Ashburn Magazine | November/December 2025

TEEN BEAT: LOCAL BAND LIVING THE DREAM

ASHBURN MAN GOES ALL IN ON STOGIES

NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2025

FAMILY RECIPE

MEET THE MAN BEHIND SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

As the largest orthopedic practice in Virginia, OrthoVirginia’s nationally-recognized physicians provide surgical and nonsurgical care to patients of all ages. With over 160 physicians and 36 locations across the state, expert care is close to home.

To view all of our Northern Virginia area orthopedic physicians and their specialties, scan the QR code or visit orthovirginia.com/physicians

Convenient locations throughout Northern Virginia including locations in Ashburn, Stone Springs, Reston, and Orthopedic Urgent Care Centreville.

To schedule an appointment, visit us online orthovirginia.com | or call 703.277.BONE (2663)

VOLUME 7, ISSUE 5

PUBLISHER

Bruce Potter publisher@ashburnmagazine.com 571-333-1538

EDITOR

Chris Wadsworth editor@ashburnmagazine.com

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Steve Dennen steve@ashburnmagazine.com

ART DIRECTOR

Kara Thorpe

CONTRIBUTORS

Paul Anthony Arco Astri Wee

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ON THE WEB

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Ashburn Magazine is published every 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 responsibility 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. ©2025 Rappahannock Media LLC.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Thankfulness

You may have enjoyed dinner at Matchbox in One Loudoun, met friends for a drink while you watch the sunset at Makers Union (formerly Social House) in Goose Creek Village or picked up a to-go order from one of the area’s Velocity Wings locations.

But did you know that all of those restaurants – plus many more –are all part of Thompson Hospitality, one of the nation’s largest food service businesses, based right here in Northern Virginia? And that the founder of that company, Warren Thompson, is the great-great-grandson of a slave? Not only that, but the slave’s father was also his owner. Let that sink in for a minute.

Thompson talked about his ancestry last month when he received the 2025 Community Leadership Award from the Community Foundation for Northern Virginia. His background and the popularity of his company’s restaurants here in Ashburn are among the reasons we are featuring him on the cover of this issue. Editor Chris Wadsworth’s interview with Thompson begins on Page 20.

Elsewhere in the magazine this month, you’ll learn about a quartet of local high school students who not only started a band but also have found success (Page 28). And you’ll meet a Brambleton resident who –with some time on his hands after retirement – turned a love of cigars into a podcast (Page 36).

Our popular Dish section this month spotlights a local brain surgeon (yes, brain surgeon) who has opened a new restaurant (Page 44) and a woman who is baking to make a difference (Page 48).

And in Around Ashburn, find out why Olympic gold medalist Domi nique Dawes was in town recently (Page 12). Oh, and on Page 10, learn about a studio for local potters (no relation!).

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So as you explore this edition, meet some of the neighbors we’ve featured and think about how much people like Warren Thompson have had to overcome, you’ll realize, as I did, that we have a lot to be thankful for this season.

Best wishes to you and yours for the holidays, and we’ll see you in 2026!

BRUCE POTTER, PUBLISHER PUBLISHER@ASHBURNMAGAZINE.COM

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“It started out as a normal outing. My wife and I had to run to the grocery store. We were driving down the road, casually going over our shopping list when the car ahead of me started to slow dow,n anticipating the yellow light.

I started to move my foot from the gas to the brake as any normal person would do when they see brake lights in front of them, but I couldn’t. I couldn’t feel my foot. The car kept moving forward and I just couldn’t get my foot on the brake. And CRUNCH! I finally came to a stop when I hit the car in front of me.”

Th s tragic story was shared with us by Dan S., an Ashburn resident, who has peripheral neuropathy And while no one was hurt n this accident, Dan S. had suffered almost every day of h s life with tingling and burning in his feet until numbness set in, and he could no longer feel even the brake pedal beneath his foot

“The f rst stage is pain,” shares Rachal Lohr, Acupuncturist and founder of FIREFLY Acupuncture & Wellness. “You feel burning tingling, sharp pains, or you feel like you’re walking on tacks or marbles. This pain eventually subsides, and the numbness sets in Unfortunately, the numbness brings with it a whole other host of problems.”

SHE GAVE ME MY LIFE BACK

Local clinic has a modern, medical solution to treat your Peripheral Neuropathy and is seeing incredible results!

This was the case w th Dan “I said I wasn’t going to drive again What if that had been a pedestrian?”

It is terribly common that peripheral neuropathy and ts debilitating symptoms interfere with a person’s ab l ty to live their life Dan was now reliant on his wife to drive him around; even the simple pleasure of cruising down to play golf or taking her out to dinner was outside his capab lities. And even more common, Dan’s general practitioner and several specialists told him there was nothing they could do other than prescribe him pills that would ease the pain of his neuropathy.

That’s where Rachal Lohr, L.Ac., and her staff at FIREFLY come in.

“About 75% of our current patients come to us suffering from the same condition as Mr. Dan,” tells Rachal.

“They’re in constant pain from neuropathy, and it prevents them from not only liv ng their lives but more importantly, it prevents them from enjoying it.

Depending on the severity of their nerve damage, we typically see tremendous progress in 3-4 months of treatment I like to say we’re in the business of making your golden years golden.”

“I can’t lie,” confides Dan. “I was skeptical at first. The folks down at my pain center told me there was nothing that could be done, and then there’s a doctor right here in Loudoun who tells me she can help. Turns out she was right! About three months after treatment I was able to confidently drive myself to my appointments!

My wife and I celebrated by buying ourselves a new car! It’s hard to put into words how incredible this is, quite frankly, [Rachal] gave me my life back.”

While FIREFLY specializes in acupuncture and it’s defin tely part of their protocols in treating neuropathy, the real secret is in a more modern medical solution called ATP Resonance B oTherapy™. “This technology was originally developed by NASA to expedite healing and recovery,” shares Taylor a Senior Patient Care Coord nator at the clinic.

“It’s l ke watering a plant. ATP Resonance BioTherapy™ stimulates the blood vessels to grow back around the peripheral nerve and provides them with the proper nutrients to heal and repair.”

You can learn more about Rachal Lohr, L Ac., at FIREFLYAcuAndWellness.com. If you’re ready to schedule a consultation call (703)263-2142 and do so quickly.

FIREFLY is a very intimate clinic, and the staff takes pride in the r ability to take their time with each patient so they are very limited in their ability to take on new patients.

