grand opening

Chick-Fil-A Preps for Opening as 110 Camp Out

By ARLnow.com

If Chick-fil-A wanted an owner committed to the company’s family values, they couldn’t have done much better than Natalie Yang.

The mother of four brought 30 family members in from various parts of the country for tomorrow’s opening of her Crystal City store. Of her nine brothers and sisters, eight made the trip.

The family members were joined in the store this afternoon by many of Yang’s 46 employees. Also among the crowd were nearly 30 corporate employees and fellow store owners, who were here to train employees and help out with the marketing.

Chick-fil-A’s marketing is primarily based around giving away lots and lots of food. Yang estimated that the store has given away at least 4,000 chicken sandwiches in the past couple of days, in addition to countless biscuits and chicken nuggets.

As the family members and employees sat around inside the shiny new store on Crystal Drive today, 110 campers were lounging around in the park across the street. They arrived with tents and cold weather gear early this morning to get in line for the First 100 promotion — a time-tested marketing gimmick which promises a year’s supply of Chick-fil-A meals for the first 100 people in line at store openings.

At least 30 people had to be turned away at the crack of dawn, after the queue reached capacity, according to a company spokesperson.

What motivated the campers to spend more than 24 hours in the cold in Crystal City, awaiting tomorrow’s 6:00 a.m. opening?

“My husband used all the Chick-fil-A coupons that I had from last time, so I had to come and get more,” said Anna Matson, a stay-at-home mom from Lynchburg, Va. Matson was joined by her 17 month old son Judah, who has already attended five Chick-fil-A openings (if you count the two or three while Matson was pregnant with him).

Matson said the openings are also fun, with music, games, free food and, of course, the guy in a cow costume.

Towson University student Femi Gbangblasa, a grand opening first-timer, said he was also here for the free food. He and his six friends were trying to stay warm while chatting around one of the park’s picnic benches. Gbangblasa said he has been spending most of his time studying, but has been enjoying the experience, for the most part. Would he do it again?

“I would do it again in warmer weather, probably,” he said.

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UPDATED: Bayou Bakery Hopes to Open Thursday

By ARLnow.com

Update at 6:40 p.m. — Bayou Bakery is experiencing a delay in getting its Certificate of Occupancy, according to spokesperson Simone Rathle. That may force the hoped-for Thursday opening to be pushed back.

If the food and coffee at David Guas’ new Bayou Bakery taste half as good as the place looks, the bakery may very well be on track to being Courthouse’s favorite hang out.

The elaborately-decorated, Louisiana-themed cafe is expected to open at some point on Thursday, according to Guas. An exact opening time hasn’t been chosen, but the doors could be unlocked as early as 7:00 a.m.

Guas isn’t thrilled with comparisons to Northside Social — the Clarendon cafe was originally supposed to be Bayou Bakery before a disagreement between Guas and his business partners prompted them to open as Northside instead — but Bayou Bakery has the same general business plan: coffee, beer, wine and food in a comfortable, social environment.

What sets Bayou Bakery apart is the focus on the Louisiana theme. Guas, who was born and raised in New Orleans, has filled the space with music, art and knick-knacks that give Bayou Bakery an unmistakable and authentic sense of place. And if the aesthetics don’t let you escape the neighborhood’s urban, workaday surroundings for just a moment, the menu is sure to do the job.

Beignets, gumbo, Andouille sausage, chilled Gulf shrimp, spiced pecans — and even a salty caramel popcorn mixed with pieces of bacon — all promise to satisfy discerning Cajun palates. Localists will be heartened to know that despite the cafe’s Louisiana theme, many of the ingredients will be locally-sourced.

The food menu is more extensive than Northside, but the coffee program is much the same. Guas said it was his intention to serve Counter Culture coffee from the beginning, and he’s not letting Northside’s devotion to Counter Culture change his admiration for the company and its product. One unique twist will be Bayou Bakery’s French-pressed chicory coffee, which is blended in-house using a custom Counter Culture roast and imported chicory.

Bayou Bakery will initially feature one draft beer — Abita Amber, naturally — and six bottled beers, including four other varieties of Abita. There will be eight wines by the glass, including an ice wine.

Guas, a big fan of root beer, will start with three different varieties. He plans to eventually serve eight to ten types of root beer. Luzianne sweet tea, homemade lemonade, Trickling Springs milk, Boyland’s Vintage Soda, and Virginia-bottled Aquava mineral water are also on the drink menu.

Bayou Bakery is expected to get its certificate of occupancy today, the last regulatory step before opening. Guas says the cafe, which includes a comfy lounge with a flat-screen TV, should seat about 60. This spring, the bakery plans to open a sidewalk cafe with seating for another 30.

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District Taco Restaurant Opens Today

By ARLnow.com

After a number of delays, the big day is finally here. The guys behind the the District Taco cart are holding the grand opening for their first brick-and-mortar restaurant (shown here, still under construction), at 5723 Lee Highway.

The restaurant’s menu consists of basic, fresh Mexican cuisine, served over a counter. There will also be weekly specials, where owner Osiris Hoil will get to show off a bit more of his culinary prowess. See an early preview of the menu here.

In announcing the grand opening on Twitter this morning, Hoil spoke of the journey that has brought him from laid off construction worker to restaurant owner.

“Two years ago I lost my job. 6 months later [District Taco] was born. 1 1/2 year later i am Dreaming the American Dream! Yes, you can make it too!!,” he said.

