Before you join the stampede to Black Friday sales, whether commencing on Thanksgiving Day itself, or Friday, Falls Church residents should at least consider the merits of the idea behind Small Business Saturday, and figure out how to fulfill holiday shopping impulses at local businesses right here in the Little City!
Beginning with this edition of the News-Press, readers can sort through advertisements of many local business to find the novel and creative ways to thrill loved ones over the holidays.
It’s fun, it’s very appreciated, and it’s self-serving, too. Consider the amount of time and money you’ll save not having to jet out to some giant shopping center somewhere. Consider how your shopping local will come back to you in the form of a sales tax that gets returned to the localities that collect them. Consider how your doing business locally buoys the local economy in other ways, too, including by increasing the buying power of local employees to put their dollars, from you, back into the local economy, themselves!
Besides, it’s all about the holiday spirit, and the glow that magnifies when one willfully acts to benefit and magnify the glow in another real person, someone you know or can get to know over time. You can’t do better than to deepen those bonds of community that derive from deciding to keep your holiday shopping dollars close to home.
And please, calm down and enjoy all those happy elements that go into to a real Thanksgiving, whether at your home, a friend’s or relatives’, or at a warm and friendly local restaurant.
Bentley’s Diner • Bromwell’s • Dominion Wine & Beer • Falls Church Animal Hospital • Hoang’s Grill & Sushi • Little City Gourmet • Mad Fox Brewing Company • New Orleans Cajun Seafood • Stylish Patina • Venus Mars & Spa • Victory Comics
Bentley’s Diner
6654 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church VA 22042 703.532.4100 www.bentleysfallschurch.com
Bentley’s Diner – Putting the ‘B’ in Breakfast…
In 1959 The Governor’s House Inn opened its doors as one of the very first motor lodges on Route 50 in Falls Church, Virginia.
As the area began to grow an additional building with 25 units was added in coordination with a Three Chef’s Restaurant, a locally owned restaurant chain. The restaurant originally consisted of a small country-style breakfast counter with a half-dozen tables and booths. As time went by the Inn was franchised and additional buildings, banquet facilities, and pool were added growing it to a 120 room full service hotel.
With the addition of numerous restaurant chains in the early 80’s, like many locally owned restaurants long since gone, the pressure of chains led to this Three Chef’s location not being renewed and the space returned to the hotel. It was reopened as “Bentley’s” and quickly took the place of Three Chef’s as one of Falls Church’s favorite breakfast locations. During this time there were still many locally entrenched places – Sir Walter Raleigh’s, Mountain Jacks, Bob’s Big Boy, Hot Shoppes, Sign of the Whale, but as more and more franchises arrived there became fewer and fewer of the local “go to” spots left. When IHOP and Pancake House franchises arrived to the area the hotel ownership seeing the breakfast volume cut in half began considering closing Bentley’s and creating a continental breakfast area for their guests. Thankfully, due to their nostalgia for their regulars and the location they decided to first approach previous employees in hopes of finding a way to keep the name and history alive. Today, thanks to that decision and two generations of employees who grouped together to purchase the location, and most importantly the insistent dedication of the Bentley’s “Regulars” our little country diner in the City is once again one of the area’s Busiest Breakfast spots.
Truly locally owned and operated; Bentley’s Falls Church Diner is truly positioned to continue putting the “B” in Breakfast for many many decades to come…
Bromwell’s
2821 Mary Street, Falls Church, VA 22042 703.207.9800 www.bromwellsthefireplacepeople.com
Founded in 1873, Bromwell’s is America’s oldest fireplace fixtures dealer, and has been the area’s one-stop fireplace shop for 140 years!
Family owned and operated, we are committed to offering a wide assortment of quality products at fair prices while providing unsurpassed service.
Fireplaces and fireplace equipment are sold year-round at Bromwell’s…Fireplaces ARE our business…our ONLY business! You will find over 50 gas, wood, electric and pellet operating displays and approximately 45 fireplace door displays to ensure the largest selection in the area.
Bromwell’s staff is experienced in all phases of fireplace consultation, design, and in-house installation. Bromwell’s friendly and courteous staff is highly trained and experienced and will take whatever time is necessary to evaluate and discuss your fireplace needs and design options. We recognize that the fireplace is the focal point of many homes and want you and your family to be perfectly comfortable with your fireplace design decision.
