Update on 8/19/19 — Multiple sources tell ARLnow that Pizza Roma is, in fact, still open, but only in the evening. It stopped serving customers at lunchtime without notice.
Earlier: Pizza Roma, an Italian food bistro across from the Ballston Metro station, appears to have closed.
For at least two days in a row, Pizza Roma (4219 N. Fairfax Drive) has been closed around noon, despite having hours posted online saying it should be open. The phone number listed on the window rings, but eventually goes to a dead signal. The menu inside is plastered with “Not Available” sticky notes.
The restaurant averaged 3 out of 5 stars on Yelp, with reviewers praising the quality of the no-frills pizza, but generally agreeing that the restaurant’s aesthetics were pretty sparse.
A mall visitor checks out the mobile library in the Ballston Quarter Mall
Pop-up library planned for unoccupied retail space in Ballston Quarter
Arlington Public Library could create more pop-up libraries after receiving warm reviews and lots of visits at its Ballston experiment last month.
Officials said a total of 2,700 people stopped by the space inside the Ballston Quarter mall (4238 Wilson Blvd) while the pop-up was open over the course of the month, with some visiting more than once.
Patrons who visited the pop-up in July could check out and return books, and explore an interactive book nook with adjustable lights, sounds, and color.
Library spokesman Henrik Sundqvist didn’t have data on how many used the interactive space, but did give “overwhelmingly” positive feedback about the pop-up in general.
“Patrons were impressed with the new and diverse collection of titles we had available for checkout, made LOTS of suggestions for where else we should do a pop-up and were thrilled to be able to drop off their returns right in the mall,” he said.
The library also signed 80 Arlington residents up for library cards at the pop-up — a number Sundqvist said was high considering summer is the slow season and the little library was not open weekends.
He added that the mall provided the space for free. The library paid under $10,000 to fund equipment and staffing from its existing operating budget — not the collection budget which officials asked to increase after funding cuts last year.
This is the county’s second pop-up library after “Connection Crystal City” opened two years ago — and officials extended its opening through 2019. Sundqvist said comparing the two is difficult, however, because Connection is a full-service library while the Ballston pop-up was designed to generate awareness of the library and its variousprograms for newcomers in the area.
When asked if the Ballston experience has spurred future pop-ups, Sundqvist didn’t rule it out but that nothing is planned yet.
“The library will continue to experiment with low-cost pop-ups if given the right opportunity,” he said. “It’s a great way to engage the local community, reach new residents who might not be aware of what the library has to offer and to partner with local businesses and civic organizations. Our goal is to connect people with ideas and to create space for reading and culture.”
One of two Subways in Ballston is closing, part of a widespread slimming down of the fast-food sandwich chain across the U.S. and Arlington.
The Subway at 801 N. Quincy Street will be closing on Sunday, August 25, according to an employee at the restaurant.
The location is slightly removed from the main restaurant corridors along Wilson Blvd and Fairfax Drive — where the other Subway sits directly across from the Ballston Metro station.
The nestled Subway is nestled between Urban Tandoor and the Virginia ABC store. Despite its off-the-beaten path location, it had a fairly steady lunchtime crowd, including from construction workers at nearby projects.
“All of us kept smelling smoke, but at first we couldn’t tell where it was coming from,” Gary Eiserman, one of the players on the green team, told ARLnow in an email. “Then I noticed smoke rising out of the bushes near the bocce courts.”
As the players approached, they poked around and saw smoke coming up through the mulch at the base of the bushes.
“We stomped on what embers we could find, then doused the area with water from one of our water bottles,” Eiserman said. “We figured the fire was out, and went back to the game, but shortly after that we smelled smoke and saw more smoke in the bushes. We didn’t have more water to put on the fire, and it was very close to a large transformer, so at that point we decided to call for help, telling them that it wasn’t an emergency, but someone should come and put it out.”
Arlington County Fire Department spokesman Capt. Ben O’Bryant said firefighters from Engine 102 were able to extinguish the smoldering fire with a fire extinguisher. Firefighters at the scene told the players that the dryness of the mulch meant it was a good thing the seniors called when they did, according to Eiserman.
“We were very impressed with the firefighters,” Helen Onufrak, one of the players on the red team, said. “It certainly added excitement to our weekly bocce game.”
