Langston Blvd

Longtime Lee Heights Seafood Store Has Closed

By ARLnow.com
1/7

A longtime Lee Highway seafood shop has closed its doors.

America Seafood Corp., a standalone store located in the Lee Heights Shops parking lot at 4450 Lee Highway, served its final customers on Dec. 31. Owners Gary and Martha Royce were clearing out the last of the store’s equipment today.

The shop has been open for nearly 35 years — a sign in the window sign says 44 years, but that’s a typo, Gary says — and has served legions of locals seeking the freshest seafood and Key lime pies around.

Royce said he his wife were planning to move back down to his native Key West within a month. He plans to stay there at least a year before potentially coming back up to Arlington and deciding what to do next.

“Just wanted to get out of here, we have been here for 35 years already,” Royce said. The response from customers, he said, has been one of shock and sadness.

“Two ladies came here crying,” he said. “The people love this place. I mean, we have been here longer than any shop in this whole place.”

The secret, according to Royce, was “good seafood, good banter.” Royce said he sourced his seafood primarily from New England and Florida fisheries, which set his offerings apart from those in grocery stores.

“We sold a lot of Florida fish: grouper, snapper, yellowtail, swordfish, tuna,” he said, listing some of his best sellers. “I sold two different size shrimp from Key West, Florida… we sold all different kinds of fish, some of them were not even the same week, sometimes we sold trout, Chilean sea bass, we sold salmon.”

“I think I sold quality stuff, that’s why the people want to know where can they go buy quality fish around here,” he continued. “I bought it all direct, nothing from around here… that’s all CO2 [carbon dioxide] treated. They inject it with stuff and freeze it then you thaw it. That’s what they sell at grocery stores.”

So where should customers go to find fresh seafood now that America Seafood has closed down? Gary wouldn’t say for publication, but he did suggest that customers weren’t happy with the recommendation.

“I tell them and they say, ‘that place is terrible.'”

Hat tip to John B.

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Foggy commute on the trails (Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick)

Police Warn of Jury Duty Scam — The Arlington County Police Department is again warning about a jury duty telephone scam targeting Arlington residents. The fraud involves a caller claiming to be a law enforcement officer and claiming that the call recipient failed to appear for jury duty. The scammer then demands the payment of a fine over the phone. [Arlington County]

Plow Plows Into Bus — Updated at 2 p.m. — One lane of Lee Highway was blocked for a period of time during last night’s evening rush hour after a minor accident involving an VDOT snow plow and an ART bus. [Twitter]

Vihstadt Speaks Out Against Gondola — County Board member John Vihstadt is not a fan of the potential gondola from Rosslyn to Georgetown. “Now is not the time to spend upwards of $90 million on a Disney-like gondola to Georgetown while current modes of public transit need significant new investment,” Vihstadt said earlier this week. [InsideNova]

Crystal House Renovated — Crystal House is a big apartment complex in Crystal City that has been around for a long time. Chances are, someone you know has lived there at one point or another. The 825-unit complex recently completed the first phase of a major renovation project and is showing it off via video and press release. [PR Newswire, YouTube]

Flickr pool photo by Dennis Dimick

Open Houses Planned for Lee Highway Planning

By ARLnow.com
1/3

Big changes are on the horizon for Arlington’s Lee Highway corridor, but not before an extensive public planning process.

After at least two years of public outreach and planning, which led to a final “visioning study” report earlier this year, Arlington County is planning to kick off another year of discussion with a pair of open houses tomorrow (Tuesday, Nov. 29).

The daytime open house is scheduled from 12:30-2:30 p.m. at the Lyon Village Community House (1920 N. Highland Street) while the evening open house is set from 6-8:30 p.m. at the Lee Community and Senior Center (5722 Lee Highway).

“The County is preparing to kick-off a community planning process for Lee Highway in 2017,” says a county-produced flyer. “Drop in at one of the upcoming Open House events to learn more about the project scope and share your thoughts on expectations, participation opportunities, boundaries and more. The same information will be shared at both events.”

The 2017 planning process will be “building on recent visioning work by the Lee Highway community” and will take “a closer look at the long-term goals for this important corridor and its surrounding areas.”

From the county’s Lee Highway Planning website:

The vision, a culmination of a seven-month study, illustrates the best of the community’s ideas and proposes key ingredients for the future of this important east-west corridor. This vision calls for Lee Highway to become a walkable, urban main street with a string of neighborhood activity centers between Rosslyn and East Falls Church, along with new transportation options, better public spaces and more.

The visioning document is not an adopted plan, but rather a compilation of ideas that provide a framework for the formal County planning process that will kick off in 2017.