If you have an existing fireplace, Bromwell’s can make it beautiful and more functional with an extensive selection of traditional gas logs, contemporary glass and stone burners, wood/gas/electric/pellet inserts and stoves, fireplace doors, screens, toolsets, mantels, marble/slate/granite/stone surround packages, andirons, grates…EVERYTHING you need or want for your fireplace!
If you do not have an existing fireplace, Bromwell’s can design and install a new fireplace just about anywhere in your home.
To get your new fireplace project underway, stop in and see the friendly folks at Bromwell’s – The Fireplace People!
Dominion Wine & Beer
107 Rowell Ct, Falls Church, VA 22046 703.533.3030 www.dominionwineandbeer.com
Dominion Wine & Beer is located at 107 Rowell Court in Falls Church City. It is located in the former Dominion Jewelers building off of West Broad Street. Dominion specializes in fine wine and craft beer. The store aims to provide more unique options than one might find at the local grocery store. Pricing is competitive and they offer case discounts and other incentives. Special orders are available for unusual requests. Dominion Wine & Beer is family owned and operated bringing over twenty years of experience to the Falls Church community.
Dominion offers exceptional customer service in an intimate, welcoming environment. The boutique store is easily navigated and there is always someone glad to provide recommendations for any budget. The store’s wine and beer selections are thoughtfully chosen and tailored to the needs of their customer.Dominion also offers a generous selection of gourmet foods such as cured meats, specialty cheeses and chocolates.
Dominion Wine & Beer hosts free beer tastings every Friday evening from 5 – 8 p.m. The beer tastings are an excellent opportunity to try a new or limited release beer that may be hard to find. Additionally, many seasonal beers will be sampled throughout the holidays. Every Saturday, Dominion hosts free wine tastings from noon – 5 p.m. The wine tastings also provide an opportunity to sample some of the newest meats and cheeses in the store.
Dominion Wine & Beer strives to build a personal relationship with each customer and hopes to become your favorite local wine shop!
Falls Church Animal Hospital
1249 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046 703.532.6121 www.fallschurchanimalhospital.com
Falls Church Animal Hospital is a full service hospital for your canine and feline family members. We have six highly qualified veterinarians to take care of all your pets’ needs, as well as a caring and accommodating staff. We take pride in providing quality professional care for our patients and strive to meet any and all needs of our clients.
We are extremely proud to have accomplished 50 years of accreditation with the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). We look forward to serving our pet-loving community for many more years to come!
Visit us online at www.novavetpet.com for more information!
Hoang’s Grill & Sushi Bar
502 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA 22046 703.536.7777 www.hoangcuisine.com
Hoang’s Grill & Sushi Bar is a Zagat and Taste of Falls Church award winning Vietnamese Restaurant and full-service sushi bar with pan-Asian menu influences. It is a family owned and operated restaurant, and since 2006, has taken home in the Little City of Falls Church located across from Penzey’s Spices. Chef Hoang is known to “cook with his heart” and he and his team take pride in creating each recipe with culinary skill and attention. It delivers fresh and savory specialty dishes such as Salt and Pepper Fried Calamari, Vietnamese Rocket Shrimp, Shaking Beef, Whole Rockfish and wide selection of wok, grilled and noodle entrees.
Hoang’s features an expanded Tapas & Small Plates Menu at the bar and lounge area 4-7pm daily. Perfect for work and casual gatherings, you can try a sampling of Sushi ($1.25 Nigiri specials), Vietnamese Spring Rolls, Hoang’s Chicken Wings, Beef Wrapped with Grape Leaves and Chicken Satay Skewers (ranging from $3.50 – $4.25 per plate).
New to Hoang’s is a Sunday Brunch and Early Bird Menu, with signature selections of a starter (including Dumpling Soup, Tom Yum Koong, Coconut Shrimp Tempura), entrée (including Lemongrass Chicken, Claypot Salmon, Pad Thai) and dessert (including Mango Sticky Rice, Coconut Fried Bananas) at pre-fix prices.
Hoang’s offers affordable office lunch packages and group catering on and off-premise. For medical and pharmaceutical events, Hoang’s arranges private set-ups, event menus and a dedicated banquet coordinator.
Reservations accepted. Free ample parking garage spaces. Visit www.hoangcuisine.com for complete menus. (703) 536-7777.
