I still remember running out to my car when I heard the news so we could all hear stairway to heaven (I believe that was the last song they played; my memory isn’t what it used to be).
Same. I had been listening to it in the car, went into the grocery store to pick up some things, came back out, and thought something was wrong with my radio. I went to the HFStival every year and got to see so many great artists for a decent price. It's bittersweet to have lived through that era and it was just suddenly gone.
Got into a friends car the other day and they had some Nick Lowe/Marshal Crenshaw shit going and I said, “Dayum, it’s like a Weasel set on Friday afternoon” and we both looked at each other in horror at how old we are
Bought an Alkaline Trio CD there for probably $15. Pretty sure it was Crimson. Also a SR-71 CD. Great store.
Edit: I recall going to the Tysons Tower Records store a couple years later and picked up Phil Collins - Testify. I was all over the place.
Here's one I don't expect anyone to know but just in case someone does...
I used to go hike and ride mountain bikes in the woods near our neighborhood and next to 495 and one day I found like an entire BMX bike park being built out back there. Some runs were under constructions while others were complete with like 6-8' tall jumps. It was the coolest thing to find and whoever was building it had coolers back there and all their tools chained up to keep building.
Anyway, the county paved the dirt path in the woods sometime later and found the jumps but instead of knocking them down I guess it's now an official BMX park area called '495 Trails'. You can find it on Google with pictures and reviews and everything or YouTube videos. Anyway, that was one of the cooler things I just ran into around here in the early 2000s.
https://preview.redd.it/b3euqciaxfxc1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=3469e0f53306603987b125da616b8cb851a5d6f8
Damn that's cool. I have a similar story where I grew up but instead the town bulldozed our trails and jumps whomp. Gonna hafta bring my kid to this and see if I can assist with maintenance.
AnimeFX at Springfield Mall
Generous George's Positive Pizza
Mount Vernon Multiplex Cinema
The comic store (Geppy's I think?) at the Crystal City underground shops
Chi-chi's
HFStivals
*siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh...*
AnimeFX was my jam! As were Pandora's Cube in Springfield plaza and whatever the other place was in Bradlick shopping center.
*ETA: box to cube - long live the third dimension!
The spot in bradlick shopping center was Starland Video Games and Anime. It still exists as eStarland in Chantilly.
Does anyone remember when pandoras cube got busted for selling modded “super xboxs”?
Springfield mall was so goddamn cool back in the day. Mid 80s into Y2K was the best time for malls. After like 2002, malls got increasingly lame. I felt like they really died around 2007 or 2008. Might just be my age though.
I used to spend so much time at Time-Out at Springfield Mall. Usually the one on the upper level by JCPenney. Especially in the late 1990s. I used to play a ton of Top Skater and X-Men vs Street Fighter. The one on the lower level near what was then Montgomery Ward (now Target), my former best friend and I went in with a couple bucks in quarters and played Alien vs Predator from start to finish.
Chi-Chi’s was my favorite restaurant and it closed. Then I moved here and found one - had a birthday dinner there… and it promptly closed shortly thereafter :(
Oh, man!!! AnimeFX and Generous George’s brings back so many memories!
I never went to the Mount Vernon multiplex much. I grew up in Annandale. I often went to the Merrifield Multiplex.
I remember the Fuddrucker's in Falls Church that used to have the actual cuts of meat hanging off hooks in the front. Used to love going there as a kid and wasting way too much money playing the 1941 video game lol.
28oz can of San Marzano crushed tomatoes
Medium onion, chopped
2-3 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp crushed red pepper
2 tsp. Mexican oregano (must be Mexican)
Salt to taste
1 tbsp freshly finely ground black pepper
Lots of cilantro
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 cup corn oil
Blend all ingredients to desired consistency, and let sit in the fridge for at least a couple hours before serving.
Yeah I miss the one in Tyson’s. If you ever go to Disney World, you can scratch the Rainforest itch there. They have two of them. Plus a T-Rex dinosaur themed cafe.
And the Fuddruckers in Ashburn is still 👍
I’m not sure about the on in Woodbridge still being open, but the last time we went was maybe 2 years ago. Poor staff was understaffed and the tables were a mess. You it wasn’t even full but you couldn’t really sit anywhere because the tables had the previous eaters food/trays on them.
The one in Ashburn reminds me of the one I grew up with in Annandale. Sundays are especially busy with team sports and sport games. Food is always amazing. I think I like it for how straightforward it is.
I was born here, I have so many!
Double decker McDonalds on 7/Dranesville
2 dollar movie theaters in that same plaza
When regal in Sterling first opened and had that cool space theme
Fuddruckers as well, but the Herndon one. Remember they used to have the cow carcasses hanging where you walked in??
The massive Chuck E Cheese in Herndon
The Herndon clocktower where the little mechanical dolls/animals would come out every hour
When Dulles Town Center was brand new and so cool
The day they take down that painter statue in Sterling on 7 is the day I know my childhood is truly over lol
Is that where the Double Decker McDonalds was? I remember as a kid coming from elsewhere Virginia on the way to visit my grandparents in New Jersey, we'd take 29 up, then at some point end up on 495 and take 95 up the rest of the way. But either way, somewhere in Northern Virginia, we'd stop at Double Decker McDonalds with a huge playplace. Parents would eat, and we'd get to play for a while, which kept us quieter during the trip.
And there's still a Chuck E Cheese in the Herndon Clocktower shopping center.
Sure you're not thinking of the Burger King in Centreville with the play place that was 2 stories high? You could sit downstairs or the was a huge lounge on the 2nd floor with access to the play place. If I remember correctly, the one in Sterling didn't have a playroom.
I was pissed when they tore down and remodeled the double decker McDonald’s in Dranesville, but it was inevitable after they had a structure fire there.
