PRIVATE PICKLEBALL: FAMILY BUILDS COURT IN THEIR BACKYARD
MEET THE COUPLE BEHIND YOUR FAVORITE LOCAL SERVICE STATION
A CENTURY AGO, ASHBURN ARTIST BROUGHT ANIMALS TO LIFE
THE ASHBURN PUB CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF WINGS AND BEER
Interactive animal encounters
Tickets and Season Passes
Birthday Parties and Field Trips
Safari drive-thru & walkable zoo
Private events for large groups
VOLUME 7, ISSUE 2
PUBLISHER
Bruce Potter publisher@ashburnmagazine.com 571-333-1538
EDITOR
Chris Wadsworth editor@ashburnmagazine.com
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Judy Harbin jharbin@ashburnmagazine.com
Steve Dennen steve@ashburnmagazine.com
Tricia Kissner tkissner@insidenova.com
ART DIRECTOR
Kara Thorpe
CONTRIBUTORS
Denise Scott Astri Wee
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Ashburn Magazine is published every other month and distributed to about 13,000 selected addresses. While reasonable care is taken with all material submitted to Ashburn Magazine, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to any such material. Opinions expressed in articles are strictly those of the authors. While ensuring that all published information is accurate, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any mistakes or omissions. Reproduction in whole or part of any of the text, illustrations or photographs is strictly forbidden. ©2025 Rappahannock Media LLC.
Shop. The story of John and Janessa Maas and how they built their business – and more importantly, their reputation – is the kind of story this magazine was designed to tell. Couples like the Maases and local businesses like theirs make our community unique.
Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll read about another local institution, The Ashburn Pub, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Owner Kevin Bednarz talks about the challenges and joys of running a business that is truly 24/7. That interview begins on Page 82.
And, starting on Page 74, we even explore a bit of a mystery – the story of artist Joseph Gleeson, who drew and painted realistic depictions of animals that were published in books by Rudyard Kipling and other authors. Gleeson lived in Ashburn over a century ago, but little else is known about his local connections.
We also have to toot our own horn a bit. Ashburn Magazine was honored in April with 23 individual awards and two Best-in-Show prizes from the Virginia Press Association for our work in 2024. In addition, for the second consecutive year, we received the Grand Sweepstakes award for accumulating the most points in individual categories among all specialty publications (which includes the Washington Business Journal, Virginia Business Magazine and Richmond Magazine).
Being the best is not easy. Especially when you have at least 48 competitors, as after-school programs in Ashburn do. Or 37 other women’s hair salons.
But everyone has their favorite –and we are delighted again this year to present your favorite local businesses, organizations and people in our sixth annual Best of Ashburn. This year’s competition again attracted over 70,000 votes from nearly 9,000 different voters. They chose from 2,000-plus nominees in over 110 categories.
You’ll find the winners starting on Page 20 of this issue, once again our biggest of the year, at 96 pages. After that, on Page 62, editor Chris Wadsworth profiles one of our winners, Ashburn Village Sunoco, voted Best Car Repair
We don’t produce this magazine to win awards; our mission is to better connect you with your community and your neighbors. But the awards are a tremendous validation that our content is compelling, our layout is attractive and readable, and our advertisers get results. And they are a credit to our amazing staff (see the full list of winners on Page 81), who put their heart and soul into every issue.
So … I guess you could say that we’re the best, too!
BRUCE POTTER,
Summer is a time for easy and breezy. These three curated collections are available at Kettermans and perfect for any sunny occasion. For a closer look check out Ketterman’s Summer Style Blog on the website or stop by the store!
Get the look: Stacy Bradley denim jacket and scarf dress 335/279, Brighton “Skylar” straw tote 385, “Rosie” camera bag 295, “Rhea” heeled sandal 245, Interlok Braid sunglasses 158, On the neck: Pandora logo pave necklace 185, Phillip Allen Hefner Pearl LV necklace 240, multi-color sapphire station long necklace (doubled) 3,075, On the wrist: (R) Julie Vos “Ivy” stone bangle 145, UNOde50 hinged cuff 325, gold bracelet 3,225, (L) Meridian Tempo smart watch band 128, Beverley K pink tourmaline and onyx ring 6,250.
1,170, e.newton Hope Unwritten hematite bracelet 38, Gabriel black enamel cuff 2,750.
“When Nate is found bloodied and unconscious in the locker room after the big game, suddenly the three teens are prime suspects – and a tenuous alliance may be the only way to clear their names.”
That’s just a snippet of the synopsis for Alex Travis’ new book, the young adult thriller “The Payback Girls.” The plot gets more complicated and gripping from there.
To say it’s been a productive year for Travis – who lives in Ashburn’s Courts and Ridges neighborhood – would be an understatement. Since last May, the 31-year-old school psychologist with Loudoun County Public Schools has published not one, but two novels, and she and her husband, Sean Delehanty, have also welcomed their first child – a daughter named Riley.
“It has been a total whirlwind of a year. Absolutely crazy,” Travis said.
“The Payback Girls” was published April 1 by Sourcebooks, based in the Chicago area. Travis’ passion for writing developed at a young age. Growing up in Scarsdale, N.Y., she recalls learning about Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. She was inspired. She started doing some research and penned a Boleyn-themed novel at age 11.
“That one has never seen the light of day – but it was the impetus for me to start writing about strong female characters,” she said.
Travis wrote what would become her first published book, the women’s romance novel “The Only Black Girl in the Room,”
during the COVID-19 pandemic while studying for her doctorate in psychology at the University of Maryland.
“I was definitely procrastinating on my dissertation and trying to write anything else,” Travis said.
She was further spurred to write when some publishing houses held contests for Black writers to submit un-agented manuscripts. Although her work wasn’t selected, it led to her forming a relationship with literary agent Dorian Maffei, based in the San Francisco area.
It is always stiff competition to get noticed. Maffei has received nearly 5,000 manuscripts submissions in the past year from hopeful writers. “I have to have … enthusiasm and passion for the work and the author,” she said.
