Clarendon

Clarendon Trader Joe’s Receives Building Permit

By ARLnow.com

Interior work on the new Clarendon Trader Joe’s is expected to finally get underway soon, after Arlington officials approved the store’s building permit today.

The store was originally slated to open “mid-2011,” but that hoped-for opening has been pushed back due to an unexplained delay in applying for (and getting) the necessary permits and inspections. In May, a Trader Joe’s rep told ARLnow.com that the store is expected to open by the end of the year.

In addition to the building permit, Trader Joe’s has also received a zoning permit that will allow it to modify the building’s first floor facade (pictured) for use as a grocery store. The only other regulatory hurdles that remain, for now, concern the store’s fire prevention plan.

The new Trader Joe’s will be located at 1109 N. Highland Street, one block from the Clarendon Metro station.

Morning Poll: New Clarendon Metro Plaza

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 10:15 a.m.) Arlington County has released sketches of a planned revamp of the plaza outside the Clarendon Metro station.

The project, set to begin construction later this year or early next year, is intended to improve the currently under-utilized space by creating “an active, multi-use plaza to accommodate the farmers’ markets, music events, vendors and other community activities, while enhancing pedestrian access to Metrorail and transit.”

The improvements include new pedestrian paving, street and plaza lighting, “seating walls,” movable tables and chairs, covered bike parking, modular newspaper racks and a Clarendon Boulevard curb extension.

(Correction: Earlier we asked about whether a tree on the site should be saved. It turns out that the tree was recently removed. The photo we used of the tree was from a county presentation this month, but it was apparently taken before the tree removal. We apologize for the confusion.)

What do you think about the redesign plans?

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

New Restaurant Coming to Penrose Square — Restauranteur Cathal Armstrong is reportedly planning to open a new fish-and-chips restaurant on Columbia Pike, in the new Penrose Square development. The restaurant will be the second location for Old Town Alexandria staple Eamonn’s: A Dublin Chipper. In addition to Eamonn’s, Armstrong owns Alexandria eateries The Majestic, Restaurant Eve and Virtue Feed and Grain. [Eater, Pike Wire]

Galaxy Hut Expanding to Falls Church — The owner of Clarendon’s Galaxy Hut is planning on opening a new location on W. Broad Street in Falls Church. Much like the Clarendon location, the new Galaxy Hut will be a music and entertainment venue, in addition to a bar. [Washington Post]

Moran Holds Deficit Reduction Exercise — Nearly 300 people participated in Rep. Jim Moran’s “Principles and Priorities” national debt reduction workshop on Monday. Moran said he was “shocked” by two conclusions — the group’s near-unanimous desire to freeze defense spending and to gradually eliminate the home mortgage interest deduction. [Patch]

New Signs on Meade Street — There’s a new wayfaring sign for tourists on Meade Street, near the Iwo Jima memorial. The sign lists dozens of attractions in the Rosslyn area. [Ode Street Tribune]

Ben’s Chili Bowl Eyeing Expansion in Clarendon?

By ARLnow.com

The owners of Ben’s Chili Bowl are considering opening a new location in Clarendon, the Washington City Paper reported today.

Kamal and Nizam Ali are said to be looking at a half-dozen different locations in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, including Clarendon.

Currently, the U Street landmark — famous for its half-smokes and its Bill Cosby connection — only has one other satellite location: in Nationals Park.

Photo via Ben’s Chili Bowl

Neighbors Decry Tree Removal in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

What was once a row of three bungalow houses amid a dense jumble of trees is now an empty dirt lot, and some neighbors are not very happy about it.

The lot, at the corner of N. Danville Street and 11th Street N., will eventually be transformed into a collection of four million-dollar luxury homes, featuring gourmet kitchens, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and spa-style baths with Italian marble, according to a brochure.

In the meantime, however, one neighbor has publicly voiced his or her opinion on the denuding of the lot with a handwritten sign that reads “Just what we need: less trees and more McMansions. Thanks!”

Another anonymous resident emailed ARLnow.com to vent his or her frustration.

