Ballston’s Quarter Market Food Hall Will Host 18 New Restaurants

A new 25,000-square-foot food hall tentatively scheduled to debut September 2018 on the site where Ballston Mall once stood will be home to over a dozen restaurants, including the first brick-and-mortar versions of mobile kitchens from around the area, and a second outpost for critically acclaimed Timber Pizza Company.

Real estate developer Forest City describes the forthcoming Quarter Market dining hub as the “heartbeat” of its effort to replace a neglected shopping complex with a gathering place designed to appeal to residents, diners, and businesses. Will Voegele, Forest City’s senior vice president of development, says that once it’s complete, the Quarter Marker plaza projected to spill out onto Wilson Boulevard will be packed with local musicians, holiday decorations and fire pits.

The first nine restaurants announced as part of the central Quarter Market include:

• Bartaco: this Mexican-style sibling to Spanish-themed Barcelona Wine Bar, will be one of four restaurants — another will join Bartaco on the main level, while two more will head upstairs — occupying the actual plaza. There’s already a Bartaco in Reston, Virginia.
• Buredo: the homegrown chain best known for its oversized sushi rolls plans to open its first restaurant in Virginia here.
• Cucina Al Volo: the budding local chain, which is also headed to Cleveland Park, plans to open its first restaurant in Virginia here.
• Ice Cream Jubilee: the homegrown sweets shop plans to open its first restaurant in Virginia here.
• Mi & Yu Noodle Bar: the Baltimore-based chain plans to open its first restaurant in Virginia here.
• Pinch Dumplings: the Baltimore-based brand, which runs a seasonal operation inside Nationals Park, plans to open its debut brick-and-mortar shop here.
• Rice Crook: local bao producer Bun’d Up is diversifying its portfolio with a new Korean rice bowl eatery. Rice Crook will be the debut brick-and-mortar shop for the Bun’d Up crew.
• Swizzler: the homegrown gourmet hot dog maker plans to open its debut brick-and-mortar shop here.
• Timber Pizza Company: the former food truck turned neighborhood favorite in Petworth plans to open its second Neapolitan-style pizza stand (and empanada bakery) here.

Per Voegele, nine other restaurants will also occupy the Quarter Market come next fall, but they’re not being named at this time due to ongoing negotiations.

In addition to the eateries tucked inside Quarter Market, the renovated complex will feature other hospitality options including autonomous sit-down restaurants sprinkled throughout, and a collection of fast-casual options clustered together into what’s being called the Dining Gallery (located closer to Glebe Road).

Denver-based chain Punch Bowl Social is one of the standalone tenants expected to take up residence at Ballston Quarter.