Little City Gourmet
2121 North Westmoreland Street, Arlington 22213 571.335.4983 www.littlecitygourmet.com
Found just three blocks from the East Falls Church Metro and steps from the W&OD trail, the Little City Gourmet is a locally-owned neighborhood café. Little City Gourmet offerings include gourmet deli sandwiches, ready-made soups and salads, homemade pastries and hearty breakfast dishes all available to dine in. To-Go options also take the hassle out of deciding what’s for dinner with home-cooked entrees and side dishes that change weekly.
Thirsty? Check out our full service coffee and espresso bar boasting Italian-roasted Illy coffee. Spacious street parking and reserved garage parking spots offer patrons a quick and easy in-and-out and free WI-FI ensures guests can connect with ease.
Our sister company, Northwest Fresh Catering, has been Northern Virginia’s choice for boutique catering for more than three years. We offer full-service catering for your next dinner party or special celebration. We also can cater your next business luncheon or function.
Mingle and graze, enjoy a latte, peruse unique sundries, artisanal wines, craft beers, and specialty foods all at the Little City Gourmet.
Mad Fox Brewing Company
444 West Broad Street, Falls Church 22046 703.942.6840 www.madfoxbrewing.com
Take a break from holiday shopping and visit Mad Fox Brewing to enjoy our award-winning menu appealing to craft beer aficionados and foodies alike. Taste for yourself why we were voted “Top Restaurant” at the Taste of Falls Church the past two years and named “Best Brewpub” by readers of Northern Virginia Magazine in 2013.
Try our new fall menu featuring hearty handhelds like the Duck Confit & Ham Sandwich and Fresh Seared Tuna Tacos, plus seasonal entrees including Beer Braised Short Ribs, Wild Boar Ragout, and Breaded Pork Schnitzel topped with Bay Haven Eggs. Families will love our new pizza selections including The Long Island, Great White Hype, Cherry Hill, Grand Funk, and others. Don’t worry, the menu also features plenty of favorites, signature dishes and vegetarian options to enjoy.
Attend one of our many special events in December: Tuesday Tappings with a new beer release each week, Cask Tappings and a featured Epic Burger each Wednesday and our First Saturday Brewery Open House offering behind-the-scenes brewery tours on December 7. Bring the whole family to meet Santa from 1 – 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8 with free photo opportunities for everyone. Celebrate at our popular New Year’s Eve Bash with a full dinner buffet, midnight toast and a live performance by The Tom Principato Band. This event will sell out early so buy your tickets on your next visit or call 703-942-6840.
Looking for a unique gift for someone special? Buy a Mad Fox gift card and receive an extra 20% bonus (e.g. get a $50 card for $40). You can either pass along the savings or gift yourself by requesting the difference in another gift card. Holiday gift cards are valid beginning January 1, 2014.
Happy Holidays!
New Orleans Cajun Seafood
6168 Arlington Boulevard, Falls Church 22046 703.536.2288 www.neworleanscajunseafood.com
New Orleans Cajun Seafood forsakes the rustic frills of other Cajun-style restaurants and focuses entirely on the food.
The menu offers an extensive variety of fried seafood, including soft shell crab, shrimp, catfish, and oysters. While the fried fare is sure to satisfy the casual customer, New Orleans Cajun Seafood specializes in all sorts of boiled shellfish, from snow crab legs to shrimp, but their specialty is crawfish. Shellfish from the boiled menu come in two-pound heaps and is served in a foil container and doused in the customer’s chosen sauce. Options include a butter sauce, a garlic sauce, their special Cajun sauce, and the “New Orleans Mixin’” which is a tasty combination of all three.
The menu covers all of the bases, from one Cajun food staple to another. Guests can start off with a savory Jambalaya while waiting for a Po’ Boy or platter of boiled shellfish slathered in a sauce of their choice.
Run by Khanh Nguyen and his wife, Sherry, the Seven Corners branch opened in April 2013. They opened up the first New Orleans Cajun Seafood restaurant there in 2007. After a very successful few years, especially with the local Vietnamese community, the Nguyens decided to open up a new location in Northern Virginia because of the large Vietnamese population here.
(Excerpted from the Falls Church News-Press Restaurant Spotlight by Nate Ogle)
Stylish Patina
410 South Maple Avenue, Falls Church 22046 703.663.8428 www.stylishpatina.com
Falls Church native Kelly Millspaugh Thompson’s company Stylish Patina is where vintage meets modern in home furnishings and interior design. She aspires to curate homes with modern function and vintage soul.
