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Morning Notes

Published February 14, 2022 at 7:30AM

Pentagon City Plan Passes Unanimously — “The Arlington County Board adopted a new vision for a vibrant and livable Pentagon City, following an 18-month planning process. The Board voted 5-0 to approve the Pentagon City Sector Plan (PCSP) and its associated Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance amendments.” More than 110 people spoke at the Board’s meeting on Saturday, many of them opposed to a portion of the plan that would allow a significant increase in density on the RiverHouse property. [Arlington County]

Second HQ2 Phase Advancing — “PenPlace, the 3.2 million-square-foot second phase of Amazon.com Inc.’s second headquarters, has earned the key support of Arlington County staff as it heads into its final stretch of reviews. During the last Site Plan Review Committee meeting Thursday, Peter Schulz, a staffer with the Arlington planning division, said ‘staff has no major outstanding issues’ with regard to PenPlace’s architecture and landscape design.” [Washington Business Journal]

Around Town

Asian street food eatery Hawkers looking to open in Ballston this summer

By Matt Blitz

Published February 11, 2022 at 10:30AM

The Asian street food eatery Hawkers is coming to Ballston (staff photo by Matt Blitz)

Hawkers, a growing Asian street food restaurant chain, is looking to start serving in Ballston this summer.

First announced in July 2020, Hawkers had hoped to open its first Arlington location by the spring of 2021. But equipment and supply chain challenges delayed that goal by nearly an entire year, a Hawkers spokesperson tells ARLnow. The eatery is now targeting a June 2022 opening.

Around Town

Wine bar and restaurant Pirouette Cafe opening this summer in Ballston

By Matt Blitz

Published February 7, 2022 at 1:45PM | Updated February 7, 2022 at 2:14PM

Head Chef Autumn Cline in front of Pirouette Cafe, which is opening in Ballston at 4000 Fairfax Drive (photo via Instagram)

Pirouette Cafe, a new wine bar and restaurant, is set to open this summer on the ground floor of J Sol apartments in Ballston.

Pirouette is from the wife and husband team of Philippe and Jackie Loustaunau, residents of nearby Virginia Square who currently own a technology consulting business together.

Around Town

JUST IN: Chipotle appears to be coming to Clarendon, despite company’s denial

By ARLnow.com

Published February 4, 2022 at 11:45AM

Future Chipotle location in Clarendon (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

It looks like a Chipotle is coming to Clarendon, though the company says that’s not the case.

Chipotle has applied for a state alcohol beverage permit to serve beer in a retail bay on the ground floor of the 3000 Wilson Blvd office building. A leasing plan for the building seen by ARLnow says the Chipotle will be located at 3017 Clarendon Blvd, in the empty former Pete’s New Haven Apizza storefront next to Four Sisters Grill.

Around Town

Burger joint with a side of a hookah lounge is coming to Langston Blvd

By Matt Blitz

Published February 2, 2022 at 10:30AM | Updated February 2, 2022 at 12:38PM

5009 Langston Blvd, soon to be an All About Burger and hookah lounge (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

A burger restaurant and a hookah lounge are expected to open on Langston Blvd later this year.

All About Burger is gearing up for a new location at 5009 Langston Blvd, owner Mohammad Esfahani tells ARLnow, with the hope it will start serving by May or June of this year. This will be the local chain’s eighth location and third in Arlington, including restaurants in Virginia Square and Ballston.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published February 1, 2022 at 7:30AM

A runner along Long Bridge Park in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Local GOP Supports NAACP’s Caucus Call — “We agree with the NAACP Arlington Branch when they exclaim ‘holding a partisan caucus outside the general election schedule leads to voter confusion and thus undermines voter engagement… and candidate recruitment,’ and we support the NAACP’s strong recommendation that the ‘ACDC cease its School Board caucus and endorsement process…'” [Arlington GOP]

