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FISHING FEVER: LOCAL ANGLER GOES PRO

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YOUNG ADULT BOOKS HAVE A CHAMPION IN ASHBURN

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2026

Meet local business leaders.

2026 ASHBURN

A PREVIVOR’S STORY

Interactive animal encounters Tickets and Season Passes Birthday Parties and Field Trips

So much more than “just” a jewelry store

“K

etterman’s is my happy place” is a common phrase we are blessed to hear so often (so much so we had stickers made!). Sure, you’ll see beautiful jewelry, eclectic gifts and fashionable accessories, but the feeling guests have when walking through our doors is from the genuine care of the people who make up the Ketterman’s Team. These are not your average retail workers; these are professional jewelry concierges, gift curators and fashion accessorizers. Above all, they are genuinely nice people who care about and for you, who intentionally say, “Are you being cared for.” (and mean it!).

"People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel" - Maya Angelou From the design and layout of the store to the color of the carpet, every detail has been thoughtfully developed over 50+ years of experience, trial and error. Experience has taught us that the way we do things is not for everyone, but we hope guests can see the intention to give our best, trust that we are here to serve in their best interest and give grace to try again when we fall short. We have so many wonderful patrons who let us know about their experiences, good and not-so because they genuinely care about us. This is the relationship we desire to cultivate with our guests. Isn’t that what community is all about? If we sincerely care for each other, we can continue to succeed together, measuring this success by the smiles. It is absolutely our pleasure to serve our guests and we hope that is felt every time you visit.

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JEWELRY · DESIGN · REPAIR · ENGRAVING · ACCESSORIES · GIFTS · FASHION 703.777.0033 · 212 Catoctin Circle, SE, Leesburg · always@kettermans.com

1228 Hunter Mill Road Vienna, VA | novawild.org | guests@novawild.org | 703.757.WILD A 501(c)3 non-profit organization

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

PUBLISHER Bruce Potter publisher@ashburnmagazine.com 571-333-1538 EDITOR Chris Wadsworth editor@ashburnmagazine.com

Faces and the Best of Ashburn

ADVERTISING Sales Leader: Connie Fields cfields@insidenova.com

Account Executives: Judy Harbin jharbin@ashburnmagazine.com Steve Dennen steve@ashburnmagazine.com ART DIRECTOR Kara Thorpe CONTRIBUTORS Paul Anthony Arco Nancy Gregor y PUBLISHED BY Rappahannock Media LLC • InsideNoVa 1360 Old Bridge Road Woodbridge, VA 22192 ( 703) 318-1386 PRESIDENT Dennis Brack BUSINESS OFFICE Carina Richard-Wheat cwheat@insidenova.com ON THE WEB www.ashburnmagazine.com Facebook and Twitter : @ashburnmagazine

Ashburn Magazine is published ever y other month and distributed to about 13,000 selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to Ashburn Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibilit y for loss or damage to any such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Reproduction in whole or part of any of the text, illustrations or photographs is strictly forbidden. ©2026 Rappahannock Media LLC.

unning a small business is not for the faint-hearted. Worries about cash flow, staffing and competition will keep even the most experienced owner up at night. And there’s always the threat of a downturn due to weather, the economy or changing regulations. And as consumers often we know about the businesses themselves but not the people who have put their life’s savings and reputations on the line to ensure their success. In many cases, these owners have given up holidays with family and extended travel because they can’t be away from their business for too long. And they live without a safety net. So in this issue of Ashburn Magazine, we’re introducing you to some of the people behind those local businesses in our first edition of “Faces of Ashburn,” a special advertising section that begins on Page 16. Our other effort to recognize local businesses begins this month as well, when voting will open in our seventh annual Best of Ashburn survey. As in the past, you can support your favorite local businesses in over 100 categories – ranging from Best Auto Repair Shop to Best Yoga Studio. Watch our website (ashburnmagazine.com) and Facebook

page for details on how and when to vote – and then look for the winners to be announced in our May/June issue. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the content we have for you this month, including a feature on a Brambleton woman who – knowing that cancer ran in her family – decided to get ahead of the curve. That starts on Page 26. Starting on Page 32, meet a Broad Run High School graduate who’s trying to turn his love of fishing into a professional career. And in our Dish section (Page 38), a commercial real estate expert gives us the secret sauce behind why restaurants decide to locate where they do. This issue wraps up our seventh year of connecting our Ashburn community. On behalf of the hard-working team that brings you this magazine, we consider ourselves lucky to have your support. And we wish you all the best for the new year!

BRUCE POTTER, PUBLISHER PUBLISHER@ASHBURNMAGAZINE.COM

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2026

AROUND ASHBURN 8

Nothing Up My Sleeve

Contents

1622

BY CHRIS WA D SWO R T H

Meet the leaders behind some of our local businesses in this special advertising section.

DISH FEATURE

COVER STORY

A Previvor's Story

Leader of the Pack Ashburn trading card store growing in leaps and bounds

Dish A real estate insider tells us what restaurants are really looking for

BY C H R I S WA D SWO R T H

DISH NEW

BY N A N CY GREGORY

Czech it out!

Local couple opens unique new bakery in Ashburn

Topping out; inmate graduates; independent family practices

BY CHRIS WA D SWO R T H

Shorts

Reading on the Job Ashburn entrepreneur starts online bookstore

Ashburn man aims to make a living as professional angler

BY CHRIS WA D SWO R T H

B Y PA U L ANTHONY ARCO

Calendar A lineup of local events

Hooked on Fishing

DISH TRY ON THE COVER

Wendy Wade, photographed at her Brambleton home, has been on a mission to spread the word about becoming a cancer “previvor.” Photo by Nina Palazzolo.

36 REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP / The latest facts and figures about home sales in Ashburn

Brighten Up!

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Finally! AA local local Doctor Doctorisishelping helpingcancer cancer Finally! survivors live live lives livesfree freefrom from the theconstant constant survivors pain and and suffering sufferingassociated associatedwith with pain PeripheralNeuropathy! Neuropathy! Peripheral

To Lease or Not to Lease

Ashburn woman turns her grief into lifesaving action

BY CHRIS WA D SWO R T H

IT'S LIFE CHANGING

ASHBURN

FEATURE STORIES

Two Ashburn men are making magic happen

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Fuel Up With Gas Station Food

NEWS FROM THE BURN

54 PARTING SHOT

Irreversible is is not not aa word word you you want want Irreversible to hear from your Doctor but it’s to hear from your Doctor but it’s a common common one one ifif you’ve you’ve been been a diagnosed with Chemotherapydiagnosed with ChemotherapyInduced Peripheral Peripheral Neuropathy Neuropathy Induced or CIPN. or CIPN.

The most most common common The symptoms include: symptoms include: pain, tingling, tingling, burning, burning, pain, weakness, or or numbness numbnessin in weakness, arms, hands, hands, legs legs or or feet feet arms, sudden, sharp, sharp, stabbing stabbingor or sudden, shocking pain sensations shocking pain sensations loss of of touch touch sensation sensation loss clumsiness and trouble clumsiness and trouble using hands hands to to pick pick up up using objects or or fasten fasten clothing clothing objects loss of of balance balance and and falling falling loss

Tom S. S. of of Leesburg Leesburg survived survived Tom testicular cancer only to be be living living testicular cancer only to life in constant pain. He felt as life in constant pain. He felt as though he were walking on pins and needles, becoming weaker and weaker every day. “I was beginning to be worried that one For some, some, their their nerves nerves will will recover recover For day I would be wheelchair-bound.” over over time. time. For For most, most, the the nerve nerve damage is is ‘irreversible.’ ‘irreversible.’ Tom Tom had had damage Nearly half of the patients been told told just just that that by by aa series series of of been who undergo chemotherapy Doctors Doctors and and specialists. specialists. Essentially Essentially will develop Chemotherapy- they they could could cure cure his his cancer cancer but but Induced Peripheral couldn’t fix fix the the damage damage done done by by couldn’t Neuropathy or CIPN. the drugs drugs used used to to cure cure his his cancer. cancer. the Chemotherapy meds travel throughout the body and attack cancer cells; sadly they can also cause severe damage to healthy nerves. CIPN can begin within weeks of starting treatment and can worsen as treatment continues. A high number of really unfortunate people will be forced to endure the symptoms associated with CIPN for months, or even years after they’ve completed chemo. When asked how CIPN was affecting his quality of life, he responded, “It was difficult to even walk up and down stairs and do other things we usually take for granted.”

