Smorgasbord 2.0: What’s Coming to Clarendon
Posted by The Editorial Desk / Tuesday, July 19th, 2011
In this edition of Smorgasbord: Pinkberry to open August 5; Trader Joe’s building permit approved; and Ben’s Chili Bowl comes-a-courtin’.
Pinkberry Opening August 5
Clarendon’s Cold War is heating up with the impending opening (August 5) of Pinkberry’s N. Filmore location. Pinkberry (of the inanely annoying jingle) will offer six frozen yogurt flavors (original, chocolate, mango, pomegranate, watermelon, and salted caramel), along with the familiar fixin’s (including granola, gummy bears, and chocolate). Additional offerings include fruit parfaits and smoothies. I haven’t sampled Pinkberry yogurt so I can’t opine on the quality or flavors, but so far this is all sounding pretty familiar (i.e., Clarendon Boulevard’s Red Mango).
Two big differences between the chains that will excite fro yo fans is that Pinkberry will offer 25-ounce take home portions, “swirled-to-order” and the location will keep later hours than its competitor. Sunday through Thursday, the store will close at midnight; Friday and Saturday it will close at 1 a.m.
Pinkberry
1220 N. Fillmore St.
Arlington, VA 22201
Trader Joe’s is Getting There?
If you’ve been waiting anxiously for $3 wine to come to the neighborhood, there is good news for you. ARLnow.com reports that Arlington officials finally approved Trader Joe’s building and zoning permits for its Clarendon Center site. Interior work will begin soon. Stay tuned for an opening date.
Ben’s Chili Bowl Looking to Expand
Could it be that Clarendon is not just for pizza, cupcakes and burgers these days? Apparently, Ben’s Chili Bowl is making a play for the Clarendon corridor. The brothers Ali are considering an expansion of their chili half-smoke empire and Clarendon is on the short list of six locations for a satellite. Watch your backs, Hard Times and Weenie Beenie!
-Johnisha M. Levi
Tags: Ben’s Chili Bowl, burgers, chili half-smokes, Clarendon Center, cupcake, Foo Fighters, fro yo, frozen yogurt, fruit parfaits, Gutcheck, half smokes, Johnisha M. Levi, Kamal Ali, mango, Nizam Ali, North Fillmore, North Highland Street, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine, NoVA, Pinkberry, pizza, pomegranate, Red Mango, salted caramel, smoothies, take-home frozen yogurt, Trader Joe’s, watermelon, Weenie Beenie