“They leveled the entire property and it… is so sad — many of those trees have been on that site for longer than any of our families lived in Arlington,” the tipster said.

The houses are being built by McLean-based BeaconCrest Homes.

1/6

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

New Mexican Restaurant Coming to Clarendon — A Craigslist help wanted ad reveals that Lime Fresh Mexican Grill is planning on coming to Clarendon. [Clarendon Culture]

Boehner at Guapo’s, Again — House Speaker John Boehner was spotted at Guapo’s in Shirlington Village Wednesday night. This is Boehner’s fourth such visit to the Mexican restaurant, that we’re aware of. While there, Boehner posed for a photo that was then posted on a local blog. [Shirlington Village Blog Spot]

Arlington Establishments Up for Radio Awards — Several Arlington businesses and neighborhoods are nominated in HOT 99.5’s “Hottys” award contest. Among the Arlington nominations: Whitlow’s for best bar, Lyon Hall for best restaurant and best bathroom, Goody’s for best drunk food and Clarendon for best neighborhood. Users can vote for each item by clicking a Facebook “like” button.

Flickr pool photo by Christaki

Coming Soon to Clarendon: Rabbit Salad and Grill

By ARLnow.com

Clarendon’s new salad-sandwich-and-cupcake concept, Rabbit Salad and Grill, now has a name and an opening date.

A web site for the new restaurant, located at 3035 Clarendon Boulevard, appeared online yesterday. A representative tells us that they’re hoping to hold a grand opening on July 28.

Rabbit will offer “quality salads, sandwiches and meals in a comfortable dining room,” along with a selection of beer and wine.” In addition, sweets will be offered thanks to an in-store Red Velvet Cupcakery counter (Rabbit and Red Velvet share the same owners).

The restaurant is now hiring cooks, dishwashers and servers.

Larry’s Homemade Ice Cream Now Open in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Larry’s Homemade Ice Cream (3018 Wilson Boulevard) opened in Clarendon over the weekend.

The store offers a wide variety of ice cream flavors, as well as sundaes, milkshakes, frozen yogurt, fruit smoothies, baked goods and espresso drinks.

Larry’s is located next to BGR: The Burger Joint, on the ground floor of the Clarendon Center project’s north building. Starting next week, the store will be open from 6:00 a.m. to midnight, an employee said.

Larry’s operates an existing location at 2450 Crystal Drive, in Crystal City. More photos, after the jump.

(more…)

Best Cellars Closing in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

You only have about two more weeks to get your wine fix at Best Cellars in Clarendon.  The store will be closing mid-month.

For the past seven years, the store at 2855 Clarendon Boulevard has been frequented by customers who tout knowledgeable staff, fun wine tastings and low prices as their top reasons for shopping there.

So far, there’s no official word on why Best Cellars is closing, but we’re told employees aren’t happy about it.

The store is advertising a sale to get rid of inventory. Customers can take 25% off the price of wine, food and other various items, and 20% off of beer.

Best Cellars’ last day will be July 16.

Fire at Delhi Club, Hard Times Cafe

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 3:10 p.m.) A fire broke out this morning in the Clarendon building that houses Hard Times Cafe and Delhi Club.

Smoke could be seen rising from the roof and billowing out of the entrance to Hard Times as firefighters attacked the blaze. Workers on their lunch break gathered to watch as fire trucks surrounded the building.

The fire broke out in the kitchen of Delhli Club and spread into the duct work, according to fire department spokesperson Lt. Ed Hughes. Only smoke — not fire — spread to Hard Times, he said. No injuries were reported.

The original report of fire was called in by an assistant fire marshal who happened to be driving in the area, Hughes noted.

Roads were closed in the area of Clarendon Metro as emergency responders and county health department inspectors remained on the scene. Dehli Club manager Mir Hussain said the damage is “not too bad.” He hopes to clean up the mess and get health department approval to reopen in a week or so.

Hard Times Cafe owner Doug Welsh said there was some smoke damage inside the restaurant, but no structural damage. He expects the restaurant to reopen at 5:00 tonight.

1/9
View More Stories