Clarendon

Pete’s to Roll Out Pizza Delivery by Segway

By ARLnow.com

Pete’s New Haven Style Apizza in Clarendon may be the first D.C. area pizzeria to offer delivery via Segway.

The three-month old restaurant will soon be launching delivery service, and co-owner Joel Mehr says the newly-purchased Segway will allow his delivery staff to serve residents of Arlington’s dense urban core faster than traditional delivery methods.

The Segway — once it’s outfitted with a custom pizza-holding basket — will be able to transport multiple pies at a time, unlike deliveries by foot, and will be able to park anywhere, unlike deliveries by car. Plus, Mehr said, it’s cheap and eco-friendly — only requiring a $0.20 overnight charge for eight hours of operation.

“We just thought this would be an extremely efficient way to deliver to urban residents within a mile radius,” said Mehr, who noted that the original idea for Segway deliveries came from an offhand suggestion from a customer.

The personal transportation device will not be the only vehicle in the delivery fleet, however. While the Segway will handle deliveries within a mile of the store, a gas-powered scooter will handle deliveries within two miles. Cars will be used for more distant deliveries and during bad weather.

Segways can travel up to 12 miles per hour. Expect to see the Pete’s Segway, decked out with stickers and other decorations, out and about in Clarendon in a couple of weeks.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

School’s Out for Summer — Today is the last day of school for elementary students in Arlington. High school students had their last day on Wednesday and middle school students had their last day on Thursday. [YouTube]

Man Charged With Pentagon Shootings — Alexandria resident Yonathan Melaku, 22, has been charged with destruction of property and firearm violations in five separate shootings at Northern Virginia military installations last year. Melaku was arrested in Arlington National Cemetery last Friday, authorities say, with a backpack containing a ammonium nitrate, a key component in certain explosives, and a notebook containing referencing Al Qaeda and jihad. Sources tell Fox News that Melaku was “self-radicalized through the internet,” but there’s “no indication he was planning to harm individuals.” [FBI, Fox News]

‘Rabbit’ Coming to Clarendon in July — The new salad-and-cupcakes store ‘Rabbit,’ from the father-son pair behind Tangysweet and Red Velvet Cupcakery, is expected to open in late July. Rabbit’s location in Clarendon is “the perfect place,” says co-owner Aaron Gordon. The 50-seat restaurant will also serve wine, beer and sandwiches. [Washington Post]

Deal of the Day: 50% Off at Mad Rose Tavern

By ARLnow.com

Our partners at What’s the Deal (WTD) have just launched a revamped daily deals offering for Northern Virginia, and their first deal is for a restaurant ARLnow.com readers are familiar with: Mad Rose Tavern.

The Clarendon eatery has gone through well-documented management and menu changes since its February launch. Credit the changes or the warm weather — but it’s clear that, at the very least, Mad Rose has started attracting sizable crowds to its outdoor seating areas.

If you want to try it out yourself, WTD is offering 50% off food and non-alcoholic drinks at Mad Rose Tavern for the next two weeks.

Photo via WTD

Cava Restaurant Close to Opening in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Work is wrapping up on the new Clarendon location of Cava Restaurant.

The upscale Greek eatery, located on the 2900 block of Clarendon Boulevard, is about two weeks away from opening, says owner Ted Xenohristos. There are only “a few small things” that need to be completed before it can open its doors to customers, he said.

This will be Cava’s third location and its first Virginia outpost.

Permits Up for Pinkberry in Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

Two months after we first told you that a Pinkberry frozen yogurt store was coming to Clarendon, construction permits are posted on the Clarendon Boulevard storefront.

So far Pinkberry reps are mum about when the company hopes to open the small store. It appears that interior construction is only just getting underway, however, signaling that an opening by the end of the summer is unlikely.

Pinkberry has a “cult-like” following in other parts of the country, but it will face tough competition in Clarendon. An existing Red Mango froyo store is only one block away and the new Larry’s Homemade Ice Cream store two blocks away expects to sell non-fat frozen yogurt.

Police Investigate Weekend Incident at Whitlow’s

By ARLnow.com

Police are investigating an incident that happened at a popular Clarendon watering hole Friday night.

A man was knocked to the ground in a stairwell at Whitlow’s on Wilson (2854 Wilson Blvd) just before 9:00 p.m. A bar patron who saw the aftermath told ARLnow.com that the man was bleeding from his ear and from a fracture in the back of his head.

“This guy was in really bad shape,” said the tipster. “I am a former Marine and I’ve seen some nasty stuff, and this was pretty bad.”

The police report suggests that the man started arguing with a bouncer when he was told he couldn’t bring his drink outside. The bouncer then hit the man, knocking him over, according to the police report and a witness, who Tweeted a photo of the man lying on the ground. The man apparently suffered a head injury upon hitting the floor.

