The Ballston and Pentagon City mall food courts are great places to eat, if you’re a rat or a cockroach.

A review of health violations by the Washington Examiner revealed that every food court vendor in each mall has been cited for one or more “critical health violations.”

Signs of roach or rodent infestation were found in sixteen food court vendors, the Examiner reports. Subway and Texas BBQ Factory get the dubious distinction of being cited for infestation in both Ballston and Pentagon City.

To see the health violations for yourself, click here then search for “4238 Wilson Blvd” (Ballston Common Mall) or “1100 S Hayes St” (Pentagon City mall). The search box is in the upper left-hand corner.

Flickr photo by Daquella Manera.


A pedestrian was struck by a Envirocab taxi just before noon today. It happened just outside the Nordstrom at Pentagon City mall.

The cab driver remained on scene and was talking to police. At one point he showed officers a small dent and scratches on the front passenger’s side bumper.

The victim was taken to a local hospital via ambulance. His or her condition is unknown.


Hey Look, There’s Nightlife in Pentagon City — When the shoppers go home for the day, the mice come out to play. At least that’s what one graveyard shift employee at the Pentagon City mall told WJLA (ABC 7). She reported seeing as many as ten mice scurrying around the food court at night. She even captured some cell phone video of the rodents inside the new Yogen Fruz frozen yogurt stand. WJLA says their story prompted a visit from an Arlington County health inspector. We’re sorry to hear that the inspector had to take a break from tackling the county’s rampant lack of bread packaging in order to address a trivial rodent problem.

WUSA9 Attends Change-of-Government Debate — If you’ve been following the back-and-forth over the proposed change to Arlington’s form of government, you won’t learn anything new from this story. WUSA9’s Brittany Morehouse went to last night’s change-of-government debate at the Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department and found a passionate but polite crowd. Morehouse summarized the arguments made by both sides, then described the genesis of the ballot initiative. “The issue stems from a beef between fire and police unions and the County Manager,” she said.

More Revelations in Wake Of Arlington Cemetery Scandal — Arlington National Cemetery spent more than $5 million on computerizing its antiquated records system with little to show for it, according to Salon.com. The site reports that criminal investigators have looked into questionable contracts authorized by Arlington National Cemetery Deputy Superintendent Thurman Higginbotham. Also this morning, the Washington Post is reporting that it has found several gravestones of unknown origin lining the banks of a small creek on the cemetery grounds. The cemetery says it’s investigating the finding.


A flasher has struck at two especially public places around South Arlington today.

First, the man reportedly exposed himself at Pentagon City mall (although it’s not clear whether he was inside or outside the mall). Then, this afternoon, he flashed a VRE train as it rolled by in Crystal City.

The suspect is described as in his 30s or 40s. He was wearing a black shirt, dark jeans and a black baseball hat.


It’s enough to bring a tear to Thor’s eye.

Fantom Comics, a tiny oasis of graphic novels in a far-flung upper corner of the Pentagon City mall, quietly closed up shop on Sunday.

Owner Matt Klokel said another business wanted Fantom’s space and was able to get it due to a clause in the store’s lease. Klokel said he would have had to pay twice his current rent to keep the space.

“To all of our [mall] customers, we at Fantom want to thank you for your patronage,” Klokel wrote on the store’s blog. “We love the spot, had a lot of fun, and had hoped to serve you there for many years to come.”

He added: “I would also like to point out that our Union Station store is still open and running strong, and we hope to see you there!”

To our knowledge, Fantom’s closure means that there are no comic book shops left in Arlington. Anybody know otherwise?


Just about every day police get called to at least one reported shoplifting at the Pentagon City mall. Often, police make several trips to the mall in any given day. Security personnel, it seems, are extraordinarily skilled at catching thieves.

But the guards aren’t quite as used to suspects turning violent. Thus this item in this week’s Arlington County Police Department crime report is noteworthy:

ROBBERY 03/27/10, 1400 block of S. Hayes Street. On March 27 at 3 pm, two suspects stole items from a department store. When they were stopped by security, they assaulted the guard and implied that they had a knife. The suspects were both African American males in their 40’s. The first suspect was 5’8″-5’9″, 175 lbs, and was wearing tan pants, a navy hooded sweatshirt and black and white sneakers. The second suspect was 5’10”, 200 lbs. wearing dark blue jeans and a black peacoat.

The rest of the report, including a death investigation we reported on last week, after the jump.

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ART bus service has been suspended for the day due to weather. Above-ground Metrorail and bus service also remains suspended.

The Crystal Couture show has been canceled for tonight. Classes have been canceled at Northern Virginia Community College. Pentagon City mall is closed and will reopen Sunday at 11:00 AM.

Also, the U.S. Postal Service has suspended mail delivery today.