business closing

Sette Bello Closing, To Be Replaced By American Tap Room

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 11:40 a.m.) Clarendon’s Sette Bello Italian restaurant will serve its last customers Saturday, two sources tell ARLnow.com.

Owners told employees last night that the restaurant will be closing after tomorrow, and that an American Tap Room bar/restaurant will take its place after renovations, according to sources.

We’re told that the restaurant, which opened in 2005, enjoyed commercial success at first but later struggled to fill tables inside the cavernous space. It was co-owned by restaurateur Franco Nuschese, of Cafe Milano fame.

A restaurant source estimated that Sette Bello employed around 30 people.

Renovations are expected to take several months, but no formal time frame has been announced.

Replacing Sette Bello will be American Tap Room, a bar/restaurant that currently has locations in Reston and Bethesda, according to an employee who wished to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak on the record.

Although American Tap Room will have numerous TVs and a game time menu, it’s not a sports bar per se (as previously reported).

“Upscale comfort casual dining,” is the way the employee described the restaurant. “It’s going to be familiar and modern at the same time.”

Photo via Facebook

What’s Going on With Yorktown Bistro?

By ARLnow.com

Police are out at Yorktown Bistro (5171 Lee Highway) after county code enforcement reported that a back door to the restaurant was open and no one was inside.

Apparently the same thing happened during business hours yesterday, leading at least one officer to believe that the restaurant may be abandoned.

Yelp reveals some unflattering customer reviews. A web site for the restaurant is no longer in operation.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Neighborhoods Host Marathon Events — A number of events are planning in Arlington in connection with Sunday’s Marine Corps Marathon. Among them: Crystal City will be hosting a family-friendly race viewing festival, complete with music, face painting, a moon bounce and carnival-like food. After the race, Rosslyn will host the official MCM Finish Festival. Live music, food, a beer garden and a “recovery area” with free massages.

Dan Kain Trophies Closing Up Shop — Today is the last day for an Arlington original. Dan Kain Trophies (2207 North Pershing Drive) is packing up and moving to Merrifield, where the rent is considerably cheaper. The store is trying to sell its remaining trophy inventory, and they’re willing to make a deal for anybody who walks in before close of business today. More from TBD.

Arlington Man Sentenced for Threats — A 27-year-old Arlington man was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for threatening to torture and kill his ex-girlfriend and her family. The man, Kyle McDonald, made the threatening phone calls while serving time in the Arlington County jail for stalking and violating a protection order. The phone calls were recorded by jail officials. More from the Washington Examiner.

Flickr pool photo by Chris Rief

RIP Bear Rock Cafe

By ARLnow.com

Last month we reported that the Bear Rock Cafe in Westlee had closed as the first step in a change in ownership. Now the Shirlington location has closed as well, and we’re told both will be shuttered for good.

The phone number for the Westlee location has been disconnected. The phone at the Shirlington location was answered by an employee who said both locations were closed permanently. When we asked to speak with the owner, the person on the other line hung up the phone.

It’s not immediately clear why the owners decided to close up shop. However, in recent months Yelp reviewers reported that the Shirlington location was regularly running out of menu items, a likely sign of economic distress.

“I liked the place,” said Alana Foster, who was dining outside at Busboys and Poets after discovering that Bear Rock’s doors were locked. She said she appreciated the cafe’s free Wi-Fi, the relatively low prices (compared to Busboys) and the electrical outlets for laptops under every booth.

“I’m sorry to see it go,” she said.

Time Runs Out for Cherrydale Clockworks

By ARLnow.com

Cherrydale Clockworks, at 3510 Lee Highway, went out of business about a month ago. Now, at least one former customer whose clock was being repaired at the store is trying to figure out how to get it back.

The store, once filled with clocks of all shapes and sizes, is now empty. A sign on the door indicates that the landlord changed the locks. “For Lease” signs hang in the front window. A phone number for the store is forwarded to a full voicemail box.

An employee at a business next door says a steady stream of former customers have been coming to him with questions about the store. He said the store always seemed busy, but noted that the owner kept irregular hours and irked neighbors by using his rear parking space as a junkyard.

