Ellie Bird, Restaurant From Michelin-Starred Team Among New Founders Row Openings

FALLS CHURCH, VA — The long-awaited restaurants at the Founders Row development are starting to open in the City of Falls Church.

Founders Row's two apartment communities, Modera Founders Row and Verso Founders Row, have been open ahead of the development's retail components. Now Patch is learning details of the retail openings from Mill Creek Residential's senior managing director Joe Muffler.

The first Founders Row restaurant to open was Chasin' Tails, which relocated from its spot near the East Falls Church Metro. The location at the corner of W. Broad and West Streets is described as a "seafood social" that offers dining by reservation or walk-in.

The next to open is Ellie Bird from Yuan and Carey Tang, the owners of Michelin-starred Rooster and Owl in DC. The restaurant is having its soft opening and has dining reservations open to the public starting Tuesday, April 18, according to Muffler.

"Our ties to the area are deep. We were both raised in Falls Church, and we held our first hospitality jobs as teens on Broad Street," said Carey Tang when Ellie Bird was announced. "Our parents still reside minutes away from Founders Row, making it a prime location."

Given the reputation of Rooster & Owl, Ellie Bird is expected to have a notable following when it opens. Ellie Bird is a contemporary casual but family-friendly restaurant offering a dinner menu along with Saturday brunch, a children's menu and à la carte offerings. Diners can expect familiar dishes with a new twist such as fried chicken, pork chops and their popular pineapple buns. Dine-in and takeout service are available.

Ellie Bird was completed with help from //3877, which provided architecture and interior design services, from interior graphics to the exterior canopy.

Other openings will add to the Asian cuisine offerings within the city. Roll Play Vietnamese Grill, a fast option for Vietnamese street food first opened in the Tysons area, is already open at Founders Row. A more formal Vietnamese dining option, Nue, is finalizing its menu and operations before opening. The opening is expected in the next few weeks, according to Muffler.

Diners with a sweet tooth will find matcha tea and desserts from Kyo Matcha, which expects to open by the end of April.

Other retail components are in the design and build-out phases with expected openings in the spring and summer, Muffler said. The most anticipated opening is Paragon Theaters, a seven-screen movie theater with at least 600 heated, reclining seats. One of its highlights is a large format auditorium Axis 15 Extreme with a 65-foot screen tilted 15 degrees, laser projection, Dolby Atmos sound and 3D capability. Paragon Theaters will also have a full-service restaurant and bar and arcade bar entertainment options offering delivery to seats through QR code ordering.

Along with Paragon Theaters, other openings expected this year include Club Pilates, Kyu Ramen, Rumble Boxing, 4Ever Young Med Spa and Sparkle & Pop Nail Salon.

As the retail additions top off the mixed-use community, Mill Creek Residential is planning its Founders Row 2" across the street. Modera Falls Church broke ground in March in the former location of the demolished RiteAid and carpet stores. The development of 280 apartments is expected to be ready for the first move-ins during early 2025.