After almost two decades of hopes and dreams of rejuvenating the Merrifield area into a walk-friendly community with shops, restaurants and apartments, all the stars aligned last year, as the Mosaic District became a reality.
“It’s a really strong community and not your typical shopping center,” says Steve Boyle, managing director of EDENS, which develops, owns and operates Mosaic. “We have people living there, plus we have so many small business owners who give back to the community and are really invested in it, I think that’s what really sets it apart.” Currently, Mosaic is comprised of 50 retailers, 40 of which are small businesses; 21 dining options; a 148key boutique hotel; 525 apartment units; 112 townhomes; an 8-screen Angelika Arthouse cinema; 73,000 square feet of Class A office space; and its signature Strawberry Park with bigscreen viewing. David Reiner, a long-time Reston resident, is pleased to see something thriving in what he calls “a once suburban wasteland between Falls Church and Fairfax.” “Bringing a European vibe, complete with outdoor art festivals and farmer’s markets to the area is an exciting and wonderful thing,” he says. “It’s a cool concept that is working great.” With so many great retailers and restaurants, Mosaic tries to tie a theme together each season and many of those who live and work in the area take part. For example, in the fall, it was all about food and diversity. In winter, businesses highlighted the holidays. In January and February, Mosaic will be focusing on health, fitness and wellness. This was chosen as a number of fitness-based retailers will be opening, including Spark Yoga, SolidCore and Zengo Cycle.
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“Sometimes things fall in place and we had three significant fitness businesses opening within a month or two, so we thought that this would be a great theme for the months,” Boyle says. “People are really focused on fitness and health in the New Year with resolutions, so it’s really the perfect time.” A Little History Originally referred to as the Merrifield Town Center project, the Mosaic District was made possible by great work from the Greater Merrifield Business Association, who fought for the project for years. “The goal was to make an urban setting, one where people could walk and gather and go to great shops and restaurants,” says Ed Hogg, president of the Greater Merrifield Business Association, who has been in the Merrifield area since 1984. “Our goal was to bring in a diverse amount of businesses and professionals and more people are going to want to live in proximity to all of this.”
SERVICES Citibank Eagle Bank FedEx Office Print & Ship Center Floyd’s 99 Barbershop Hair Cuttery Hyatt House Merrifield Tailor Mint Nail Lounge Salon Nordine & Day Spa Spark Yoga XSport Fitness Zengo Cycle
Your Guide to Mosaic
Offering an array of reasonably priced food at hip restaurants, a little entertainment, and trendy low- and highend shopping opportunities, the Mosaic District is a great place to spend the day.
DINING & ENTERTAINMENT Angelika Film Center Brine CAVA Mezze Grill Chipotle Mexican Grill Cold Stone Creamery Cyclone Anaya’s Mexican Kitchen DGS Delicatessen Dolcezza Gelato & Coffee Four Sisters Vietnamese Restaurant Gypsy Soul Le Pain Quotidien Matchbox Vintage Pizza Bistro Noodles & Company Panera Bread Red Apron Butcher Sea Pearl Restaurant & Lounge Sisters Thai Starbucks sweetgreen Taylor Gourmet Ted’s Bulletin True Food Kitchen
SHOPPING Addison Ah Love Oil & Vinegar Alex and Ani ANTHOM Anthropologie Artisan Confections ACapital Teas COURAGE.b Dawn Price Baby Freshbikes Hip to be Round Langford Market Last Call by Neiman Marcus lou lou boutique MediterraFish MOM’s Organic Market MyEyeDr. New Balance Palace 5ive & Federal Paper Source Pastry XPO & Espresso Bar South Moon Under Swirl & Sip Take 5 Boutique Target Timothy Paul Home
The genesis of all of the development activity dates back to the mid-’90s, when Bob Mortensen, thenpresident of the Greater Merrifield Business Association, began a series of town meetings with then-Supervisor Gerry Connolly. “We got together and wondered what we could do about Merrifield. It’s in a fantastic location, has major hospitals, a golf course, metro station, and kind of an industrial area,” Mortensen says now. “At our town meetings we got some ideas and learned that people were jazzed by it.” As the awareness of Merrifield conditions and potentials became known, Connolly appointed a 28-person task force to come up with a
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JANUARY // FEBRUARY 2015 ◊
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