Mission BBQ, TSA Headquarters: Kingstowne Business In 2017

KINGSTOWNE, VA—It's been a big year for business in Kingstowne from exciting new openings to announcements of future developments.

From Mission BBQ opening to the announcement of TSA headquarters in Springfield, there was plenty to talk about during 2017. (Want more stories like this in 2018? Subscribe to Patch's free daily newsletter and news alerts and follow the Kingstowne Patch Facebook page.)

Here are the top business stories around Kingstowne-Rose Hill over the last calendar year:

1. Mission BBQ Opens In Kingstowne

Mission BBQ, a casual chain with a focus on giving back to first responders, opened over the summer at 6482 Landsdowne Centre. The restaurant offers freshly-made barbecue with meat smokers on site and regularly holds special events for police, firefighters, service members and others serving the community.

2. 3K Jobs Coming To Springfield With New TSA Headquarters

Fairfax County leaders are praising a decision by federal officials to locate the headquarters of the Transportation Security Administration to Springfield, a move that will bring more than 3,000 jobs to the area. The headquarters will have 625,000 square feet of office space on Springfield Center Drive near Springfield Town Center.

3. DC Chef Plans Eatery At Springfield Sports Complex

The St. James, a sports complex under construction in Springfield, will partner with DC chef Spike Mendelsohn to introduce a multi-concept eatery in the facility. Mendelsohn is known for opening popular local eateries like Good Stuff Eatery and We, The Pizza. The sports complex is expected to open in September 2018.

4. Teavana To Close Springfield Mall Store By Spring 2018

Starbucks announced it will close all 379 Teavana stores, including the one at Springfield Town Center. The stores are mostly in malls, which have suffered from less foot traffic, Starbucks Chief Financial Officer Scott Harlan Maw said during an investor call.

5. Bob & Edith's Diner Opens In Huntington

There's a new 24 hour dining option for foodies with the opening of Bob & Edith's Diner in Huntington. The locally-based restaurants serve up a wide variety of diner favorites for breakfast, lunch and dinner with a 1950s feel. Other locations include two in Arlington and one in Springfield.

6. 10 Businesses Patch Readers Want To Open In Kingstowne
Patch asked our Facebook followers which businesses they want to see open in Kingstowne. You told us, and we rounded up the ten most popular responses, from Wawa to Busboys and Poets.

7. First-Ever Taste of Springfield Debuts

The first Taste of Springfield debuted July 30 as a platform for showcasing dozens of local restaurants and other businesses. It was held in the parking lot by Saks at Springfield Town Center from noon to 6 p.m.

8. Alexandria's Mark Center Sold To New Owners

For the first time in over a decade, Alexandria's Mark Center is changing hands. Pennsylvania-based Morgan Properties announced Wednesday it had acquired the mixed-use development for $509 million. Under new ownership, the six apartment communities will be consolidated and receive upgrades and additional amenities.

9. Springfield hhgregg Store Closes Doors

The hhgregg store on Loisdale Road closed this year in Springfield. It was one of 88 stores nationwide and 15 in Virginia marked as underperforming by the company, which sells electronics, furniture and appliances. The decision to consolidate the corporate footprint came weeks after hhgregg announced it would need to restructure to earn a profit.

10. New Cable Startup Layer3 Launches Internet Service

The Denver-based startup Layer3 TV, whose 2016 launch gave the D.C. area its first new cable TV service provider in over a decade, is now offering internet. The company announced Tuesday its 100 Mbps pureFiber internet, which offers unlimited data.

Image via Mission BBQ