Maffei says the first thing she is drawn to is an author’s voice, and she found Travis’ voice so natural that it leaped off the page. Maffei began submitting some of Travis’ manuscripts to publishers. And some of those publishers circled around and were hooked.
While “The Only Black Girl in the Room” was in the process of being published by Alcove Press in May 2024, the manuscript for “The Payback Girls” made its way to Annette Pollert-Morgan, an executive editor at Sourcebooks with one of their young adult imprints.
“I loved her voice and characters,” said Pollert-Morgan, who went on to edit the book.
She says Travis writes vivid dialogue and layered characters who feel incredibly authentic. “You can feel them coming to life as you’re reading,” she said. “The friendships, the relationships with the sisters, felt very crisp, so cinematic.”
Although Travis grew up attending predominantly white schools, she said “The Payback Girls” doesn’t necessarily reflect her life. But she can relate to some of the racial experiences and ways the female characters are pitted against each other.
“Just the idea of having to present yourself in a certain way, sort of being perfect all the time while being in a predominantly
white environment,” she said. “Sometimes – no matter how much you try – it doesn’t
Her proud husband has watched her bring her books from kernels of an idea to published works on a bookshelf.
“I give her some space and let her focus on it, get in her zone,” Delehanty said. “I got to see her go through the whole process – querying [sending out a manuscript], getting an agent. It was the payoff to many years of hard work, and I’m really excited
Sourcebooks acquired a second young adult thriller that Travis is currently writing to be published next year. Pollert-Morgan said she is also excited about Travis’ other
“We’re on the same page about what comes next [and] how to grow Alex’s voice
Denise Scott has been a journalist for more than 25 years, writing and editing for newspapers and magazines in the Midwest
If you’re noticing higher energy bills, uneven temperatures, or frequent repairs, it’s
Upgrade to a new, energy-efficient HVAC system with no upfront costs and affordable payments starting as low as $128/month
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
The expression “when pigs fly” is usually used to refer to something that is probably impossible. However, the expression might be outdated because pigs do fly – every week – right here in Ashburn.
“Every single time the pig goes flying, the kids all go nuts. It’s loud cheers,” said Riley Atkins, a manager at the iFly Indoor Skydiving venue near One Loudoun.
A stuffed pig is just one tool used at iFly, where thousands of local kids have received real-life lessons in fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, laws of motion and more. It’s part of iFly’s nationwide STEM program – the popular acronym for coursework focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“We fly common objects, such as basketballs, in the wind tunnel, and students have a chance to see if their predictions about the object’s behavior are accurate,” said Michelle Brumley, the national STEM program manager for iFly.
iFly was founded in 1998 and has more than 50 locations around North America, Australia and Europe. iFly launched its STEM field trip program in 2015, and all 35 corporate-owned locations in the United States participate, as do many of the other franchised iFlys.
The STEM offerings are a lesser-known side gig to the brand’s main claim to fame of sending people soaring in a wind tunnel.
“We recognized that iFly was a perfect example of a real-world application of
STEM,” Brumley said. “We decided to design a program that was both educational and showcased what a career in STEM could look like for students.”
Brumley also acknowledges that hosting academic field trips helps fill “historically under-utilized time at our tunnels in a meaningful and productive way for both
decided to design a program that was both educational and showcased what a career in STEM could look like for students.
our company and the customers.” In other words, it brings in revenue and helps fill weekday daytime hours when business might otherwise be slow.
The iFly team worked with educators to develop lessons that meet national science and math standards, appropriate for different grade levels.
For example, students in fourth through seventh grades study how the shape of a parachute’s canopy affects its descent rate in the wind tunnel. They use formulas to
design and test parachutes with rectangular-, triangular- and square-shaped canopies. Ninth- through 12th-graders calculate their own terminal velocity – the maximum speed attainable by an object as it falls through the air based on gravity and drag –then get in the tunnel and go “flying” to see how their actual speed compares.
The students who take part come from all different types of groups. Local school science classes, homeschooled kids, scouting groups and STEM clubs are among the usual suspects.
Fluid dynamics and laws of motion are just some of the science concepts taught during iFly STEM programs.
“By far, the biggest reaction comes when we fly water during our physics demonstration,” said Stacey Rudolph, a former science teacher and an iFly STEM instructor in Ashburn. “Students are amazed to see the water break into thousands of tiny droplets that float on the wind. We are able to discuss and demonstrate science concepts such as surface tension and cohesive forces in a truly unique way.”
All told, more than 600,000 students around the world have participated in iFly’s STEM program since its launch. That’s a lot of kids who have seen pigs fly with their very own eyes. A
Anew indoor pickleball facility opened last month in Loudoun County –appropriately enough, it’s called Loudoun County Pickleball. It can be found at 44710 Cape Court in Suite 116. That’s just off Loudoun County Parkway a few blocks north of Waxpool Road.
The venue features three full-sized pickleball courts plus a half-sized court for practice or one-on-one play.
“Whether you’re a seasoned pro or picking up a paddle for the first time, our courts are designed to create an engaging and welcoming environment for
Amajor new motion picture was scheduled to be released May 2, and one of the producers on the film lives right here in Ashburn.
Mark Maxey, who lives in Brambleton with his family, works with Rolling Pictures, a motion picture company based in Burbank, Calif. The latest film he’s involved in is the Sean Penn-produced “Words of War” starring such illustrious names as Oscar-nominated actor Ciarán Hinds (“Belfast”) and actor Jason Isaacs, who made headlines recently for his role in the third season of “The White Lotus.”
“Words of War” is a biographical drama about the late Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered in Moscow for her coverage of the conflict in
Agrowing kitchen and bath build-and-design firm has opened a new showroom in Ashburn. It’s the first location for Bull Run Kitchen in Loudoun County and Bath and the third in the Washington region. The company has other locations in Manassas and Rockville, Md.