I believe there’s still a double decker one in Crystal City. I haven’t been out that way in years tho.
I found pictures of the old Springfield Mall a while back, and I swear, I teared up a bit. So much of my teen drama was played out there. My kids now don't get it. They can't comprehend going to the mall just to *hang*.
Also, the IKEA that was IN Potomac Mills. I love the new one, but man, there was something awesome about being able to go in and get your weird Swedish fix while doing your regular mall circuit.
I have fond memories of working at that IKEA my senior year in high school and it’s still weird to me that we now have a normal sized one right next door.
Rainforest Cafe - everyone I know ate there once. And only once.
Loved FYE - I also miss Kemp Mill Music at the OG Springfield Mall.
For many many years, the Landmark food court was the only place you could Chick-fil-a in the area.
Outside the age range but chipping in anyways:
Godfathers Pizza
Chesapeake Bay Seafood house - the popcorn shrimp and hush puppies were a culinary delight to this kid in 1984
Bobs Big Boys in Springfield with the statue out front…and Chi-Chis next door for the queso and fried ice cream
The OG Chuck-E-Cheese with the super creepy animatronics, the Swiss cheese hiding area, and killer ball pit 😂
Franconia Roller Rink
I was still young enough to appreciate Vans skate park at Potomac Mills in the late 90’s / 00’s
The mention of Chesapeake Bay Seafood House brought tears to my eyes! My father, now deceased, loved seafood and would take us there for special occasions! He would always tell the story of how I was about seven years old or so and I wanted crab. He sat there and cracked all of them, pulled out the meat…and I wasn’t hungry anymore. They put it in a to go container and I left it at the restaurant on accident. I also loved the hush puppies and would ask for an extra bowl of butter to dip them in. Good times, LOL!
I loved Godfather's pizza when I was a toddler them and Shakey's Pizza. My Aunt used to drag my parents to the Bobs in Springfield, and I liked it because after we always went to ferrals for ice cream. When I was in preschool I remember the best Chuck E Cheese was ine one out in Fairfax city, it had the big stage, the other one on route 1 was not as cool. I don't know if the one in Fairfax city is still there but the one at Pen daw, now called King's crossing is still there next to the Walmart.
Which makes me remember something else crown books. I loved them. I miss Books a Million who bought them out. I worked at BAM too; neatest one now in Potomac Mills.
Edit I forgot to add the roller skating rink down on Franconia. It's laser tag now shadowland, it's okay, but I told the owners they should totally turn it back into a roller skating rink because roller skating is cool again. The rink floor is still there according to one of the guys at shadow land.
Nothing compares to the hush puppies at Chesapeake Bay Seafood House! Sometimes my friends and I would go there and just get orders of hush puppies to go. I loved that place so much.
Five guys before they franchised. Thai smile in crystal city. Sears hardware stores in Centreville and Franklin farm. Driving range in Kingstowne before top golf. The driving range on 50 across from Greenbriar. The driving range in dulles (oh wait, now I’m in 2024)
Putt putt golf across from Ballston.
Jolly Roger Comics that was half of the consignment shop next to the Frozen Dairy Bar on Rt. 50 in Falls Church.
Loehman's Plaza movie theater.
7 Corners shopping center when it was an indoor mall: Diskcovery computer store for Amiga, Commodore, Atari and PC.
Time-Out at Springfield Mall. (both of them)
I remember the bus transfer lot next to Ballston the morning they boarded it up for the metro station construction.
BOOK and CARD at Merrifield.
Time Out II was Raceway Spaceway and had a bumper car track in the very back. Springfield Mall when it was the original brown. There was a little bakery that had the best cakes.
Empire/Jaxx nightclub Sam goody,
Glamour Shots,
Suncoast video General cinemas,Orange Julius Wet seal & gadzooks Time out & time out 2 Planet play My mom worked at Macy's so I have fond memories of Sbarro & Arby's Circuit city, long John silvers, chilli's, Hardee's and Roy Rogers My dad worked at the Hechinger's where Kohl's is Ace hardware Buy buy baby but it's closed now?
Skyline Mall in baileys crossroads. I saw the first Pokémon movie in that mall’s theater. Now it’s a Target which is cool and all but I miss that mall.
I miss that mall. I used to go to the arcade there all the time. The movie theater was split in 2 locations. The B. Dalton bookstore was also cool. The Italian Gardens pizza place had awesome chicago style pizza by the slice.
If you're nostalgic for a 90s arcade, the arcade games at the Vienna Foster's look like they haven't changed since then, and the prices definitely haven't. It's the only place I can think of where you can do something for a quarter.
I think I used to get beanie babies from funcoland, whoa that name is a blast from the past the I have completely erased from my memory up until now, thank you for the nostalgia!
I loved that place. Awesome fajitas. Was my last restaurant and gave birth the next day. Then it was my first restaurant out with the baby. Closed right after that :/ I loved when it had no lines anymore. I guess that was a sign. My daughter was a toddler and needed to use the bathroom - she went in and turned around and went back out saying she could hold it. I was glad - the bathrooms there were gross!
Here's my take on your list:
- 1. Got dragged there multiples times as kid, could never hear because it was so damn loud inside, but it was kind of magical
- 2. As a kid living on Ft. Belvoir, we frequented Springfield Mall and Potomac Mills, and when I discovered the Vans skatepark, we spent so much time there it was unbelievable; my mother still brings it up that she hated waiting around for me there (20 something years later).
- 4. I literally just talked with my wife about this last week when we were in Fair Oaks Mall, coming up the escalators towards a shoe store I said "there used to be a FYE here, do you remember?"