Update at 10:00 a.m. — Just in case you needed another excuse to go, District Taco is offering a “buy one burrito, get one taco free” deal.

Busy Weekend for Bargain Hunters

By ARLnow.com

It’s going to be an especially busy Saturday for bargain-hunters. Here’s a chronology of where to get good deals and score some free stuff.

7:00 a.m. — The weekly Arlington Civitan flea market starts the morning bright and early. About 150 vendors will be selling their wares until 1:30 p.m. in the parking garage between I-66 and Washington-Lee High School.

8:00 a.m. — The Arlington Farmer’s Market will take place, as it does every Saturday, in the parking lot across from the county courthouse from 8:00 to noon. Affordable fresh food and free samples abound.

9:00 a.m. — Hunt for hidden gems at the Aurora Hills Senior Center Trash ‘n’ Treasure Sale. One person’s old, unwanted piece of junk may be another’s cherished antique. The Aurora Hills Branch Library will also take part, selling books and music CDs as part of their ongoing Friends Sale.

10:00 a.m. — Boutique pet store Wylie Wagg is holding a grand opening celebration for its new Clarendon store. Located in the former a.k.a. spot storefront at 2509 Franklin Road, next to the Java Shack,  Wagg will be offering a 10 percent store-wide discount and a chance to win a $200 shopping spree. There will also be free doggie “smoothies” while supplies last, from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

11:00 a.m. — Clarendon’s new frozen yogurt mecca, Red Mango, will also be celebrating its grand opening on Saturday. The store (at 2831 Clarendon Boulevard) will be giving away free froyo from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There will also be free t-shirts for the first 100 customers.

2:00 p.m. — Join the Washington Shakespeare Company for a “pay-what-you-can” showing of “Every Young Woman’s Desire.” You decide how much you want to pay to see the show, a psychological thriller that examines the brutality of unchecked power. Presented at the Clark Street Playhouse (601 S. Clark Street).

See our events calendar for more details and for more things to do this weekend.

Flickr pool photo by Pseudo-Melancholy.

An Enviable Grand Opening for Covet on Wilson Blvd

By ARLnow.com

Dozens of people turned out for the grand opening of a new art, jewelry and home decor gallery near Ballston.

Covet, as it is called, is located at 5140 Wilson Blvd, just west of Ballston, in the top floor of a small house that was formerly the home of a State Farm insurance agency. The store is co-owned by Sabrina Cabada and Autumn Clayton.

Guests consumed catered wine and small appetizers while perusing Covet’s curated and sometimes quirky artisan offerings. Much of the art for sale is produced by local artists, although national artists are also showcased.

For those who couldn’t stand the shoulder-to-shoulder claustrophobia in the tiny showroom, the boutique’s parking lot provided a welcome refuge for conversation and mingling.

The DC Slices pizza truck provided fresh slices to people whose hunger went beyond finger food. It was the first publicly-announced trek into Virginia for the DC Slices crew, who are licensed to operate as a street vendor in the District but not in Arlington (private property is fair game, however).

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To Do This Weekend

By ARLnow.com

It’s not going to be the warmest spring weekend, and there may be a passing storm tomorrow, but on balance this weekend is not looking too bad.

If you’re looking for something fun to do, here are a few ideas. As always, you can check out our event calendar for more.

Tonight

I Love the ’90s Film Fest — Rosslyn’s weekly outdoor film series will be showing “Wayne’s World” tonight at Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway). Party time starts at 7:30 p.m. Excellent!

Saturday

15th Annual Walk for the Animals — This dog-centric event raised more than $91,100 last year for the Animal Welfare League of Arlington. In addition to the three-mile walk, there will be demonstrations, entertainment, and sponsor booths. From 8:30 a.m. to noon at Bluemont Park (329 N. Manchester Street).

Semper Ride Motorcycle Show — If you’re in the armed forces, head to the Pentagon north parking lot for a motorcycle safety demonstration, group ride and freestyle stunt show. Featuring Red Bull freestyle motocross riders, Keith Code and the California Super Bike School, and an special celebrity guest. Registration begins at 0700, and the event will go until 1400.

P. Brennan’s Grand Opening — Columbia Pike residents have given a very warm welcome to the neighborhood’s new Irish pub. Now, P. Brennan’s (2910 Columbia Pike) is holding a grand opening celebration to officially mark their establishment as one of the Pike’s go-to watering holes. The party starts at 7:00 p.m. and will go to the wee hours.

Sunday

Benefit Concert for Haiti Children — Join the Opera Guild of Northern Virginia’s effort to send art and music supplies to school children in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. This benefit concert will take place from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the NRECA building (4301 Wilson Blvd).

Grand Opening Giveaway At New Crystal City Spa

By ARLnow.com

About a year and a half ago, the local and national news media went gaga for a delightfully quirky new service: fish pedicures. It was offered by Yvonne’s, a hair salon and day spa in Alexandria. Fish pedicure stories appeared on numerous network and cable news shows, as reporters and anchors debated the pedicure’s sanitary merits.

Well, now Crystal City residents don’t have to drive down to Alexandria to have their toes nipped at by tiny flesh-eating fish. Yvonne’s is opening up a new location in the Market Square at Potomac Yard development (3650 S. Glebe Road), near the Harris Teeter.

For their grand opening celebration tomorrow (Saturday), Yvonne’s is giving away $50 gift cards to the first 100 customers. The gift cards are going fast but, if you don’t make it in time, a small block of gift cards is being set aside for ARLnow.com readers. Just be sure to say that you heard about the promotion here.