The Block: a new way to eat in Annandale
The Block, expected to open next to Kmart this fall, will offer a new concept in dining – new to Annandale, at least.
It will house several food vendor stalls around a central area with communal seating. It’s like a food court, says the developer, Arturo Mei, who owns the Snocream food truck usually parked near Kmart.
In addition to Snocream, which sells a light, icy version of ice cream with a variety of toppings, the Block will house Balo Kitchen; PhoWheels, from the owners of a food truck offering what Mei calls “Vietnamese concept” food; Pokéworks, featuring Hawaiian-style seafood salads; a vendor with Thai food; and Munch Ice Cream, offering ice cream-filled doughnuts.
Another vendor, the Block Bar, will offer specialty cocktails, says manager Jane Park, but will probably be the last to open.
Several of the vendors already operate food trucks; others are new businesses. Mei describes the Block as “an incubator for new food concepts.” It offers food entrepreneurs an opportunity to test their ideas if they don’t have the funds for a brick-and-mortar establishment. If they’re successful in the Block, they could then open their own restaurant.
Mei chose the name, the Block, because he envisions the place will be “like a block party where neighbors come to enjoy good food together.” He got the idea for the Block during his travels throughout Asia where he saw many similar places.
The Snocream truck, actually a converted school bus, will be at the Taste of Annandale Oct. 1.
22 responses to “The Block: a new way to eat in Annandale”
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Love this!
How cool!
Hope they succeed! Will definitely try!
Sweet! Can't wait to check this place out!
Awesome!
What a wonderful and revitalizing idea for our community. Let's all support it asap!
Very interested!
Will definitely try the different food there.
Avoid ThaI Street Food. Horrible tasting food. Soup was bland. Chicken curry was too spicy. Snd they us we d sweet rice that was so sticky. Don't waste your money.
Will definitely try the different types of food.
Sorry, this just screams MS13…
how so?
Scrolled down looking for the first negative comment, but did not expect one both ignorant and negative. Nice work!
Here's one. Don't eat at Thai Street Food. Food has no flavor of Thai cuisine. Chicken green curry was too spicy we could not eat it and the rice that came with it was so sticky and watery. I think they used sushi rice or sweet rice. I wI'll not go back.
Annandale blowing up! Can't wait for this!
Great new addition to the Annandale Truck Stop in the Kmart shopping center. Thanks much to the Annandale Central Business District Planning Committee for helping to attract such exciting new amenities to Mason district. The competition is heating up between the Kmart and Giant shopping center truck stops!
When is the pokeworks opening? Can't wait to try it; Hawaii is kinda far away for dinner.
Awesome! Please don't make it too hipsterish though! It's so played out over here in the west coast! I love the "block" concept! Will stop by the taste of Annandale for sure!
Any info on when it will open? And do you have any info on contacts? I'd like to see if they would be interested in setting up food waste collection services through Compost Livin.
any news on when this is open? college student keeping my fingers crossed for some poke during thanksgiving break….
But seriously, when does The Block open? Trying my luck for winter break…
It's open. How does this scream MS13? I think it's a wonderful idea and Annandale needs something hip, cool and new.