The group posed for a photo with the firefighters, before the ACFD squad departed. The game then continued, with red team beating the green team 16 to 7.
While recounting the eventful bocce outing to ARLnow, Eiserman offered some headline ideas.
“I also have a couple of suggestions for titles: ‘Great Bocce Balls of Fire!'” Eiserman said, “or: ‘Bocce Ballers Battle Burning Bush, Blaze Beaten By Ballston’s Bravest.'”
This month at 672 Flats we are featuring our loft apartment homes, including stained concrete flooring, and floating grid ceilings.
These industrial-style apartment homes boast vaulted ceilings, ample kitchen storage space, open concept living and offer 1 and 2-bedroom floor plan options!
These large loft apartment homes range from 1,732 square feet to a tremendous 2,256 square feet of open concept living!
In addition to these beautiful loft apartment homes, 672 Flats common areas are perfectly proportioned for casual comfort and privacy, yet the spaces open up when it’s time to stretch out, including the in-house bar, the fitness center, game room and cyber lounge/mailroom (with computer stations and coffee service).
Some of our amenities include an expansive resident lounge for entertainment, a game room with billiards, poker table, shuffleboard, air hockey and gaming, a package locker system with 24-hour access, and a fitness room with cardio, free weights and punching-bags for boxing or kickboxing training.
Being in the heart of Ballston, 672 Flats is surrounded by shopping and entertainment choices, anchored by the refurbished Ballston Quarter center and dozens of national and local retailers. Take a tour today!
672 Flats is located at 672 N. Glebe Road. Call 703-312-0672 or schedule a tour.
But Bronson Bier Hall has taken pains to cultivate a fun but more subdued aesthetic than the rip-roaring A-Town, which was noted for its once-frequent appearances in crime report items.
The interior is composed of brick columns and copper countertops, with long tables and walls decorated with antique agricultural equipment.
“We didn’t want people to walk in and go ‘it’s A-Town’,” said chef and co-owner Mike Cordero. “This is more for sitting with a beer or playing some games. It’s more mellow and chill.”
Games at the Bier Hall include shuffleboard, darts and ping pong.
Cordero said the main focus of Bronson Bier Hall is having an “old world” feel. The beer selection is a mix of local beers and a collection of German imports.
The restaurant will also feature schnitzel and bratwurst, with a station where visitors can literally see how the sausage gets made.
The Bier Hall is a partnership between Mike Cordero, his son Nick Cordero, prolific nightlife and haircut purveyor Scott Parker, and Gary Koh. Cordero said the restaurant will open sometime next week, though a specific date hasn’t been chosen yet.
Another new Cordero venture, Taco Rock restaurant in Rosslyn, is also currently in the works.
First responders on scene of an injury from a multi-story fall in Ballston
First responders on scene of an injury from a multi-story fall in Ballston
First responders on scene of an injury from a multi-story fall in Ballston
A man has been rushed to the hospital after falling from a building in Ballston in an apparent suicide attempt.
The incident happened around 3:45 p.m. at a residential building on the 1000 block of N. Stuart Street, a block from the Ballston Metro station.
Initial reports suggest that workers in a nearby office building called police to report a man standing on the roof of a building, but the man jumped before first responders arrived on scene, striking a lower roof before landing on the ground.
The man was transported via ambulance to a trauma center at a local hospital, alive but with reported serious injuries.
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of self-harm, call 911 or the Department of Human Services’ emergency services line at 703-228-5160. CrisisLink also has a 24-hour crisis hotline at 703-527-4077 or 800-SUICIDE, or text 703-940-0888.
Future Target store under construction in Ballston
The Waycroft under construction in Ballston in August
(Updated at 11:20 a.m.) Target recently filed building permits for its new Ballston location at 750 N. Glebe Road, but there’s still no word on an exact opening date.
The new 41,000+ square foot Target is part of The Waycroft, a towering mixed-use building at the west end of Ballston. The building was originally approved by the County Board in 2016 and construction is still underway at the project. The building is expected to be completed sometime in the first quarter of 2020, according to an employee at developer Saul Centers, Inc.
The building will also have 491 residential units with apartments ranging from studios to three-bedrooms.