Then Tom Tom made made aa call call to to Then Rachal Lohr Lohr of of FIREFLY| FIREFLY| Rachal Acupuncture & & Wellness Wellness right right Acupuncture here in in Ashburn. Ashburn. Rachal Rachal and and her her here team are using the time-tested team are using the time-tested science of of Acupuncture Acupuncture and and aa science technology originally developed technology originally developed by NASA NASA that that assists assists in in increasing increasing by blood flow and expediting blood flow and expediting recovery and and healing healing to to treat treat recovery this debilitating debilitating disease. disease. this After aa series series of of treatments treatments Tom Tom After was taking taking stairs stairs with with stride! stride! was “We have have aa beach beach house house and and it’s it’s “We up stairs. stairs. This This morning morning II walked walked up right down down the the stairs stairs and and got got in in right the car,” car,” Tom Tom shared. shared. the

rememberthinking thinking‘that’s ‘that’s “I“Iremember become mighty easy for me’, become mighty easy for me’, I didn’t have to hold on to the I didn’t have to hold on to the handrail or anything! handrail or anything! It’slife-changing life-changingto tohave have It’s this mobility back!” this mobility back!” Againand andagain, again,we wemeet meetwith with Again patients who were once diagnosed patients who were once diagnosed as“untreatable” “untreatable”or or“incurable” “incurable”but but as afterreceiving receivingRachal RachalLohr’s Lohr’s after treatmentsare arenow nowliving livinglives livesfree free treatments frompain painand andsuffering. suffering.For Forover over from 17 years has been the nearly 20 she years she has reversing been effects of the CIPN and other varieties reversing effects of CIPN and of Peripheral Neuropathy, including other varieties of Peripheral that caused by diabetes without Neuropathy, including that caused invasive surgeries medications by diabetes withoutand invasive that comeand with uncomfortable surgeries medications that come side uncomfortable effects. with side effects. If you’ve recently beat cancer only find that you’rebeat living a life only in to Iftoyou’ve recently cancer constant pain and discomfort find that you’re living a life in or you’re struggling the same constant pain and with discomfort or symptoms as a result of either you’re struggling with the same Idiopathic as Neuropathy Diabetic symptoms a result of or either Peripheral Neuropathy, Rachal Idiopathic Neuropathy or Diabetic and the incredible teamRachal at FIREFLY Peripheral Neuropathy, and canincredible help! the team at FIREFLY can help! Rachal Lohr is now accepting new patients butisonly a limitednew time. Rachal Lohr nowfor accepting In an effort protect her patients, patients butto only for a limited time. In both current and future, she hasboth an effort to protect her patients, made the to limit current anddifficult future, decision she has made the the number of patients in her difficult decision to limit seen the number clinic. of patients seen in her clinic.

Only10 10new newneuropathy neuropathypatients patients Only willbe beaccepted acceptedmonthly monthlyso socall call will (703)263-2142now nowto toschedule scheduleaa (703)263-2142 consultation. consultation. consultation. Visit FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com to to learn learnmore moreand andto totake take

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Nothing Up My Sleeve Two Ashburn men are making magic happen BY C H R I S WA D SWO R T H

here’s a famous – or should we say infamous – magic trick going back a century or more that involves a magician “catching” a bullet in his or her mouth. Legend has it that several performers have been injured or even died performing it. So it might shock you that this trick is performed every month right here in Ashburn. The only difference – the gun used is a Nerf gun and it’s all for comedic effect. “He just pummels me with these bullets. They are Nerf bullets so they aren’t going to do any damage,” said magician Ken Jones. “The audience loses their minds – they are laughing like crazy.” Magical moments like this have been captivating audiences since September 2024 at the Magic & Mischief show at Ashburn’s StageCoach Theatre. The show is hosted by “The Professor” and “The Conman.” Jones – an actual PhD who teaches statistics at American University – is the Professor. Alec Negri, who has been a working magician appearing at parties and shows for decades, is the Conman. The fact that the two aren’t just showmen together, but actually good friends might surprise some. They are 20 years apart in age. One spent a career in the business world, the other in military service and education. One leans right politically, the other leans left. “On paper, we’re total opposites,” said Jones, who lives in Belmont Country Club. They met about five years ago and did

Dr. Ken Jones (left) and Alec Negri (right) are The Professor and The Conman.

Magic & Mischief with The Professor and The Conman IF YOU GO WHAT: WHERE: StageCoach Theatre Company, 20937 Ashburn Road, Ashburn WHEN: 2026 performances are scheduled for Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 6, April 10, May 1, June 19, Sept. 11, Oct. 9 and Nov. 20 MORE DETAILS: stagecoachtc.com/magic-and-mischief

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some performances together, but it was around 2022 when they decided to get serious about creating a new show that played off their personalities – Jones, the straight man with the serious demeanor, and Negri, the comedic wit. “We put about a year and a half into the show – writing it, blocking it, getting all the props,” Jones said. “We still practice twice a week and have a two-hour rehearsal prior to each monthly show. We even get together and watch the show on video afterward, critiquing it and looking for ways to improve it.” The show includes all kinds of magic – escape artist, sleight of hand, mentalism, bar bets and more. Negri, who lives in the Broadlands, says he loves his role in the act – making the crowd laugh. “It’s definitely more fun and it’s more my style,” he said. “I like getting the spontaneous laugh and I like getting the ‘no way – that’s impossible” type of reaction to the magic – the jaw-dropping wonder of the magic. That’s my goal. I want both to happen at the same time.” Both men say the best audiences are the ones who really get into the spirit of the evening and participate. It makes everything more magical. “It’s a small theater,” said Jones, referring to the StageCoach venue. “It’s 50 seats. It’s an intimate setting. It’s up close and personal. And when the audience gets into it, we thrive on that.” A ASHBURN MAGAZINE

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AROUND ASHBURN

Leader of the Pack Ashburn trading card store growing in leaps and bounds BY C H R I S WA D SWO R T H

very former and current trading card collector likes to think that they are sitting on a small fortune with that stack of old baseball cards, “Pokémon” cards or “Star Wars” cards stuffed on a shelf in the basement. While most times, it’s probably not true, every once in a while it is. “We had a lady whose husband passed away and he had never done anything with his baseball cards and they were just in storage and she was hoping they were worth a few hundred bucks,” said PATRIC K Patrick Nuckols, owner of ContiNU C KO LS nental Cards in Ashburn. “It turns out there were multiple cards valued at over a thousand dollars each, with one – a Mickey Mantle card – worth over $7,000." Nuckols – who has a background in the corporate world – launched Continental Cards online in 2022. It started out as a side gig, but then it continued to grow. This led to him opening his store in 2024 off Loudoun County Parkway just north of Gloucester Parkway. It may seem like an unassuming little shop for hardcore hobbyists – but it’s actually on the cutting edge of a multibillion-dollar industry. According to a recent report from ResearchAndMarkets.com, the trading card industry was valued at $7.8 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to $11.8 billion by 2030. The two biggest segments in the trading card world right now are sports cards – baseball, yes – but also football, hockey, golf and more. And gaming cards – titles such as “Magic: The Gathering,” “Riftbound” and the aforementioned “Pokémon.” “‘Pokémon’ is currently our biggest seller,” Nuckols said. “It is one of the most recognizable brands in the world. ‘Pokémon’ is the

number one IP [intellectual property] in the world worth over $100 billion – $40 billion more than the second most valuable – Mickey Mouse and friends.” For enthusiasts, Continental Cards is more than a store. It’s a home for a growing community in Ashburn and greater Northern Virginia that shops together, discusses card history, plays in tournaments and even opens card packs with others looking on – called “breaking – and then celebrat-

IF YOU GO WHAT: Continental Cards WHERE: 21240 Ashburn Crossing Drive, Suite 135, Ashburn WHEN: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week MORE DETAILS: continental-cards.com or 571-707-8074