Kelly’s flair for finding vintage pieces and giving them new life on any budget is at the heart of her burgeoning success. She believes in mixing new and old items together in a home. Her concepts center on the idea that home should be a comfortable place and design should be livable. Her innovative techniques in transforming furniture from old to new can best be experienced at her shop in Falls Church, at her monthly Rough Luxe Marketplace event or seen on her internationally followed blog.
She recently opened her third location in Falls Church, the cottage, for her vintage rental business. She decided to pursue the vintage rental business after she had a hard time finding interesting and unique items for her own wedding. She always has an eye out for interesting furnishings and accessories to add to the inventory, which she hopes will one day make someone’s event, wedding or photo shoot fabulous.
Kelly is the premier stockist of Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan in the Northern Virginia/DC area. The paint line requires no priming or sanding and therefore is the hottest DIY product on the market right now. She also offers two other Milk Paint lines in the shop. Many of the pieces in the shop and warehouse have been re-imaged with these three paint lines.
For those seeking a more hands on experience, Kelly offers classes in how to transform your own furniture using Chalk Paint & Milk Paint. She also offers full service interior design services whether you need help picking out paint colors or pulling together a room.
Learn more about Kelly and Stylish Patina on her website www.stylishpatina.com.
Venus Mars & Spa
450 West Broad Street, Falls Church 22046 571.282.4522 www.aapplespa.com
Experience the Splendor of Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy
Combining elements from Swedish, Deep Tissue, Thai, and Indian Keralite, with the added modality of Japanese barefoot Shiatsu, Ashiatsu is an amazingly effective treatment – and is the deepest, most luxurious massage on the planet.
In today’s fast-paced, computer-driven world, many people suffer the agony of chronic pain and tension in their neck, back and shoulders. Among Ashiatsu’s many benefits, it relaxes your muscles, reduces stress, provides a greater sense of well-being and improves circulation.
Treat yourself to an Ashiatsu experience today by scheduling an appointment at Venus & Mars Spa, home of one of this area’s few fully trained and certified Ashiatsu therapists.
Venus and Mars owner and therapist Lilly Tran talks about how she aproaches her work: “I listen to my clients, I try to use my knowledge and skills to the best of my ability so that they may live pain free and be able to go about their usual routines without pain.”
Here’s what her clients have to say about the services: Koey – “I had a very bad case of sciatic nerve pain. After daily therapy for a week I was able to play golf again.” Patrick C. – “My wife and I had a great massage at a very reasonable price – it was a package that could be used as a couple or individually – and we highly recommend this therapy particulary for people who are dealing with the consequences of aging.”
Venus & Mars Spa is conveniently located in downtown Falls Church at 450 W Broad St, Suite 116. Call now 571-501-5271. Appointments fill up fast!
License # 0090801
Victory Comics
586 South Washington Street, Falls Church 22046 703.241.9393 www.victorycomics.com
Hailed by the Washington Post as one of the top ten destinations in Falls Church, Victory Comics is Virginia’s only comic and gaming superstore. With over 3,500 square feet of retail and in-store gaming space, Victory Comics is here to meet the comic and gaming needs of the Washington Metropolitan area.
As pop culture mania continues to sweep the nation, local comic and gaming fans are no longer relegated to dark and dingy quarters. Victory Comics offers a full line of comic, comic-related and gaming merchandise for all ages in a well-lit, modern, family-friendly store. Whether it’s a vintage comic from the 1940s, or the latest Doctor Who product, Victory Comics has the gifts people want. And if you can’t pick out the perfect gift from the wide selection of comics, games, toys, or sports cards while you are here, Victory Comics offers gift cards in all denominations.
Victory Comics has an active in-store gaming schedule which can be accessed on www.victorycomics.com. From Magic the Gathering tournaments with weekend attendance reaching upwards of 400 to casual board game nights, gamers of all interests will find something to suit them. Pick up a new board game and get the family interacting again this holiday season.
In addition to its superstore in the City of Falls Church, Victory Comics exhibits at major comic book shows across the nation and reaches the world through its online presence. Victory Comics is an industry leader. This year, its owner, Falls Church’s own Jeff Weaver, was chosen to be an official advisor to the Overstreet Price Guide, the comic industry’s leading pricing and reference source.
If you haven’t been to Victory Comics yet, now’s the time.
Victory Comics – bringing pop culture to Falls Church, the Washington Metro area and beyond.