A Family’s Journey

Ashburn man records daring escape from Vietnam

BY CHRIS WADSWORTH

There’s a famous expression –

“Everyone has a story.” And it’s true. We all have ups and downs and highs and lows in life. But not everyone was born in a wartorn country, had their mother and brothers imprisoned, fled from their homeland in a boat and started life over in a new country on the other side of the world.

This is the tale told by David Truong – and he thought it important enough at least for his own family and friends that there be a record of it.

Truong, who lives in Ashburn’s Broadlands neighborhood with his wife and two children, wrote a book called “Escape to America.” It documents his family’s flight from communist Vietnam in 1977.

“The story does have some unique arcs – Vietnam War, losing a nation, harrowing escape, lost at sea, living on an island, starting over in America,” Truong said. “But it’s also about the people. A brilliant father with some major flaws … a mother who was a ‘beauty queen’ destined for fame, but chose to be a mother instead … a brother who was a hero, but had no idea that he was one.”

In the book, Truong recounts visiting his mother in a Saigon prison after the family’s first escape attempt. He recalls his father giving his older brother two guns – a Colt revolver and a Beretta semi-automatic – and telling him to shoot any enemy soldiers who might come while he was away.

And then there is the time when David and his older sister, Amy, were home alone with two of their siblings and an irate North Vietnamese soldier pounded on the door demanding entry and peering in the windows.

“Amy took command with calmness,” he wrote. “In a hushed but

steady voice, she told us to stay in bed, close our eyes and pretend to be asleep. We obeyed without question, just in the nick of time as a harsh beam of light sliced through the darkness. His flashlight landed on our faces — I remember feeling its heat on my cheek, even with my eyes closed. ‘I can see you!’ he bellowed. ‘I demand you open the door!’”

Fortunately, the soldier ultimately left them alone, but the memory is embedded in Truong’s psyche – as is so much of his family’s journey.

Today, he looks back with appreciation on what his parents did for the family. Because of their sacrifices, he was able to grow up in Northern Virginia, attend Falls Church High School and George Mason University and become a lawyer.

“It helped me understand the depths of my parents’ love for their

children. They didn’t let scary things or hard things get in the way of creating a better life for their children,” Truong said.

It took this first-time author 10 years to finish “Escape to America” – with some starts and stops along the way. He watched YouTube videos on self-publishing, and the book is available at online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

“I wrote this book first for my family – preserve the stories for future generations,” he said. “But also for anyone who has stumbled and needs encouragement to get up again, for those searching for hope in the midst of hardship, and as a reminder that love and faith conquer all.” A

Rigor without pressure.

The Little Studio That Could

Ashburn pottery hotspot keeps on spinning

BY CHRIS WADSWORTH

It was August 2023 – Ashburn and the rest of the country was coming out of the pandemic – and Susan Ritchey decided it was time to strike. She opened a new pottery studio – CIY Pottery – in Ashburn and watched as the customers poured in.

“Pottery just keeps growing,” Ritchey said. “There are some TV shows on now about pottery. People explored pottery during the pandemic. And I think pottery is a bit therapeutic. We are dealing with some tough times, people have a lot of stress, and pottery is a fabulous retreat from that.”

It also was fortuitous that another pottery craft shop in Leesburg closed around the same time. Area potters

were looking for a new home for throwing wheels, glazes, classes and supplies.

Since then, CIY Pottery – CIY stands for “create it yourself” – has been a busy hive for local artisans and wannabe artisans as well. The studio is in the University Commerce Center off Riverside Boulevard north of Route 7. Its business model can be roughly divided into three sections. First, classes are held every week. Most are pottery-focused, but Ritchey and her team also bring in artists working in other mediums – including guest teachers from around the country and even overseas.

“We have had artists that came over from Spain,” said Claudia Ayala, an instructor at CIY. “They are able to teach

us different things – techniques that are not common here.”

In addition to the classes, CIY Pottery offers memberships, giving local potters access to throwing wheels, firing kilns and other tools to create their art. Finally, the shop also carries a full supply of tools, clays, and other items – everything that a home potter might need.

For Ritchey, the success of CIY is a dream come true. She spent years as an executive with a healthcare company and decided upon retirement that she wanted to do something more artistic and something that wasn’t driven by bottom-line financials.

And it turns out that molding clay into art – and building a business to boot – was the perfect answer. A

I

nvova Loudoun Emergency Room

Designated Level II Trauma Center

There’s good news for residents of Ashburn and the wider Loudoun County community. The emergency room at the Inova Loudoun Hospital in Lansdowne has been upgraded from a Level III Trauma Center to a Level II Trauma Center.

A Level II Trauma Center means that Inova Loudoun has the needed physicians and experts to initiate treatment on patients brought in under almost any scenario, instead of having

to just stabilize the most critical cases and then move them to the Level I Trauma Center at Inova Fairfax.

“When someone in our community experiences a traumatic injury – whether it’s a car accident, a fall or a life-threatening medical emergency –they deserve immediate, expert care, close to home. Today, we can say with full confidence: they have it, right here, in Loudoun,” said Susan Carroll, president at Inova Loudoun Hospital.

Dominique Dawes Academy Opens in Ashburn

The first Dominique Dawes Academy in Virginia has opened in Ashburn. The gymnastics training facility is in the Ashbrook Commons shopping center near Route 7 and Ashburn Village Boulevard.

A grand opening ceremony was held in October with Dawes herself on hand to help cut the ceremonial ribbon and greet future gymnasts and their families. Dawes is a three-time Olympian and gold medalist. She is the founder and brand ambassador of the eponymous academy.

Besides gymnastics training, the academy also offers courses in ninja skills – a popular sport where participants try to speed through various obstacle courses.

“When I opened my first gym in 2020, my dream was to create a healthy, compassionate culture for children through gymnastics and ninja,” Dawes told our partners at InsideNova.com. “Bringing this vision to Ashburn is about building community and inspiring kids to be active, confident and kind.”

Olympic gymnast

Ashburn Native Participates in Miss USA Pageant

Ashburn’s own Victoria Chuah recently competed in the Miss USA pageant in Reno, Nev., and placed in the Top 10 after being crowned Miss Vermont USA in September. She is the first Chinese American to hold the Miss Vermont title.

This is the second time Chuah has competed on the national stage after making history as the first Chinese American Miss Virginia in 2022, part of the Miss America Organization.

“I am absolutely thrilled and honored to be representing Vermont at Miss USA,” Chuah said in a news release. “But no matter where life takes me, Ashburn will always be home. Growing up here taught me the importance of community, hard work and believing in yourself.”