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ing when a rare or valuable card is found. And that last part is no joke. Recently, on the national scene, an “Alpha Black Lotus” card from the game “Magic: The Gathering” sold for more than $3 million. A Paul Skenes MLB Debut Patch 1 of 1 autograph card recently sold at auction for more than $1 million. The buyer – the Dick’s Sporting Goods company. “Opening a pack can feel a bit like the lottery because you never know if you’ll pull something rare,” Nuckols said. “The difference is even if you don’t hit a big card, you still walk away with collectible pieces you can enjoy, trade, or play with.” Nuckols’ business has grown so fast that he’s currently expanding, nearly tripling his space in order to create a larger retail area and add a gaming center for trading card tournaments. Sven Wrage and his sons, Niko and Henry, are originally from Germany, but live in Fairfax County now. On a recent December afternoon, they were busy shuffling through stacks of sports cards at Continental Cards. “It’s a nice hobby,” Wrage said. “The boys like to collect cards with German players and it’s helping them to learn English as well.” Jamaine Johnson lives in Lovettsville and made his first trek to Continental Cards just before Christmas. A card collector since elementary school, he’s into the sports cards. “Baseball, football, basketball. I like to see if I can find my favorite players, to see if it’s a limited edition or a special card,” Johnson said. “That’s what it was all about when I was younger. But now, it’s also about the money a little bit too.” And believe it or not, the same day Ashburn Magazine spoke to Johnson, he opened a pack bought at the store and discovered a card worth roughly $8,000. Stories like Johnson’s and the Wrages’ are music to Nuckols’ ears. His goals for the shop are simple: to be a centerpiece for the community and to offer a place that people can learn and participate in a fun – and sometimes lucrative – hobby surrounded by friends new and old. A

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Our psychiatrists have current availability for medication management for children, adolescents and adults. Providing comprehensive mental health services in Ashburn for over 20 years. Accepting Anthem BCBS, United Healthcare, Cigna, etc Contact us at 703-858-7838 x111 or intake@potomacpsych.com to schedule an appointment. 21001 Sycolin Rd #360, Ashburn, VA 20147 www.potomacpsychologicalcenter.com ASHBURN MAGAZINE

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AROUND ASHBURN S H O R T S

NORTHERN VIRGINIA SCIENCE CENTER CELEBRATES ‘TOPPING OUT’ T

he Northern Virginia Science Center, under construction near Ashburn, celebrated a milestone when the structure was “topped out” in November. Topping out means the final structural beam of the building was set into place – and holding a brief ceremony is a tradition in the construction industry. To reach this milestone, construction firm Balfour Beatty poured 5,500 cubic yards of concrete, set 700 tons of structural steel and installed 325 foundations on the huge project. Located at the Kincora development off Russell Branch Parkway close to Route 7 and Route 28, the 70,000-square-foot science center will feature five themed galleries, a public atrium, a multipurpose space and outdoor educational areas. The project broke ground in early 2025 and is scheduled to be completed later this year with a grand opening in 2027.

Local Family Practices Go Independent Once Again T

wo prominent family doctors’ offices in Ashburn have made a behind-the-scenes change that local patients may start to notice soon. Both Broadlands Family Practice-Ashburn and Broadlands Family Practice-Brambleton have parted ways with the Inova Health System to once again become independent practices. The announcement was made just before the holidays. The Ashburn offices are part of Fairfax Family Practice Centers (FFPC), which includes seven other offices that have also decided to return to independent ownership. “In returning to independent ownership, we are affirming a commitment to our patients and our values,” said Dr. David Lee, the FFPC board president, in a statement. “It’s not just a business initiative. It’s a resurgence of our mission to deliver care rooted in compassion, trust and local connection.” The FFPC offices have been part of the Inova Health System since 2020, but reportedly had an out-clause that allowed them to return to independent operations after five years.

Loudoun Inmates Graduating From Area High Schools A

milestone of sorts took place in December when an inmate at the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center graduated with a high school diploma. The unnamed inmate was the first person jailed at the ADC to earn a diploma while in custody. The diploma was issued through Heritage High School in Leesburg, because that’s the closest high school to the ADC. However, a second inmate is due to receive a diploma from Broad Run High School in Ashburn in January, because he was previously enrolled there. “This [December] graduation recognizes the importance of education, how it can change lives and how it can help inmates to become productive members of society,” Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman said in a statement. “By partnering with [Loudoun County Public Schools], we are giving interested inmates additional tools to help them succeed when they reenter our community.” The inmate who graduated did not receive instruction directly from the high school. Coursework was completed in the jail with instruction provided by the Office of Special Education at LCPS.

A rendering of the completed Northern Virginia Science Center.

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1-2026 Ashburn 1-4 page ad_Template 12/9/25 4:12 PM Page 1

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53 Years Strong – Built On Trust While Others Come And Go!

The Reading Chamber owner Jess Taylor and some of her merchandise, including a fantasy book hidden in brown paper and sent with stickers and other treats.

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Reading on the Job Ashburn entrepreneur starts online bookstore BY C H R I S WA D SWO R T H

f you’re a bibliophile, a book lover, you want to spend most of your time around books – reading in a cozy corner, browsing the shelves at a bookshop, maybe discussing your latest reads in a book club. In that case, Jess Taylor is definitely a book lover. After graduating from the University of North Carolina with a bachelor of fine arts in creative writing and a certificate in publishing, she eventually landed a job at a book publisher in

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Herndon. She was there for more than six years and rose to the position of acquisitions director. Then the Ashburn entrepreneur took it a step further – she quit her job and opened an online bookstore called The Reading Chamber. “I originally decided to take the leap when I became burnt out on my previous job and I was losing the joy of reading,” Taylor said. “I needed to do something that ignited my passion again. Working

J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 6

with books I love and helping readers find titles that I adore brought back my passion and now I get to share that with people.” The Reading Chamber officially launched in October 2024. It focuses on the YA – or Young Adult – genre, which is close to Taylor’s heart. “When I was in middle school and high school, I was reading five books a week. I had the idea to create a young adult-only bookstore when I was in high school to give teens and other readers a large selection of books in their age group,” she recalled. The Reading Chamber is operated out of Taylor’s home in Ashburn’s Metrowalk community. She and her books share the space with her husband, Brendan, and their Bernedoodle, Chandler. (Before you start wondering, yes, the pooch is named for the TV character “Chandler Bing.”) The Reading Chamber is still small. Taylor estimates she’s had roughly 200 customers in her first year or so, but she’s proud that she’s shipped books and merchandise to 21 states. “[It’s] a great start for an online business,” she said. “A lot of our customers are repeats, and that makes my heart so full to see their names come across on a new order.” Taylor says most of her customers are teenage girls and women. Many of them are buying books for themselves, while others are moms, sisters or aunts buying books for a young woman in their lives.

To try to build a business in the 2020s, you have to think outside the box – and Taylor has been working every angle. She’s experimented with pop-up bookstores at various community events around Northern Virginia. She’s also all over social media with engaging posts on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. The Reading Chamber offers a feature called “Blind Date with a Book” where the customer answers a few basic questions and then Taylor chooses a book for them. They don’t know what book they are getting until they open it. Another offering is Book Boxes – a subscription where a box with a book and other treats is sent to a client each month. For example, in October, the Book Box had a YA horror book in it and also included Halloween bookmarks and stickers, a recipe for pumpkin pretzel candy and other items. “Bookselling is a notoriously hard business, so adding some fun and creativity is almost a must in order to have readers choose your shop over others,” she said. Long term, Taylor hopes to one day have her own brick-and-mortar bookstore. And if she does, she’s confident that YA books will remain a centerpiece of her business model. “I find young adult books incredibly fun and they can be so much more creative than their adult counterparts. I will never stop reading YA, and a lot of people I know won’t stop either.” A

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21595 SMITH SWITCH ROAD, ASHBURN

Ashburn Ice House

ofA S H B U R N

2026 EDITION

Meet These Local Business Leaders The pages that follow constitute the inaugural edition of Faces of Ashburn, featuring profiles of six business owners or leaders whose businesses serve Ashburn and Loudoun County. All but one of the profiles were written by Eric Althoff, with photos taken by Andrew Sample of Andrew Sample Photography. (Pond Roofing profile by Jennifer Waldera, with photo by Luke Christoper.) The profiles were prepared in cooperation with the featured businesses.