The new showroom is at 44121 Leesburg Pike, Unit 170.
That’s on the south side of the highway, between Ashburn Village Boulevard and Claiborne Parkway.
Bull Run is a full-service general contractor that has a design team to help customers create their ideal spaces in their homes, and then the build team brings the vision to life.
“We’re committed to providing you with custom home improvement solutions that fit your lifestyle and goals,” the company’s website states.
Inova Loudoun Hospital held its first ever Teddy Bear Clinic in March. Children ages 3 to 8 were encouraged to bring their favorite stuffed animals to the Teddy Bear Clinic where a team from the hospital checked them in and then took them through a series of medical experiences such as the checking of vitals, shots and IVs, sutures, x-rays and more.
The goal was to create a safe and stress-free environment where the kids could ask questions about healthcare experiences.
“The Teddy Bear Clinic is all about building trust and familiarity with the hospital,” said Emily Phipps, a child life specialist at Inova Loudoun Hospital.
“We want children to feel comfortable and confident if they ever need to visit the hospital, and we hope this event will leave them with a positive experience.”
A hospital spokesperson said the event was such a success it plans to bring the Teddy Bear Clinic back again next year. A
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Who would have thought the role of an esthetician could be so fraught?! But of the tens of thousands of votes in this year’s Ashburn Magazine Best of Ashburn 2025 contest, it was the esthetician category that saw the most votes cast. (Congrats to Andrea Scaggs at NOVA Plastic Surgery and Dermatology for coming out on top.)
For the second year in a row, more than 70,000 votes were cast online as Ashburn area residents voted on their favorite restaurants, teachers, lawyers, landscapers, gift shops and more. Voting was conducted in February.
Across all categories, more than 2,000 people, places and things were nominated and voted on by you – the readers of Ashburn Magazine. A big thank you for your participation and now… drum roll… on to the results.
44795 AUDUBON SQUARE, ASHBURN, 20147
ASHBYPONDS.COM
800-981-9329
For distinctive senior living, look no further than Ashby Ponds, a continuing care retirement community in Ashburn. Enjoy maintenance-free residences, resort-style amenities and services to enhance your health and well-being – all in a location you love. Ashby Ponds offers a worry-free lifestyle without the hassles of home upkeep. The community has 10 restaurants, fitness centers, all-season pools, a day spa, a medical center and more. Assisted living, memory care and nursing care are also available. It’s no wonder Ashby Ponds is Ashburn’s most sought-after address for active retirement living. Call 800-981-9329 or visit AshbyPonds.com for your free brochure.
44751 BRIMFIELD DRIVE, SUITE 140, ASHBURN, 20147 571-609-9049
NAIL SALON
SPA
44095 PIPELINE PLAZA, SUITE 270, ASHBURN, 20147 MOUNTCASTLEMEDICALSPA.COM 571-266-1776
Mountcastle Medical Spa & Laser Center, located in Ashburn, is a premier destination for advanced aesthetic treatments. Led by double board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Timothy Mountcastle, our expert team includes Meredith West, PA-C, and Madeline David, NP, renowned for their skill in injectables, including Botox, dermal fillers and Sculptra. Our talented aestheticians, Ragan, Maria and Jillian, specialize in laser treatments, microneedling, PRF and medical-grade skincare. We also offer medical weight loss with semaglutide and tirzepatide, vein treatments and cutting-edge skin rejuvenation services to help patients look and feel their best with customized treatment plans.
WOMEN'S HAIR SALON
44714 BRIMFIELD DRIVE, ASHBURN, 20147 CURRENTBYNESE.COM 703-724-9444
Elevating hair artistry in Northern Virginia since 2012, Current Salon continues to set the standard for excellence with its award-winning expertise. Soon to unveil a beautiful, newly expanded space in One Loudoun, owners Ryan Mallard and Nese Altas – alongside their amazing team – offer precision haircuts, styling, specialized color services and cosmetic treatments. Current Salon prioritizes ongoing education, ensuring their team of artists craft personalized services that celebrate each client’s unique beauty and style.
19790 ASHBURN ROAD, ASHBURN, 20147 VIRGINIA-ACADEMY.COM
20577 ASHBURN ROAD, ASHBURN, 20147 LOUDOUNSCHOOL.ORG
Loudoun School for Advanced Studies is a private sixth- through 12th-grade school in Ashburn. Designed to inspire and challenge advanced learners, it offers a rigorous curriculum emphasizing real-world problem-solving, research and collaboration. With small class sizes (averaging eight to 10 students) and a 4:1 student-faculty ratio, the school fosters personalized education led by highly qualified teachers who are passionate about the subjects they teach. Accredited by MSA-CESS, it boasts a 97th-percentile mean SAT score, and 90% of its students get admitted to their first choice of college.
20706 WELLER'S CORNER SQUARE, ASHBURN, 20147 YUMYUMHIBACHI.COM
703-270-3401
Yum Yum Hibachi is a fast-casual Hibachi restaurant where guests can customize fresh, high-quality hibachi bowls to suit their tastes. With a focus on bold flavors, premium ingredients and unbeatable value, Yum Yum Hibachi is the ideal choice for both dine-in and takeout, as well as catering for large groups. More than just a place to eat, it’s a community-focused destination where delicious food and friendly service come together to create an experience everyone can enjoy.
19825 BELMONT CHASE DRIVE, ASHBURN, 20147 PAZZOPOMODORO.COM
703-858-5555
Authentic Italian food – pizza, pasta, seafood, dolci, happy hour, private event catering
42780 CREEK VIEW PLAZA, ASHBURN, 20147 PASSIONFINASHBURN.COM
703-858-1118
Passion Fin Asian Bistro is an elegant, yet comfortable dining experience, satisfying for those who are fans of Asian cuisine and sushi veterans looking for a way to expand their palettes. Passion Fin Asian Bistro continuously strives to leave a memorable impression by creating a welcoming environment, in which we provide superior and individualized service, while showing every customer our utmost and genuine appreciation and hospitality. Whether you’re out for a casual lunch of sushi or our full menu of teriyaki and hibachi specials, don’t forget our Chinese and Thai selections as well. And with a lively time at the bar, you won’t be disappointed.
