A mural at the entrance recalls the former Virginia Hardware store
Wilson Hardware is located at 2915 Wilson Blvd in Clarendon
The just-opened Wilson Hardware in Clarendon is already looking to ramp up its weekend offerings after a successful first few weeks.
Open since earlier this month at 2915 Wilson Blvd, co-owner Faris Ghareeb told ARLnow this afternoon they are looking to experiment with opening at 11 a.m. this Sunday (October 1), then start doing the same on future Saturdays too. Then, Ghareeb said, the successor to the former RiRa Irish Pub would look to start serving brunch in addition to its usual evening offerings.
The new spot has several distinct areas: a main dining area, a mezzanine above it with lounge seating, a rooftop deck, a small dining and lounge area next to the deck and a first-floor patio. The rooftop deck has a full bar, and overlooks the first-floor patio.
In the main dining area are six custom-made metal chandeliers, while a mural stretches across the main wall and up into the mezzanine area. Just inside the bar’s entrance off Wilson Blvd, another mural hints at the building’s history as the Virginia Hardware store, which occupied the space from the early 1960s until 2005.
The soft opening will include Saturday night (photo via Instagram)
Wilson Hardware replaces RiRa at 2915 Wilson Blvd
Guests can expect to see various motifs and murals on the walls (photo via Instagram)
It will serve contemporary American food and drink (photo via Instagram)
Wilson Hardware has three distinct bar areas (photo via Instagram)
Seating will also be available on the back patio
(Updated 2:10 p.m.) After months of anticipation, the successor to the former RiRa Irish Pub in Clarendon will open its doors tomorrow (Friday).
Wilson Hardware’s soft opening at 2915 Wilson Blvd will begin at 5 p.m. Friday, with happy hour from 5-7 p.m., according to an event listing. It will open at the same time on Saturday as well, with a DJ to perform on both nights from 10 p.m. until close.
Anyone wanting to make dinner reservations for Friday or Saturday can now do so online.
“The team has been working hard create a beautiful, multi-level space for everyone’s enjoyment,” an invite to the soft opening reads. “Guests can anticipate bold fixtures, textured artwork and a unique experience in the new eclectic venue.”
The new 7,000-square-foot bar and lounge has three distinct bar areas, including one on the roof. Inside and outside are motifs and murals.
Food to be served will include Hardware fritters, crab dip and panzerotti, whichis crisp-fried pizza dough stuffed with cheeses and marinara sauce. The menu will also feature avocado burgers with grass-fed beef, duck confit with roasted vegetables, steak frites and pan-seared salmon with saffron mashed potatoes.
Many of the drinks will reference the Virginia Hardware store, which occupied the space from the early 1960s until 2005. The cocktail menu will feature signature drinks such as the “Blueprint,” a mix of rosé, vodka, cantaloupe, lemon, ancho chile and mint; the “Adjustable Wrench” made with bourbon, rum, vanilla and chocolate bitters and the “Bright Idea,” a shareable cocktail for two.
Work to renovate and build out the space began last year.
“We’re so excited for everyone to finally see our vision for Wilson Hardware to come to life,” co-owner Jad Bouchebel said in a statement. “We know Arlingtonians will be pleasantly surprised when they see how we’ve revamped the space into an elegant new restaurant and bar.”
A new beauty store is set to move to Pentagon Row, reportedly as early as next spring.
Ulta Beauty is opening a 10,000-square-foot store at 1101 S. Joyce Street, replacing the Vitamin Shoppe and Lime Fresh Mexican Grill. The store will be close to Harris Teeter and Bed Bath & Beyond.
Washingtonian magazine reported late last month it will open in spring 2018. As of Thursday, construction crews were hard at work on the space.
Ulta offers a wide range of beauty products, including brands like Urban Decay, Nars and MAC. It also offers services like facials, eyebrow waxing and hair styling.
Already, Ulta has stores nearby in Bailey’s Crossroads, Springfield and Northeast Washington. Its online careers portal notes several open positions at the planned Pentagon Row store.
Ulta is one of a number of businesses that have opened or are opening at Pentagon Row in the coming months. Signs nearby welcome the arrivals of the F45 Training gym, Club Pilates, Aabee Kabob, a Deli and Basic Burger.
Basic Burger, a Shake Shack-eque burger restaurant, opened its first location in Courthouse last year.
Yes! We are excited to announce @ultabeauty is coming to The Row!
After months of delays and regulatory hurdles, new Columbia Pike beer garden BrickHaus is set to open on Labor Day.
The 2900 Columbia Pike restaurant will open its doors at 2 p.m. with full service inside and a range of freshly tapped beers and new food. Reservations are not available, and the patio will not be open until October, owner Tony Wagner said in a Facebook post.
It's time to celebrate! BrickHaus is at long last opening our doors on Columbia Pike on Monday, September 4th. Doors…
Most construction on the space has been finished since May.
