Use I-66 Shoulder — Buses will be allowed to use the shoulder lane on I-66 inside the Beltway during heavy traffic, starting next month. VDOT is launching the program as a way to relieve some congestion and improve the on-time performance of bus routes that utilize the traffic-choked corridor. [Washington Post]

Parkmobile Now Available in Courthouse, Rosslyn — Arlington County has completed the implementation of the Parkmobile parking payment system for the Courthouse and Rosslyn neighborhoods, ahead of schedule. [Twitter]

Around Town

Rosslyn Baby Shoe Maker Tries for Etsy Success

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 6, 2014 at 12:15PM

Becca Premo is likely Arlington’s only clothing maker who specializes exclusively in baby shoes.

Premo, 25, runs The Bashful Elephant, an online baby moccasin seller through the website Etsy. Premo has been selling “baby mocs,” as she calls them, on Etsy since March.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published October 6, 2014 at 9:35AM

World Trade Center Pieces Transported — An Arlington resident snapped a photo of the convoy on I-395 that way carrying pieces of the World Trade Center to the Marine Corps Museum in Triangle, Va. [Twitter]

Women in Business Conference — The Arlington County Commission on the Status of Women will be holding its third annual Women in Business Conference this week. The conference, to be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the NRECA conference center in Ballston, will highlight women in non-traditional fields. ABC 7’s Maureen Bunyan will host. [Arlington County]

Around Town

Clarendon Gift Shop Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

By Ethan Rothstein

Published October 1, 2014 at 1:30PM | Updated October 1, 2014 at 5:02PM

Knightsbridge Trading Company, one of just a handful of small business retail shops in Clarendon, is celebrating its one year anniversary this weekend.

From noon to 4:00 p.m., customers and passersby can walk into the shop at 2871 Clarendon Blvd and enjoy free wine, cheese, tea and hors d’oeuvres, according to shop owner Murat Etili. The celebration comes after a year he says met his expectations when he opened his shop with national retailers like Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn and Orvis all just steps from his doors.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published September 24, 2014 at 9:15AM

Arlington Fighting to Keep, Attract Office Tenants — In the wake of federal cuts and BRAC relocations, Arlington’s office vacancy rate is now as high as 23 percent. Arlington is reportedly fighting to keep the Courthouse-based energy software firm Opower, “which is considering a move to the District to better recruit talent.” Meanwhile, Rosslyn property owner Monday Properties is still searching for a tenant for its new, gleaming 1812 N. Moore Street office tower. [Washington Post]

New Spa Coming to Clarendon — Sterling-based Origins Thai Spa is planning on opening a new location in Arlington. The spa will be located in a 5,000 square foot space next to Sehkraft Beer Garden on the ground floor of the Garfield Park apartment building at 925 N. Garfield Street. [Washington Business Journal]

News

Fair Trade Store Expands With New Cafe

By ARLnow.com

Published September 23, 2014 at 10:00AM | Updated September 24, 2014 at 11:36AM

Trade Roots (5852 Washington Blvd) in Westover has expanded with a new cafe.

The fair trade store recently renovated and opened the cafe, which serves fair trade coffee, tea and baked goods from two local bakeries: LeoNora Gourmet and Vera’s Bakery. Owner Lisa Ostroff, who’s preparing to celebrate two years in business next month, says the cafe will help the store serve the community and boost foot traffic.

News

A-Town Permit Could be Renewed Despite July Champagne Truck Incident

By Ethan Rothstein

Published September 15, 2014 at 1:30PM

Thanks to a reduction in noise complaints, County Manager Barbara Donnellan has recommended the Board approve renewal of A-Town’s permit, with another county staff review in three months and another Board review in six months.

“Residents in the community have stated to staff that the site plan condition, which restrict the permitted hours the outdoor cafe can be in use, has significantly cut down on noise-related disturbances,” the county staff’s board report states. “However, disturbances related to overcrowding and over-serving of alcohol still have a negative impact on adjacent properties.”

Around Town

‘Cookies on a Stick’ Could Win Sweet Cash for HS Student

By Ethan Rothstein

Published September 10, 2014 at 10:00AM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QA7gct9n1Oo

Wakefield High School student Amelia Semprebon could win $2,500 in a national entrepreneurship contest for her “cookies on a stick.”

News

Shirlington Company No. 3 on Inc. 5000 List

By ARLnow.com

Published September 2, 2014 at 5:15PM | Updated September 3, 2014 at 10:01AM

File photo

A Shirlington-based firm is the fastest-growing U.S. company outside of California, according to the recently-released Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

Reliant Asset Management has 9 employees working from its headquarters at 2900 S. Quincy Street — behind Carlyle restaurant — and last year reported $85.1 million in revenue. That’s up from $153,125 in 2010, when it was founded, for a whopping 55,460 percent three-year growth rate.

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Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published July 29, 2014 at 9:00AM | Updated July 30, 2014 at 10:03AM

Decision Lens Gets $6.5 Million — Arlington-based software company Decision Lens has received $6.5 million in investment. The company has 71 employees and serves 80 customers. [Reuters]

Arlington Youth Baseball Team Wins State Title — The Arlington Senior Babe Ruth 15-Under All Stars have captured a state championship. The team will now compete in the Southeastern Regional Tournament, which starts tomorrow near Richmond. [InsideNova]