3 Restaurants, Early Education Center Announced For West Falls Development

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Retail plans are taking shape at the West Falls development under construction in the west end of Falls Church City.

Three restaurants — SEOULSPICE, BurgerFi and Masons Famous Lobster Rolls and early education center Tierra Encantada will join the West Falls development by fall 2024, according to developer Hoffman & Associates. The first phase of the development is expected in late 2024.

"As we approach substantial topping out at West Falls, the largest development in the history of Falls Church, we are pleased to announce the first line-up of retailers coming to the neighborhood," said Shawn Seaman, president of Hoffman & Associates. "With over 18,000 square feet of open space for community use along with modern residences and exciting retail concepts, West Falls will serve as a dynamic destination and vibrant community in the heart of West Falls Church."

SEOULSPICE is a fast casual restaurant specializing in Korean comfort food. The future location at 150 West Falls Station Boulevard will be its eighth DC area location. The menu is completely gluten free and features house-made sauces, marinades and juices.

BurgerFi is a fast casual burger concept that will be located at 170 West Falls Station Blvd. Its burgers are made with American Angus beef containing no steroids, antibiotics, growth hormones, chemicals or additives. The menu also includes its vegetarian VegeFi Burger, Wagyu beef, cage-free "Fi’ed" chicken tenders and sandwiches, fresh-cut fries, onion rings, frozen custard desserts, beer, wine and more.

The third restaurant will be Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls at 235 West Falls Station Blvd. Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, is the largest lobster roll brand in the U.S., uses high-quality lobster sustainably sourced from Maine.

The other retail addition will help fulfill a need for early childhood and preschool in the region. Tierra Encantada will open its second Northern Virginia location at 7131 Magnolia Street, offering early education and preschool program focusing on cognitive development and a play-based learning model. The program also emphasizes diversity with a fully Spanish curriculum and provides organic made-from-scratch meals.

The West Falls development, which is expected to open its first phase in late 2024, will be a mixed-use development on the former George Mason High School land after the new Meridian High School was built. The development will include 400 apartments, 126 condominiums, 215 units of senior living, a Hilton hotel, medical offices for the Wellness Center, retail, a grocery store, and a central outdoor space called the Commons. Seasonal events and programming will be hosted at the development when it's open.

The nearly 10-acre development is the first piece in a larger 40-acre development around the West Falls Church Metro station. The other portions, recently approved by Fairfax County, are on Virginia Tech and West Falls Church Metro land.

The West Falls Church Metro site will be the largest piece of the development with 25 acres. That development will replace 800 underutilized surface parking spots at the Metro station with up to 90 townhouses, 810 apartments, an office building, retail, green space and a transit plaza with kiss-and-ride and bus stops. The existing parking garage at the station will remain.

The Virginia Tech redevelopment on 7.5 acres is planned to get up to 440 multifamily residential units, office space and Virginia Tech institutional use.

The development will be connected through a new grid of streets, as well as new bike lanes and shared-use paths connecting Route 7 and the Metro station. The Metro station's transit center will also get an upgrade with a new bus loop and four bus stations, new kiss-and-ride area, and new bike racks and lockers.

The West Falls Church Metro part of the development could break ground as soon as 2024 and Virginia Tech as soon as 2025, pending site plan and building permit approvals from Fairfax County.