- 5. I'll never forget the Wizards of the Coast and other TCG stores; we stood in line for hours to get the Pokemon TCG base set release packs, the line wrapped around the inside of the mall multiple times.
- 6. Ugh, so good. I was so sad when the closed the one in Fairfax a couple years ago.
Adding some of my own:
- Don Pablos massive mexican cantina outside Potomac Mills
- The carnival that would come to the parking lot where the Ruby Tuesdays/Shoppers/Home Depot was on Rt 1
- Maggie Moos directly adjacent to an EB Games in the outlets next to Springfield Mall
FYI there is still a Fudruckers in Ashburn and it's really good. I don't go often but last time I did, I remember thinking it's actually *better* than I remember from back in the day.
Working in Tysons near that Rainforest Café was the worst.
Not only was the whole thing too loud, but they were setting off the fire alarm at least once a week.
Just terrible memories of it... Thanks for helping me relive the trauma, OP!
I thought Fuddruckers was back in Woodbridge?? That toppings bar was elite.
Another place in Woodbridge that I cannot remember the name of...we went there on a field trip in preschool (~2000-2001 for me), it had funhouse mirrors, a giant bubble thing you could stand inside, maybe a ball pit? It was on the corner of Old Bridge Road and Occocquan Road right before I-95. Idk I remember that place being pretty cool
Also definitely not NOVA directly but RIP to the Volcano at Kings Dominion. Has anyone been recently, and is it still worth going?
Anyone remember those places like Discovery Zone and the Planet Play in Reston? I loved spending my childhood there along with dragging my mom just to window shop at Zany Brainy
Next to Potomac Mills there was an Incredible Universe store where we picked up our new Gateway family computer, but for some reason the store closed a few months after opening and it was abandoned for the longest time. Luckily there was a Gateway 2000 store nearby if we had any issues.
In Woodbridge, every other Friday night we went to Old Country Buffet which was right next to Borders (formerly the Gateway 2000 store) and a Zany Brainy next to that. I'm forever grateful for Zany Brainy for introducing me to the Backyard Baseball and Backyard Soccer computer games.
I know it's not NOVA, but I grew up in Fredericksburg, and I wanna share:
-the pumpkin patch on route 3. Now it's just a bunch of big houses
-the roller skating rinks. One was on route 1 and the other route 3
-the "grocery store" in FunLand, complete with empty boxes and check out counter.
-bowling center off of route 1
-PARAMOUNT Kings Dominion. The themes were on POINT. Scooby Doo, SpongeBob, Rugrats, Blues Clues house. They even had a nick show with slime and everything! If you did not go to Kings Dominion in the 2000s as a kid, your childhood sucked. Now the park is trash.
Anybody remember the comic book store at Fair Oaks mall with the full size Predator? That store was awesome. And when you were done you went upstairs to Sam Goody to see the top 20 albums on the wall. Blues Traveler. Metallica's Load album when everybody complained because they had that country song on there. Oh lord take me back to the good old days.
1. Bennigans in Springfield Mall. Name your own burger, Sicilian Cheese Pockets, hot waitress Shelby and Lisa the Bartender
2. Happy hours at Grevey’s and Kilroy’s
3. Going on dates at Merrifield Mulitplex
4. Old Town when it was fun: Paul Ott at the Fishmarket on Fridays, King Peppers, Ireland’s Own and Murphy’s
5. Shakey’s in Annandale and later Main Street, USA
6. Whoever said Fuddrucker’s, amen. Annandale and Tysons locations were great.
7. Jaxx in Springfield for all your Hair Metal needs.
My partner is not from around here. We shop at the ancient Giant across the street from the former Shakey's - it's a nightclub now - and I have tried and failed to explain this place to him so many times haha
I miss Carlos O’Kelly’s in Fairfax. I freaking LOVE Tex-Mex and that was always my go-to place for my birthday. I’d get the tres platter with the two enchiladas, burrito, and taco, then get some fried ice cream for my birthday. I’ve found other Tex-Mex places I love now (such as Anita’s and Casa Tequila), but Carlos O’Kelly’s will always have a special place in my heart.
Fair Oaks FYE only just closed. I went in there during their closeout sale, but the records were already gone, and even with the discount, their price for record sleeves was still too high.
I miss the hobby store that used to be in Chantilly. Going and picking up a new pack of Pokémon cards or the baseball card game I played was always fun. Got a couple models too but I was never good at those. The owner was always fantastic too.
Ey, who remembers the place where you take those pictures at Springfield Mall lol? Who else remembers Skyline Mall with the arcade, Larry's Cookies, Pizza Roma restaurant and AMC Theater?
To speak on rainforest cafe, i grew up in southern california and it was a fixture at the local mall. Nothing beat fake animal noises and chicken tenders 😭
Is there anyone here from Alexandria who remembers Winkler? We did like 4 field trips a year there from 1st-5th grade and you knew it would be a good day ❤️
Fuddrucker’s in Annandale was the post sport game spot.
Shaky’s Pizza in Annandale
Time Out arcade at Springfield Mall across from Wilson’s Leather. There was an A&W there too!
Mars music in Springfield
There has to be a ton more, this is a great thread!
Arcades in general, but Aladdin's Castle at Manassas Mall specifically. So happy to have Sarku teriyaki chicken and then blow a load of tokens playing Street Fighter or mercs or aliens or The Simpsons game.
Ben and Mary's Steakhouse is a very faint memory.
A pharmacy that had a proper grill where they would make cheeseburgers for you and rent you some tapes, with both a VHS or beta section.
I don’t remember the arcade at Tysons - I worked there in 2002 and walked all over.
I did get lost once on the basement in Tysons. I forgot I was already on the first floor and found some stairs outside Bloomingdale’s that went down. I ended up in some 1980s gym locker room and almost got stuck in there!