Ashburn Ice House ................................................... Page 17 Pond Roofing .............................................................Page 18 MAC Design + Build LLC ..........................................Page 19 K&H Landscaping & Grounds Maintenance ......... Page 20 Lindsay Volkswagen .................................................Page 21 Stack House Studios ............................................... Page 22 To be included in the 2027 edition of “Faces of Ashburn,” email publisher@ashburnmagazine.com.

rowing up on Long Island, Robert M. Lorenzen started playing ice hockey at the age 5. Lorenzen continued honing his hockey skills while studying hotel and restaurant management at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He came on as general manager at the Ashburn Ice House in 2000 and didn’t leave until his December 2025 retirement. “We’ve been planning my retirement for the last 10 months, and are excited to transition the operations of the Ice House to a new generation of leadership,” he said. However, even in retirement, Lorenzen is still found around the Ice House, often coaching on the finer points of sneaking a puck past the goalie. He espe-

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2026 ASHBURN

cially enjoys mentoring 4- to 6-year-olds, known as the Mini-Mites – and who colloquially know Lorenzen as Coach Rob. “Every Monday, every Thursday, I’ve got 22 kids out on the ice in full hockey equipment, just learning to love the game,” he enthused. “It brings me a lot of joy and excitement, so I'll continue.” Looking back at his quarter-century leading the organization, Lorenzen is particularly fond of the time when the Washington Capitals came to the Ice House for 10 days of training camp. The Caps brought along a much-discussed rookie from Russia – some guy named Alex Ovechkin. “As soon as [the public] heard Ovechkin was skating, man, we had lines out

the door,” Lorenzen said of the legendary left wing, who surpassed Wayne Gretzky as the NHL’s all-time goal scorer in April. Pointing to a framed photo of Ovi hanging in his office, Lorenzen shared: “That’s him chasing my then-6-year-old son on the ice. I didn’t know who was having more fun.” In addition to hockey classes for skaters of all ages, the Ashburn Ice House remains available to rent for parties and other events. Many of the students Lorenzen once coached now return to the Ice House with children of their own. “I think the Ice House will remain a staple for those in Loudoun County and beyond who have really taken to it,” Lorenzen said.

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2026

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MAC design + build

Left to right: Patrick Readyhough, Taylor Carroll, Anthony Themak, Laura Schultz, Mike Fitzgerald

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or over 60 years, Pond Roofing has specialized in residential roofing and exterior remodeling offering expert installation and replacement of roofing, siding, windows, doors, gutters, and skylights. According to owner Patrick Readyhough, Pond Roofing’s late founder, Bob Pond, built the company on hard work, honesty and a dedication to doing things the right way. “His legacy continues to guide us every day,” he said. Pond Roofing is dedicated to providing top-notch service while helping homeowners to protect, beautify, and improve on their investment. “From our beginnings as a small, family-run roofing company, we’ve grown into one of Northern Virginia’s most trusted names in exterior remodeling,” Readyhough said. “Over the decades, we’ve expanded our services, refined our customer experience and built a team of skilled professionals who share our commitment to quality, integrity, and

continuous improvement.” Commitment to helping their clients is evident not only in Pond Roofing’s ongoing high-quality work and customer service but also through continuous growth and change, which have provided expanded services and streamlined transactions. The company recently introduced a new gutter system, which gives homeowners a complete exterior protection package along with roofing, siding, window, and door solutions. “This addition allows us to provide a seamless experience and ensure every aspect of the home’s exterior is protected and performing at its best,” Readyhough said. Additionally, Pond Roofing has worked to improve internal processes through EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System), which allows the team to communicate more easily and operate more efficiently. Community service is also a part of Pond Roofing’s mission. The company

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boasts a long-standing relationship with the Ryan McLaughlin Memorial Golf Tournament benefiting the Young Hearts Foundation and Blood Cancer United (formerly LLS), and Readyhough has been instrumental in mentoring student leaders in Blood Cancer United’s Student Visionaries of the Year program. Additionally, the company holds a yearly roof giveaway and donates a roof to a deserving community member in need. As Pond Roofing moves into 2026, the team looks forward to continuing to serve homeowners in Northern Virginia and taking pride in how they can help community members. “One of our customers told us, ‘You made a stressful home project feel easy,’” said Readyhough. “That feedback reflects exactly what we strive for—not just delivering excellent craftsmanship, but creating a peaceful experience from start to finish.”

s Founder and President of MAC design + build, Derek Leiter is charged with tackling the many challenges that come with homebuilding and remodeling in a rapidly growing region. Founded in 2013, MAC design + build has steadily expanded its portfolio, guiding clients through land evaluation, feasibility analysis, thoughtful design and the full construction process. “Despite the changes we’ve seen over the years, our commitment to quality has never wavered,” Leiter said. “Our clients value projects that are carefully planned, meticulously designed and expertly executed – not rushed or compromised.” MAC design + build offers a full range of services, including custom homes, additions and complex renovations, as well as gourmet kitchens and luxurious bathrooms. Many custom home clients also rely on the firm to assist with locating and developing land while their home is being designed. Transparency and communication, particularly in the early phases of a project, are central to MAC’s approach. As part of a managed client experience, Leiter and his team provide feasibility studies supported by detailed renderings and clear budget estimates. “Regular in-person meetings with architects, designers and project managers keep everyone aligned,” he said. “The

process matters just as much as the outcome – bringing a vision to life should be as thoughtful as the finished home itself.” That philosophy is reflected in the positive feedback MAC design + build consistently receives from clients. Leiter

attributes this to the firm’s disciplined review of project details and ongoing oversight at every phase of construction. As Ashburn and the surrounding communities have grown, homeowners have become more informed and discerning. Leiter says MAC design + build has always been prepared to meet those higher expectations. “This evolution has pushed us to strengthen our planning and communication, guiding clients well beyond the construction phase,” he said. “Being part of the Ashburn business community is deeply rewarding – the area’s strong sense of organization, care and pride of ownership is unmistakable. “Loudoun homeowners are direct and engaged, which leads to honest conversations and strong relationships,” Leiter added. “We take seriously the trust clients place in us with their homes, and we’re grateful to continue serving the community we’ve long called home.”

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2026

KRIS HJORT

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K&H Landscapes and Ground Maintenance

he end of one year and the start of the next is a busy time for Kris Hjort. As CEO and President of K&H Landscaping, December finds his team transforming clients’ lawns into beautiful, seasonally inspired landscapes with holiday decor. In the months that follow, they remove the decor, winter prune and clear snow. When spring arrives, requests for mulching, mowing and additional grounds maintenance services mark the beginning of warmer months. It is a cycle that keeps K&H active year-round and deeply connected to the community it serves. “What I tell my team is we’re not only a business in the community. We’re here to serve and help the community grow,”

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Hjort said. He refers both to helping Ashburn manage its growth and to supporting local youth as they mature into successful adults. “From the development side, things are moving further west, and that’s helping keep Ashburn, well, Ashburn. That’s a good thing.” K&H has been a trusted name in Northern Virginia for more than 40 years, serving residential and commercial properties. Under Hjort’s leadership, the company has earned multiple Best of Ashburn awards, reflecting the strong relationships his team has built and the high quality of service they provide. “Existing clients recommend us to neighbors, friends, and family,” Hjort said. “Residential clients are generally looking for one company to

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handle all their services, from mowing to mulching.” Beyond his business, Hjort is deeply committed to giving back. He was named RHOLC’s 2024 Man of the Year, honoring his dedication to service. Following the tragic death of firefighter Trevor Brown in February 2024, Hjort led a community project to design and build a memorial park at the site of the incident. The memorial features a 4.5-ton boulder placed where Brown lost his life, serving as a lasting tribute. Hjort also serves as President of the Board for Loudoun Youth, a nonprofit supporting local teenagers. “Ashburn is an outstanding community,” said Hjort, who lives nearby in Sterling. “There are so many things to do. More importantly, there are so many people who care.” Through his leadership at K&H and his dedication to service, Kris Hjort remains deeply rooted to ensure Ashburn continues to grow in meaningful ways.

Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles

erry Holloway has an old VW bus in his garage at home – similar to the Scooby Doo gang’s “Mystery Machine.” While Lindsay Volkswagen of Dulles is stocked with far more current models, Holloway says the team at Lindsay is nonetheless happy to help out with just about any service, even non-VW vehicles. “We have incredibly qualified technicians,” Holloway said. Regarding car shopping: “I think people find that this is not a pushy environment – that we really try to use an educational approach.” Lindsay Volkswagen has been open since 2004. Holloway says many of his staff have been with him since the get-go over two decades ago. He and his staff are eager to assist visitors to Lindsay VW

seeking to purchase new or preowned vehicles, or who may need a bit of a look under the hood. “I studied IT, ironically. A friend of mine needed some help at a dealership in Maryland in 1994, and I got hooked,” Holloway said of the unusual journey that brought him to his current job as general manager of Lindsay VW. “What makes this industry interesting is that every day is different. It’s just never boring. Sometimes challenging, but never boring.” To help shoppers feel at ease, Holloway is proud of his store being transparent with its customers. Lindsay VW’s goal is to “help people find the right vehicle, not sell them something.” “They’re going to have a really good experience with people that like what

they’re doing and get a fair price for great products,” Holloway said. “The tenure of our employees and the commitments of our management company ensure that we are truly delivering what our brand stands for.” This approach has helped Lindsay VW become one of the top-performing VW retailers in the United States. That commitment extends to the business’ charitable reach in the community. Lindsay VW sponsors employees’ volunteer efforts in addition to causes that are important to their customers, Holloway said. “Most of us live in the surrounding communities, and it’s nice to be able to support where we live,” he said.