BrickHaus will be a beer garden on the first floor, with some 20 beers on tap and an approximately 30-seat outdoor patio. The second floor mezzanine will have upstairs dining with a menu including steaks, German food and other entrees.
It will offer mostly regional brews from Virginia, D.C. and Maryland, in addition to perhaps a couple of German beers. Wagner said draft wine will also be available.
The aging building has received an extensive renovation after being vacant for years following the departure of Blanca’s Restaurant.
“The oldest building on Columbia Pike will come to life once more, letting it all hang out!” Wagner wrote.
Roti is located on the ground floor of the Met Arcadia apartment building, between a Starbucks and an Orangetheory Fitness. It opened at 11 a.m. today (Friday), and will be open 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sundays.
Staff marked the occasion with balloons and various other decorations, and before 11 a.m. were doing final cleaning tasks ahead of opening the doors.
The fast casual restaurant serves wraps, rite plates and salads, with a variety of protein, topping and sauce options. It focuses on “Food That Loves You Back,” touting high-quality, healthy ingredients. It also offers an option to “try a little of everything,” allowing diners to pick as many sides as they want.
The restaurant is headquartered in Chicago and has other locations around the country, including in Rosslyn (1501 Wilson Blvd), its only other in Arlington.
More from Roti’s press release:
Rōti Modern Mediterranean is excited to announce the opening its newest location in the DC area, in Pentagon City, which opens today. This past January, Roti updated their menu to include a “try a little of everything” approach to entrees, giving customers the option to add as many sides and toppings as they’d like. This past Spring, Spicy Lamb Meatballs were added to the menu at all locations. Packed with flavor and spice, the meatballs are prepared using red quinoa, Sriracha sauce, mint, parsley, red chili, and other spices. This new offering is gluten-free and a great source of protein.
To reinforce their mission of Food That Loves You Back, Roti’s space includes enhanced food presentation, new interior design features, and a hand drawn food story mural scaling the length of the dining room. There is also additional communal seating to accommodate larger lunch and dinner groups.
(Updated at 3:44 p.m.) The Clarendon area has a new spot for haircuts.
The barbershop, Willy and Habib’s, opened at 3107 10th Street N about three weeks ago, said co-owner Habib Zaki. The shop is a short walk from the Clarendon Metro station.
Customers at the newly opened shop can get haircuts, shaves and stylings. A cut costs just $20, and the shop has flatscreen televisions, leather barber chairs and lots of nearby parking as perks for clients.
Zaki is a veteran of Pete’s Barbershop, the beloved Westover business that attracts customers from across Arlington. So far, business at Willy and Habib’s has been “pretty good,” Zaki said, a claim matched by a recent flurry of positive Yelp reviews.
A new barre studio is slated to offer some free workout sessions this weekend to celebrate its opening in Pentagon City.
Pure Barre will open its doors on the ground floor of the Bartlett apartment building at 520 12th St. South on Saturday, Feb. 18, according to co-owner Lauren Lafaye-Benson.
The new studio offers classes that blend techniques found in yoga, ballet and pilates.
“It’s full strength training,” Lafaye-Benson said. “You use isometric movements to fatigue your muscles and help them become stronger in the long run.”
To help get participants in the mood for moving, all of the workouts are set to music.
“It helps to not only keep you more involved in the workout, but it kind of helps to mentally clear your mind and get you to a good zone for working out,” Lafaye-Benson said.
No past dance experience is required to participate and the workout is suitable for people of all fitness levels, she added. The only requirement to join in is that clients must wear socks on the studio’s carpeted floor.
Pure Barre will offer free community classes this weekend before it begins its regular schedule on Monday, Feb. 20. Those interested in taking advantage of the deal can sign up on the location’s website.
Business leaders and local officials help cut a ribbon to celebrate the new office
The audience included people in business suits and Washington Nationals mascot Screech
A national business advisory firm now has a more sizable footprint in the D.C. area.
Chicago-based company Grant Thornton held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last night to celebrate the grand opening of its new Rosslyn outpost. The office is part of a $15.75 million investment that is bringing hundreds of jobs to the Arlington area.
The office, located on the 14th floor of 1000 Wilson Blvd, can hold about 1,500 staffers. Grant Thornton is moving around 1,000 of its employees to the office and will be hiring 348 additional staffers as part of the opening.
Grant Thornton CEO Mike McGuire, Arlington County Board Chair Jay Fisette and Rosslyn BID President Mary-Claire Burick were among those scheduled to speak during the ceremony.
McGuire stated that the workplace “enables us to connect with each other and our clients, whether they’re here in Arlington or on the other side of the world.”
The space, dubbed the “workplace of the future,” is equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment, modern conference rooms and complimentary access to a fitness center, according to a press release. The office also has large windows that let in plenty of natural light and a provide a panoramic view of the District.
“We wouldn’t have let just anybody into this space,” Fisette said, referring to Grant Thornton. “You are one of the top professional services firms in the world.”
Burick said that Rosslyn was ready to welcome with open arms the company’s “best and brightest.”