One tipster tells us: “At least one of my neighbors has a clock that was being repaired by Cherrydale Clockworks, and now can’t get the clock back.”

It’s not clear what could be done to get it back. Locals tell us that at one point a sign directed customers to call a number to get their clocks back. That sign has since been taken down.

A call to the Virginia Department of Consumer Affairs revealed that the last complaint filed against the store dates back to 2008.

INVESTIGATION: Still No Answers for Washington Golf Center Customers

By ARLnow.com

Two months after it abruptly closed, there are still no answers for customers of Washington Golf Center.

The closing left clients and customers holding worthless gift cards and unpaid bills.

The owners of the Shirlington building that housed the store had to hold a cash liquidation sale earlier this year, telling ARLnow.com that the company had stopped paying its rent in October and had not even bothered to declare bankruptcy. The company simply walked away from the lease, the landlords said, forcing them to sell the remaining merchandise themselves in order to recover some of their losses.

Store customers who had recently bought gift cards, however, had no way of getting any of their money back. One customer from Fort Washington, Md. said he had bought each of his sons a $500 Washington Golf Center gift card for Christmas. Neither had used it when the store went belly-up. The value of the gift cards went from $1000 to $0 overnight.

“What’s unfortunate is that there’s no information — no final clearance, nothing like that,” the customer said. “I would have liked some sort of announcement, some advance notice.”

Other customers who commented on our story also reported holding gift cards worth between $125 and $1,250.

“We’re well aware of the company,” said Edward Johnson, local president of the Better Business Bureau. “They have an ‘F’ rating and that’s because of complaints.”

Johnson said consumers have very little recourse when a company closes its doors without filing for bankruptcy.

“It’s not uncommon for businesses to go under. When they do, however, there’s an obligation, if they’re incorporated, to wind down the corporation and file for bankruptcy. That’s what a company with integrity would do.”

Several people have commented about the store on the internet said they got the impression that Washington Golf Center was going out of business well before it actually closed, due to low inventory and other factors. Johnson said a crime may have been committed if the store sold gift cards while preparing to close.

“If the company knowingly sold gift certificates and knew at the same time that they were closing their doors, then there is a case for potential fraud,” he said.

(more…)

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Arlington Science Teacher Wins Presidential Award  — A beloved H-B Woodlawn High School biology teacher has won a prestigious honor from the White House. Dat Le is among the 103 recipients of the 2010 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Teachers from Huntingtown, Md. and Bristow, Va. are also among the recipients, although Le is the only inside-the-Beltway award-winner. He will receive a $10,000 prize from the National Science Foundation and a seat of honor at an awards ceremony later this year.

Republicans Voters to Choose Congressional Nominee Today — Voters in Virginia’s 8th Congressional District are heading to the polls to choose which GOP nominee will face incumbent Rep. Jim Moran (D) in the fall. The Associated Press wins the award for the most concise, cynical take on the race:

In the 8th District, little-known candidates Matthew Berry of Arlington and Alexandria’s Patrick Murray, vie for the right to challenge 10-term Democratic Rep. Jim Moran in the heavily Democratic inner suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Polls are open from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. today. Click here for a list of polling place.

Maggie Moo’s Closes in Shirlington, Yogiberry Moving In — Via Shirlington Village Blog, we learn that the Maggie Moo’s ice cream shop in Shirlington has closed. A Yogiberry frozen yogurt store will be moving in. Sign of the times?

Fantom Comics Closes Shop at Pentagon City Mall

By ARLnow.com

It’s enough to bring a tear to Thor’s eye.

Fantom Comics, a tiny oasis of graphic novels in a far-flung upper corner of the Pentagon City mall, quietly closed up shop on Sunday.

Owner Matt Klokel said another business wanted Fantom’s space and was able to get it due to a clause in the store’s lease. Klokel said he would have had to pay twice his current rent to keep the space.

“To all of our [mall] customers, we at Fantom want to thank you for your patronage,” Klokel wrote on the store’s blog. “We love the spot, had a lot of fun, and had hoped to serve you there for many years to come.”

He added: “I would also like to point out that our Union Station store is still open and running strong, and we hope to see you there!”