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hy do the five components of fitness matter when scheduling your weekly movement? If you have not learned the importance of these cross-training components, your current fitness provider is not the right partner. Many brands want you focused on one movement style – the one that aligns with their offering – to fill class spaces with poorly trained instructors and to meet quotas. But not at Stack House, not with Mikayla, as the business is founded on the five components of fitness – designed to get you fit. After teaching fitness classes on the Penn State campus and at local studios in Ashburn, Mikayla Agard, the founder of Stack House Studios, was motivated to create an unparalleled movement and wellness experience – one that is aligned with client interests and their personal goals.

Since 2018, Mikayla has expanded her skills across various disciplines to find a solution to the need for consistent, quality instruction that suits all fitness levels. The Ashburn native combined her learnings from her Corporate Innovation and Entrepreneurship degree with her knowledge attained from over 600 hours of formal teacher training courses to conceive Stack House. This collective experience resulted in “innovative studios providing effective, cohesive classes with elements from multiple movement and mindfulness styles. Each class format – Flow, Sculpt, Power, Cardio and Fusion – is based on one component of fitness. We promote intentional wellness and self-care as a ritual, so members benefit both physically and mentally. Our welcoming studio environment uses uplifting music and ambient lighting to create an escape that incentiv-

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ASHBURN LIBRARY 43316 HAY ROAD, ASHBURN WEDNESDAY, JAN. 14, 7 P.M.

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APREVIVOR’s Right: Wendy Wade snapped a selfie at one of her mammogram appointments. Far right: Wade with her mother, Marilyn Rogers.

Ashburn woman turns her grief into life-saving action

Story

N I N A PA L A Z Z O L O

BY N A N CY G R EG O RY

“M

y mom was amazing. She was strong as crap.” Wendy Wade doesn’t mince words as she reflects on her mother’s years-long battle with breast cancer and the moment she learned it was no longer treatable. “We were there for a chemo treatment and my mom was asleep, facing the window. I looked up and I saw her doctor. She motioned for me and took me into a back hallway. She explained that a blood test they did before administering chemo showed that her kidneys were failing. The can-

cer had gone too far and they had done everything they could.” Wade, through tears, said she asked how much time her mom had left. “My mom had wanted to go to the Grand Canyon. We had it booked for two months away. And the doctor said, ‘I don’t think she’s going to live more than three weeks.’” Wade’s mom – Marilyn Rogers – died 20 days later. From infancy through adulthood, cancer has been a near-constant presence in Wendy Wade’s life – as a child she punched out the pills from the foil packs that helped extend her father’s life during a clinical trial for Hodgkin lymphoma. As an adult, Wade was at her mother’s side as she battled the aggressive breast cancer that took her life. The loss of a parent is profound for anyone. For Wade, it also proved to be a pivotal, lifesaving event. Wade, who grew up in Falls Church and now lives in Brambleton with her husband, Jason, and two children, Sophie and Wes, recalls how her mother’s cancer

Wendy Wade with her father, Ken, circa 1988.

advanced “with a vengeance,” decades after her mom had survived an earlier bout with breast cancer. “It was just happening so quickly and so I think after going through that and watching how cruel it was in those final weeks … that led me to say, ‘I want to use whatever time I have left here to be the healthiest version of me that I can be,’” Wade said. Still grieving after her mother died in May 2024, yet galvanized by her unforgiving journey with cancer, Wade underwent genetic testing at the Inova Saville Cancer Screening and Prevention Center in Fairfax to learn more about her own health. She didn’t expect to learn anything of note. She knew her mother had been tested and didn’t have either of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations closely associated with an elevated risk of breast cancer. Her father had lived nearly 18 years with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma before succumbing to the disease just two months short of Wade’s high school graduation. As a healthy 44-year-old who kept up with annual physicals, Wade thought she was in the clear. Elizabeth Stark, a senior genetic counselor at Inova Saville, said she also expected Wade’s results to be negative. “Instead, her results showed a BRCA mutation that we ultimately learned came from her father and was completely unrelated to the reason she came to Saville,” Stark said. “That was unexpected and rare.” More than 60% of women with BRCA1 mutations will develop

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breast cancer in their lifetime and 39% to 58% of them will develop ovarian cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. The news was another emotional shock for the Wade family. “We’d just gone through the entire, exhausting cancer battle with her mom and were trying to pick up the pieces and move forward – and now this,” said Jason Wade. “Fear turned to anger and resentment that my wife, my family, would have to endure another life-changing event in such a short period of time. But in time, I was left with only resolve and pride. My wife is one of the strongest, most resilient people I’ve met.” And unlike her parents, Wade was now empowered to make choices that could significantly reduce her risk of developing cancer and change her life. “From the start, Wendy saw the big picture,” Stark said. “She understood that knowledge is power and that her story didn’t have to

Left: Wendy Wade with members from her healthcare team around her. Below: Wade with some of her medical team at a Washington Spirit match in September.

ELI Z A BE TH STA R K

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mirror her mom’s. While genetic results can feel overwhelming, this information has been in Wendy’s cells since birth and now she can use it to her advantage. Wendy faced the unimaginable in losing both parents to cancer, and she turned that pain into action.” Wade had decisions to make – even while she was still mourning and processing life-changing news. “I felt like I was getting a diagnosis … but it wasn’t really a diagnosis,” Wade said. “I felt like I was being told that I had cancer, but I didn’t have cancer at all, right?” Wade had to decide whether to undergo surgeries to reduce the risk of developing ovarian cancer and breast cancer or opt for enhanced, more frequent screening. Given that there are no effective methods of detecting early stage ovarian cancer, Wade said the decision to get a hysterectomy was somewhat easier.

“She never wavered in her media outlets and in September, goal to improve her survival and she was the honorary captain of health,” said Dr. Jessica Lee, a a Washington Spirit soccer game gynecologic oncologist who at Audi Field. A synopsis of her performed Wade’s surgery last story was shared on the stadium’s January. jumbo video screen. The next decision – to “BRCA feels to me like have a double mastectomy it’s been placed in my heart – was deeply emotional, but to share,” Wade said. “And with her family’s full, unconthe more I share it, the ditional support, Wade is more the universe is telling DR . J ESSICA preparing for this preventame to keep sharing.” L EE tive surgery. Both Lee and Stark, “I would just kick myself if I sat members of Wade’s health care on the information for too long, team, encourage people to learn and then something happened,” more about their family history Wade said. “I have to keep moving to determine whether they are a … every day that I don’t, it’s still a candidate for genetic testing, even threat.” if these conversations are difficult. Amid the whirlwind of doctor’s The simple saliva or blood test appointments, grief, a career as may be covered by insurance, a graphic designer and being a depending on risk factors and mom of two, Wade has embraced the patient’s plan. Otherwise, the publicly sharing her story in the out-of-pocket cost usually runs hopes of helping others. She has around $250. told her story to local and regional Wade is determined to remain a

Wendy Wade with her mom, Marilyn Rogers, her husband, Jason, daughter, Sophie, and son, Wes.

previvor, a term used to describe a survivor of a predisposition to cancer, typically someone with an inherited mutation who has never been diagnosed with cancer. “It’s a powerful word … it’s taking the bull by the horns,” Wade said. “My husband said something in the very, very beginning of my journey, and I will never forget this, and it was like, I have to do all this to fight the boogeyman. And [he said] ‘We don’t ever know if you are going to meet the boogeyman, right? He might not ever show up. But you have to be prepared to fight.’” It’s the same battle her dad bravely fought, enrolling in clinical trials for his cancer and living by the philosophy that cancer gave him a reason to be the best father he could be, enjoy the life he had and not be consumed by worry. Wade said her mom had the same mentality, and although

she had hope and optimism that she would beat cancer the second time around, it came on too fast and too aggressively. Reflecting on the tragic turn of events that has led Wade on her journey as a previvor, she often finds herself contemplating the difficult but undeniable link between loss and life. “The weird thing is, and I still grapple with this almost daily – is had my mom not died, I would have never found out,” Wade said. “Everything happens for a reason, even if you don’t necessarily understand why it’s happening. Sometimes, I feel like my mom died so I could find out.” A Nancy Gregory is an Ashburn resident and a communications professional who has worked as a daily newspaper reporter and now leads media relations for a national nonprofit.