44095 PIPELINE PLAZA, SUITE 130 ASHBURN, 20147 MINDBODYCONNECT360.COM 703-721-7521
Mind Body Connect 360 is an innovative health practice that offers comprehensive psychological services including EMDR, acupuncture and reiki for restoring children, teens and adults to physical and emotional health.
Mind Body Connect 360’s practitioners are passionate about delivering high-quality, cutting-edge treatment approaches tailored to the individual needs of every client. This 360-degree whole person approach will help you achieve the balance needed to live the life you envisioned. Learn more by visiting mindbodyconnect360.com.
42882 TRURO PARISH DRIVE, SUITE 201, ASHBURN, 20148
ASHBURNPEDIATRICDENTALCENTER.COM
703-726-4333
Ashburn Pediatric Dental Center, at 42882 Truro Parish Drive, Suite 201, is a state-of-the-art facility specializing in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. Established in 2004, it offers comprehensive dental care for children and young adults, as well as orthodontic treatment for patients of all ages. The center’s mission is to provide a fun and positive experience, ensuring that children view dental visits favorably. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Ajit A. Patel, a pediatric dentist, and Dr. Joseph S. Errera, a board-certified orthodontist, lead a dedicated team focused on delivering exceptional care in a comfortable, stressfree environment.
DENTIST PRACTICE/GROUP
42395 RYAN ROAD, NO. 104 ASHBURN, 20148 COSTASMILES.COM
703-542-7000
We are grateful to have been recognized again as the Best Salon in the 2025 Best of Ashburn Readers Poll. Thank you to our amazing clients and readers of the Ashburn Magazine for your continued support.
Costa Dentistry is an innovative, luxury and hightech dental practice featuring specialty comfort amenities for patients. Dr. Shane Costa has served Northern Virginia since 2004 with offices in Ashburn and Great Falls. Offering a variety of services from full smile makeovers to general dentistry, our award-winning team always puts your care first. Enjoy Netflix, essential oils, neck pillows, fleece blankets and more to feel at home during your visit. Our newly renovated Ashburn office offers comprehensive care with veneers and Bioclear, iTero digital scanning, GLO teeth whitening and more to perfect your smile.
DIET/NUTRITION SPECIALIST
44075 PIPELINE PLAZA, SUITE 300 ASHBURN, 20147 BEHEALTHYNUTRITIONCONSULTING.COM
703-659-6110
Be Healthy Nutrition Consulting specializes in providing support to individuals struggling with eating disorders. Our team of registered dietitians, located in Ashburn, Reston and Fairfax, embraces a non-diet, Health at Every Size approach, fostering a positive and healthy relationship with food. Services offered include nutrition counseling for eating disorder recovery, guidance for managing pre-diabetes, diabetes, cardiovascular health, gastrointestinal issues, PCOS and weight management. Recognized with multiple Best of Ashburn awards, Be Healthy Nutrition Consulting is dedicated to empowering clients to enjoy the foods they love while achieving lasting health and well-being.
ORTHODONTIST
43150 BROADLANDS CENTER PLAZA NO. 160, ASHBURN, 20148
OPTICSANDEYECARE.COM
703-687-4719
Optics&EyeCare is your award-winning, full-service private optometry practice, proudly voted Best Eye Doctor of Ashburn for three consecutive years. We are dedicated to providing quality eye care through personal attention and professional services for the whole family, ensuring you look and see your best. Through state-of-the-art technology, unparalleled customer service and expert care, we aspire to be your choice for all your eye care needs. Experience the difference at Optics&EyeCare and break free from the chains. Book your appointment online today at opticsandeyecare. com. Optics&EyeCare: Where Vision Meets Style
GENERAL PRACTITIONER
44084 RIVERSIDE PARKWAY, NO. 300, LEESBURG, 20176
YOURFAMILYMED.COM • 703-724-7530
Our team of board-certified physicians and nurse practitioners bring a wealth of experience to the practice of family medicine, a specialty that provides comprehensive health care management for patients of all ages. Leesburg Sterling Family Practice (LSFP) is dedicated to providing personalized care for our patients. We pay special attention to lifestyle, family and social dynamics that affect patient health. Care with LSFP begins before you even arrive. We offer convenient online appointment scheduling, same-day appointments, family appointments and an on-call provider available 24/7 for after-hours care. Our patient portal provides access to your account, health records and other helpful resources at your convenience.
42882 TRURO PARISH DRIVE, SUITE 201, ASHBURN, 20148
ASHBURNPEDIATRICDENTALCENTER.COM
703-726-4333
Ashburn Pediatric Dental Center, at 42882 Truro Parish Drive, Suite 201, is a state-of-the-art facility specializing in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics. Established in 2004, it offers comprehensive dental care for children and young adults, as well as orthodontic treatment for patients of all ages. The center’s mission is to provide a fun and positive experience, ensuring that children view dental visits favorably. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Ajit A. Patel, a pediatric dentist, and Dr. Joseph S. Errera, a board-certified orthodontist, lead a dedicated team focused on delivering exceptional care in a comfortable, stress-free environment.
As the largest orthopedic practice in Virginia, OrthoVirginia’s nationally-recognized physicians provide advanced surgical and non-surgical care to patients of all ages.
With over 150 physicians and 35 locations across the state, expert care is close to home.
To view all of our Northern Virginia area orthopedic physicians and their specialties, scan the QR code or visit orthovirginia.com/physicians
To schedule an appointment, visit us online orthovirginia.com | or call 703.277.BONE (2663)
ORTHOVIRGINIA.COM
703-277-2663
With more than 160 orthopedic specialists in 35 locations in Lynchburg, Northern Virginia, Richmond, Southwest Virginia and Hampton Roads, OrthoVirginia is Virginia’s largest provider of orthopedic medicine and one of the leading providers of physical, hand and occupational therapy. As one of the largest orthopedic specialty practices in the country, OrthoVirginia’s nationally recognized physicians provide advanced surgical and non-surgical care to patients of all ages.