The injured man has not made a statement yet, police say, and at this point no charges have been filed. Police say the man is in the hospital with what appear to be non-life threatening injuries.

Photo by @joshbt

Clarendon Alliance Names New Executive Director

By ARLnow.com

The Clarendon Alliance has a new executive director.

Matt Hussmann is taking over the top spot at the neighborhood booster group. Hussman’s resume includes gigs with the Downtown Nanaimo Partnership Society, in British Columbia, Canada, and more recently with the Downtown DC Business Improvement District.

“I’m delighted and excited to begin work in Clarendon,” Hussman said in a statement. “This is a terrific neighborhood with a lot of attractions. It’s growing and changing, but I think it still retains its character as an urban village. The Clarendon Alliance has a long and successful tradition, and I’m proud to have the opportunity to work to make a great organization, and a great commercial district even better.”

Hussman’s first day, June 27, will coincide with the Alliance’s move to a new office on the ground floor of the Clarendon Center South building at 11th Street N.

Hussman will replace departing executive director Susan Anderson, who left for the Arlington County Treasurer’s Office.

The Clarendon Alliance was formed in 1985 to help guide the revitalization of the Clarendon area. It is partially funded by Arlington County. Additional funding comes from memberships and events.

Photo by Tom Petty

New Office Buildings Planned for Clarendon

By ARLnow.com

New details have been released about a major office development in Clarendon.

Real estate investment firm Penzance says it’s about to complete its final site plan filing with Arlington County for the block bordered by Washington Boulevard, 11th Street, N. Highland Street and N. Garfield Street. Penzance wants to turn the block — which currently contains a bank, a bar, a used car dealership, a cemetery monument manufacturer and other small businesses — into a 300,000 square foot office development, complete with a 10-story office building, an 8-story office building, ground-level retail and a four-level underground parking garage.

The development, Penzance says in a press release, is consistent with the Clarendon Sector Plan.

Penzance has completed the preliminary 4.1 site plan filing review process and is submitting this week its final filing with Arlington County for a 300,000 square foot office development in the bustling community of Clarendon. The project is bounded by N. Washington Boulevard, N. Garfield Street, N. Highland Street and N. 11th Street and has two addresses, 3001 and 3003 Washington Boulevard. The parcels that comprise the site were assembled by Penzance over the last few years.

“3001-3003 N. Washington Boulevard will be an important addition to both the vibrant Clarendon community and the R-B corridor,” said Victor K. Tolkan, Penzance managing partner and founder.

“Working with the architecture firm, Noritake Associates, our team has created a development that provides welcome commercial office with ground floor retail space in a predominately high-rise residential area to reinforce Clarendon’s status as a true live-work-play urban environment. The project conforms to the Arlington County Clarendon Sector Plan that calls for a building that steps back from N. Washington Boulevard and N. Highland Streets as well as maintaining and restoring two existing building facades identified by the sector plan to be preserved. The building design allows for a wide range of floorplate options for our potential tenants. Situated in the heart of Clarendon’s commercial district, this project will add to the vitality of what has long been Arlington’s ‘downtown’,” said Tolkan.

The development is designed to function as two separate buildings with shared common services, such as the 4-level below-grade parking deck and loading dock. 3001 N. Washington Boulevard will be a 10-story, 200,000 square foot office building with typical floor plates containing approximately 20,000 square feet. 3003 N. Washington will be an 8-story, 80,000 square foot office building with typical floor plates ranging from approximately 8,000 – 10,000 square feet. The two buildings with complementary and unique architectural details will feature approximately 28,000 square feet of ground floor retail space with an expansive sidewalk area to accommodate café tables and outdoor seating. 3001-3003 N. Washington Boulevard is being designed to a minimum standard of LEED Silver, working toward the highest designation possible. Pending County approval of the site plan, 3001-3003 N. Washington Boulevard is scheduled to break ground in spring of 2012. Jones Lang LaSalle has been retained to market the project.

Penzance has demonstrated its commitment to Arlington County for many years, owning and managing 1500 Wilson Boulevard in Rosslyn, 2000 N. 14th Street in Courthouse and developing in 2003, and owning and managing Ballston Gateway (3865 Wilson Boulevard), a 2010 TOBY award winner. The company also plays a leadership role in the County’s urban arts center, Artisphere, through its active involvement in the Rosslyn BID.

Another rendering of the new buildings, after the jump.

(more…)

Dr. Dremo’s Seeking Investors for New Location

By ARLnow.com

The former owner of Dr. Dremo’s is once again seeking investors to help secure a possible new location for the late, lamented dive bar.

The Washington Business Journal first reported that Andrew Stewart is eying a 6,000 square foot space somewhere in Clarendon. The exact location has not been revealed.

Stewart has come close securing a new location for Dremo’s several times, but to no avail. In an email to potential investors, Stewart says he hopes this time will be different.