Chuah is the daughter of Chong-Ket Chuah and Dr. Ann Hebda, an Ashburn dentist. Now employed by Morgan Stanley as a software engineer, she attended Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology before graduating summa cum laude from University of Pittsburgh with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science. A

AROUND ASHBURN

‘It’s Christmas Time’

Ashburn singersongwriter releases first holiday tune

BY CHRIS WADSWORTH

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “Silver Bells” and “The Little Drummer Boy” are just a few of the hundreds of famous Christmas songs people look forward to at the holidays. Could a new song called “It’s Christmas Time” soon be added to this jolly list?

That’s the dream of Ken Hoyne, who lives in Brambleton. A licensed psychologist by day, he’s also a lifelong musician.

“I was the lead singer for a rock group,” he said. “I play guitar and I have been singing my entire life. Although I am a psychologist, I am also a singer-songwriter, and I consider both of them my professions.”

With an album and a couple of singles on Spotify and other digital sites, Hoyne set his sights on Christmas. He has written, performed and recorded his first holiday song – “It’s Christmas Time” – about a little boy trying to stay awake for the arrival of Santa Claus.

“The song is about my attempt as a child to see Santa with my own eyes,” he said.

By the time you read this, “It’s Christmas Time” should be available on online streaming sites, including Spotify, iTunes and

Pandora. It was recorded at a studio in Asbury Park, N.J., with the help of Hoyne’s friends, including Marc Ribler, the lead guitarist with Steven Van Zandt’s touring band, The Disciples of Soul.

Despite the professional help, “It’s Christmas Time” is a modest endeavor.

“No agent. No promo kit. No music publisher. No video. Just my music and my [voice] and others' voices,” he said. “May this help others to find their voices, as well.”

You never know – at Christmas time, sometimes wishes like this really do come true. A

To check out Hoyne’s work and his new Christmas song, visit his Spotify page at: tinyurl.com/KenHoyne

CALENDAR

For more events across the region, visit InsideNoVa.com/calendar.

HOLIDAY TOURS OF THE DAVIS MANSION

THE DAVIS MANSION AT MORVEN PARK

SIP & SCRIPT CLASS

LOST RHINO BREWING CO.

21730 RED RUM DRIVE, NO. 142, ASHBURN SUNDAY, NOV. 16, 3-4:30 P.M.

A festive workshop of pretty lettering for beginners! Whether you’re a stationery nerd, DIY bride-to-be or just a crafty individual, in this workshop you’ll be learning an introduction to modern calligraphy with a pointed dip pen and ink. One drink from the bar is included with each ticket.

17269 SOUTHERN PLANTER LANE, LEESBURG

STARTING FRIDAY, NOV. 21

MULTIPLE DATES AND TIMES

TICKETS:

For a limited time, the Davis Mansion is decked out in holiday splendor. Tour the ornately decorated rooms and learn about the history of this fascinating site.

ASHBURN FARM

THANKSGIVING DAY 10K, 5K, 2K

CROSSROADS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

43454 CROSSROADS DRIVE, ASHBURN THURSDAY, NOV. 27, 8:15 A.M.

Whether you run to win, run for fun, run to support a good cause or run just because you want a guilt-free day of eating – join the 32nd running on Thanksgiving Day.

ASHBURN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT CHRISTMAS TREE FUNDRAISER

ASHBURN FIRE STATION NO. 6

20688 ASHBURN ROAD, ASHBURN STARTS FRIDAY, NOV. 28

The Ashburn Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department is spreading holiday cheer again with its Annual Christmas Tree and Wreath Sale at Station 6! Pick out the perfect Fraser Fir tree or a beautiful fresh wreath to make your home merry and bright.

GOOSE CREEK PLAYERS: “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE”

FRANKLIN PARK ARTS CENTER

36441 BLUERIDGE VIEW LANE, PURCELLVILLE FRIDAY, NOV. 28, 7:30 P.M.

The tale of George Bailey, and what life would be like if he had never been born. A beloved Christmas classic, where a Guardian Angel reviews George's life and leads him to discover the impact he had on his community.

RESTON COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA HOLIDAY CONCERT

EPIPHANY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

3301 HIDDEN MEADOW DRIVE, HERNDON SATURDAY, DEC. 6, AT 4 P.M.

TICKETS:

RCO's tradition of winter holiday celebration continues this year at a new location, featuring festive new selections and favorite sing-alongs. Arrive early for a special pre-show aperitif.

CHARCUTERIE MAKING CLASS

ASHBURN WINE SHOP BAR & BISTRO

44050 ASHBURN SHOPPING

PLAZA, SUITE 159, ASHBURN SATURDAY, NOV. 22, 3 P.M.

Learn the art of charcuterie – choosing the right selection of meats and accoutrements – while sipping some amazing wines.

13TH ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING

ONE LOUDOUN

20626 EASTHAMPTON PLAZA, ASHBURN SATURDAY, DEC. 6, 5 TO 7 P.M.

One Loudoun’s downtown becomes the setting for a magical evening filled with holiday cheer, live music, festive food and fun for the whole family.

The holiday spirit will be in full swing as Leesburg glitters and glows with the Annual Christmas and Holiday Parade. Santa and his friends will ride down King Street through Historic Downtown Leesburg. The parade will begin at Ida Lee Park and end at the Safeway Parking Lot on King Street. A

wellness beautyGUIDE &

Lindsey Berjansky, Psy.D.

MIND BODY CONNECT 360

EDUCATION: Dr. Berjansky, owner of Mind Body Connect 360, earned her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D) from The George Washington University, Master’s in Education, Counseling and Development (M.Ed) from George Mason University and Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (BA) from the University of Florida.

EXPERIENCE: Dr. Berjansky has over 25 years of experience specializing in trauma, anxiety and psycho-physiological (mind-body) treatment approaches. She leads a highly qualified team of multidisciplinary experts at Mind Body Connect 360 offering comprehensive services in mental health, acupuncture and reiki.

CERTIFICATIONS AND HONORS:

Meredith West, PA-C & Madeline David, NP

MOUNTCASTLE MEDICAL SPA & LASER CENTER

EDUCATION: Meredith West, PA-C, earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Shenandoah University. Dr. Madeline David, NP, earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from George Mason University. Both are extensively trained in aesthetic injectables and facial rejuvenation.

EXPERIENCE: With over two decades of combined experience, Meredith and Madeline specialize in injectables, facial balancing, and bio-stimulators. Their precision and artistry deliver natural, award-winning results for patients across Northern Virginia.