A Silver Diner is also planned to be built at The Waycroft.
According to a spokesperson for Target:
I can confirm Target has plans to open a Ballston, VA store. We’re excited to bring an easy, convenient shopping experience to additional guests in the community with this new Target store. Located at Wilson Boulevard and North Glebe Road in the new development from Saul Centers, Inc, the store will be approximately 41,500 square feet. As we get closer to opening the store, we’ll have more specific details to share — including how the shopping experience will be tailored to serve local guests and the grand opening date.
We, The Pizza location under construction at 4201 Wilson Blvd.
We, The Pizza location under construction at 4201 Wilson Blvd.
We, The Pizza is still coming to the Ballston Exchange, but a little later than originally planned.
Signs had originally been up at 4201 Wilson Blvd saying the pizza chain would open sometime in fall 2018. But fall 2018 came and passed, and the construction is still underway at the location.
Micheline Mendelsohn, Deputy CEO for We, The Pizza’s parent company, Sunnyside Restaurant Group, said no exact date has been set but the company is now eyeing mid-to-late September for an opening.
We, The Pizza will also be joined by a new CorePower Yoga near Dunkin’ Donuts on the northside of Ballston Exchange.
New Coworking Space Coming to Ballston — “Piedmont Office Realty Trust signed a 29K SF lease with WeWork at its Arlington Tower office building at 901 North Glebe Road in Ballston, the REIT said in its Q2 earnings release Wednesday evening. The coworking giant will take the entire fifth floor and plans to open before the end of the year, Piedmont Director Chris Poppell tells Bisnow.” [Bisnow]
Disaster Declaration May Be Coming Soon — “A disaster designation based on damage assessments in Arlington County would allow homeowners and businesses in Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax County to apply for low-interest federal loans beginning as soon as next week to help pay for repairs. Fairfax County Emergency Management Coordinator Seamus Mooney expects the designation to be approved within the next two weeks.” [WTOP]
Changes Proposed for Pentagon City Hotel — “The owner of the DoubleTree by Hilton in Crystal City is gearing up for a play to capitalize on the 627-room hotel’s proximity to Amazon.com Inc.’s second headquarters. Tom Baltimore, CEO of the hotel’s owner, Park Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: PK), told analysts on its second-quarter earnings call Thursday that the hotel is one of several the company is evaluating as possible redevelopment opportunities.” [Washington Business Journal]
Video: Dark Star Park Day — A timelapse video captured the moment on Thursday morning when the shadows lined up at Rosslyn’s Dark Star Park, as happens once a year on Aug. 1. [Twitter]
Arlington Boy Lives Dream in Boston — “There was a special visitor to the WBZ Weather Center on Thursday. Noah Coon from Arlington, Virginia is a big weather fan and stopped by the studio thanks to Dream On 3. Noah has cerebral palsy and was in Boston to visit the Red Sox. Because he’s also a fan of meteorology, he came to visit the WBZ weather team.” [WBZ]
Video: Yorktown vs. W-L — Just published online: “Long-lost footage of the famous Nov. 5, 1970, mud bowl football game between the Yorktown High School Patriots and the Washington-Lee Generals. Yorktown was favored with a 9-0 record but W-L won 12-0 and earned the Potomac District championship. [YouTube]
Ballston’s Sushi2Go restaurant posted a sign announcing it’s closed for repairs
Ballston’s Sushi2Go restaurant posted a sign announcing it’s closed for repairs
Ballston’s Sushi2Go restaurant posted a sign announcing it’s closed for repairs
(Updated on 08/06/19) A Ballston sushi restaurant has re-opend after being closed “for repairs” last week.
The Sushi2Go by the entrance to the Ballston Metro’s “Darth Vader canopy” on 901 N. Stuart Street had previously closed for repairs, according to a sign on its door.
The handwritten note thanked customers with a smiley face, but did not contain any information on when the eatery could re-open. On Tuesday, August 6, the eatery is now serving customers once again.
Calls for more information to the number listed on the “We’re Hiring” sign — also posted on the business’s windows — were not answered. No other contact information could be located.
Sushi2Go originally opened in the small space inside the Metro plaza back in 2015 and gained popularity for the low prices of its maki rolls — most recently for its offer of three roll combo lunch deal for $13.
