BadWolf, Hhgregg: Manassas Business In 2017

MANASSAS, VA — From a milestone anniversary to a victim of corporate reality, 2017 offered plenty of notable happenings in the county's business community centered in Manassas and Woodbridge. Chief among them was Carmello's celebrating 30 years of serving and Hhgregg being shuttered, to name but a couple.

To be sure, there were plenty more, with all manner of businesses opening in the region. Here are some of the Prince William County business highlights for 2017, as reported by Patch:

Carmello's 30-Year-Anniversary Open House Friday in Manassas
Carmello's, 9108 Center Street, a downtown restaurant fixture since 1987, is celebrating its 30th anniversary 3-5:30 p.m. Friday with an open house.

Hhgregg to Close in Manassas
Indiana-based electronics retailer hhgregg is closing 88 stores nationwide, and one of of the casualties is the store at 7412 Stream Walk Lane, the company announced Thursday. . ."After scrutinizing our real estate portfolio, we have identified a number of underperforming stores, as well as store locations that are no longer strong shopping destinations due to changes in the local retail shopping landscape," hhgregg President/CEO Robert J. Riesbeck said in a statement.

Georgees Grill Now Open in Dale City
Georgees Grill opened last week at 13641 Minnieville Road, moving into the former home of Daks Grill. The new restaurant offers everything from Afghan and Mediterranean cuisine to American cheeseburgers and Buffalo wings. There also is a tea room, no less, in the historic house.

Puzzle Palooza Now Open In Manassas
A new hobby shop, this one with puzzles as its calling card, had its grand opening this week in downtown, 944 Main Street in Trussler Hall. Say hello to Puzzle Palooza, which certainly offers all manner of puzzles but also books, brain teasers, puzzle games and on and on.

Look Up Virginia State Workers' Salaries: Report
The highest-paid employee of the Virginia state government is Ronald D. Schmitz, chief investment officer for the Virginia Retirement System, who made $957,715 from the fiscal year July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017. The Richmond Times-Dispatch obtained state employees' names, job titles and salaries using Virginia's Freedom of Information statute.

Landing at Cannon Branch: Planned Community Moves Forward in Manassas
The only waterfront community in the city is a bit closer to becoming realized, as ground was broken earlier this week on the Landing at Cannon Branch. After years of seeking to find just right developer for the Gateway Development, the city hooked up with D.C.-based Buchanan Partners to build the planned community at Route 28 and Godwin Drive.

SoulFit Studio Grand Opening Saturday in Gainesville
The funky new fitness place that opened late last month at The Marketplace at Madison Crescent, 7956 Crescent Drive, will hold its grand opening celebration 10 a.m.-noon Saturday. It's SoulFit Studio, which bills itself as "a premier spin, barre and TRX fitness studio."

'Smart Home' With Amazon's Alexa Coming to Bristow
A so-called smart home being more or less powered by voice commands to Amazon's Alexa, basically a computerized servant, will be unveiled 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 28 and 29 at Brookfield Residential's property at 10396 Twin Leaf Drive in the Avendale community. In case you're late to the party, "Alexa" is a cylinder that responds to things such as "Alexa, what's the temperature?"

'Corvette And Cash': Dumfries Woman Wins Both In Virginia Lottery Game
You probably have seen the Virginia Lottery television commercial featuring the "Not Yet Corvette Club," in which a handful of wanna-be Corvette owners gather to express their longing for what they don't have. If it were a real club, Sylvia Mobley of Dumfries might well have been one of the attendees. And if it were a real club, Mobley would now have to relinquish her membership.

Cabela's Grand Opening March 9 in Gainesville

Outdoors-men of all ilk, take note. You have a veritable candy store set to open next month adjacent to Virginia Gateway Center, 5921 Wellington Branch Drive. It's the March 9 grand opening of Cabela's and its 80,000 square-foot store that specializes in all things related to wildlife, including hunting and fishing.

Okra's Cajun Creole to Expand from Manassas to Gainesville
An expansion that's been in the works for months is now official: Okra's Cajun Creole, a popular restaurant in downtown Manassas, will have a second carnation this coming spring. This one, to be called Okra's Bistro, will open at Virginia Oaks Golf Club, 7950 Virginia Oaks Drive.

BadWolf Public House Set For March Opening in Manassas
An offshoot of the BadWolf Brewing Company will become a downtown 3,000 square foot restaurant and brewery in March, according to the owners and city officials. The BadWolf Public House, 9406 Battle Street, will feature a three-barrel brewhouse, a taproom and a two-floor private room with seating for 35.

Image via Patch