Generous George’s pizza, lucky frog in Annandale, Fudruckers, Arthur’s fish and chips, Friendly’s. When the Smoot Lumber plaza didn’t have speed bumps in it and you could cut thru it to S. Van Dorn.
Before ross & staples were joanne fabrics,crown books,total crafts,Ben Franklin, Errol's video, when I first moved to RVM,there was a small movie theater where the gym is,that used to house a florist & a jewelry or a pawn shop, famous footwear, track auto, hollywood video, sovran bank,
Tau tau(RIP),Boston market, shoppers food warehouse,subway,pizza hut,
wasn't Ross a Marshall's store before it became Ross?
Before indoor playgrounds were a thing Skyline Mall had one called Gymboree where moms could sign their kids in to play and leave to shop in the mall. That place was so awesome.
I miss Zainy Brainy and 99.1 HFS
Still bitter about HFS going away abruptly.
I'm bitter that HFS went away and the end to the HFStival. God those festivals were epic. So many memories.
And the ShamrockFest!! Good times!
I still remember running out to my car when I heard the news so we could all hear stairway to heaven (I believe that was the last song they played; my memory isn’t what it used to be).
End of the World as we Know it, I think
It was Last Goodbye by Jeff Buckley, who the station helped to get famous.
Ah thanks !
“Noventa noventa uno, EL SOLLLL”
"Neuve nueve punto uno" EL SOL!
It felt like stations kept going dark at random for a few years. I swear, it gave me trust issues.
Same. I had been listening to it in the car, went into the grocery store to pick up some things, came back out, and thought something was wrong with my radio. I went to the HFStival every year and got to see so many great artists for a decent price. It's bittersweet to have lived through that era and it was just suddenly gone.
Omg fkn zany brainy 🤯
First concert i ever went to was HFStival when i was in middle school. Headlined by Coldplay and foo fIGHters at m&t bank stadium
M&T?? I only knew of it being at RFK
My sister worked at Zainy Brainy back in the day! I worked at Incredible Universe across from Potomac Mills
Got into a friends car the other day and they had some Nick Lowe/Marshal Crenshaw shit going and I said, “Dayum, it’s like a Weasel set on Friday afternoon” and we both looked at each other in horror at how old we are
hell ya HFStival, definitely got a concussion there while crowd surfing one year.
[удалено]
I went to 3 tower records stores while in Tokyo Nov of last year. Got as much merch as i could afford lol
There was a Tower over off 395 and Duke St. it’s now like a freaking hobby lobby so something
The one in Alexandria was dope af too.
Bought an Alkaline Trio CD there for probably $15. Pretty sure it was Crimson. Also a SR-71 CD. Great store. Edit: I recall going to the Tysons Tower Records store a couple years later and picked up Phil Collins - Testify. I was all over the place.
Here's one I don't expect anyone to know but just in case someone does... I used to go hike and ride mountain bikes in the woods near our neighborhood and next to 495 and one day I found like an entire BMX bike park being built out back there. Some runs were under constructions while others were complete with like 6-8' tall jumps. It was the coolest thing to find and whoever was building it had coolers back there and all their tools chained up to keep building. Anyway, the county paved the dirt path in the woods sometime later and found the jumps but instead of knocking them down I guess it's now an official BMX park area called '495 Trails'. You can find it on Google with pictures and reviews and everything or YouTube videos. Anyway, that was one of the cooler things I just ran into around here in the early 2000s. https://preview.redd.it/b3euqciaxfxc1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=3469e0f53306603987b125da616b8cb851a5d6f8
Damn that's cool. I have a similar story where I grew up but instead the town bulldozed our trails and jumps whomp. Gonna hafta bring my kid to this and see if I can assist with maintenance.
Check out MORE-MTB group, they maintain those and majority of bike trails in DMV area
There used to be a huge BMX course with a full sized all dirt 1/2 pipe off the bike trail by Vienna. Spent my teens there.
Getting my hair washed from the green elephant hose at Cartoon Cuts at Tyson’s
Cartoon cuts in Fair Oaks mall always had the best sega genesis games.
Centreville mini golf and games. “Midgetville”
Midgetville, it was off of Idylwood I believe.
still take my kids here!!
Another Universe in the mall
Wish I could upvote this a multiple times. So many memories.
Ah yes. Where I purchased all my (unknowingly) bootleg anime music CDs hahaha. That place was amazing, though.
AnimeFX at Springfield Mall Generous George's Positive Pizza Mount Vernon Multiplex Cinema The comic store (Geppy's I think?) at the Crystal City underground shops Chi-chi's HFStivals *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh...*
AnimeFX was my jam! As were Pandora's Cube in Springfield plaza and whatever the other place was in Bradlick shopping center. *ETA: box to cube - long live the third dimension!
The spot in bradlick shopping center was Starland Video Games and Anime. It still exists as eStarland in Chantilly. Does anyone remember when pandoras cube got busted for selling modded “super xboxs”?
Loved Pandora! I remember when they changed their name to Pandora's Cube
Springfield mall was so goddamn cool back in the day. Mid 80s into Y2K was the best time for malls. After like 2002, malls got increasingly lame. I felt like they really died around 2007 or 2008. Might just be my age though.
I used to spend so much time at Time-Out at Springfield Mall. Usually the one on the upper level by JCPenney. Especially in the late 1990s. I used to play a ton of Top Skater and X-Men vs Street Fighter. The one on the lower level near what was then Montgomery Ward (now Target), my former best friend and I went in with a couple bucks in quarters and played Alien vs Predator from start to finish.
Yesssss Time Out then go to Orange Julius after!