CERTIFICATIONS AND HONORS: Meredith West was voted Best Injector in the Best of Ashburn 2025. Dr. Madeline David was a finalist for Best Injector in the Best of Loudoun 2025 and named Top Aesthetic Injector 2024 by Northern Virginia Magazine. Mountcastle Medical Spa was also named Best Med Spa in the Best of Ashburn 2025.

AREAS OF SPECIALTY:

Botox, Dysport, Daxxify, dermal fillers, Sculptra, Radiesse, PDGF, lip and cheek enhancement, bio-stimulation, and non-surgical facial rejuvenation focused on natural, balanced results.

WHAT SETS YOU APART? Led by a double board-certified plastic surgeon, Mountcastle Medical Spa combines two decades of experience, advanced training, and award-winning care. Voted Best Med Spa 2025 in the Best of Ashburn, we deliver safe, natural results in a trusted, patient-centered environment.

AREAS OF SPECIALTY: Our psychological services team specializes in trauma, somatic processing, anxiety, peak performance and a variety of mental health concerns for ages 6 and up. Our acupuncturist treats acute and chronic pain conditions, neurological functioning, digestive concerns, migraines, stress and much more.

WHAT SETS YOU APART? Mind Body Connect 360 is an innovative integrative health practice that offers services for all ages to treat both body and mind. Our multidisciplinary team of experts

We were voted Best of Ashburn 2024 and 2025 and Best of Loudoun 2025. Our psychological services team has received extensive training in EMDR. Dr. Berjansky is PSYPACT certified, allowing her to provide virtual services in over 40 states. Other team certifications include neuro-acupuncture and Jikiden reiki.

offers comprehensive psychological services, acupuncture and reiki. We are passionate about delivering high-quality, cutting-edge treatments using a mindbody integrative approach to achieve optimal health and well-being.

Eclips Salon

AREAS OF SPECIALTY: At Eclips Salon, creativity meets personalized care. We specialize in color, cuts, textured hair and luxury extensions, with a focus on education and inclusivity. Our goal? To make every guest feel confident, valued and beautiful.

WHAT SETS YOU APART? At Eclips Salon, we blend passion, education and teamwork to build lasting careers. Book your holiday appointments early. Don’t forget gift cards and shop our boutique for perfect gifts. We’re more than hair – we build confidence, connections and community.

FAMILY

RECIPE

MEET THE MAN BEHIND SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS

BY CHRIS WADSWORTH

You may not picture a titan of industry sitting down to unwind with a kids’ animated program. But when said titan has a young daughter, sometimes a cartoon is the perfect antidote to a hectic day.

“I watch ‘Bluey,’” said Warren Thompson. “I have a 5-year-old daughter and I love spending time with her.”

Thompson, his wife, Danielle, and his daughter, Skylar, live in Vienna, but when he’s not playing husband and father, Thompson leads a huge company that

reaches into Ashburn as well as across the greater Washington area and far beyond.

And it’s a company most of you probably know something about.

He’s the founder and president of Thompson Hospitality Corp., which owns and operates restaurant brands such as Matchbox, Makers Union, Big Buns, Milk & Honey, Social House, Velocity Wings and many more.

All told, Thompson oversees 15 brands across its portfolio. And that’s just the small side of the business.

Thompson Hospitality also provides contract food services to Fortune 500 companies as well as universities, hospitals and other major institutions in 45 states and six foreign countries. With 6,000 employees and more than $1 billion in revenue, Thompson Hospitality is one of the largest hospitality and facility management companies in the country.

And one more fun fact – Thompson Hospitality is a family business.

Thompson’s sister, Benita Thompson-Byas, and his brother, Fred Thompson Jr., are senior executives in the company. And his nephew, Trey Thompson, handles real estate for the business.

With several of his restaurants here in Ashburn – and more planned – Ashburn Magazine sat down with Thompson to learn more about his journey, his company and his vision for the future. Here are excerpts from our conversation.

You worked for Marriott Corp. for nine years – rising from an assistant manager at a Roy Rogers to a corporate vice president. When Marriott wanted to sell some of its restaurants, you jumped and bought 31 Big Boys and formed your own company. How did it feel the moment you took that leap?

“Well, it was a Friday night. It took about five hours to sign all the documents for the 31 restaurants. I remember that next morning – Saturday morning – going to my office. I called my father and I said, ‘I'm in my office.’ He goes, ‘OK, you're always in your office.’ I said, ‘This is the first time I'm truly in my office. I'm not in Marriott's office. I'm in mine.’ And I told him we closed on the deal the night before. And there was a pause on the other side. Then, he said he was very proud of me – and that meant the world to me.”

At some point, you started buying entire existing brands outright as well as creating your own brands. Why was that an important step?

“At first, we were a franchisee of Big Boys and Shoney’s. And running those brands, we had no control. So when the Shoney’s brand started to tank, we started to fail. Not because of our lack of effort or anything, but because the brand was just tanking. So we figured that we needed to then control our own brand. One of the

Gather Beautifully

first brands we bought was the Austin Grill. Then we bought the American Taproom brand. So we owned the brands and we could control the brands. We then subsequently developed brands like Maker’s Union. We bought Milk & Honey. We bought Big Buns.”

We just saw Thompson launch a new brand with Ms. Peach’s Southern Kitchen in Sterling. How involved are you in creating your restaurants?

“Very involved. Alex [Berentzen], our chief operating officer, and I met numerous times and developed Ms. Peach’s. We developed the menu. Then from the menu, we get with the chefs and the operators and create the recipes to support the menu. We do a number of tastings. Ms. Peach’s is named for my grandmother. We’re using some of her recipes. For example, the signature peach iced tea is the way that she used to make it. The peach cobbler is as close to how she used to make it as I could get. Those things are important to me.”

You obviously have companies and locations in multiple states, but you do have several here in Ashburn and more nearby in other Loudoun communities. How has this area worked for you as a market?

“We have eight restaurants in Loudoun County. This is a tremendous market. It’s growing. It’s diverse. Three years from now, I want to have at least 20 to 25 restaurants in

Loudoun County, which means we’ll continue to introduce additional brands. We’ve got Cut 132 in Columbus, Ohio, which is a high-end steakhouse, so I’m looking for the right place in Loudoun County to bring that.

Brands that we will develop – or acquire outside of our current portfolio – we will then bring back to Loudoun.”

Most people know Thompson Hospitality for the restaurants, but there’s a lot more going on. You provide hospitality and other services at companies, universities and hospitals. How important is this component of your business?

“So retail represents about 25% of the company today, 75% is the contract [business]. So that’s the split. Three years ago, retail was only about 10%. So the retail piece has grown very rapidly, and we’re continuing to open at least one restaurant a month. My goal is to get to one [opening] every two weeks.”