44095 PIPELINE PLAZA, SUITE 430, ASHBURN, 20147
MOUNTCASTLEPLASTICSURGERY.COM
703-858-3208
Dr. Timothy Mountcastle is a double board-certified plastic surgeon and the founder of Mountcastle Plastic Surgery & Vein Institute and Mountcastle Medical Spa & Laser Center in Ashburn. With over 15 years of experience, he specializes in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, liposuction, breast procedures and vein treatments. As the chief of plastic surgery emeritus at Inova Loudoun Hospital, Dr. Mountcastle is known for his surgical expertise, patient-first approach and commitment to natural, high-quality results. He also leads a top-tier medical spa, offering advanced aesthetic treatments, injectables and laser services to help patients look and feel their best.
PSYCHIATRIST/ PSYCHOLOGIST/COUNSELOR
44075 PIPELINE PLAZA, NO. 300, ASHBURN, 20147
ACCOUNSELINGLLC.COM
703-829-6091
SPEECH AND HEARING/ AUDIOLOGY
HOMEJOYDESIGNS.COM • 617-645-2127
CARPET CARE
20700 LOUDOUN COUNTY PARKWAY, NO. 156, ASHBURN, 20147
LOUDOUNVALLEYFLOORS.COM
703-724-4300
Loudoun Valley Floors, your independent flooring center for over 30 years, and Loudoun Carpet Care take pride in every customer outcome. Our time-honored commitment to exceptional quality, craftsmanship and service are delivered at a fair price. Get the flooring you love with local service you trust. Our team inspires you with options for your vision and budget. From beginning to beautiful, design to done, we take care of you every step of the way. Offering:
• Carpet, hardwood, luxury vinyl, laminate –sales and installation
• Hardwood floor restoration and refinishing
• Carpet, upholstery and ceramic tile cleaning
• Hardwood floor buffing
• Repairs and maintenance
Founded in 2018, Home Joy Designs is an Ashburn-based interior design firm specializing in taking the “builder grade” out of your home. Our mission is to create beautiful and functional spaces, allowing our clients’ personal expression to shine through. Our services include renovation design consulting for kitchens, bathrooms, basements and laundry rooms. We are a full-service interior design firm offering furnishings, lighting, custom window treatments, rugs, wallpaper, millwork and decor. Thank you, Ashburn, for voting us Best Interior Design Service two years in a row. Follow us on social @homejoydesigns.
LANDSCAPE CONSULTANT
46090 LAKE CENTER PLAZA, SUITE 210, STERLING, 20165
KHLANDSCAPING.COM • 703-851-7497
K&H is an award-winning landscape and grounds maintenance company. We provide full-service landscape design, installation and maintenance for residential and commercial clients, creating beautiful outdoor living spaces that our clients love. Our vision is to be recognized by our clients, team members, competitors and community partners as one of North Virginia’s landscape leaders by creating and maintaining beautiful landscapes, and our mission is to design, install and maintain residential and commercial landscapes that will bring joy to our clients.
42569 HIGHGATE TERRACE, ASHBURN, 20148 970-986-2023
PRINCEMOVERS.COM
571-246-6194
Prince Movers delivers exceptional moving services to Ashburn and the Washington area. Operating since 2014, we specialize in residential, commercial and long-distance moves, with added expertise in packing, piano moving and storage. Our 4.9/5 rating from over 1,100 reviews showcases our commitment to customer satisfaction. We ensure every item is handled with care, using home protection and full blanket-wrapping of your furniture for a worry-free experience. As a proud sponsor of Independence High School’s stadium, we’re deeply connected to Loudoun County. Let Prince Movers be your hero for the day to make your relocation effortless.
Club-K9 is not just boarding and daycare, it is a doggie paradise, where your dog’s happiness and health are our top priorities. We offer more indoor and outdoor space than most other facilities in the area. We have walking tracks, trails and a wealth of activities to keep your pup happy, simulated and feeling right at home.
43330 JUNCTION PLAZA, SUITE 178, ASHBURN, 20147 BELLYRUBSPETCARE.COM 571-295-5516
VETERINARIAN
42902 WAXPOOL ROAD, ASHBURN, 20148 STREAMVALLEYVET.COM 703-723-1017
At Stream Valley Veterinary Hospital, we strive to offer you and your pets “Modern Medicine, Hometown Hospitality.” Since opening in 2000, we’ve been committed to serving the Ashburn community and beyond as a full-service veterinary hospital with a wide range of medical, surgical and dental care for dogs, cats, exotic animals and pocket pets. Our mission ensures that every patient receives the highest level of care we would want for our own pets, along with treating each client as a valued member of our team. With on-site boarding, daycare and grooming facilities, as well as a well-stocked pharmacy, let’s make Stream Valley your one-stop pet healthcare headquarters.
ACCOUNTANT
44081 PIPELINE PLAZA, NO. 215, ASHBURN, 20147 KENNETHLIUCPA.COM • 703-723-6388
21001 SYCOLIN ROAD, SUITE 340, ASHBURN, 20147 LDURSTLAW.COM • 703-443-4762
Li-Shann Durst, owner of the Law Office of LiShann Durst, PLLC, focuses on alternative dispute resolution methods such as collaborative law, mediation and negotiation to handle divorce and other family law matters. Ms. Durst helps families navigate the emotional and financial complexities involved in a divorce by emphasizing clear communication and mutual respect, guiding her clients through challenging situations without the need for courtroom battles. Ms. Durst helps families create customized solutions while reducing the stress and conflict often associated with family law matters.
