Back in January, The Burn told readers about plans for a large new retail center coming to Loudoun County. Now, we have a bunch of new details and tantalizing clues about what could be in store.
We’re talking about the Shops at Arcola – a shopping center that is planned for a large parcel of land near the intersection of Loudoun County Parkway and Dulles West Boulevard.
To help you geolocate that – it’s adjacent to the new Target department store that opened last October.
In our January report, we told readers that an organic grocery store had signed a lease to be an “anchor” tenant at the center. But we didn’t know which brand?
Since then, we have learned that the Shops at Arcola is being developed by SJC Ventures, a company out of Atlanta.
Intriguingly, SJC Ventures has a long history with the Whole Foods grocery store brand and has placed Whole Foods in many of its centers up and down the east coast.
We spoke with Jeff Garrison, one of the principals with SJC Ventures, and while he declined to confirm that a Whole Foods was in the works for the Shops at Arcola, he also didn’t deny it. He basically said he couldn’t confirm who the tenant is at this juncture.
The project is going through all the needed paperwork and planning and meetings with county officials – a long and arduous process that can take months and even years.
Garrison did share that they anticipate construction on the new shopping center to start in the first quarter of 2027 and the build time should be roughly 14 months, with the first retailers opening in early 2028.
There will be up to 30 retail spaces in the center in nine separate buildings.
Garrison expects this to include two drive-thru restaurants, various fast casual and/or full service restaurants plus other businesses such as retail shops, fitness centers, beauty salons, and so forth.
He said it was too soon to announce any tenants yet – deals are still being negotiated, but he hoped to have some names to release later this year.
So, there you go. Details on the numbers and types of tenants coming to the Shops at Arcola and even a timeline – plus a possibility that Whole Foods could be part of the plans based on the developer’s history and relationships.
(Image at top: SJC Ventures)