As reported by ARLnow earlier this year:

[The visioning document] outlines a sweeping vision for the corridor, which currently is a primarily car-oriented mish-mash of strip malls, aging apartment buildings and other assorted low-density businesses and infrastructure.

The plan envisions a tree-lined Lee Highway that’s more pedestrian- and bike-friendly, with mid-rise development concentrated in “mixed-use activity nodes.”

New apartment buildings, townhouses and retail hubs would be encouraged to spring up. New parks and bus service would be added. Building heights up to 12 stories are discussed, though 3-6 stories would be more common; the taller buildings would be along Lee Highway itself and “sensitive transitions to single family neighborhoods” would be emphasized.

In an online poll, 57 percent of nearly 1,200 respondents said they “like the plan” and would like to see “more businesses, parks, housing and amenities” along Lee Highway.

Lee-Lex Service Center Closed, 7-Eleven Rumored As Replacement

By ARLnow.com

Lee-Lex Service Center (photo via Google Maps)

The Lee-Lex Service Center, a well-reviewed, long-time automotive business at the corner of Lee Highway and N. Lexington Street, has closed.

Lee-Lex’s website, which has remained largely unchanged for the past 12 years, says that the service center has “been a good neighbor in our Arlington community since 1978 and consistently receive[d] excellent ratings by consumer magazines.”

The service center was open for part of last week but closed just before Thanksgiving. This morning the shop’s technicians were clearing out their belongings and preparing to move to nearby service centers; signs were being posted on the windows, to let customers know who moved where.

Sources tell ARLnow.com that the property is being purchased by Southland Corporation, the parent company of 7-Eleven. It could not be immediately confirmed that a 7-Eleven store would be replacing the service center.

Photo (top) via Google Maps

ACPD to Conduct Pedestrian Safety Detail Thursday

By ARLnow.com

Street Smart pedestrian safety tips (via ACPD)As part of an ongoing fall pedestrian and bicycle safety campaign, the Arlington County Police Department will be conducting an enforcement detail along Lee Highway later this week.

On Thursday, from 10 a.m. to noon, cops will “ticket motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians who violate traffic laws” on Lee Highway near N. Edison Street, in the Hall’s Hill/High View Park area.

A second enforcement detail is planned along Columbia Pike next week, on Tuesday, Nov. 22, according to an ACPD press release, below.

During the month of November, the Arlington County Police Department’s Special Operations Section will be out promoting the 2016 Fall Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety Awareness Program. The safety campaign will be held in Hall’s Hill and Barcroft areas of Arlington County. This campaign is part of the 2016 Fall Street Smart Pedestrian, Motorist, and Bicyclist Safety Campaign which will run from October 31st through November 27th.

The goals of the campaign are to change motorist and pedestrian behavior, and reduce pedestrian and bicyclist injuries through education and enforcement. Officers will ticket motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians who violate traffic laws at the following locations:

  • November 17th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Lee Highway and Edison Street
  • November 22nd from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Columbia Pike and Frederick Street

The Street Smart programs are designed to carry out education and enforcement campaigns throughout the year in the Metropolitan area in order to ensure everyone shares the roads safely.  Pedestrians and bicyclists account for a quarter of the traffic fatalities in the region, nearly 90 deaths per year.

Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians are reminded to pay attention to one another and always proceed with caution and care for each other’s safety.

Long-Time Local Stores Closing at Lee Heights Shops

By ARLnow.com
1/6

A pair of long-time local stores are either closing or have already closed at the Lee Heights Shops on Lee Highway.

Bradshaw’s Children’s Shoes (4532 Lee Highway) is holding a going-out-of-business sale, offering 20-50 percent off remaining merchandise.

The owners, who are in their 70s, said that they’re closing the store because they’re retiring, but also cited rising rents and competition from online retailers and big box stores like Target.

According to the store’s website, Bradshaw’s is “one of the nation’s oldest shoe stores” and has been “serving Northern Virginia continuously since 1834.”

The store was the source of an unusual police dispatch earlier this year, after a drunk woman reportedly walked into the store holding an open bottle of wine, demanding adult shoes and refusing to leave.

Another Lee Heights store, meanwhile, has already closed.

Lemon Twist (4517 Lee Highway), which sold women’s clothing and accessories from brands like Lilly Pulitzer and Vineyard Vines, has closed but, according to a sign, will be reopening under new ownership.

“Lemon Twist Arlington will be reopening soon with a new name, ownership and look,” says a sign posted on the door. “Stay tuned for more information and an opening date for Lemoncello Boutique, Women & Children’s Apparel and Gifts!”

The store, part of a small retail fashion chain, opened on Lee Highway in the late 1980s, according to Arlington Magazine.

Crime Report: Used Car Haggling Goes Awry

By ARLnow.com

Police car lightsA disagreement between a used car dealership employee and a customer turned heated last week.

