Around Town

An Arlington strength training gym hopes to open this summer on the ground floor of a new Virginia Square office building.

M2, a fitness studio by Method Fitness, has signed a lease at 3901 Fairfax Drive, joining the nine-story building’s growing tenant lineup, according to a release from developer Skanska. The acclaimed gym currently has one outpost on Langston Blvd.


Around Town

Following a two-decade career at the Smithsonian Institution, a Fairlington artist has opened a new boutique with handmade stationery in Long Branch Creek.

Theresa Esterlund celebrated the grand opening of her new shop, Open to Being, last weekend at 2424 26th Road S. The shop carries cards, prints and notebooks featuring her original artwork, many printed on-site using an antique letterpress.


Around Town

Clarendon’s Verizon store is preparing to relocate this summer as a new facial studio hopes to open there this fall.

The Verizon at 2930 Clarendon Blvd is moving less than a block away to Le Pain Quotidien’s former space at 2900 Clarendon Blvd. Meanwhile, skin care studio franchise Glowbar intends to open at Verizon’s current address later this year.


Around Town

A jewelry boutique selling upcycled earrings and art has opened its first brick-and-mortar location in Clarendon.

The new store, Eliana Curated, will celebrate a grand opening tomorrow (Saturday) at 3110 10th Street N. Founder Angelika O’Reilly, who previously sold her wares mostly at D.C.-area markets, specializes in “fine jewelry, fashion art and curated experiences.”


Around Town

Flight Wine Shop has landed in Crystal City.

The local wine retailer celebrated a grand opening over the weekend at 269 19th Court S., on the ground floor of The Grace apartments. The new shop is a spinoff of D.C.’s former Flight Wine Bar, which spent a decade in Chinatown before closing in late 2023.


Around Town

The Barnes & Noble in Clarendon is temporarily closing this spring as plans to remodel and consolidate the space move forward.

Until May 23, the bookstore at 2800 Clarendon Blvd is holding a 25% off “last chance” sale on nearly all merchandise, a store manager told ARLnow. After that, the remodeling project is expected begin in the spring or summer and last through 2026.


News

A marker celebrating a former cluster of Vietnamese businesses known as “Little Saigon” could be coming soon to Clarendon.

The concept design for a tabletop marker saluting the collection of Vietnamese restaurants and stores that once flourished in the neighborhood received approval from Arlington’s Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) on Wednesday.


Around Town

The oldest surviving business in Falls Church, Brown’s Hardware, is selling off the last of its wares as it prepares to close for good after 142 years.

The past few weeks have been busy but somber as patrons shuffle in to say goodbye, owner John Taylor told ARLnow. With about a fifth of all inventory remaining and an across-the-board 50% off sale, the store is on track to close at 100 W. Broad Street by the third week of March.


Around Town

Preparations to demolish the shuttered Ballston Macy’s have begun as several hundred apartments and an as-yet-unnamed grocery store are expected in 2028.

Interior work began last month at 685 N. Glebe Road, where general contractor John Moriarty & Associates hopes to receive a demolition permit “any day now” and, if all goes as expected, complete demolition by August.


Around Town

A new shop offering acai bowls, smoothies and other nutritious treats has opened for business in Courthouse.

With a vibrant, surfer-inspired atmosphere and tagline, “Welcome to Pineappleland,” Playa Bowls is bringing treats packed with fresh fruit to 2055 15th Street N. It is the company’s first Arlington location, joining nearby outposts in Alexandria, Fairfax and D.C.


Around Town

A skincare studio offering monthly facial memberships plans to open this summer in Clarendon.

With personalized, 30-minute “results-driven” facials from licensed estheticians, Glowbar expects to open between July and September at 2930 Clarendon Blvd, founder Rachel Liverman told ARLnow. The address currently houses a Verizon store.


Events

The holiday shopping rush will continue after Black Friday with a local Small Business Saturday push.

Twenty-two stores and restaurants in Arlington and Falls Church are slated to participate in the program, which will go through Sunday this year.


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