You have taken a lead in providing food services to historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs. Why is that segment important to Thompson Hospitality?

“Both my parents are products of HBCUs. Both got degrees from Virginia State [University]. My mother – her undergrad, my father – a master’s. So we’ve had the [food services] account there at Virginia State now for 25 years. And it is very near and dear to us. We’ve named the hospitality school down there the Thompson Hospitality School in honor of my parents.

But you found a bigger opportunity there to bring some change, correct?

“When I got into this business and we got our first HBCU – within the first 12 months of being in business – I saw that that market was underserved. The larger companies were coming in, not investing as they should, taking high profit margins out. So we saw it as an opportunity to go in and just bid what should be the norm for the industry – the normal profit margin and investment returns. And in doing so, we started to win. And when we did not win, it forced the competition to step up and do what they should have been doing all along. So the benefactor has been the HBCUs. The food service on HBCU campuses today rivals those of major universities because of the competition that we brought to the table.”

You told us you like to spend time with your family – and especially your daughter while she is still so young.

“Every night before she goes to bed, we watch a segment of ‘Shark Tank.’ We debate whether there’s going to be a deal or not and how much she would invest and it’s those times that I look

The Community Foundation for Northern Virginia recently presented its top honor, the 2025 Community Leadership Award, to Warren Thompson. During the foundation’s gala in mid-October, friends of Thompson spoke warmly of him and his accomplishments. Here are a couple of excerpts:

“ Raised in a segregated community, Warren made a personal commitment early on – he would not let barriers define his future. And he hasn’t. He’s built a life – and a legacy –centered on impact, while never forgetting his roots and his commitment to equality that have driven his activities all these years.”

– JAMES DYKE,

FORMER VIRGINIA

SECRETARY OF EDUCATION

“ I got to know Warren in the 1980s as he was starting Thompson Hospitality. Even then, he had a clear idea of what he wanted to do. He wanted to make sure he took care of his parents, that he created a family business, and that he gave back to the community.”

– SEN. MARK WARNER, D-VA

quality time with her. I don’t want to look back five years from now and say, ‘I should have spent more tough critic because you know how things

is worth celebrating, but what makes holidays special are the traditions shared with friends and family. s we are blessed to be a part of that tradition for many guests and their loved ones. The season has grown to include the months of November and December, and the tradition of providing Loudoun’s best jewelry and gifts is one we aim to keep for many years to come. Stop by and share your favorite traditions with us! Here are some of ours:

Tammi Ketterman’s Rum Cake, perhaps only reason some men agree to come shopping with their wives, is sure to draw a crowd. She starts baking in August to provide over 200 cakes throughout the season. The recipe is provided below, but ll have to stop by for Tammi ’s “extra” steps, or watch her video on YouTube (and maybe bake a few thousand of them) to get close to the same flavor.

t wait to see what’s inside!” Is what we hope everyone says when they receive a gift purchased from Ketterman’s. Our associates are specially trained to “wow” with premium papers and luxe ribbons to give each gift the finishing touch worthy of what’s inside. If you’re running short on time, request later pickup after wrapping.

Christmas Rum Cake

Cake

4 eggs, ½ cup water, ½ cup rum, ½ cup vegetable oil

Small box of vanilla instant pudding mix, Box of Butter Recipe cake mix

½ cup nuts (in bottom of pan)

Bake in greased bundt pan at 325° for 55 minutes

Glaze

1 stick of butter, 1 cup of sugar, ¼ cup of water, ¼ cup of rum

Melt ingredients together in a saucepan. Boil 2 minutes and pour over cake.

'L 'S T E START A BAN D!'

LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLERS

HAVING FUN WITH NEW MUSIC GROUP

BY CHRIS WADSWORTH

The members of the band SunCrest pose for a photo in Washington before a gig at BloomBars.

It was the biggest moment yet in the short life of the local band SunCrest. It was Aug. 9. They were competing in the annual Jammin’ Java Mid-Atlantic Band Battle at the eponymous music venue in Vienna.

A group of teens facing off against a line-up of bands made up of musicians years older than them – and they were about to win first place. It wasn’t a surprise at all.

“I knew before they called it,” said lead guitarist Will Schweiker, 16.

“They had a paper with our name on it and the dude dropped it. I saw our name and I knew we won.”

He quietly turned to his fellow band members and said, “It’s us.”

The teenage boys in SunCrest are doing what thousands of kids before them have done – passionate about music, they formed a band, practiced in their parents’ basements, started playing some local gigs and then entered a competition – and won.

In addition to Schweiker, SunCrest is made up of Dexter Day, 17, who sings vocals and plays rhythm guitar; Joaquin Garcia Hacek, 15, bass; and Matt Lauber, 14, drums.

Day is a senior at Woodgrove High School in Purcellville, Schweiker is a junior at Loudoun County High school in Leesburg, while Hacek is a sophomore and Lauber is a freshman at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn. Flash back to the summer of 2024. All four teens were students at the School of Rock music school on Ashburn Road. They were sitting around one day. One of them was strumming on the guitar, another chimed in with some harmony –and then someone said, “Hey, we should form a band.”

Like any good band, when you try to pin them down on details – who was playing the guitar first, who suggested a band, the conversation breaks down into good-natured bickering over who did what. It’s kind of humorous to listen to them. They all agree that when they decided they needed a drummer, Lauber was sitting nearby – right place, right time –

and he was quickly added to the roster. SunCrest was born.

“It’s kind of a lame story. We had joked around about calling ourselves ‘Josh.’ We soon realized it was not a great name, especially for internet searching so on to Plan B,” Lauber said. “We were struggling to find something we all liked so we tried using a name generator online. We went through a bunch of different options until the name SunCrest popped up. All four of us liked it and thought it was cool and had the right vibes.”

The members describe the band as a four-piece alternative rock band. They have a sound that’s inspired by the music of the 1990s and 2000s.

“We’re kind of trying to bring that back,” Schweiker said.

They cover some of their favorites of the era, including “Interstate Love Song” by Stone Temple Pilots, “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters and “Can’t Stop” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

“When we play live, we do play some covers,” Day said. “But we don’t consider ourselves a cover band. Our primary goal

is to write our own original music and release that.”

To that end, the teens say they’ve written eight songs of their own so far.

They won second place and some professional studio time earlier this year in the

Loudoun Battle of the Bands and used it to record their first two songs – “Latin” and “Stargirl” – both available on the band’s Spotify site.