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O H OKED IF SHING ON

Ashburn man aims to make a living as professional angler BY PAU L ANTHONY ARCO

ome of Matt McCluskey’s fondest memories growing up in Ashburn involve a fishing pole in his hand and a body of water at his feet. Like the days he fished along the banks of the Potomac River with his father. Or joining the Broad Run High School bass club, which would meet at coach Ernie Roja’s pond before sunrise, fish all day and celebrate the day’s haul with a cookout at night. But some of his best times came even earlier, when he spent lazy summer days at his grandfather’s farm in Ohio. As young as age 4, McCluskey would hop into the pickup truck, as his grandfather cruised dirt roads, looking for the perfect pond to fish for bass and blue gills.

Above: Matt McCluskey holds a catch during a practice session in Oklahoma. Top and bottom right: Matt fishing on the Potomac River during a competition, as friends in nearby boats look on.

That’s when he caught the fishing bug. “I remember one time we found a flooded cornfield,” McCluskey said. “There were some big carp trapped in the field, and we were just wading around and catching them with our nets.” Today, the 30-year-old McCluskey splits his time between Richmond and his home on Hay Road in Ashburn, working as a technician for a security system company. But when he’s not traveling for work, McCluskey is home on the water, honing his fishing skills as every catch draws him closer to his dream of making a living as a professional angler. “He’s a solid, down-to-earth guy,” said friend and fishing partner Chris Ciliberti, who lives in the Belmont Country Club neighborhood. “He just happens to be the best fisherman I’ve ever seen.” In 2017, McCluskey joined the ranks of professional fishing when he qualified to participate in the Major League Fishing (MLF) circuit. But he needed a boat. That’s where Ciliberti comes in. Ciliberti’s wife knew McCluskey’s mother. Introductions were made, and the two anglers became friends and started fishing together. And good fortune was smiling because Ciliberti happened to be selling his Ranger bass boat. “The only thing that was separating Matt from earning top 10 finishes was a boat,” Ciliberti said. “My wife said, ‘Chris, this is the universe speaking.’ That’s when we struck a deal with Matt.” Professional fishing has different levels – all under the MLF umbrella. The higher levels mean better competition, pricier entry fees and bigger payouts. McCluskey is working his way up the ladder. “I’m in the minor leagues,” he said, “trying to get to the majors.” McCluskey says he competes in about 40 tournaments a year, including local and weekend regional tournaments. Last October, McCluskey netted his biggest payday yet. Over two days, he caught 10 bass weighing a total of 34 pounds, 12 ounces on the James River in Richmond to win an MFL Phoenix Bass Fishing League event.

McCluskey earned a prize package worth $50,000. With the win, he also qualified for the 2026 Bass Fishing League All-American in May 2026. “It was pretty awesome,” said McCluskey, who celebrated his first title with his girlfriend and their parents in attendance. “That win solidified my mentality that I can compete with the best of them.” McCluskey’s garage shelves are packed with fishing equipment – various rods and more than 100 different artificial lures with whimsical names like the crankbait and the jig-head minnow. Most of the tournaments McCluskey competes in have a five-fish limit that includes both largemouth and smallmouth bass. McCluskey says in some tournaments he will catch all five in the first spot he finds. Other days, it comes down to the very last cast. “It’s all about the chase,” he said. “The morning is the thrill. The boats get in line. [There] can be five to 200 boats, depending on the tournament. Everyone races to their spots. You get short spurts of activity and then it can be dead for three hours. There’s always one long lull during the day.” McCluskey says his strategy is simple – cover as much water as possible. “I don’t like to sit in one spot,” he said. “There will always be fish somewhere else, so I go to them.” Ciliberti says his friend has what it takes to reach the top of his sport. “Tournament fishing comes down to making the right decision at the right time. When it comes to intuition and experience, Matt is at a different level,” Ciliberti said. “And he’s calm and centered, even when things aren’t going his way.” Thomas Arens knows a thing or two about fishing. He hosts an outdoor sports podcast called “Fishing the DMV.” Arens met McCluskey through mutual friends and has had the angler on his show multiple times. “His brain operates like Chat GPT,” Arens said. “He makes quick decisions and can break down any scenario faster than anyone else. He can read the water and process it quickly.” With his first professional win under his belt, McCluskey is now working on

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"Tournament fishing comes down to making the right decision at the right time."

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Below: McCluskey holds up two smallmouth bass he caught in a tournament on the St. Lawrence River in New York where he came in 17th place. Right: Two largemouth bass McCluskey caught during a Toyota Series Championship in Oklahoma. He came in 30th in that contest.

earning name recognition in the professional ranks. “With fishing, it’s not all about winning,” Arens said. “You have to grow a brand, be involved with social media and sell product. Matt is a humble guy and that’s a breath of fresh air when it comes to athletes. All he wants to do is fish.” McCluskey’s goal is to make professional fishing his full-time occupation. But that takes everything from finding corporate sponsors to having a little good luck. In the meantime, he keeps grinding away. “Competitive bass fishing is all about gambling on yourself,” he said. A

McCluskey carrying a bag full of fish he has caught on his way to have them officially weighed.

Paul Anthony Arco is a longtime journalist and freelance writer who has written for publications around the country.

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REAL ESTATE ROUNDUP

ASHBURN'S TOP 10 20147

The five highest-priced homes that sold in each of Ashburn’s two ZIP codes between mid-October and mid-December. Data and photos from Realtor.com.

20148 43582 Old Kinderhook Drive

41333 Allen House Court

$2,280,000 Sold: Nov. 17 5 bedrooms 6½ bathrooms 10,480 square feet

$2,787,500 Sold: Nov. 20 7 bedrooms 7½ bathrooms 8,525 square feet

20304 Northpark Drive $1,690,000 Sold: Dec. 12 5 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 4,248 square feet

20866 Axminster Place NO PHOTO AVAILABLE

20588 Wild Meadow Court

41992 Paddock Gate Place

44667 Provincetown Drive

41550 Hepatica Court

$1,556,000 Sold: Oct. 20 5 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 4,779 square feet

$1,900,000 Sold: Oct. 20 6 bedrooms 6½ bathrooms 6,242 square feet

$1,500,000 Sold: Nov. 24 5 bedrooms 4½ bathrooms 4,336 square feet

$1,750,000 Sold: Oct. 31 5 bedrooms 5½ bathrooms 5,719 square feet

20343 Kiawah Island Drive

22493 Terra Rosa Place

$1,350,000 Sold: Oct. 31 4 bedrooms 3½ bathrooms 4,101 square feet

THE BIG PICTURE:

MORE MIXED SIGNALS…

The local real estate market slowed down in the fall as home sales were down 9.8% in the two Ashburn ZIP codes combined in November, compared with November 2024, the second straight monthly decline. Countywide in November, home sales were up 6% compared with the prior year, the 15th straight monthly increase.

ASHBURN MAGAZINE

New listings in November were up 26.6% in the 20147 ZIP code but down 15.3% in 20148, according to the latest data from the Dulles Area Association of Realtors. Countywide, listings were down 4.5%. Pending sales were up in both Ashburn ZIP codes, however, as were median sales prices. Homes continue to stay on the market about four weeks on average before going under contract. •

$2,362,642 Sold: Dec. 8 5 bedrooms 5 bathrooms 1,535 square feet

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$1,750,000 Sold: Nov. 14 5 bedrooms 5½ bathrooms 7,179 square feet

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THE NOVEMBER DETAILS CLOSED SALES:

Up 1.7% in 20147 ZIP code / Down 20.3% in 20148 ZIP code Combined sales totaled 110, down 9.8% from the previous year.

PENDING SALES:

Up 35.2% in 20147 / Up 2.2% in 20148

MEDIAN SALES PRICE: Up 3.7% to $705,000 in 20147 Up 0.7% to $833,960 in 20148

AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET (HOMES SOLD IN SEPTEMBER): 29 in 20147 / 28 in 20148

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Dish F E AT U R E

TO LEASE OR NOT TO LEASE

“W

hy did that new restaurant close so quickly?” “Why are restaurant rents so high?” “Why can’t we get a Krispy Kreme?” These are just some of the questions local diners have when it comes to the ever-changing restaurant scene in and around Ashburn. To try to get some answers, we turned to Craig Cheney, one of the most experienced commercial real estate brokers in the region. Cheney, a principal with the real estate company KLNB, has been in the industry for 25 years. He’s worked with scores of restaurants over the years – small mom-andpops to big national chains. Ashburn Magazine posed our most puzzling questions to Cheney. Here are some of his responses.