ADVISOR
44679 ENDICOTT DRIVE, SUITE
We are so very appreciative of our wonderful clients, friends and business partners who voted for Mitch to win this award. It is our pleasure to serve such a wonderful community of people, and we look forward to many more years of partnership. From the HENRYs (High Earners, Not Rich Yet) of Loudoun to the pre-retirees looking for a guide to and through retirement, we are here to help. As a team of dedicated fiduciaries, we are here to look out for you and your best interests. Cheers to all the other winners and the great local businesses of Ashburn.
285 ALWINGTON BOULEVARD, WARRENTON, 20186
APPLETONCAMPBELL.COM 540-347-0765
Appleton Campbell is honored to be named Best of Ashburn 2025 and is grateful for the trust and support of the community. Since 1976, we have been committed to providing reliable plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical services throughout Northern Virginia. Our team of skilled professionals delivers expert solutions with integrity, ensuring comfort and peace of mind for every customer. With a dedication to quality, exceptional service, and a customer-first approach, Appleton Campbell continues to be the trusted choice for homes. Thank you for making us your go-to service provider.
Meade’s Heating and Air is a blend between the sophisticated, corporate heating and AC provider offering fast response times and service seven days a week and the
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3100 CLARENDON BOULEVARD, SUITE 200, ARLINGTON, 22201 GROFFLANDSCAPEDESIGN.COM
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44095 PIPELINE PLAZA, SUITE 300, ASHBURN, 20147
KEVINLARUE.COM
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SPORTING GOODS STORE
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Treasures -
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2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025
The Ashburn Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department (AVFRD) is proud to serve this incredible community, and we are honored to be recognized as the Best Non-Profit of 2025! This award is a testament to the dedication of our volunteers, staff, and supporters who make our mission possible every day.
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
PHOTOS BY ASTRI WEE
Let’s just be clear from the start –John Maas is going to hate the first few paragraphs of this article. That’s because they don’t focus on his years as a successful mechanic in Ashburn, or the booming business he has built at the Ashburn Sunoco, or even the fact that his shop won the Best Auto Repair category in our Best of Ashburn 2025 competition.
Instead, we’re going to talk about his uncanny resemblance to the famous cover model Fabio.
“So, we ran an ad in one of the 55-and-older communities. And I snapped a picture of him and the whole ad is just his face,” said Janessa Maas, John’s wife and business partner. “And he’s got these beautiful blue eyes and his long hair. He’s stunning. And that’s the whole ad.”
Within days, a local man came into the shop who happened to live in that senior community, and he recognized John’s face.
“And John was like, ‘Yeah, I know. It’s in the magazine,’ and the man said, ‘No, it’s on everybody’s refrigerator.’ I guess they had clipped out his little face and put it on their refrigerators,” Janessa said with a laugh.
“We all make fun of John.”
All kidding aside, John and Jenessa Maas have built something pretty impressive right in the heart of Ashburn Village – a mom-and-pop car repair shop that has
earned a fair amount of faith and trust in a field not always known for that.
“We don’t use pressure sales,” John said. “If something is broken, we tell you it’s broken. I try to give customers options as to what they can do. And if something doesn’t need to be replaced, we tell you it doesn’t need to be replaced.”
John grew up in Vienna and has been working on cars since his teenage years in the mid-1980s. Janessa is originally from Detroit but moved to Burke in the sixth grade. John spent years working in other people’s shops before deciding to take a leap and get his own place. He and Janessa purchased the Ashburn Auto Care shop in the Ashburn Village Shopping Center in 2013. It was not an overnight success.
“So, there were two owners before us. There was a guy named Dave who was fabulous, and everybody loved him, and he was here for like 17 years, and he did a great job. He was just this little community shop, and he had a great following,” Janessa said. “When he sold it, he sold it to a gentleman who didn’t do as great and ran it into the ground.”
in a Name?
Believe it or not, the official name of the repair shop is Ashburn Auto Care, but most people call it simply the Ashburn Village Sunoco because of the gas station next door.
Technically, the gas station/convenience store is a separate business from the repair shop.
7-Eleven owns and operates the gas station and store, and the Maases lease the auto repair shop space from 7-Eleven.
But from the T-shirts the repair team wears at work to the greeting they use when they answer the phone, Ashburn Village Sunoco is the name that has stuck.
When the Maases took over, they had to slowly rebuild the trust that the surrounding community once had in the shop.
“We would sit around some days and do maybe three or four oil changes. That’s it,” John recalled. “So, we made a few staffing changes, made a few advertising changes and the business started to take off.”
They took an old database of customers and sent out a coupon offering a steep discount to introduce themselves. Customers came in and liked what they found, and business has been growing since.
David Hooper owns a plumbing company in Falls Church and has a fleet of eight vehicles. When they need service, he brings them all the way out to Ashburn Auto Care.
“John is the only guy I trust to work on them,” Hooper said. “It’s because of the attention to detail and how they actually care about you as a customer.”
One of the key elements to their success and that “trust” factor is not trying to sell folks on things they don’t need.
“The dealers will tell you that you need something because you’ve gone 30,000 miles. I think both of us would agree that, yes, those are
the recommended procedures based on what the dealership sees on an average vehicle, but it doesn’t necessarily apply to every single vehicle,” Janessa said. “When we get a list from say a dealership or even a competitor and that has a power steering flush, a coolant flush, a transmission fluid flush and an oil change on it, and they throw a brake fluid flush in there as well – does the customer actually need these things? No. Yes, they’re on the maintenance schedule, but guess what – sometimes their fluids all test exactly how they should. They’re still clean. They’re not contaminated.”
Today, the Maases live in Ashburn Farm. John is the head mechanic, and Janessa –who laughs when asked whether she has an official title – basically runs the place. Six employees round out the team.
We asked John what the biggest mistake is that car owners make when a car needs repairs and what is the one thing every car owner should do when coming into a shop. The answers were pretty insightful.
