I think it is time for Tall Oaks shopping center to get a new look, similar to what they did at Hunters Woods, but on a smaller scale. For those who have been here that long, it is completely different than what it used to look like and at least to me appears to be a much more vibrant shopping center. ...and if that happens, the residents in that community might get their Trader Joe's or Bloom.

What it is need is something much smaller than a big box store - they should break that space up into smaller stores that have appeal - something like Arlington's Italian Store - http://italianstore.com/
or a Clay Cafe. Or maybe a microbrewery with an outdoor Patio.

You want it not only to be a place for the neighborhood but also encourage other people in Reston to drive to it to shop.

I agree it needs a facelift. :)

@Jennifer, I love your ideas....and you are right, it is too small a space for a full sized grocery store.

Another fabulous idea.....I would think it would be a huge hit. Maybe they could even include a small space for Grace Art.....

When the Lake Anne Comprehensive Plan Amendment was being discussed, I suggested a co-op grocery store there. While that might be problematic at Lake Anne, it could work at Tall Oaks. People would come from outside Reston to shop there.

The problem with an artist cooperative is that it has to be supported. Artists don't make enough money to pay the rent if they have to pay rent at a commercial rate. Now if a developer would proffer the space as part of a larger project... I do think a better arts location would be near the new station at Wiehle.

Great idea Kathy - They could do like they did in Rockville at the Vis Arts Center - http://www.visartscenter.org/. The top of it is a Roof top area people can rent out for special events, weddings, ect and it gives a great view. Inside is gallery space and room for artists to have studios at a discounted rate.

Let's hope some of these developers read the Reston Patch. :)

I love Trader Joe's, but the route to the nearest one crosses too much heavy traffic, has skimpy parking space, and even skimpier aisles, and it is years since I have been there. Tall Oaks would be the perfect place for a Trader Joe's. BTW, the infamous Reston Chamber of Commerce (or whatever it is called) has hit El Manantial's expansion plans really hard by arbitrarily postponing the hearing on its application so that the owners will miss all of the early summer diners they had hoped to attract to their patio dining in May.

Boutique Wegman's

Reston needs a theater complex similar to Shirlington or the Cinema Arts theater near Fairfax City. Both show independent films with limited distribution. I believe that such a complex would be well supported by not only Reston residents, but customers from all of Northern Fairfax County and the eastern part of Loudoun. The current supermarket space could be sub-divided into up to six relatively medium sized theaters.

The At Play Cafe which is currently housed @ Hunters Woods is closing its doors on May 6th, I assume to lease issues again with their current building owner.....Maybe the owners of Tall Oaks could give some priority to them ASAP. Parents like myself are in desperate need of a place to take our little ones when it is a holiday, bad weather, or just for date night with our spouse on a Saturday evening......Please consider this...At Play is a nice place that needs a great landlord and more space!!! Thanks!!

I would love to see Reston also get a Walmart somewhere...that would be great business rather than having to drive all the way out to Loudoun County.....

My last and final suggestion is in addition to At Play Cafe is a Chinese Buffet....One that actually can cook better than they do around here.....perhaps someone from the NY/ NJ area.....The food is way better up there and some REAL chinese food in a buffet form would be a nice treat!

W E G M A N ' S

Why not a local grocery co-op (think Bethesda Co-op in Cabin John or Common Market in Frederick) or a local grocery store like the Maple Avenue Market in Vienna? As oil prices and food prices continue to rise, we would be well advised to cultivate (no pun intended) relationships with farmers within striking distance of Reston. If a group of Reston citizens could come together to make a local grocery store happen, we could provide a year round market for our local farmers. It's true, we might not have strawberries in January, but we would be making a huge contribution to the local economy and the the environment by cutting down on long-haul transit of the food on our plates. And, we might all learn to cook with seasonably available fruits and vegetables. If anyone is interested in following up on this idea, please visit www.sustainablereston.org or contact me directly at dblust@comcast.net. Thanks!

A Fresh Market would be great. The location is the perfect size.

As long as people are making suggestions...

http://reston.patch.com/articles/rinky-dink-reston

Or they could just move the Dog Play Afternoon up to the main level and expand it into the food store space. Maybe they could take some of the human kids from the At Play Cafe that is closing as well. Doggie day care with kids on the side... it's a natural combination. On the other hand, I do kind of like the roller derby idea.