New Mahjong Speakeasy in Pentagon City — “Scott Chung, the restaurateur behind Bun’d Up, was chatting with fellow chef Andrew Lo not long ago about how to best make use of the back room of his Taiwanese gua bao eatery in Pentagon City. Chung had a vision for a dive bar. Lo suggested a hub for mahjong… The end result is Sparrow Room, a speakeasy-style cocktail bar and dim sum restaurant at Westpost (formerly Pentagon Row) that opens Thursday, Jan. 27.” [Arlington Magazine]

Around Town

Crawfish eatery Chasin’ Tails is leaving Arlington for Falls Church

By Matt Blitz

Published January 31, 2022 at 2:45PM

Chasing Tails on N. Westmoreland Street in East Falls Church (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Seafood restaurant Chasin’ Tails is swimming out of Arlington and about a mile down the road to Falls Church, co-owner Au Dang confirms to ARLnow.

The decade-old restaurant that’s inspired by backyard crawfish boils is heading to Founders Row, a new development just over a mile from its current location at 2200 N. Westmoreland Street in Arlington’s East Falls Church neighborhood. The move is expected to happen possibly in June, depending on permits, with the closing and opening of the restaurants happening simultaneously.

Around Town

Nighthawk Pizza in Pentagon City hopes for late March opening

By Matt Blitz

Published January 31, 2022 at 9:30AM

Chef Johnny Spero at Nighthawk Pizza (photo courtesy of Nighthawk Pizza)

Nighthawk Pizza, the beer and food hall with a “’90s vibe,” is aiming for a late March opening in Pentagon City, co-owner Scott Parker tells ARLnow.

The newest venture from the local serial entrepreneur was initially expected to start serving in the late fall, but supply chain hang-ups (a common refrain these days) pushed the date a few months.

Around Town

Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream opens in Pentagon City, scooping some unique flavors

By Matt Blitz

Published January 27, 2022 at 2:30PM | Updated January 27, 2022 at 4:23PM

Mimi's Handmade Ice Cream in Pentagon City (photo courtesy of Rollin Amore)

Opening an ice cream shop in the winter wasn’t exactly Rollin Amore’s plan, but he’s been pleasantly surprised by how good business has been so far.

“I’ve had at least 30 to 40 people the first four weeks basically come back two, three, four, five times,” Amore, owner and ice cream maker at Mimi’s Handmade Ice Cream at Westpost in Pentagon City, says. “I’ve built up a loyal following in such a short period. That’s a testament to the product.”

Around Town

Halal pizza shop plans to open next month on Columbia Pike

By Matt Blitz

Published January 24, 2022 at 10:30AM

Future location of Papa Deeno's Pizza on Columbia Pike (via Google Maps)

A new family-owned, halal pizza shop is looking to open next month on Columbia Pike.

Papa Deeno’s Pizza at 4109 Columbia Pike was initially supposed to open at the end of last year, but a family health emergency and supply chain challenges has pushed the opening by a few months.

Around Town

Korean rice dog eatery looking to open in Crystal City next month, Ballston in March

By Matt Blitz

Published January 20, 2022 at 9:30AM

Oh-K Dog & Egg Toast, coming soon to 23rd Street S. in Crystal City (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

It still may be another month or two before Korean rice dog eatery Oh K-Dog and Egg Toast opens in Arlington.

In November, we reported that the fast casual franchise was set to open two new locations in Arlington, one in Crystal City and one in Ballston, perhaps as soon as December, as part of the franchise’s country-wide expansion.

Around Town

Takohachi Japanese Restaurant looks to open within the week at Penrose Square

By Matt Blitz

Published January 19, 2022 at 10:30AM

Tsutomu Nakano, owner of Takohachi Japanese Restaurant (staff photo)

Takohachi Japanese Restaurant at Penrose Square is planning to finally open within the week, owner Tsutomu Nakano tells ARLnow.

Back in July, the four-year-old sushi restaurant was forced to close its location at Westmont Shopping Center on Columbia Pike due to the shopping center’s impending redevelopment. However, plans were in place for the restaurant to move up the Pike to Penrose Square with a hoped-for opening date in September.