What is the main goal of a landlord when they are looking to lease a restaurant space?

“Landlords prioritize goals and objectives differently depending on a variety of factors. Most of the time, landlords want to get the best economic deal possible from the best credit tenant that has the most cachet and drives the most traffic to their center.”

That sounds like they are looking for a unicorn to some degree.

“It is very difficult to achieve all those objectives, so each landlord will prioritize which of those objectives (economics, credit, cachet, traffic) is most important to achieve their goals. For instance, if a landlord is going to be selling their shopping center in the near future, then high rent and good credit will likely be a higher priority. If they are a long-term holder of the real estate, they may prioritize cachet and traffic over getting the highest rent possible. In most cases, the credit quality of the tenant is at the top of the priority list.”

What type of things does a landlord or leasing agent look for in a potential restaurant tenant?

A real estate insider tells us what restaurants are really looking for BY C H R I S WA D SWO R T H

Craig Cheney, a commercial real estate broker with KLNB Retail, has more than 25 years of experience in the industry.

“If it’s an existing restaurant with other locations, we tend to focus on credit, cachet and a menu that doesn’t compete with other restaurants but caters to the shoppers of the center. If it’s a start-up, we’re still concerned about the menu, but looking for someone who has experience in the restaurant industry, has a well-thought-out business plan and access to enough capital for the construction, furniture, fixtures, equipment and [funds] to support the restaurant throughout the first year of the lease.”

What are some signs of potential success? “Someone who has had multiple years managing a restaurant and has saved a significant amount of their own capital. When an individual is investing more of their own capital and willing to bet ‘the farm’ on their restaurant concept, they typically have a stronger drive and belief in their restaurant versus someone who is getting a loan for most of the needed capital.”

And what are some red flags?

“A lack of sufficient capital and a business plan that is not thought through well enough and is lacking details such as a menu, name, projections and a breakeven point and timeframe. Another red flag is when we can tell the business plan was generated by AI.”

Having seen lots of restaurants come and go – what are some things that you see successful restaurants do in their first year? “Successful restaurants pay attention to every detail that affects the customer service, the quality of food and the cleanliness of the restaurant. They bring their A-game every day and are consistent about it. The restaurant business can be very unforgiving if a customer has a bad experience.”

What are some mistakes that you see new restaurants make?

“They cut corners. It can be scary when a restaurant opens and costs are greater than the sales. Successful restaurants believe that if they continue to provide great food [and] great service in a clean atmosphere, the sales will grow and they will be profitable. But if they start to cut corners to reduce costs, the customers will notice, and things typically go downhill from there.”

How important is it for a restaurateur to have business knowledge, not just food and food prep knowledge?

“This is extremely important and makes a huge difference. There’s so much more to running a successful restaurant than just knowing how to cook great food. If someone doesn’t have the knowledge or experience with managing a profitable menu, managing employees, overseeing food deliveries and inventory, etc. but they are a really good cook, they should stick to being the chef and hire a good manager.”

Restaurant owners often blame their troubles on high rents? But rents are negotiated before the lease is signed, correct?

“Restaurant owners never have to agree to rents that don’t make sense for their business to be profitable. When we see a restaurant owner blaming their trouble on high rents, it’s typically because they thought sales were going to be better and thought they could afford the rent they agreed to. I have seen many situations where a restaurateur blamed high rents for failure, but the real issue was that their sales were not good for reasons that were within their control.”

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J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 6

“It can take years for retailers to make a decision to come to a market, and once that decision is made, it can take as long as a year or more for them to negotiate the lease.”

What is an “exclusive” in shopping center leasing?

“An exclusive is where a tenant negotiates that the landlord will not lease to another tenant that provides similar services or food. There are a variety of ways that an exclusive can be negotiated and it can actually be complex.”

But it seems we’ve seen some larger centers that have more than one pizza place or ice cream shop.

“All centers do not have them, but most centers will have at least a few depending on the savviness of the parties.”

What do you think the general public doesn’t know or should know about commercial real estate deals, restaurant leasing, etc?

“There are so many factors that go into bringing a restaurant or retailer to a shopping center. Over the years we’ve heard people say, ‘Why can’t we get ______ [a certain type of retailer]?’ They think it’s as simple as ‘There is space available and there are wealthy people in Loudoun – so who wouldn’t want to go there?’ But it’s much more complex than that.”

How so? What types of factors do restaurant brands consider when leasing a space?

“One of the big things is population [both daytime and evening] and proximity to businesses in the area – and the types of businesses. Restaurants want to draw on businesses that do catered lunches and spend corporate dollars on going out for meals. For a long time, Loudoun lacked the daytime population and employment that restaurants needed to have strong sales during the weekday. Restaurants had great sales on weekends, but sales during the week weren’t that strong. However, that seems to have shifted with more people working from home, more options for delivery services that boost their sales and more businesses moving to Loudoun County.

Sometimes we hear about a new restaurant coming and then years pass before it opens.

“It can take years for retailers to make a decision to come to a market, and once that decision is made, it can take as long as a year or more for them to negotiate the lease. Then there is the architectural and permitting process that can also take a long time. So it can be a very long process with a lot of complexities to it. Occasionally a deal can get done and the tenant opens quickly. But that is the exception, not the rule.”

Is Ashburn a good market for new restaurants compared to other places?

“In many ways Ashburn and Loudoun is a good market for new restaurants because the population is wealthy and is often too busy to cook because of the many dual income households with kids. Generally speaking the rents are more affordable than when you get closer to DC.”

So let’s cut to the chase. Why can’t we get a Krispy Kreme?

“I haven’t talked to them in a while, but they had very specific criteria. They had to have a drive-thru lane and they had to be on the ‘morning side of the road’ – meaning traffic headed to work. And to get a special use permit or special exception for a drive-thru – it’s like an act of Congress in some municipalities. The governmental approval process is expensive and time-consuming and there are lots of retailers that just don’t feel like doing it. But Krispy Kreme was only going to go places where there was an existing drive-thru and that was hard to find on the morning side of the road.” A

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Now Showing Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre

The Wonders of Winter Continue in Ashburn

Happy Birthday, You’re Dead – January – February 2026 Hopelessly Devoted to Murder (Grease-theme) – March – May 2026 Held at area restaurants, wineries, and breweries. Check our website for dates, times, and locations.

Alice By Heart

Musical Theatre Teen Production | January 23 – February 7

Miss Gulch Returns!

Do you need a trustworthy handyman? John will be there. He’s a perfectionist with a vision.

Musical Comedy Show | February 21 & 28

Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS

Musical Theatre Children’s Production | March 14 & 15

Guys and Dolls Sr.

Musical Theatre | April 17 - 26 Magic and Mischief with the Professor and the Con Man – January 9, February 13, March 6

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All performances are held at StageCoach Theatre in Ashburn except as noted. Please check the website for performance times. Register for Winter/Spring Theatre Classes for ages 5 – 19.

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NEW

feature a baked yeast dough with a fruit or sugary topping like apple pie or raspberry cream cheese. Meanwhile, the savory kolaches are more like an enclosed pocket of dough stuffed with items such as meatballs, sausage and gravy, or Philly cheesesteak. “They are hearty and have all sorts of comfort food fillings that make them not just delicious, but portable and not messy to eat,” Alex said about the savory versions. The couple had quite a journey before they opened their American Kolache location. Alex is originally from Vermont. Jing hails from northeastern China and came to the U.S. for graduate school 17 years ago. Today, they live in Willowsford with their three kids, one dog, two cats and a hamster. Alex continues to work for a local defense contractor, but Jing gave up her job teaching Mandarin Chinese at the U.S. Naval Academy to focus on running the bakery full time. “I always dreamed of having a bakery when I was young,” she said. “When we

Czech it out!

Local couple opens unique new pastry shop in Ashburn

were introduced to kolaches, I was genuinely excited. It felt like an opportunity to make that childhood dream come true.” Nevertheless, that childhood dream comes with a price. Jing has to get up at 2 a.m. each day so she can be at the shop and baking by 3 a.m. One positive though – breakfasts are now a breeze. “It has honestly made our mornings so much smoother,” Jing said. “My daughter loves the bacon mac and cheese and the meatball kolaches. My son insists on having the Philly cheesesteak one for breakfast. And my youngest prefers a simple egg and cheese. With our hectic mornings, a microwaved kolache with a good balance of protein and carbs has become a real lifesaver for us.” If things go well with the Ashburn store, the Stimpsons plan to expand and hope to open multiple locations across the region. “We have grand visions for where we can take American Kolache across Northern Virginia,” Alex said. A

Jing Stimpson (center) and her husband, Alex (right), with their three children and Jing's father.