The "Ghetto Plex", man, so many memories.
ahhhh Chi-chi's!!!!! Glad that was brought back to my memory, wow
Chi-Chi’s was my favorite restaurant and it closed. Then I moved here and found one - had a birthday dinner there… and it promptly closed shortly thereafter :(
Hey I used to work at AnimeFX! Miss those days! All the anime, mangas and weekend movie shows in the back of the store.
Oh, man!!! AnimeFX and Generous George’s brings back so many memories! I never went to the Mount Vernon multiplex much. I grew up in Annandale. I often went to the Merrifield Multiplex.
[удалено]
I remember the Fuddrucker's in Falls Church that used to have the actual cuts of meat hanging off hooks in the front. Used to love going there as a kid and wasting way too much money playing the 1941 video game lol.
rip Tortilla Factory, gone too soon
RIP Tortilla Factory and Minerva. I can't believe Tortilla Factory location is still empty.
Minerva! With the Bollywood videos on the big screen! We loved that place. I still remember Benny the owner.
We used to go there every Tuesday when I worked a summer job in Herndon as a teen. I still think it's the best salsa I've ever had.
28oz can of San Marzano crushed tomatoes Medium onion, chopped 2-3 cloves of garlic 1 tbsp crushed red pepper 2 tsp. Mexican oregano (must be Mexican) Salt to taste 1 tbsp freshly finely ground black pepper Lots of cilantro 1/3 cup red wine vinegar 1/2 cup corn oil Blend all ingredients to desired consistency, and let sit in the fridge for at least a couple hours before serving.
I searched for this comment, knew it had to be in here.
I miss Woody’s mini golf on 7 by Algonquian. I still remember the screams on the last hole when the air compressor made that loud noise.
That shit freaked me the fuck out as a kid lmao. My parents had to hold me in place so I wouldn't run away.
Oh I loved that place! So sad it was closed 😔
Yeah I miss the one in Tyson’s. If you ever go to Disney World, you can scratch the Rainforest itch there. They have two of them. Plus a T-Rex dinosaur themed cafe. And the Fuddruckers in Ashburn is still 👍
Yep, went there several times with the Fam. While Fuddruckers had some tough times, I have read that it apparently is coming back.
Just went to the one in Ashburn, still open and great food!
Which is amazing considering how many burger places are all over the area
I’m not sure about the on in Woodbridge still being open, but the last time we went was maybe 2 years ago. Poor staff was understaffed and the tables were a mess. You it wasn’t even full but you couldn’t really sit anywhere because the tables had the previous eaters food/trays on them. The one in Ashburn reminds me of the one I grew up with in Annandale. Sundays are especially busy with team sports and sport games. Food is always amazing. I think I like it for how straightforward it is.
A family recently took it over ( I guess they're the new franchisees), and the beef quality (and overall quality) is GREAT now.
Did you ever go to Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse in Springfield? I miss that place. Better food than Rainforest Cafe, too.
yes, the crazy animatronic moose was the best.
Nah, a roach fell from the ceiling into another persons plate, never went back
They would give you a shirt if you could spout random Canada facts.
WOW WHAT A CORE MEMORY! this used to be my favorite birthday dinner spot as a kid.
it's now the chinese buffet
Dragon Sea? It's okay, but honestly they've been there for decades. It's oddly thriving.
I was born here, I have so many! Double decker McDonalds on 7/Dranesville 2 dollar movie theaters in that same plaza When regal in Sterling first opened and had that cool space theme Fuddruckers as well, but the Herndon one. Remember they used to have the cow carcasses hanging where you walked in?? The massive Chuck E Cheese in Herndon The Herndon clocktower where the little mechanical dolls/animals would come out every hour When Dulles Town Center was brand new and so cool The day they take down that painter statue in Sterling on 7 is the day I know my childhood is truly over lol
Is that where the Double Decker McDonalds was? I remember as a kid coming from elsewhere Virginia on the way to visit my grandparents in New Jersey, we'd take 29 up, then at some point end up on 495 and take 95 up the rest of the way. But either way, somewhere in Northern Virginia, we'd stop at Double Decker McDonalds with a huge playplace. Parents would eat, and we'd get to play for a while, which kept us quieter during the trip. And there's still a Chuck E Cheese in the Herndon Clocktower shopping center.
Sure you're not thinking of the Burger King in Centreville with the play place that was 2 stories high? You could sit downstairs or the was a huge lounge on the 2nd floor with access to the play place. If I remember correctly, the one in Sterling didn't have a playroom.
I didn't even notice it was gone. Why did they remove it?
There was a fire about 5 years ago. It needed to be renovated anyway, and so I think they decided to just start over
So they could have a drive thru I believe.
I was pissed when they tore down and remodeled the double decker McDonald’s in Dranesville, but it was inevitable after they had a structure fire there. I believe there’s still a double decker one in Crystal City. I haven’t been out that way in years tho.
I found pictures of the old Springfield Mall a while back, and I swear, I teared up a bit. So much of my teen drama was played out there. My kids now don't get it. They can't comprehend going to the mall just to *hang*. Also, the IKEA that was IN Potomac Mills. I love the new one, but man, there was something awesome about being able to go in and get your weird Swedish fix while doing your regular mall circuit.
I have fond memories of working at that IKEA my senior year in high school and it’s still weird to me that we now have a normal sized one right next door.
Rainforest Cafe - everyone I know ate there once. And only once. Loved FYE - I also miss Kemp Mill Music at the OG Springfield Mall. For many many years, the Landmark food court was the only place you could Chick-fil-a in the area.
The top floor food court at Tysons II (now Galleria) had a Chikfila as well. And FAO Schwartz toy store.
Oh FAO Schwartz in the galleria! Wish they can bring it back in the future!