Jeff Hacek is Joaquin’s dad. He’s been a drummer in bands since fifth grade –

professionally and as a hobby. He is filled with pride seeing what his son and the other boys are doing.

“They have something special going on,” he said. “They’re getting better and better. And they’re very mature with how they go about it. Their first time in the studio, they knew what to do and they didn’t waste any time. They are very professional.”

The SunCrest guys parlayed the experience they were accumulating into the Jammin’ Java competition – which saw them on a real stage in front of a real, paying audience that wasn’t just made up of their parents, classmates and friends.

The crowd loved them – obviously they won – but everything didn’t go perfectly on stage. “I was jumping around and I unplugged Dexter’s guitar,” Hacek said. “My foot got caught in the cable.”

“I started playing and I wondered why I wasn’t making any noise,” Day added. “I looked down and there’s the cable lying on the floor.”

Nevertheless, that victory won the boys $2,000, more studio time and the chance to headline a show at Jammin’ Java in December.

TO CHECK OUT SUNCREST WHEN THEY HEADLINE AT JAMMIN’ JAVA, HERE ARE THE DETAILS:

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 12.

Doors open, 7 p.m.; show begins, 8 p.m.

WHERE: Jammin’ Java, 227 E. Maple Ave. in Vienna

COST: $15 + $6 service fee at unionstagepresents.com/shows/suncrest

OTHER: The group Everyday People will open for SunCrest

When asked what’s the best part of being in a band, Hacek responds like thousands of musicians before him. His answer: the girls. But he admits he doesn’t have any groupies of his own.

“As a bassist, nobody really cares. It’s all about the guitar. Will and Dexter get all the attention,” he said with a laugh.

And the hardest part? It’s a challenge that every would-be songwriter faces.

“There is so much music out there already, it’s really hard to make something sound like you made it,” Day said.

“So many songs out there have the same chord progression or the same melody and you have to figure out how to make it sound like your own music, make it sound original and make it sound good.”

The boys aren’t certain what will happen next. Day is a senior and will head off to college in less than a year. But he says he plans to stay with the band and keep producing music with his pals.

In the meanwhile, they want to keep practicing, write more songs, get more gigs and just soak up being a local band with some swagger for as long as they can. A

Servicing Ashburn

Local man turns cigar hobby into a thriving business

NO BLOWING SMOKE

BY PAUL ANTHONY ARCO

he taste of the first cigar to touch Steve Mann’s lips burns deep in his memory.

“It was disgusting,” he said, laughing.

which led him down a fortuitous path he never imagined.

The less than desirable experience was short-lived, however. After graduating from Georgetown University, the Brambleton resident began his career as a corporate lender. At 25, Mann was introduced to cigars and bourbon by senior bank partners.

“I fought them tooth and nail, but they finally got to me,” he said. “We still laugh about it almost 30 years later.”

Mann spent 24 years as a corporate lender and the past decade in various roles for Microsoft. He retired last year at age 54. With plenty of time on his hands, Mann turned to his hobby of cigars,

In January 2025, Mann launched a podcast dubbed “Burn & Learn: The Cigar Lifestyle Podcast,” which can be found on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. Mann discusses the cigar lifestyle with guests from the cigar industry, covering topics like cigar pairings and accessory collecting.

“I relish the opportunity to bring people together to have great conversation,” he said.

Once a month, he records two episodes at a time in the private cigar lounge on the third floor of Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen, a 200-year-old historically preserved building in downtown Leesburg.

“I had been a member there for about a year or so,” Mann said. “The general manager walked by, and I asked if I could use the lounge to record a podcast, and he said sure. I had no

clue what I was doing.”

But those who know Mann best say he can usually figure things out.

“I’ve been around him long enough to see how he engages with people,” said Dr. Ray Solano, a chiropractor in Falls Church and cigar enthusiast. “I’ve seen him talk to people about sports, politics and banking. He has the ability to meet them where they are in a professional and pervasive way.”

Two months later, Mann started StogieHub, an e-commerce platform for buying and selling high-quality, pre-owned cigar accessories. Mann started by selling about 100 travel cases, humidors, cutters – anything that was laying around his home.

“I would go to cigar events and end up with a lot of stuff,” he said. “I had so many lighters. At one point I thought my wife was going to say these have to go. This was my approach to thin the herd.”

He’s currently partnering with manufacturers of cigar accessories so customers can order customized items through his site.

The one thing Mann doesn’t sell is cigars. “I’m not an expert on curating tobacco. It’s an overcrowded field. You have to really love the product and the process.”

Mann says the podcast has been good for driving traffic to his site, StogieHub.com.

Guests travel to Leesburg from all over the country – on their own dime – to appear on the podcast.

Mann says the feedback has been overwhelming. “I used to reach out and now when I post an episode, people call me to be on. The

backdrop sets the stage for a top-notch product.”

Solano joined the podcast as Mann’s co-host three months ago, armed with plenty of media experience, including local TV appearances, from his chiropractic work with many professional athletes.

“We have excellent chemistry,” Solano said. “We don’t rehearse. It’s organic. What drives the program is the guests and their passion. We just let it flow.”

Mann has taken his early success and branched out to help cigar lounges across the country market their product. He and his mobile video crew have even hit the road to interview lounge owners

on their turf, from Seattle to New Jersey. Mann provides the owner with a video for a flat fee.

“There are 3,000 cigar lounges across the county who don’t necessarily have marketing experience,” said Mann. “This opportunity became an unintended consequence of my business.”

Renee Ventrice, an Ashburn-based marketing strategist, helped Mann initially promote his business. She believes the possibilities are endless.

“StogieHub could be the Amazon of cigars,” she said. “His audience isn’t just cigar smokers. I don’t smoke, but I buy cigar gifts for my husband. There are definite

"You know the mantra –do something you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life? Truer words were never spoken."

growth opportunities, and Steve is the right guy to find those revenue streams.”

Solano sees the same potential from the “Burn & Learn” podcast. “I can see this thing going nationally to cigar conventions, golf events and the bourbon and whiskey communities,” he said. “I see it only getting better.”

Right now, Mann is taking things one day at a time. And he’s having the time of his life.

“My wife still doesn’t understand how I found a way to monetize my hobby,” he said. “That was not my intent. This started as a passion project. You know the mantra – do something you love, and you’ll never work another day in your life? Truer words were never spoken. I’ve been blessed.” A

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

ASHBURN'S TOP 10

20148

THE BIG PICTURE:

The local real estate market remained strong in September as home sales were up 10.8% in the two Ashburn ZIP codes combined, compared with September 2024, although all of the growth was in the 20147 ZIP code. Countywide in September, home sales were up 4.8% compared with the prior year, the 13th straight monthly increase.