We actually could level it all down and plant our own vegetables. Actually, it needs some access from Wiehle. And if it did have a Italian shop, I would got a long way for a good cannoli.

This space should be left vacant until another grocery store can be put into it. With 60,000 more people coming to Reston (over my protestations) effectively doubling our population, we are going to need ALL of the grocery space that we can get.

I'm thinking a combination FCPS Q and A booth, an Eagle Perch with a little Charlie's Angels style roller derby organic food market...just sayin' !

I’m sure there’s a bunch of reasons why it’s not feasible but I don’t see why a grocery like Whole Foods or others couldn’t have small out-post locations that were serviced by their large central locations. I would love to see a mini-version of Harris Teeter, Whole Foods or even Trader Joes in at Tall Oaks and Lake Anne. That way you’d be covered for most of your needs and could hit the big locations when you have to do a larger shopping…why, why, why can’t this work?

I think some sort of grocery is needed here to support the retirement home and all the housing nearby. I am walking distance and if there were a small Wegmans or a Trader Joes I would always choose Tall Oaks over other shopping areas. Trader Joes could certainly handle another location - current one is always packed. I like the ideas someone had of a drive through coffee house where the BK used to be too. People need reasons to go there instead of the other strip malls - a strong/popular anchor supermarket would do the trick. My issue with the Compare and Global markets were they were too niche. Great if I needed a special ingredient like lemongrass, or fish sauce, but if I just needed sandwich bread, all they carried was Wonder bread!

An Upscale Resale?? Trader Joe's is the perfect fit - we wouldn't have to fight for parking anymore.

Trader Joe's should move from its present site to Tall Oaks. There is not nearly enough parking at TJ's present location. It is nearly impossible to find a space there on weekends and very difficult on week days. Everything should be done to facilitate this move.

I agree that it would be great to see a Trader Joes, and maybe a nice coffee house there. The idea of a drive-thru coffee shop is great - once people knew about it, it would get a TON of business!

I also think the other way to make that shopping center more successful would be to get some sort of agreement from Reston to allow better signage. So many people commute up and down Whiehle and would stop in if they knew it was there. Stuck in traffic in the morning? Go through the drive-through coffee shop. Stuck in traffic on the way home? Stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things...

Since I live in the area, I would walk there if there was a Trader Joes, Starbucks, etc. The last two grocery stores were not good, the vegetables were always wilted...

Agree with the idea of facelift and a microbrewery, or at least an upscale beer pub. Reston has no places that serve a good number of craft beers. So we have to drive to Mad Fox in Falls Church, Lost Rhino in Ashburn (soon), Dogfish Head Alehouse in Seven Corners, Arlington or DC.

I would like to see an Amish Market like the one that used to be in Chantilly. Also Aldi Grocery store. It is a discount version of Trader Joe's.

Actually I am going to revise what I would like to see here in Tall Oaks. There is a store that is based out of PA. There are 2 locations here in VA..one in Waynesboro and one in Harrisonburg. It is called Sharp Shopper Grocery Outlet.....it is an AMAZING store. LOTS of closeout items on many grocery (food) items as well as HABA, pet food, and bulk food products such as baking needs, seasonings and just way too many to list......This store would be perfect for that space and the parking there is adequate....write to the company and suggest they come here to Reston....it is not a "BIG" chain like Wegmans, Whole Foods, Trader Joes...they simply want to give great prices for their products......PLEASE WRITE TO THEM AND LET THEM KNOW WE NEED THEM HERE...NO MORE BIG BOX STORES....ALSO IF THERE IS A SMALLER SIZE space we also need a bakery outlet like Blue Bird, Wonder/Hostess......We don't also need "expensive high end stores" all over this town....not everyone living here is made of $$$$$$.....Times are tough for many!!

As a neighbor, love all the ideas! Especially the Italian Store refrain -- I used to live near that in Arlington and my carpool still makes stops there for special treats! the grocery coop! the coffee shop with pastries!

as a neighbor love all the ideas ? but righ now lets support very strong those who are really going forward for a very better future for talls oaks in reston, and they are EL MANANTIAL REATAURANT and MAMA WOK ??