“I think the staff at Grant Thornton will find connections here that will help them grow professionally,” she added.
Rosslyn is projected to have 4,000 new residents, 15,000 new jobs, 2,740 additional residential units and 200,000 additional square feet of retail space by 2030, according to the BID. Large companies like Grant Thornton are expected to help fuel that long-term growth.
Arlington County and Virginia both successfully beat out the District in a bid for Grant Thornton’s new office. Earlier this year, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe called the opening a “big win for the Commonwealth.”
“Grant Thornton is a valued leader in the business community, and it is a priority to ensure that the company continues to grow in the Commonwealth as we diversity and build the new Virginia economy,” McAuliffe said yesterday in a statement. “We are confident that Arlington County and the Rosslyn Business Improvement District will provide the infrastructure, workforce and resources necessary for the company to thrive.”
Located at 520 12th Street S., near the new Whole Foods, Commonwealth Joe offers hot and cold coffee and espresso drinks, plus baked goods and bags of their own signature roasted coffees. The star of the menu, however, is the five varieties of Commonwealth Joe’s smooth, creamy nitro cold brew coffee which are available on tap.
Commonwealth Joe offers a homey, airy space for the usual legion of laptop tappers to camp out in while sipping their coffee. Wifi is available.
Over the next week Commonwealth Joe will be operating under reduced hours — opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 5 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. on weekends. The hours will be expanded after employee training wraps up.
This is Commonwealth Joe’s first branded cafe, although the company — founded by four friends in 2012 — also operates the Java Shack in Courthouse. On 12th Street S. Commonwealth Joe will face competition from a familiar foe: Starbucks, which opened a block away earlier this summer.
Ambar owner Ivan Iricanin with his son and wife, Nya Gill
Ambar in Clarendon
Balkan small plate restaurant Ambar is set to open its doors for dinner Wednesday night (Oct. 5).
The restaurant is opening in the former Boulevard Woodgrill space at 2901 Wilson Blvd. It’s location No. 3 for the well-reviewed Ambar; the original is located on Barracks Row on Capitol Hill and a second is located in Belgrade, Serbia.
Ambar will at first be open seven days a week for dinner, but will eventually serve both lunch and weekend brunch as well.
Since Boulevard closed at the end of July, the interior has received mostly decorative changes, helping to modernize a restaurant space that had remained largely the same for a decade and a half. Nya Gill, the wife of Ambar owner Ivan Iricanin, designed the 3,600-square foot interior.
Iricanin told ARLnow.com that he has been looking to open in Arlington for some time.
“I was looking at Arlington County because there are so many young people that fit our demographics but there’s also families… it’s a very healthy mix of people,” he said. “We [also] want a presence here because I really see the future and I really believe in the growth of Virginia.”
He said Boulevard Woodgrill presented an ideal opportunity in terms of layout and location.
“I wanted to have a really great location and interior space, with a nice corner,” Iricanin said. “I think that this place hit it on every single target: location was great, outer patio, a lot of windows, high ceilings, open kitchen, we have a charcoal grill which is crucial for us and which we don’t have in Capitol Hill… those are the elements that made my decision easy.”
While it hasn’t been finalized yet, Ambar’s menu in Clarendon will be substantially different than that of the Capitol Hill location, Iricanin said.
“We want to do everything differently because it’s easy to copy and paste, but I don’t want my chefs to get their guard down and get relaxed,” he said. “I want to push it to the limits and that’s what I’m going showcase here.”
The menu will include dishes made with fresh, organic meats sourced from Amish farms in Pennsylvania. Lest one think that “Amish farm” is a marketing term, an Amish man — complete with beard and straw hat — was at the restaurant, talking with the chefs Tuesday afternoon.
Iricanin said diners should expect high-quality food at affordable prices. There will be all-you-can eat meal options, he said, the most expensive of which is a $35 all-you-can-eat dinner.
“We really, really want to be a neighborhood spot and we are very price-conscious,” said Iricanin. “For $35… you can try 10-15 different flavors, different textures, different things and we can take you to the whole Balkan region in 2-2.5 hours.”
Iricanin wanted to offer an all-you-can-drink option as well — the all-you-can-drink brunch is popular in D.C. — but Virginia ABC laws prohibit it.
Another notable feature of the restaurant is that it has a DJ booth near the bar. But Iricanin was quick to point out that Ambar is not trying to be a danceclub — instead, the DJs are more about sophisticated nighttime ambiance.
“Obviously any time you dine, you have the background music… and I want to control what I’m playing,” he said. “This is not going to be a club, it’s not going to be a restaurant club, it’s just going to be thoughtfulness behind the process. We have a very nice sound system put in place, and what I want to achieve is that you come here like 10:30 and have a nice dinner while the DJ is playing music. Nothing too loud, nothing too abrasive… but you’re going to feel like you’re at a funky, cool vibe restaurant.”
The full press release about Ambar’s opening, after the jump.