To our knowledge, Fantom’s closure means that there are no comic book shops left in Arlington. Anybody know otherwise?

Liquidation at Former Washington Golf Center

By ARLnow.com

A liquidation sale is being held at the former Washington Golf Center store in Shirlington (2625 Shirlington Road).

The sale is being conducted by the building’s landlords, who said the owners of the store stopped paying their rent in October. According to one of the landlords, the owners of the store didn’t even declare bankruptcy, they just walked away from store, leaving the landlords “with all this stuff to get rid of.”

The owners of the store are also being sued by a golf equipment manufacturer who claimed they hadn’t paid for inventory since last April.

The sale, which is being promoted exclusively through Craiglist and word-of-mouth, is being held until 6:00 tonight and from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. All sales must be paid in cash and are completely non-refundable.

As of 12:30 today there was still plenty of merchandise available for sale, although it was apparent some of the higher-end items had already been sold.

Wylie Wagg to the Rescue for a.k.a. spot Loyalists

By ARLnow.com

Last month came the sad news for local pet owners: a.k.a. spot (2509 North Franklin Road) was closing. The off-the-beaten-path Clarendon pet store had a loyal following that immediately began mourning the loss of a true Arlington original.

The circumstances were even more somber. Lucy McCausland, the owner of a.k.a. spot, was moving to Florida to be closer to her family following the passing of her mother. After some soul-searching, she had decided that traveling back and forth between Florida and Arlington would not be feasible.

But last night McCausland made the bittersweet announcement. While a.k.a. spot was closing, its legacy of promoting pet wellness would be preserved.

Thanks to the intervention of one of a.k.a. spot’s vendors, another local pet retailer, Wylie Wagg, will take the store over, possibly as soon as mid-May.

In an email, Wylie Wagg co-owner Laura Clark said she and her husband, Larry, are excited that Clarendon will now be the location for their fourth store.

We feel very, very fortunate to be able to continue offering the kind of great service and products that Spot has offered for years. We were drawn to the opportunity because we so deeply respect what Spot has done for the community. Following Spot’s success and earning the trust and loyalty of their customers will be a very tall order and we’re committed to making sure that we honor the high standards they have set.

Additionally, we are dedicated to supporting animal rescue and will continue Spot’s tradition of working with adoption groups.

On a personal note, I used to live in Clarendon and absolutely loved being part of the neighborhood. When I had to leave because of a job relocation, it was very sad for me. I’m so happy that we’re opening Wylie Wagg in one of my very favorite places! This is so exciting for us!

Washington Golf Center Closes Amid Questions

By ARLnow.com

Update on 4/23: A liquidation sale is being held at the Shirlington store.

Washington Golf Center, its sign easily recognizable by I-395 commuters, has abruptly closed. The 30,000 square foot warehouse-style store, founded in 1978, was located at 2625 Shirlington Road. The store’s web site, washingtongolf.com, has apparently been taken down, and the store’s phone number has been disconnected.

There was no immediate explanation for the closure. A commenter at Shirlington Village Blogspot said employees denied the store was going out of business until it closed this weekend.

There’s some evidence, however, that the store was facing financial difficulties.

In January, Acushnet, the manufacturer of the Titleist, FootJoy and Cobra golf equipment brands, sued Washington Golf Centers and its owner, Charles Chay, for breach of contract. Acushnet alleged that Washington Golf Centers owed it nearly $120,000 for merchandise the store had received but had not paid for since April 1, 2009.

In May 2009 Washington Golf Centers launched an ambitious e-commerce project, the Washington Golf Outlet Mall at washingtongolf.com.

In a press release dated June 23, 2009, the web site promoted a deal where customers buying a set of Callaway irons would be eligible for free upgrades to Callaway’s newest irons in 2010 or 2011. It’s not known whether any customers were able to take advantage of the offer before the store closed.

About two months after the promotion was announced, Washington Golf Centers owner Charles Chay sold his home in Potomac, Md. for $1,250,000, more than a half million dollars less than the asking price, according to an item in Washington Life Magazine. The Acushnet lawsuit lists Chay’s latest address as a condominium in Reston, Va.