Budding Chain Black Squirrel Plots Third Outpost in New Reston Complex

Just weeks after opening its first neighborhood pub in the Northern Virginia suburbs, D.C. beer bar The Black Squirrel has inked a deal to join other growing hospitality brands around the future Reston Metro station.

Black Squirrel owner Amy Bowman tells Eater that years ago “higher ups” at JBG Smith — the real estate firm in charge of the RTC-West development taking shape next to Reston Town Center and the expanding Silver Line — became regulars at her Adams Morgan restaurant and convinced her to look westward. Black Squirrel has already entered transit-friendly territory in Virginia, with the opening of a 100-seat spot near the Dunn-Loring Metro station last month.

“We are going to keep doing the same thing — gastropub with craft beer and Virginia wines and spirits,” she says.

The biggest tenant on board at the Reston site is Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant, a cavernous happy hour spot with locations in Ashburn, Virginia, and Annapolis, Maryland. Its 10,000-square-foot standalone space will likely open up first this fall; Bowman expects her 3,400-square-foot restaurant to follow in early 2018.

Photo: JBG Smith

Other incoming tenants, debuting throughout 2018, include Starbucks, local Indian chain Punjabi by Nature, and fast-casual Philadelphia import Honeygrow. BGR The Burger Joint, Nando’s Peri Peri, and Mezeh Mediterranean Grill are also in the mix.

The 469,000-square-foot site includes three renovated office buildings. About a quarter of its 40,000 square feet of retail space remains up for grabs. The adjoining Metro stop is expected to open next year.

Meanwhile, D.C. is also hot on expansions as of late: Growing cold-press juicer Jrink just inked a deal at Stanton Development and EastBanc’s Eastern Market site at 750 C Street SE.