“The biggest mistake? People Googling
what is wrong with their car and then walking in and telling me what they want done to their car. 95% of the time that’s not what’s wrong with it,” he said. And the smartest thing to do? “Ask questions. If you don’t understand what a mechanic is telling you, and they don’t want to answer questions, then run.”
The shop is busy every day with a steady stream of customers and cars moving in and out of the three repair bays. There’s so much business, they sometimes have a backlog – to the point that the Maases have been looking to expand for several years now – trying to find a second location in the Ashburn area. Nothing is official yet, but they are working on it.
“We don’t have a big fancy waiting room. We don’t have loaner cars. We don’t have donuts and coffee. We don’t have any of that,” Janessa said. “We are down and dirty. I have nowhere for you to sit and I don’t have a drink to offer you, but we will fix your car if you’re willing to be patient.” A
ashburn fam I ly bu I lds a court I n the I r backyard
There are probably hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Ashburn homes with a basketball hoop in the driveway. Many homes have a swimming pool in the backyard. Some might even have a volleyball net or – for the hardcore golfers – a putting green.
But we’re guessing few Ashburn homeowners have a full-size regulation pickleball court out back. But that’s exactly what the Burnett family built two years ago, and it’s been nonstop serving, lobbing and dinking ever since.
“I still have the same paddle that (I got) in 2003 and I still use it today,” said Edward Burnett.
You saw that date right – more than 20 years ago. Most people probably think of pickleball as a recent phenomenon. It exploded in popularity during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and was named the fastest-growing sport in America by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association. But Burnett was an early adopter when he lived here in Northern Virginia after college.
“Some of the first people I met were a couple from Seattle and the gentleman was a congressman,” he said. “I got to know them, and they asked me and my buddy if we wanted to play doubles pickleball. Our reaction was – ‘what is pickleball?’”
At that time – according to the folks at USA Pickleball – there were only about 150 pickleball courts in the entire country. Today, more than 68,000 are listed in their official database – and that’s probably not including the one in the Burnetts’ backyard. The court came to be because when the Burnetts bought a home in Brambleton, it came with a sports court in the backyard featuring basketball hoops. The family’s four kids loved it. So, when they moved to the Village of Waxpool neighborhood in 2022, everyone missed having a sports court. A decision was made to build one in their new
backyard – and that’s when Edward suggested adding pickleball lines and a pickleball net in addition to the basketball hoops.
“I had never even Googled what pickleball was,” said Edward’s wife, Erin, a stayat-home mom. “I had a growing interest in tennis, and he told me pickleball would help my tennis game … and I trusted him and said, ‘Ok, let’s go for it.’”
Soon, the entire family had learned this upstart game – and we’re not just talking about the Burnetts’ kids. Erin’s parents from Leesburg also got in on the action,
and it changed their lives.
“I was pretty athletic in my younger years, but that is ancient history,” said her mother, Eileen Polachek. “And it was like a lightning bolt hit me. I thought I can do this. It just opened a whole new world for me.”
Today, Eileen – who is approaching 70 –plays pickleball with her husband, Ralph, three to four times a week, and she plays with other friends as well. “I play easily four to five hours a day, five days a week.”
And it has brought all three generations
of this American family together in a beautiful way.
“Our kids are at the age now as teenagers where grandparents are usually boring,” Erin said. “But every Sunday, our oldest asks the same question – ‘Hey, are Nina and Granddude going to come over and play pickleball?’ And they do. We have dinner and play pickleball and we’re pretty overjoyed that our family has something super fun to do together.”
Edward – who works in the senior
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housing industry – recognizes that pickleball once had a reputation as a sport for senior citizens, or at least for older people. But that has changed completely with the recent boom in interest.
“One of the reasons I love pickleball is because it offers something for everyone,” he said. “As we’ve seen in our life, the sport appeals to all ages, skill levels and friend groups.”
According to a 2023 report from the Association for Pickleball Professionals (yes, there are pickleball professionals – coaches, trainers, and even pro athletes), more than 48 million Americans played pickleball at least once in the past year – and the average age? A smidge under 35.
The sports court in the Burnetts’ backyard was part of a larger project that included a swimming pool and an outdoor patio and pavilion, but Edward estimates that the sports court alone with the pickleball layout wasn’t that expensive by itself. “10 to 20 grand,” he said.
Erin Burnett, who went from newbie to passionate player in a matter of months, is already eyeballing a redesign of the sports court to fit two pickleball courts and nets instead of the current one.
It’s music to the ears of her husband – the guy who was playing pickleball long before most people had ever heard of it.
“I just love the personality of pickleball,” Edward said. “We have friends over and you can have great athletes playing a really intense, competitive game. But you can also have a very casual, fun game of pickleball with less skilled players and slower play and it’s just as fun. It’s just a versatile sport.” A
If you’re suffering from Fibromyalgia you understand this sentiment all too well. Local resident Elyse K. found herself at a turning point when she noticed her diagnosis had started to take a toll on her marriage.
“I was angry all the time because of all the things I couldn’t do anymore because of my Fibromyalgia. That anger cycled through to depression and affected everyone around me, my husband more than anyone. It made our lives miserable.”
Fibromyalgia affects the entire body. To make things complicated, it affects everyone’s body a little differently. To make things even more complicated, those effects can change on a daily basis Sometimes you’re plagued with widespread muscle pain and fatigue, and other days it’s a headache and heightened sensitivity to touch.
“I could barely stand to have the light weight of bedsheets touching me, much less a hug from my husband.” explains Elyse.
This is what it’s like to suffer from Fibromyalgia. Symptoms make everyday life incredibly difficult. Mundane, daily tasks are nearly impossible.
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And too often, these symptoms are only made worse because practitioners find it difficult to understand and even more troublesome to treat. It’s characterized by widespread pain in muscles and tissues rather than inflammation of the joints, muscles and tissues.
Then your primary care doctors suggest dietary changes, pain liniments, and pharmaceuticals to the point where your life is no longer ruled by Fibromyalgia. It’s now ruled by a difficult routine and pill regimen in order to avoid flareups.
