2020: What opened, what closed

Lidl opens in Pinecrest Plaza.

Many of the restaurants and other businesses that closed during 2020 couldn’t survive under the restrictions to stop the spread of COVID. Meanwhile, a fair number of businesses opened this year in spite of the pandemic.

Here’s a rundown of the restaurants and other business that opened and closed in 2020:

January

Chilcanos RestoBar, a Peruvian restaurant, opened in the space formerly occupied by SanChick in the Willston Shopping Center in Seven Corners.

The CS Barber School offers $3 haircuts in the space formerly occupied by an AT&T store on Little River Turnpike in Annandale.

Pier One Imports in Bailey’s Crossroads closes.

In other business news, Parliament Cleaners in the Little River Shopping Center, one of the oldest continuing operating businesses in Annandale, has a new owner.

The Bowlero Grand Opening.

February

Bowlero Annandale opens on Markham Street in Annandale, offering a new upgraded entertainment spot with a large game arcade and bar in the former AMF bowling center building.

The Food Star international supermarket opens in the former Toys R Us store on Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads.

The Sears store in Seven Corners closes, as does Gold’s Gym in Seven Corners.

The Rite Aid drugstore on Leesburg Pike in the Culmore area of Bailey’s Crossroads is converted to Walgreens.

March

A Giant grocery store replaces Shoppers in the Seven Corners shopping center.

Party Co on Markham Street in Annandale shuts down.

The new Giant on Leesburg Pike in Seven Corners.

April

Sardi’s Pollo A La Brasa on Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads closes at some point in the spring and never reopens.

May

A Harbor Freight store opens on Columbia Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads.

The Hair Cuttery salons in the Little River Shopping Center and Barcroft Plaza are shuttered.

The Tuesday Morning store in Bailey’s Crossroads closes.

Edy’s Chicken & Steak in Bailey’s Crossroads is damaged in a fire and never reopens.

Harbor Freight opened next to the Bailey’s Crossroads Aldi.

July

The Sears at Landmark Mall closes.

A victim of the pandemic, Magill’s Famous Pizza & Buffet, closes when its main customer base, school field trips to D.C., are canceled.

August

Loopy’s Eatery opens in the space former Thai By Thai space in the Bradlick Shopping Center.

The Jerusalem Restaurant on Leesburg Pike in Bailey’s Crossroads adds a hookah bar, called Afandina, in the same shopping center.

Pupusas Express, a Salvadoran fast-food eatery opens in the former Quiznos spot on Columbia Pike in Annandale

Annandale Florist moves a few feet down the road from a shopping center to a long-vacant stand-alone building on Columbia Pike.

Several dining spots and stores in the Mosaic District are closing and new ones are popping up, including Urbano.

September 

A Lidl grocery store opens in Pinecrest Plaza.

The Stone, a new restaurant in Seoul Plaza on Markham Street, Annandale, makes its own tofu.

Lee’s Cleaners and Heidi’s Nails, both on Columbia Pike in Annandale, close.

October

Dice Burger, a fast-casual restaurant on Columbia Pike in Annandale, shuts down.

Farewell, Dice Burger.

November

A thrift store opens in the former Kmart building in Annandale.

Planet Fitness relocates from the Eden Center to the former Gold’s Gym spot on Arlington Boulevard in Seven Corners.

The new Blue Moon Lounge on Little River Turnpike in Annandale features international cuisine focusing on Latin America.

The Treasure Trove, a consignment shop in the Annandale Shopping Center on Columbia Pike shuts down, as does Pet Valu at Graham Park Plaza on Arlington Boulevard.

December

Bessie’s Pet Grooming opens in the building that formerly housed Heidi’s Nails in Annandale.

What’s planned for 2021

We’re expecting several new places to open at Pinecrest Plaza, including Akeno Sushi Bar & Restaurant, D1 athletic training center, Taco Rock, and Granddaddy’s Skillet, which had a brief soft opening then closed for repairs.

Several Korean restaurants are in the works for Annandale, including Gopchang Story BBQ in the Little River Shopping Center, Gom Shabu Shabu in the new shopping center on John Marr Drive, and 9292 Korean BBQ on Little River Turnpike. A butcher shop called Wow Fresh Meat is also planning to open on Little River Turnpike.

Another Korean barbeque restaurant has been under construction on Columbia Pike for over two years.

The Gold’s Gym on Carlin Springs Road in Bailey’s Crossroads is moving to a vacant spot on Columbia Pike formerly occupied by HH Gregg.

The First Watch breakfast restaurant is under construction in the Crossroads Center in Bailey’s Crossroads. Chick-Fil-A is planned for Little River Turnpike in Annandale.