BY C H R I S WA D SWO R T H

he couple walked into the new American Kolache bakery in Ashburn with serious looks on their faces and a giving off a rather cool demeanor. “[They] said they were from Texas and had high expectations,” recalled co-owner Alex Stimpson. “After taking some kolaches outside, about five minutes later, they came back in and said we passed the test and they wanted to set up a large catering order for their office.”

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Stories like that are music to the ears of Stimpson and his wife, Jing. They knew bringing kolaches – a Czech pastry that is popular in places like Texas and Missouri – to a new audience in Virginia could prove challenging. “Getting the word out and having people try them will be the key to our success,” Alex said. Located in the Cameron Chase Village Center shopping plaza by the Ashburn Ice House, the couple’s bakery opened in early

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November. It’s the first East Coast location for a franchise brand based in the St. Louis area. The Stimpsons traveled to the Midwest to initially sample the pastries. “Every flavor we tried was delicious,” Alex said. “We took some on the plane with us back home. After we ran out, for the next week or two, we woke up thinking, ‘I could really go for a kolache this morning.’” Kolaches come in both sweet and savory varieties. The sweet ones are usually open faced – the more traditional style – and

03/01/2026

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Dish

TRY

Royal Farms 43101 Van Metre Drive royalfarms.com

Fuel Up with Gas Station Food Some folks may balk at the thought of getting a meal at a gas station, picturing grubby service stations of the past. But in recent years, lots of gas stations and convenience store brands have upped their game – offering a wide selection of freshly prepared food at onsite restaurants. Here’s a few items found in or near Ashburn that just might surprise the naysayers.

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This Baltimore convenience store chain only has one location so far in Ashburn, near the Broadlands. But if you’re ever looking for chicken at any hour of the day or night, this 24/7 spot has you covered. With bone-in, tenders, wings, sandwiches, biscuits and more – they have fried bird in every incarnation.

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Hours of Operation

Dash In 24755 Gum Spring Road, Chantilly dashin.com

This gas station chain only has one location in Loudoun so far, down in the South Riding area. However, an Ashburn location is reportedly in the works. Visitors will find a full-fledged fast casual restaurant inside with burgers, wings and more. We had a bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich that knocked our socks off.

The Filling Co. 20050 Ashbrook Commons Plaza 42315 Soave Drive 42175 Shapiro Drive fillingco.com The Filling Co. has three locations in Ashburn, all operated by the team of brothers from Rubino’s Pizzeria. So they know their way around a kitchen. In addition to a long menu of sandwiches, pizzas, snacks and more, we are highlighting one of The Filling Co.’s desserts – the decadent fried Oreo cookies, something you don’t find on menus everywhere.

J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 6

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Gastro High Octane Eats 20435 Broad Overlook Drive Located inside the A-Plus convenience store at Loudoun County Parkway and Russell Branch Parkway, Gastro serves up some eclectic dishes, including a Sweet JalaMango Pork sandwich. But man cannot live by sandwiches alone, and Gastro offers up some great salads as well, including a house salad, a “breadless” BLT salad and a spinach and goat cheese salad. A

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Dish N E WS FROM TH E B URN

The latest news from the local restaurant and food scene – powered by The Burn. Fo r m o r e d e t a i l s , c h e c k o u t a t T h e B u r n . c o m a n d f o l l o w T h e B u r n o n Fa c e b o o k a n d I n s t a g r a m .

opened

coming

A new Starbucks opened in December in Ashburn. Located in Loudoun Station next to the Ashburn Metro station, the 1,800-square-foot store is unique in Loudoun as one of the few area Starbucks without a drive-thru. Its position between the AMC movie theater, the entrance to a building and other upcoming retailers doesn’t allow for it.

A new Chipotle Mexican Grill is reportedly headed to Ashburn. According to documents filed with the county, Chipotle is taking over the 2,500-square-foot space that used to be a California Tortilla restaurant in the Brambleton Town Center.

A restaurant called Dr. T Shawarma & Burger is reportedly coming to Ashburn – but details remain hard to come by. We know that Cameron Chase Village Center, the shopping plaza next to the Ashburn Ice House, has the restaurant listed as an upcoming tenant. But the precise space it's taking or details on the menu or the opening date are still TBD.

Lovers of gourmet candies can satisfy their sweet tooth at the new Neuhaus store that recently opened at One Loudoun. It offers elegant gift boxes as well as plenty of individual chocolates to create your own selection. Originally founded in Belgium in the 19th century, there are now Neuhaus stores around the world – Ashburn being the latest. The dirty soda craze has hit Ashburn with the opening of the CloudFizz outlet at One Loudoun. Taking over the space vacated by Firehouse Subs, this pop-up store serves various soda pops – CocaCola, Sprite, Mountain Dew – enhanced with a huge variety of flavors and topped with a creamy cold foam. If it’s successful, this temporary spot could become permanent. The huge new 810 Entertainment venue has opened at the Dulles Town Center shopping mall. Similar in theme to a Dave & Busters, 810 features a full restaurant and bar surrounded by bowling alleys, video games, pool tables, axe throwing and other types of amusements and activities. It moved into the lower level of the former Sears store at the mall.

We got a sneak peek at what the new Honor Brewing restaurant coming to Dulles International will look like when the Brambleton-area brewery released an artist’s rendering. Honor will have a prominent spot in the new Concourse E that is expected to open in the fall. It will serve up a full food menu as well as its popular beers.

By the time you read this, a new dual identity restaurant may have already opened in the Brambleton Corner Plaza in Ashburn. It’s called Amrut and it’s next door to the Bkd Bagel shop. Amrut will specialize in Indian cuisine – but one half of the large, 5,700-square-foot space will be a full service sit-down restaurant while the other half will be a fast casual, orderat-the-counter style restaurant.

A restaurant called Southeast Impression has signed a lease for a new location at the Bram Quarter development in Ashburn. That’s at Loudoun County Parkway and Evergreen Mills Road. The restaurant will specialize in pan-Southeast Asian cuisine, including Thai, Malaysian and others.

COMING Tous Les Jours – a French-Asian bakery and restaurant with more than 1,600 locations around the world – is planning a new location in Ashburn. It’s taking over the space vacated by the recently departed Cafe Rio Mexican restaurant in the Ashbrook Marketplace retail plaza (see “GOING” section). Tous Les Jours specializes in cakes, breads, sandwiches, pastries, coffee drinks and more.

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Blazin’ Chicken & Gyro should be opening any time now in Ashburn. The fast-growing brand is coming to the Ashburn Eats restaurant center off Waxpool Road near Loudoun County Parkway. The menu will feature rice and meat platters, gyros, chicken wings, tenders, burgers, hero sandwiches, salads and more.

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A new Asian restaurant called Lemongrass Thai is planning to open in the Moorefield Village center off Loudoun County Parkway. That’s the same center where the vacant former Harris Teeter store sits. Lemongrass Thai will be taking over a space where Cubasi Bistro was previously planning to open before that deal fell through. ASHBURN MAGAZINE

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going

Business Directory Servicing Ashburn

The Cafe Rio in Ashburn closed suddenly in December (although rumors had been circulating that its days were numbered). The Mexican fast casual eatery – part of a national chain – opened in the Ashbrook Marketplace shopping center in 2020. There are still several other Cafe Rio locations in the area, including ones in Herndon and Manassas.

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After roughly eight years in Ashburn, Baker’s Crust Artisan Kitchen in the Belmont Chase shopping center closed in December. The restaurant – part of a brand out of the Virginia Beach area – recently tried refocusing on its breakfast and brunch menus, then refocused again on high-end steaks. But ultimately, the decision was made to close in Ashburn. A

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PHOTOGRAPHED AT THE DULLES WEGMANS STORE

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“I'm not entirely sure where or when my love for photography began, but I know it increased dramatically after I posted my first picture on Instagram in 2012. From there, I was inspired by what I was seeing on the platform and wanted to photograph all the amazing things in nature. The macro lens gave me an entirely different perspective. Sometimes pictures taken with a macro lens look so different from how they look in their naked eye form that they are unrecognizable. I am fascinated by what I see when I look through my lens.”

—Michelle Betoni

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