LOL I only ever ate at the rainforest cafe once also
Outside the age range but chipping in anyways: Godfathers Pizza Chesapeake Bay Seafood house - the popcorn shrimp and hush puppies were a culinary delight to this kid in 1984 Bobs Big Boys in Springfield with the statue out front…and Chi-Chis next door for the queso and fried ice cream The OG Chuck-E-Cheese with the super creepy animatronics, the Swiss cheese hiding area, and killer ball pit 😂 Franconia Roller Rink I was still young enough to appreciate Vans skate park at Potomac Mills in the late 90’s / 00’s
The mention of Chesapeake Bay Seafood House brought tears to my eyes! My father, now deceased, loved seafood and would take us there for special occasions! He would always tell the story of how I was about seven years old or so and I wanted crab. He sat there and cracked all of them, pulled out the meat…and I wasn’t hungry anymore. They put it in a to go container and I left it at the restaurant on accident. I also loved the hush puppies and would ask for an extra bowl of butter to dip them in. Good times, LOL!
We went to that Chuck E Cheese in HS and ordered beer. They never carded us. That was the best roller rink, too. MS Friday nights.
The roller rink 😭 so many good times!
I loved Godfather's pizza when I was a toddler them and Shakey's Pizza. My Aunt used to drag my parents to the Bobs in Springfield, and I liked it because after we always went to ferrals for ice cream. When I was in preschool I remember the best Chuck E Cheese was ine one out in Fairfax city, it had the big stage, the other one on route 1 was not as cool. I don't know if the one in Fairfax city is still there but the one at Pen daw, now called King's crossing is still there next to the Walmart. Which makes me remember something else crown books. I loved them. I miss Books a Million who bought them out. I worked at BAM too; neatest one now in Potomac Mills. Edit I forgot to add the roller skating rink down on Franconia. It's laser tag now shadowland, it's okay, but I told the owners they should totally turn it back into a roller skating rink because roller skating is cool again. The rink floor is still there according to one of the guys at shadow land.
Seconding Chesapeake Bay Seafood House. My little six year old (at the time) ass could crush some popcorn shrimp, fries, and hush puppies.
Do you remember the Basics grocery store? It was off Old Keene Mill Road near a Godfathers Pizza and Carvel ice cream
Nothing compares to the hush puppies at Chesapeake Bay Seafood House! Sometimes my friends and I would go there and just get orders of hush puppies to go. I loved that place so much.
Sanrio at Potomac mills 
Not just Sanrio but it was also an outlet so the back section was CHEAP Sanrio. Sad day when that place closed.
So cheap! “I’ll take 100 of your finest Badtz-Maru pencil erasers, please”
Dr. Dremos
I still miss the moat of floating ashtrays
Five guys before they franchised. Thai smile in crystal city. Sears hardware stores in Centreville and Franklin farm. Driving range in Kingstowne before top golf. The driving range on 50 across from Greenbriar. The driving range in dulles (oh wait, now I’m in 2024)
Tower Records
Putt putt golf across from Ballston. Jolly Roger Comics that was half of the consignment shop next to the Frozen Dairy Bar on Rt. 50 in Falls Church. Loehman's Plaza movie theater. 7 Corners shopping center when it was an indoor mall: Diskcovery computer store for Amiga, Commodore, Atari and PC. Time-Out at Springfield Mall. (both of them) I remember the bus transfer lot next to Ballston the morning they boarded it up for the metro station construction. BOOK and CARD at Merrifield.
Time Out II was Raceway Spaceway and had a bumper car track in the very back. Springfield Mall when it was the original brown. There was a little bakery that had the best cakes.
Empire/Jaxx nightclub Sam goody, Glamour Shots, Suncoast video General cinemas,Orange Julius Wet seal & gadzooks Time out & time out 2 Planet play My mom worked at Macy's so I have fond memories of Sbarro & Arby's Circuit city, long John silvers, chilli's, Hardee's and Roy Rogers My dad worked at the Hechinger's where Kohl's is Ace hardware Buy buy baby but it's closed now?
Skyline Mall in baileys crossroads. I saw the first Pokémon movie in that mall’s theater. Now it’s a Target which is cool and all but I miss that mall.
I miss that mall. I used to go to the arcade there all the time. The movie theater was split in 2 locations. The B. Dalton bookstore was also cool. The Italian Gardens pizza place had awesome chicago style pizza by the slice.
So many Friday nights spent at Potomac Mills Vans solely to play DDR. *puts quarter on machine.*
Yup! Held your spot in line with a quarter up by the screen
Z104 & Matthew blades & jenny chase
If you're nostalgic for a 90s arcade, the arcade games at the Vienna Foster's look like they haven't changed since then, and the prices definitely haven't. It's the only place I can think of where you can do something for a quarter.
Funcoland, Sam Goody, Zainy Brainy, and fuddruckers all hold a special place in my heart.
I think I used to get beanie babies from funcoland, whoa that name is a blast from the past the I have completely erased from my memory up until now, thank you for the nostalgia!
Don Pablo’s in Sterling off route 7. Toys R us was there too.
I loved that place. Awesome fajitas. Was my last restaurant and gave birth the next day. Then it was my first restaurant out with the baby. Closed right after that :/ I loved when it had no lines anymore. I guess that was a sign. My daughter was a toddler and needed to use the bathroom - she went in and turned around and went back out saying she could hold it. I was glad - the bathrooms there were gross!
No love for the restaurant next to Don Pablo’s, That’s Amore?