The incident happened Saturday afternoon at a used car lot on Lee Highway, near Lyon Village.

Police say the customer eventually pulled a knife on the employee and “stole the keys to the vehicles on the lot.”

From an Arlington County Police Department crime report:

ROBBERY, 161015016, 2500 block of N. Lee Highway. At approximately 12:19 p.m. on October 15, officers responded to the report of male subject arguing with an employee over the sale of a vehicle. Upon investigation, it was determined that a male subject entered a business and following the verbal altercation, stole the keys to the vehicles on the lot. An employee confronted the subject and the subject pulled out a knife and charged at the employee. The employee was not injured and subject then fled the scene. Warrants were obtained for robbery and conspiracy to commit robbery. The investigation is ongoing.

The rest of the past week’s crime report highlights, including some that we’ve already reported, after the jump.

(more…)

TRAFFIC ALERT: Car Overturns on Lee Highway Near Rosslyn

By ARLnow.com
1/3

A car overturned on Lee Highway near Rosslyn during this evening’s rush hour.

The crash was reported just past 4 p.m. in the northbound lanes of Lee Highway, approaching Rosslyn, between N. Quinn and Rhodes streets. Traffic was down to one lane on Lee Highway, we’re told.

It’s unclear what caused the crash. No serious injuries were reported. A tow truck is currently on scene.

Photo (top) courtesy Eric LeKuch

BREAKING: Police Chase Ends With Crash on Lee Highway

By ARLnow.com
1/4

Update at 10:35 p.m. — The westbound lanes of Lee Highway are being reopened, according to scanner traffic.

(Updated at 11 p.m.) Lee Highway was blocked in the area of N. Highland Street in Lyon Village tonight due to a crash following a police chase.

The chase started in Montgomery County and made its way through D.C. before ending with the suspect vehicle crashing into another vehicle on Lee Highway around 9:45 p.m. NBC 4 reported that the chase started following a carjacking in Silver Spring.

An occupant from each vehicle was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage. Arlington police did not give chase, Savage noted.

A police helicopter circled overhead as the chase ended. Dozens of officers from Arlington County, U.S. Police Park and Montgomery County were on the scene.

Photos (top) courtesy Justin Funkhouser

UPDATED: Teen in Crosswalk Struck While Walking to School

By ARLnow.com

Map showing Lee Highway between George Mason Drive and Glebe Road

Update at 1:45 p.m. — In a statement, Arlington County Police say the teen was in the crosswalk when she was struck by a car traveling eastbound on Lee Highway.

The driver of the vehicle rendered aid to the victim and remained on scene until the arrival of police units. Sun glare was present for eastbound traffic on Lee Highway at the time of the collision and is being investigated as a contributing factor. No charges have been filed at this time. The investigation is ongoing.

Updated at 12:45 p.m. — All lanes of Lee Highway have reopened.

Earlier: Lee Highway is closed in both directions between George Mason Drive and N. Glebe Road this morning due to an investigation.

Arlington County Police say they’re investigating a collision involving a vehicle and a pedestrian at Lee Highway and N. Edison Street.

A female pedestrian was struck by a driver in a sedan just after 7:30 a.m., said Arlington County Police spokeswoman Ashley Savage. She suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the trauma center at George Washington University Hospital.

Savage said the victim has been identified as a 15-year-old girl who was walking to school at the time. The striking driver remained on scene, Savage said. The exact circumstances surrounding the crash have not yet been determined.

ACPD’s Critical Accident Team is continuing to investigate the collision and there’s still no word on how long the closure is expected to last.

Local Mom to Open ‘Modern’ Indoor Play Area on Lee Highway

By Andrew Ramonas

Nook Play Space (Photo via Facebook/Nook)An Arlington mom is set to bring a “modern” play place to a Lee Highway storefront this fall.

Nook Play Space is slated to open at 5649 Lee Highway in mid-October, providing an alternative to play areas like Chuck E. Cheese, owner Maria Vogelei said.

She said that many of the D.C.-area play places she and her young daughters have visited are overcrowded and in dark, windowless spaces that are “completely outdated.”

At Nook, Vogelei said, children can engage in creative play without overstimulation.

Inside the 3,000-square-foot space, children who are five years old or younger can visit corners dedicated to art, construction, costumes, the senses and the city. For example, kids can build with white Lego blocks, explore a “forest” of bungee cords or play on structures that resemble an art installation of cardboard boxes, Vogelei said.

The design elements are “pleasing to the parent’s eye,” she said. “It’s a place parents would enjoy, too.”

Parents can buy monthly Nook memberships online for $120 for one child, with discounts for multiple kids. Day passes are $20.

Vogelei plans to keep the play space open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Photo via Facebook/Nook

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