Dr Dremo’s is trying to raise $350K to open a new spot in Clarendon. Investment opportunities are available… For more info, please contact: [email protected]. Financial statements and documentation available upon request.

It has been almost 2 years since we last tried to round up investors. We have looked at many places, spoken to many real estate agents, and actually came close a handful of times. It is only now that we are close enough to having a deal, that it is again time to round up investors and try to raise the funds.

The old Dremo’s location in Courthouse was razed shortly after it closed in January 2008. The development that was supposed to take its place has been delayed since then, although construction is reportedly set to begin soon.

Arrests Are a Relief For Friends of Carl Diener

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 4:55 p.m.) Carl Diener was a fitness nut — a big, strong man who, having retired from the federal government, decided to apply his love of exercise by working part-time at two local fitness facilities.

When employees at one of those facilities — the YMCA Arlington Tennis & Squash Center at 3400 N. 13th Street — first heard yesterday that two men had finally been arrested for Carl’s 2009 murder, at least one woman burst into tears.

“We’ve all been sort of waiting around and hoping [police] find who did it,” said Audrey Giberman, who works at the Tennis Center and who formed a close bond with Carl through the years. “He’s always been on our mind. It was a horrible, horrible tragedy.”

Giberman recounted vivid memories of the morning when Carl, a Lyon Village resident, did not show up to work as usual.

“The morning he didn’t show up, Sport and Health (Diener’s other fitness center employer) called me and said… ‘Carl’s not here.’ My front desk started calling all the hospitals. A Sport and Health member actually went to Carl’s apartment,” Giberman remembered. “When it was officially announced by police… it was very hard. Actually some of the staff went for counseling, it was such a shock.”

Now, Giberman and others are hoping that the arrests will help shed light on those lingering, unanswered questions surrounding the murder.

“You hear all these things, and you just want to know why,” she said. “You just want closure.”

Police have identified the two suspects arrested for Carl’s murder as Roger K. Clark III (top), 20, of Severn, Maryland, and Javon Martin (bottom), 24, of Washington D.C. Both men are now being held in the Arlington County Detention Center. So far, authorities have not revealed a motive in the case.

BREAKING NEWS — Arrests Made in 2009 Murder

By ARLnow.com

(Updated at 4:00 p.m.) Police have made two arrests in the 2009 murder of Carl Diener.

Diener, a 57-year-old Lyon Village resident, was found lying dead on a Clarendon street early on the morning of Dec. 29, 2009. Late last year, friends and family held a vigil to mark the one year anniversary of Diener’s death, and to draw public attention to the police department’s continued effort to find clues about the case. With today’s announcement, those efforts seem to have paid off.

The two men arrested are both in their early 20s. One was arrested in Montgomery County, Md. and the other was arrested in the District, according to police.

Patti Diener Lough, Carl’s sister, says she hopes the arrests will help her family and the community feel safer.

“I’m just thrilled,” she told ARLnow.com. “The Arlington County Police obviously didn’t consider this a cold case. I don’t believe that they would be making an arrest if they didn’t have information that was going to stick.”

“I am just glad that we’re going to have some more information” about the case, Diener Lough added. “It doesn’t change anything. Nothing can bring Carl back, of course. But it will allow the family and the Arlington community to process this and feel better and safer.”

Diener Lough said the arrests support what she has believed all along — that the murder a “crime of opportunity” by multiple assailants who did not know Carl.

Here’s the press release from the Arlington County Police Department.

The Arlington County Police Department’s Homicide/Robbery Unit announces several arrests related to the homicide that occurred on December 29, 2009. At 2:50 a.m. that morning, medic units and police responded to a call regarding an injured man lying on the street in the 3200 block of N. 13th Street. They located Carl Diener, 57, an Arlington resident, deceased.

Detectives have conducted an extensive investigation over the past year and a half and obtained warrants charging Roger K. Clark III, 20, of Severn, Maryland, and Javon Martin, 24, of Washington D.C. with Murder. Roger Clark III, was arrested on June 6, 2011, and Javon Martin was arrested on June 8, 2011. They are pending extradition to Virginia.

“I am extremely pleased with our detectives’ investigation,” stated Arlington County Police Chief M. Douglas Scott, “It illustrates that there are no “cold cases” in Arlington; we continue to investigate crimes long after they occur.”

Diener’s death was a shock to the Clarendon community. His family, friends, and concerned business owners took up a collection of $25,000 for information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for his death. They also held several vigils and benefits in his memory.

The Arlington County Police Department would like to thank the men and women of the Washington Field Office of The Federal Bureau of Investigation, The United States Marshals Service, the Montgomery County Police Department and the Metropolitan Police Department for their assistance in locating these fugitives.

Anyone who has additional information about this case is asked contact Detective Rosa Ortiz at (703) 228-7402. Det. Ortiz can also be contacted via e-mail at [email protected]. Witnesses can also call the Arlington Police Tip-Line at (703) 228-4242.

View More Stories