Construction Begins on F.C. Northside Social

Northside Social, the coffeehouse, cafe and wine bar in Clarendon, started construction on its new location in Falls Church at the former American Legion Post 270 building on Park Avenue earlier this month. The cafe is slated to open in mid-spring of next year, according to sources from the company.

Northside Social’s new home in Falls Church, known as the Blue and Gray building, is one of the Little City’s oldest buildings, first built in 1797. The new Falls Church restaurant will feature a larger menu than its Arlington counterpart and will include dishes from its sister restaurant, The Liberty Tavern, as well.

Currently, Northside Social in Arlington offers coffee, tea, beer, wine, salads, sandwiches and pastries. And, according to management at the Arlington location, the Falls Church location will feature a larger selection of beers on tap.

Also to be featured at the Falls Church Northside, there will be a limited cocktail menu and there is likely to be a pizza menu featuring pies from Liberty Tavern.

Northside Social | 205 Park Avenue | Falls Church | northsidesocialarlington.com

– Drew Costley

Song Long Closes in Eden Center; 3 New Eateries Opening Soon

Song Long, one of the most popular restaurants in Falls Church’s Eden Center, is currently closed. Graham Eddy, a representative of Eden Center’s leasing company, Capital Commercial Properties, says there is currently no information available on the closure.

“There is nothing to report on Song Long right now,” Eddy told the News-Press. “We are hoping that they will reopen soon but at this point, we do not have a set date.”

Just this past September, the News-Press named Song Long as one of the best places in Eden Center to get bánh mì; the Vietnamese deli was one of eight Eden Center restaurants that sold the tasty sandwiches.

While the future of Song Long is unclear, Eddy confirms three new eateries will be opening in the shopping center over the next few weeks: The Mongolian hot pot chain Little Sheep is currently in a soft opening with limited hours in the Saigon Garden area of Eden Center, a bubble tea chain, Kung Fu Tea, will open in Saigon East, and the renovated deli, Banh Ta, will reopen as Little Viet Garden later this month.

Eden Center | 6751 Wilson Boulevard | Falls Church | edencenter.com

The Black Squirrel Coming to Merrifield Early Next Year

Adams Morgan neighborhood favorite, The Black Squirrel, is getting closer to opening in Merrifield. Owner Amy Bowman tells the News-Press she expects the buildout for the restaurant will begin shortly and she hopes to be open for business sometime in February 2017.

The Black Squirrel is known for its beer collection and comfort food like burgers, wings, poutine and more.

The Black Squirrel | blacksquirreldc.com