MIXED SIGNALS…

and

And

Just What the Doctor Ordered

Local surgeon opens his dream restaurant

BY CHRIS WADSWORTH

Brain surgeons are name-dropped in sometimes snarky expressions. For example: “It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to run a restaurant.”

And it’s true – most restaurants are not run by brain surgeons. But the new Saahil Restaurant is. Owner Qaisar Shah is a veritable brain surgeon – specializing in a field called neurointervention.

when colleagues would ask him for Pakistani restaurant recommendations, he would steer them to other cuisines rather than send them somewhere that he knew might raise their eyebrows.

And the Brambleton resident says he’s using some of the skills he learned in medical school to operate a restaurant that he believes is different from others in our area.

Saahil Restaurant – which specializes in Pakistani cuisine – opened this summer in the Dulles 28 Centre. That’s the big shopping plaza where the Target and Wegmans stores are.

In a center more known for its fast-food and fast-casual restaurants – think Chipotle, Chick-fil-A, Pei Wei and Potbelly – Saahil stands out for taking a different path. His restaurant is elegant and upscale with an attention to detail that Shah says is an important part of his vision.

“We eat out a lot and my kids would never go out and eat at a Pakistani restaurant,” Shah said. “The food would be good, but the ambiance, the service, the cleanliness – those elements were not there.”

Shah – who hails from Pakistan and moved to the U.S. in 2000 for advanced medical training – admits sometimes

About two years ago, Shah had had enough. He – along with two brothers and a cousin – decided to open a Pakistani restaurant that they would be proud of – with elevated cuisine, a beautiful dining room, a spic-and-span kitchen and service to rival other fine dining establishments.

“I could continue to complain or I could go and fix it myself,” he said. Guests at Saahil step into a dining room with warm glass pendant lights overhead, recessed wall niches with tile accents and wooden banquettes coupled with stitched leather-backed chairs.

Delicate aromas waft from the open kitchen, which not only has grills going but also an authentic clay tandoor oven manned by a trained tandoor chef.

“Our food has a lot of spices,” Shah said. “Turmeric is very common. Red chiles are very common. We used cardamon, black pepper, even cinnamon is very common.”

Shah says the chicken biryani is one of the signature dishes at Saahil – the chicken and rice are cooked separately and then blended together with saffron and cooked some more. Another key menu item is nihari – a beef shank dish that is

cooked slowly for six to eight hours until it is so tender it falls apart.

To get the menu just right, Shah sought the help of not one, but two executive chefs. One he brought directly from Pakistan – “not a great time for that” he says, referring to visa challenges. The other is a Pakistani chef with Michelin-star restaurant experience who was working in Scotland and came

"When I am doing brain surgery, I am only dealing with one brain. When I am running a restaurant, I am dealing with 20 brains simultaneously."

over to help get Saahil up and running.

The restaurant also offers a full lineup of finely crafted “mocktails” designed by Shah’s daughter. The mocktail menu offers guests a libation with their dinner while keeping with the no alcohol tenets of Shah’s Muslim faith.

The road to opening day took more than two years and – like any new restaurant – there were lots of ups and downs. Shah met each challenge with the same measured, analytical approach that he uses in his medical practice. But he admits that finding a solid, engaged staff who would meet his high standards was the toughest part.

“When I am doing brain surgery, I am only dealing with one brain. When I am running a restaurant, I am dealing with 20 brains simultaneously,” he said with a chuckle.

Shah describes opening night – when he looked out on a packed dining room – as giving him “goosebumps.”

“When you hear customers saying, ‘Wow. This is what we were missing,’ you know you have done OK,” he said.

“I identified a problem and then came up with a solution, so that was a perfect moment for me.” A

Let’s start with the name. What does “The Difference Baker” mean? Why not “Alyssa’s Bakery”?

The name “The Difference Baker” is all about purpose. didn’t want this bakery to be about me – wanted it to be about the mission. We’re here to make a difference – for families who’ve been told “no” their whole lives, for kids who bring their own cupcake to every party, for parents who worry every time they feed their child. I wanted a name that reflected impact, not ego.

‘Baking’ A Difference

Local entrepreneur changing lives with her creations

BY CHRIS WADSWORTH

Leesburg resident Alyssa Sobecki may be a local business owner, a wife to husband Jason and a mom to the couple’s three kids and three “fur babies.” But to lots of area families, Alyssa Sobecki is a godsend. She’s the founder and proprietor of The Difference Baker, a bakery and retail shop that opened on Ashburn Road in Ashburn back in 2019. The team there serves up all types of sweet and savory treats – and all of them are free from the major allergens that haunt so many people.

Ashburn Magazine spoke with Sobecki about the best part of her job and her vision for The Difference Baker. Here are excerpts from our conversation.

Expanding to create the majority of our products top-nine allergen-free was our way of saying everyone deserves a seat at the table.

Some people might think allergen-free is too niche for a successful business. How would you respond to that?

If I recall correctly, you started out focusing on glutenfree, but have expanded to be more broadly allergen-free? Why the change?

Yes – we began gluten-, soy- and peanut-free because that was my family’s story. But as met more families in the community, realized how many were dealing with so much more: nuts, dairy, sesame, eggs, corn, even fish. Every person I met reminded me – this isn’t about one allergy, it’s about inclusion. We started to say, “If not us, then who?”

smile when hear that, because what we do isn’t restrictive – it’s revolutionary. We’ve taken the ingredients people once feared and turned them into something they crave. We’re not niche – we’re necessary. This is the future of food. Inclusive, transparent, safe and delicious. The fact that our customer base keeps growing – from local families to universities and wholesale partners – says everything. You expanded with a location on the main George Mason campus in Fairfax. Why was that important to your growth?

George Mason was a divine alignment. College students with allergies are often forgotten –they end up living on

granola bars and hope. We wanted to change that. The timing felt right because we’ve built a proven model in Ashburn, and GMU gave us the chance to bring inclusivity to a whole new community. What type of reactions do you get from customers the first time they see your wide menu of pastries and other dishes?

Honestly, tears. Joy. People freeze. They stare. They whisper, “I can eat that?” Some literally cry at the counter because it’s the first time they’ve had a donut or pizza or sandwich in years, if ever. Parents tell me it’s the first time their child can pick anything they want. That’s the moment live for – watching someone move from fear to freedom.

What are some of your best-selling products? Why do you think they are popular?

