The upscale Pizzeria Orso, which has leased space on the ground floor at the new Tax Analysts building on S. Maple St., is now under construction and expected to open in May, according to a report today from the City of Falls Church's Economic Development Office (EDO).

The EDO report also notes that the BB&T bank has won a special exception from the City's Board of Zoning Appeals to locate a drive-through bank at the former Chicken Out site in the Falls Plaza. The Sfizi Cafe is slated to relocate from Fairfax City to 800 W. Broad in Falls Church this summer. The cafe includes a trattoria, wine shop and market. In the same building (the Flower Building), NVS Kitchen and Bath of Northern Virginia will be "moving in soon," according to the report. The 442 S. Washington Shopping Center, housing Elevation Burger, has been sold to Margarita Mestaxatos for $2.8 million. It's assessed value is $1,102,900. The 1001 W. Broad St. building, formerly the now defunct Falls Church Cabinetry, is listed for lease at $14,653 a month, and the owner of the now-vacant Syms site on E. Broad says he will not report any new tenant until a lease has been signed, although one prospective user would require substantial and very expensive building renovations. BJ's Wholesale Club is expected to be open for business by August.

The EDO says that 22 new business licenses have been issued by the Commissioner of the Revenue since Jan. 1 this year, including seven retail merchants, 13 professional or service occupation businesses, a contractor and one new meals tax business.