The Honey Baked Ham Store has targeted Oct. 7 to open at its new location in the Broaddale Shopping Center in downtown Falls Church, just doors down from the Famous Dave’s restaurant that opened there on Aug. 29. The Honey Baked Ham store is relocating from its long-time position at the Idylwood Plaza up Route 7 in Fairfax County, and will be fully up and operational at its new site in time for the Holiday Season, when it does a large bulk of its business. In response to inquiries, the store does offer individual ham sandwiches and other offerings to customers.
In other developments, according to a monthly report from the City of Falls Church’s Economic Development Office released today, the Arlington-based Galaxy Hut has applied for an ABC license to occupy the site of the former Stacy’s Coffee at 709 W. Broad. The new business there will be known as “Space Bar” and will offer live music, and a vegetarian-friendly full kitchen. While focused on beer offerings, it will offer wine but no hard liquor.
Plans for the 24-Hour Fitness Center to open this year at the site of the old Symms store (1000 E. Broad St.) have been put over to next year, as financing for tenant improvements is taking long than expected.
Demotion approval is being awaited for the site of the current El Zunzal restaurant at 917 W. Broad. The restaurant will remain open there until the demolition plans are OK’d and a demolition is scheduled. Dominion Jewelers, owners of the property, plan to construct a new two-story building. Also, demotion permits have been issued for the old Chicken Out building at the Falls Plaza, although the date remains uncertain for the demolition. BB&T Bank will build a new drive-through bank there. Demolition began for the Northgate project (472 N. Washington St.) but suspended temporarily, with a dig for underground parking there slated to begin soon. Deconstruction of the building at 101 E. Annandale that burned earlier this year remains in progress and a building permit for the site was issued on Aug. 15.
Pending contracts or letters of intent exist for the sale of the 360 S. Washington St. building (sale expected within a week) and the 500 W. Annandale building. The ground floor retail component of the Spectrum at 444 W. Broad St. has a signed letter of intent for 1,500 square feet, and a lease may be signed within a month or more. All the vacant retail space at The Broadway, 502 W. Broad) has been purchased by Wise LLC, which operated pain clinics at the Washington Hospital Center and in D.C., Leesburg, Woodbridge and Utica, New York. Purchase price for the space was $4,115,900. The new owners confirm they plan to open a clinic at the site of the old Hollywood Video, although no immediate dates have been provided.
The Spectrum’s residential component is reverting back to strictly sales, and no lease-to-buy arrangements. As of Aug. 24, 98 units were settled with 68 left to sell. To jump-start occupancy, the Spectrum had offered “Pathway to Ownership” options (rentals), but none of those 15 leases will be renewed. Similarly for the Spectrum’s office condo space, no options to lease will be provided, but only sales a $265 per square foot.
At Pearson Square, 410 S. Maple, while 94 percent of the rental residential units are occupied, a plan is being discussed to building out the ground floor retail space between the ArtSpace of Falls Church and the Edward Jones space to attract a tenant. The Byron, 513 W. Broad, upon receiving approval for a wider range of uses for its ground floor retail/office space, has engaged a new leasing broker, who is reporting increased interest.
The Sfizi Cafe is up and running in the Flower Building, 800 W. Broad, and the recently-approved Hilton Garden Inn project, 706 W. Broad, now awaits the outcome of a sign variance application coming before the F.C. Board of Zoning Appeals on Sept. 15, and a public hearing before the F.C. Planning Commission on the site plan for the project is expected in October but not yet scheduled.