Our cinnamon rolls are legendary – gooey, soft and full of flavor without any of the top allergens. Our donuts, cupcakes and breakfast sandwiches also fly off the shelves. People love that they don’t taste “free-from” – they just taste amazing. We’ve also become known for our pizzas, which are a comfort food so many people miss.

It must be challenging coming up with your many recipes?

It’s absolutely challenging, because every

ingredient we remove affects structure, texture and taste. But love the science behind it. I’ve spent years building on to our flour blends and have had to pivot hundreds of times due to ingredient sourcing. We don’t compromise. test and tweak until the product tastes as good as, or better than, the original. It’s equal parts science, soul and stubborn determination.

Have you ever tried to make something and you just couldn’t get it the way you wanted?

Oh, absolutely. There have been recipes that just wouldn’t come together – and instead of forcing it, step back and say, “Not yet.” Sometimes the timing or the ingredients aren’t right, and that’s okay. I’ve learned to trust the process – not every idea becomes a bestseller, and that’s part of innovation. You win some, you learn some.

What does the future hold for The Difference Baker?

The vision is bold – more locations, yes, but done with purpose. We’re scaling wholesale, growing our flour line, partnering with universities and institutions, and exploring franchising so this mission can reach every state. see The Difference Baker as a movement – a blueprint for what inclusive foodservice should look like. My goal is to build something that outlives me – a legacy of love, leadership and difference-making. A

Working Together for Positive Change

Our team of experts offer:

Medication Management

Individual Therapy

Family Therapy

Marriage Counseling Psychological Testing Group Therapy

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

Dish

Addy’s Barbeque

43150 Broadlands Center Plaza, No. 180 addysbarbequetogo.com

A relative newcomer, Addy’s BBQ revels in dishes filled with juicy meats and gooey cheeses. So the smash burgers on the menu – regular, double and bacon versions –are in good company.

A Smashing Good Time

In recent years, smash burgers have become all the rage at restaurants across the country. A ball of ground beef pressed flat on a griddle until it’s nearly doily thin and the edges are crispy, then usually topped with an overabundance of cheese. But despite their popularity, Ashburn restaurants have not been overwhelmed by smash burgers on their menus. We actually had to do some searching to find some good local options. With that in mind, here are five spots where you can get your smash on in “Smashburn.”

Lost Fox

Often hailed as one of the best burgers in Ashburn, the Hideaway Burger at One Loudoun’s The Lost Fox Hideaway is secretly a smash burger too. Two smashed beef patties with onions, pickles, shredded lettuce and a special sauce. It’s not to be missed.

Baker’s Crust

19890 Belmont Chase Drive No. 135 bakerscrust.com

Baker’s Crust – which recently reinstated evening hours to its daytime breakfast-and-brunch hours – calls its smash burger the “hidden gem you didn’t know you needed.” Two New Zealand grass-fed beef patties, topped with cheese, crispy onions, shredded lettuce and the restaurant’s signature Smash Sauce.

Wine & Whiskey Bar

43135 Broadlands Center Plaza No. 121 parallelwinebistro.com

The Parallel “Smash” Burger, as it’s called on the menu, features that characteristic Parallel flair. Yes, it starts with one patty (or two) on a brioche bun, but it’s topped with both cheddar and pepper jack cheese, sautéed onions, bacon jam, lettuce and a house dijonnaise. A

44042 Pipeline Plaza raisrendezvous.com

Why offer one smash burger when you can have four? That’s the motto of Rai’s Rendezvous, which serves up a traditional Double Smash Burger, a BBQ Bacon Smash, a Mac & Blue Smash and the Sunrise Smash, with – you guessed it – a fried egg on top.

opened

A new Indian and Pakistani restaurant has opened in the heart of Ashburn. Spice Circle Desi Tadka can be found at 42864 Truro Parish Drive. That’s the former home of the Good Fortune Chinese restaurant. This is the second Spice Circle restaurant. The original one is in Falls Church.

If you want to sit in a pretend jail cell while you eat, then we have the place for you. Hashtag India is a new restaurant that recently opened in the Broadlands Village Center. It has several semi-private tables – including one behind faux metal bars – where groups can gather to enjoy large platters of mandi, a popular rice and meat dish, as well as other favorites from South Asia.

Yummy Shawarma recently opened its second location in Loudoun County off Truro Parish Drive in Broadlands. The fast-casual restaurant serves chicken or steak shawarma on rice as well as in pitas or wraps.

The first Yummy Shawarma is in the food court at the Dulles Town Center.

coming

The new Bkd Bagels in Brambleton has opened. It’s at the Brambleton Corner Plaza center, at Evergreen Mill Road and Northstar Boulevard. The locally grown brand already has two locations in Leesburg as well as one in Purcellville.

A former football player with the Buffalo Bills plans to open a bagel shop in Ashburn. Edward Wang, who is from Ashburn and played for Stone Bridge High School, is bringing his new concept, Torus Bagels, to the Ashburn Village Shopping Center. It should open sometime next year, replacing Jimmy John’s.

A new Sheetz gas station and convenience store is looking to open as soon as February in Ashburn if all goes smoothly. The Sheetz – which will have the traditional fast-food restaurant inside – is under construction at Belmont Ridge Road and Portsmouth Boulevard in the Village Center at Belmont Greene plaza.

If all goes to plan, American Kolache a new bakery and restaurant in Ashburn’s Cameron Chase Village Center, should be open by the time you read this. At press time, the owners were aiming for an early November launch. American Kolache is a brand based in St. Louis that specializes in kolaches, a yeast dough bun stuffed with savory or sweet fillings.

Another possible new gas station, convenience store and fastfood restaurant combo is reportedly in the works for Gloucester Parkway in Ashburn, just west of Loudoun County Parkway. Paperwork filed with Loudoun County shows that the Dash In brand is interested in building there.

Java drinkers can rejoice over news that Haraz Coffee House is opening at the Ashburn Farm Village Center off Ashburn Farm Parkway. It’s taking over a former bank building. The Haraz brand started in Michigan and specializes in coffee from beans grown in Yemen, on the Arabian Peninsula.

A New York-based fast casual brand called Halal Munchies is planning its first Loudoun location. It’s slated to go into the former Black Hog BBQ restaurant space at the Riverside Square center on the north side of Route 7. That’s the same center with the Texas Roadhouse restaurant. Halal Munchies has a menu filled with items such as meat and rice platters, cheeseburgers, chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, wings, gyros, salads, French fries and more. A

Celebrate baby's first whiff of that crisp fall air with superior indoor air quality. A furnace tuneup keeps little toes toasty while protecting children's sensitive lungs.