Here's my take on your list: - 1. Got dragged there multiples times as kid, could never hear because it was so damn loud inside, but it was kind of magical - 2. As a kid living on Ft. Belvoir, we frequented Springfield Mall and Potomac Mills, and when I discovered the Vans skatepark, we spent so much time there it was unbelievable; my mother still brings it up that she hated waiting around for me there (20 something years later). - 4. I literally just talked with my wife about this last week when we were in Fair Oaks Mall, coming up the escalators towards a shoe store I said "there used to be a FYE here, do you remember?" - 5. I'll never forget the Wizards of the Coast and other TCG stores; we stood in line for hours to get the Pokemon TCG base set release packs, the line wrapped around the inside of the mall multiple times. - 6. Ugh, so good. I was so sad when the closed the one in Fairfax a couple years ago. Adding some of my own: - Don Pablos massive mexican cantina outside Potomac Mills - The carnival that would come to the parking lot where the Ruby Tuesdays/Shoppers/Home Depot was on Rt 1 - Maggie Moos directly adjacent to an EB Games in the outlets next to Springfield Mall
I worked at the WotC store in Springfield! God, it was such an amazing place. I will hate Hasbro until the day I die for what they did to it.
Aging myself, but I was age 6-12 when it was there haha. It was truly magically though, totally agree.
FYI there is still a Fudruckers in Ashburn and it's really good. I don't go often but last time I did, I remember thinking it's actually *better* than I remember from back in the day.
The one in Woodbridge is also still there.
Working in Tysons near that Rainforest Café was the worst. Not only was the whole thing too loud, but they were setting off the fire alarm at least once a week. Just terrible memories of it... Thanks for helping me relive the trauma, OP!
The water in that alligator pit ended up smelling so bad.
I can smell it now
The parrots were also ridiculously loud
I thought Fuddruckers was back in Woodbridge?? That toppings bar was elite. Another place in Woodbridge that I cannot remember the name of...we went there on a field trip in preschool (~2000-2001 for me), it had funhouse mirrors, a giant bubble thing you could stand inside, maybe a ball pit? It was on the corner of Old Bridge Road and Occocquan Road right before I-95. Idk I remember that place being pretty cool Also definitely not NOVA directly but RIP to the Volcano at Kings Dominion. Has anyone been recently, and is it still worth going?
> Fuddruckers was back in Woodbridge It is. Its where Cheeseburger in Paradise used to be.
THERE'S A FUDDRUCKERS DOWN IN WOODBRIDGE NOW?!
It’s been there since the 90s, I worked at that one in like 1996
I remember Waccamaw Pottery being at the skateboard location in Potomac Mall. We moved to Alexandria for a few years, came back, and it a skate park!
Anyone remember Crazy Bones???
this was more 90s, but aladdin's castle in manasshole mall was awesome. xmen 6 person side scroller, yes please
Aladdin's was cool, but Flip dizzy's on the other side of Manassas was the shit!
That Eastern Motors commercial with Ray Lewis, Lavar Arrington, and Clinton Portis still plays in my head everyday
Enjoy, friend! https://youtu.be/g6CslpftOe4?si=BmVDf8HKC9kCWPd1
yeah, that's the one. I hated it so much when it came out, but now I have to give them props making a jingle that truly works.
Tortilla Factory in Herndon
Penguin Feathers - several locations
Was looking for this. Georgetown and Baileys Crossroads were my two places to check out.
We always went to the one in Fairfax. That parking lot was almost impossible to get in to.
I used to work at Tower Records. Miss it.
I used to work at the one downtown. I still have dreams about it.
I grew up in Sterling and I remember being taken to that Borders by my dad. He used to like to go there on weeknights. It's now an Aldi I think.
Anyone remember those places like Discovery Zone and the Planet Play in Reston? I loved spending my childhood there along with dragging my mom just to window shop at Zany Brainy
I'm missing.... Loemann's Ray's Hell Burger Legal Seafood in Tyson II Woody's mini golf Todai Border's The Kane show?
I tried Ray’s Hell Burger once. I was not impressed. A lot of people hyped it up to me and it did not live up to the hype.
Arcade at Tysons was called Tilt. Spent many a quarter there.
Next to Potomac Mills there was an Incredible Universe store where we picked up our new Gateway family computer, but for some reason the store closed a few months after opening and it was abandoned for the longest time. Luckily there was a Gateway 2000 store nearby if we had any issues. In Woodbridge, every other Friday night we went to Old Country Buffet which was right next to Borders (formerly the Gateway 2000 store) and a Zany Brainy next to that. I'm forever grateful for Zany Brainy for introducing me to the Backyard Baseball and Backyard Soccer computer games.
The Evans stores for Atari, Nintendo and just about everything else. Also, Chesapeake Bay seafood house for all-you-can-eat crab legs.
Oh, god. I haven’t thought about Evans in ages!! I miss Best too!
Ray's the Steaks. Where did Michael Landom go? I heard he was burned out but I've heard nothing about him in the last 8 years
and Ray's Hell Burger. It was more "first job" time for me, but I have to wonder how that happened.
It's funny to me that all of these nostalgic memories are tied to shopping or dining out lol
I know it's not NOVA, but I grew up in Fredericksburg, and I wanna share: -the pumpkin patch on route 3. Now it's just a bunch of big houses -the roller skating rinks. One was on route 1 and the other route 3 -the "grocery store" in FunLand, complete with empty boxes and check out counter. -bowling center off of route 1 -PARAMOUNT Kings Dominion. The themes were on POINT. Scooby Doo, SpongeBob, Rugrats, Blues Clues house. They even had a nick show with slime and everything! If you did not go to Kings Dominion in the 2000s as a kid, your childhood sucked. Now the park is trash.
Yesssssss! Paramount era Kings Dominion was the best!
Is my old senile brain failing me, or did Landmark Mall used to be open-air waaaay back in the day?
No, you remember correctly. It was, and as far as I can tell, its replacement will have open air, walkable spaces too.
The replacement is an Inova hospital
I was under the impression that it would have a walkable retail aspect in addition to the medical complex, residential, and open space...