Had dinner at El Manantial last night.

New thought -- how about putting the covered RA tennis courts here? I don't follow this very closely, but as I understand it, folks want it, just not in their back yard. Since so many grocery stores have failed at this location, including the original Giant, another grocer may be very reluctant to move in to that track record. Enclosed tennis courts, anyone??

I LOVE The Fresh Market - I go to the one in Asheville, NC. Kind of a little high end sometimes, but a wonderful store. A drive through coffee shop in the old Burger King would compliment it nicely.

I have been to the Fresh Market in Asheville as well - very cool store. And agree we support the existing businesses as well - any great store/shops that get added there will only help Mama Wok, El Manatial and Pho 75 - definitely want them all to stay around - these suggestions are not meant to replace the businesses that are already there...

I have lived in the Tall Oaks area for over 30 years. I can remember when TO was a thriving shopping center with several eateries (and not fast food), a bank, hallmark store and of course Giant. I believe the Tall Oaks Community defitly needs a grocery store with a Pharmacy. I vote for Trader Joe's, Wegman's or even a Wallmart!! The clients that are in TO have for the majority been there for years. I am handicapped and having this store (Giant) right across the street was very helpful. I am hoping the management of the shopping center listens to the reston residents...especially the Tall Oaks community. Also, family members that visit the aging parent at Tall Oaks Nursing Center often pick up medications (Giant days).

NO WALMART :-<
The TJ's suggestion is excellent. Would be good to have a small pharmacy at Tall Oaks too, and a coffee/kid play/dog play space. If TJ's won't come, how about making that space into an all-year farmers' market with a corner for coffee (kid-play area adjacent to tables for the parents)?

Can a survey be sent out to Bentana Park and neighboring communities? These are the people that will use it most and with a GOOD SIGNAGE - it will be no problem for a grocery store. All the people in the area of TO currently go to North Point Giant, Trader Joe's and Safeway. I remember the days this shopping center thrived!!! There is no reason it can't be a smaller size of North Point. This is especially very important with the subway coming!!!

Forgot to mention....I am also all for Wegmans!!!

As I recall from previous discussion on this topic, Giant didn't "fail" at this location. It was making money. They just scaled back and it didn't fit their format or something like that. I didn't think the other two groceries were the right fit for the spot.

I join the cry for TJ's, but I dispute that it would be a "small" Trader Joe's as some have been saying. I tend to think it would be larger than the other location and with more parking. Unfortunately, the location isn't as close to major roads as the existing spot.

Time for a face-lift and update, though.

Karen, are there any updates from the management company as to what will fill the vacant grocery store location? Per the article above Mr. Flax stated they were close to signing an anchor back in April. Given the size of the location I wonder if the new tenant will be Bed Bath & Beyond or Total Wine.

I am hoping "SOMETHING" goes in Soon!!! It has stayed empty and looks horrible for our community. I am often asked "what happened"??? There are many off us in Bentana Park that have been here for years and used Giant as well as the TO Restaurants, Cleaners, Vet and Dog Groomer. By the way many of these other stores have been there for some 30+ years (such as the cleaners and TO Vet). I am hoping something comes about soon....as the new metro is coming in and it will be a "missed opportunity"!!!!

I agree on needing something soon but doubt this location will really benefit from the metro. As a whole it's too far away and is too hidden. They've worked to improve the latter in recent years by improving signage and cutting away some of the trees, etc. but it still struggles. I just hope they fill the space soon with something that draws customers to the remaining businesses in that shopping center and improves the center as a whole.

Karen - Are there any updates from the management company as to what will fill the vacant grocery store location? Per the article above Mr. Flax stated that they were close to signing an anchor but to date there haven't been any updates.

Karen - Thanks again.

Anyone heard about what is going on at the old Giant at Tall Oaks? It looks like some clean-up and activity--but no announcements so far. Just curious.....

karen--what is the new company?

Lincoln property management.

I mean that is the new property management. I still do not know what company is opening at Tall Oaks. But when I do, you know I will tell you.

Hopefully something like Bed Bath & Beyond, Aldi's, or Total Wine will fill this space soon.

This place needs a Kroger!