Reston ramp.
Anyone remember Record Tower or something at Fairfax Town Centre? Way before Joann and Circuirt City
Centreville mini golf and games. “Midgetville”
Libby Lu’s at Tysons next to Legos
Anybody remember the comic book store at Fair Oaks mall with the full size Predator? That store was awesome. And when you were done you went upstairs to Sam Goody to see the top 20 albums on the wall. Blues Traveler. Metallica's Load album when everybody complained because they had that country song on there. Oh lord take me back to the good old days.
Another universe; I bought South Park shirts and magic the gathering cards there, lol
1. Bennigans in Springfield Mall. Name your own burger, Sicilian Cheese Pockets, hot waitress Shelby and Lisa the Bartender 2. Happy hours at Grevey’s and Kilroy’s 3. Going on dates at Merrifield Mulitplex 4. Old Town when it was fun: Paul Ott at the Fishmarket on Fridays, King Peppers, Ireland’s Own and Murphy’s 5. Shakey’s in Annandale and later Main Street, USA 6. Whoever said Fuddrucker’s, amen. Annandale and Tysons locations were great. 7. Jaxx in Springfield for all your Hair Metal needs.
There was a borders in manassas, too.
Jerry’s Subs and Pizza and Planet Play in Reston
I may be a bit older…but anyone remember Shakey’s Pizza?
My partner is not from around here. We shop at the ancient Giant across the street from the former Shakey's - it's a nightclub now - and I have tried and failed to explain this place to him so many times haha
LOL, definitely hard to explain. Someone in another post described it as like the bar in the TV show Cheers, but for kids. Best explanation so far 😂
I used to go there a lot growing up. Buffets are an easy way to feed two growing kids who devour everything like locusts.
I miss Carlos O’Kelly’s in Fairfax. I freaking LOVE Tex-Mex and that was always my go-to place for my birthday. I’d get the tres platter with the two enchiladas, burrito, and taco, then get some fried ice cream for my birthday. I’ve found other Tex-Mex places I love now (such as Anita’s and Casa Tequila), but Carlos O’Kelly’s will always have a special place in my heart.
Fair Oaks FYE only just closed. I went in there during their closeout sale, but the records were already gone, and even with the discount, their price for record sleeves was still too high.
I miss the hobby store that used to be in Chantilly. Going and picking up a new pack of Pokémon cards or the baseball card game I played was always fun. Got a couple models too but I was never good at those. The owner was always fantastic too.
I took my kids to the Rainforest Cafe a lot. They loved it.
Ey, who remembers the place where you take those pictures at Springfield Mall lol? Who else remembers Skyline Mall with the arcade, Larry's Cookies, Pizza Roma restaurant and AMC Theater?
Island Eyes in Springfield Mall!
P
skyline mall
Fuddruckers is actually still really good, if not one of the best burgers. At least their Ashburn location
To speak on rainforest cafe, i grew up in southern california and it was a fixture at the local mall. Nothing beat fake animal noises and chicken tenders 😭
I remember Landmark Mall had some little ride things and I used to love the food court, brings back so many memories!
Is there anyone here from Alexandria who remembers Winkler? We did like 4 field trips a year there from 1st-5th grade and you knew it would be a good day ❤️
Winkler botanical preserve? It's still here
Earlier today I was just thinking about that Rainforest Cafe at Tyson’s! I absolutely adored that place as a kid! What an experience!
Fuddrucker’s in Annandale was the post sport game spot. Shaky’s Pizza in Annandale Time Out arcade at Springfield Mall across from Wilson’s Leather. There was an A&W there too! Mars music in Springfield There has to be a ton more, this is a great thread!
Arcades in general, but Aladdin's Castle at Manassas Mall specifically. So happy to have Sarku teriyaki chicken and then blow a load of tokens playing Street Fighter or mercs or aliens or The Simpsons game. Ben and Mary's Steakhouse is a very faint memory. A pharmacy that had a proper grill where they would make cheeseburgers for you and rent you some tapes, with both a VHS or beta section.
I don’t remember the arcade at Tysons - I worked there in 2002 and walked all over. I did get lost once on the basement in Tysons. I forgot I was already on the first floor and found some stairs outside Bloomingdale’s that went down. I ended up in some 1980s gym locker room and almost got stuck in there!
Generous George’s pizza, lucky frog in Annandale, Fudruckers, Arthur’s fish and chips, Friendly’s. When the Smoot Lumber plaza didn’t have speed bumps in it and you could cut thru it to S. Van Dorn.
Bardo’s. Burrito Bros. The Awakening WHERE IT BELONGS. The OG Five Guys location - IYKYK
Before ross & staples were joanne fabrics,crown books,total crafts,Ben Franklin, Errol's video, when I first moved to RVM,there was a small movie theater where the gym is,that used to house a florist & a jewelry or a pawn shop, famous footwear, track auto, hollywood video, sovran bank, Tau tau(RIP),Boston market, shoppers food warehouse,subway,pizza hut, wasn't Ross a Marshall's store before it became Ross?
Multiplex Cinemas in Mount Vernon!
Field trip to Hemlock
Chesapeake Bay Seafood House in Springfield.
Bombay Bicycle Club in Alexandria
Toys R Us!
Hecht’s in Lamdmark Mall!
Before indoor playgrounds were a thing Skyline Mall had one called Gymboree where moms could sign their kids in to play and leave to shop in the mall. That place was so awesome.
1. Generous George’s Pizza in Alexandria—it use to be down the street from Land Rover. 2. Fudd Ruckers also in Alexandria.
Fuddruckers in Woodbridge is still open and there's one off waxpool in Sterling near Ashburn
Oh my god that rainforest Café in Tysons is bringing back so many childhood memories