Elyse put it this way, “My life was no longer my own.”
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“I feel like a new person. My husband comes with me to my appointments. He spends most of it thanking Rachal for giving him back the woman he married. For the first time since we moved here, one of my neighbors told me I looked good! It’s a miracle she treated my Fibro, I don’t know how else to explain it.”
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BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
You’ve probably never heard of Joseph Michael Gleeson – but a hundred or so years ago, he achieved a fair amount of fame for his artwork.
And for a time, Gleeson lived here in Ashburn in a cottage on the banks of the Goose Creek. It’s also where he died.
illustrations for Kipling’s most famous work, “The Jungle Book.”
We went on a deep dive trying to find out more about this local man, but, sadly, a century later, details are few and far between. Our first stop was Wikipedia, the only sometimes reliable online encyclopedia. As it states, we can confirm that he was an American painter and illustrator. We can also report that he did indeed illustrate one of the early editions of the book “Just So Stories” by the famed English author Rudyard Kipling. He also reportedly did
In a letter from 1912 that Kipling wrote to his U.S. publisher Frank Doubleday about the latest version of “Just So Stories,” he stated: “I thought Gleeson’s illustrations were good when I saw them in proof, but in the book, they look even better.” (This quote came from “The Letters of Rudyard Kipling Vol. 4” – which tells us Kipling wrote a lot of letters.)
This led us to reach out to the Kipling Society in Great Britain. They didn’t have much on the artist, but shared that Gleeson was born in Massachusetts in 1861 and trained as an “animalier artist” in Munich, Germany, in the 1880s. We had to look up the word “animalier,” and indeed it’s an old-fashioned term for an artist who specialized in depicting animals in a realistic manner.
The Kipling Society also shared that Gleeson was noted for having created artwork showing a mother thylacine and her cubs at the National Zoo in Washington. The thylacine – sometimes called a Tasma-
nian tiger – officially went extinct when the last one died at an Australian zoo in 1936, although rumors persist that some still exist hidden in the wilds of Tasmania.
Besides his work with Kipling, Gleeson found success illustrating works for other children’s books. And it should be noted that throughout much of his career, Gleeson worked in collaboration with a number of other illustrators and artists of the day.
“All the Days were Antonia’s” – a fictionalized account of her childhood in Deadwood, S.D., during its pioneer days.
Sadly, Gleeson died young in 1917. His passing was marked by just a short, five-line entry in a long list of deaths in The New York Times: “Joseph M. Gleeson, beloved
Mrs. Gleeson apparently continued to live at – or at least visit – the cottage on Goose Creek well into the 1940s. But like her husband’s exact burial spot, the precise location of the cottage is lost in the mists of time. A
The local real estate market showed continued signs of improvement in March as home sales increased 17.2% in the two Ashburn ZIP codes combined, compared with March 2024. Countywide in March, home sales were up 10% compared with the prior year, the seventh straight monthly increase.
More inventory, higher prices... New listings continued to rise – up 15.1% in the 20147 ZIP code and 5.2% in 20148, according to the latest available data from the Dulles Area Association of Realtors. Countywide, listings were up a whopping 31%. Prices also remained strong, with significant median price increases in both Ashburn ZIP codes, and homes continued to sell relatively quickly, especially in 20147.
Closed sales:
• Up 25.5% in 20147 ZIP code
• Up 10.2% in 20148 ZIP code
• Combined sales totaled 129, up from 110 a year earlier.
Pending sales:
• Down 1.3% in 20147
• Up 1.4% in 20148
Median sales price:
• Up 9.8% to $774,127 in 20147
• Up 8.2% to $809,810 in 20148
Average days on market (homes sold in March):
• 9 in 20147
• 22 in 20148
Top sales: The five highest-priced homes that sold in each of Ashburn’s two ZIP codes between late February and mid-April. Data and photos from Realtor.com.
An occasional feature where we update readers on stories from past issues of Ashburn Magazine.
If you are flipping through the televi sion channels weekdays during the 3 p.m. hour, you might spot one of our Ashburn neighbors smiling back at you. That’s because Broadlands resident Elaine Espinola Keltz has been promoted to be one of the regular hosts of the show “Great Day Washington” which airs on WUSA9, the local CBS affiliate.
“I’m pretty thrilled for this job,” Keltz said.
Back in the September 2023 issue of Ashburn Magazine readers met Keltz and her high-wattage family.
Keltz had won the Mrs. D.C. America pageant in 2015 and was working steadily as an actress in local commercials and TV and film productions. Her children were also doing occasional acting and modeling. At the time of our article, Keltz was filling in on “Great Day Washington” while one of its regular hosts – Ellen Bryan – was on maternity leave. When Bryan returned, Keltz was kept on as a substitute host and earlier this year, when the other longtime show host – Kristen Berset – stepped down, Keltz got the job.
Left: Elaine Espinola Keltz (left) and her fellow TV host Ellen Bryan (right) during a cooking segment on "Great Day Washington."
It has been a professional goal of mine to host a lifestyle television show on a major network for a long time.
“I’m so grateful to Kristen and Ellen for being such incredible mentors to me,” Keltz said. “It has been a professional goal of mine to host a lifestyle television show on a major network for a long time. 10 years later, here I am.”
“Great Day Washington” is an afternoon lifestyle show that usually features sponsored segments about local people, events and businesses. A
ASHBURN MAGAZINE – HONORED FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR WITH THE VIRGINIA PRESS
ASSOCIATION’S GRAND SWEEPSTAKES AWARD FOR NEWS AND ADVERTISING EXCELLENCE IN 2024 AMONG ALL SPECIALTY PUBLICATIONS…
… TWO BEST-IN-SHOW PRIZES:
WRITING: Chris Wadsworth and Larry Lichtenauer (“On the Front Line of Change”)
ADVERTISING: Connie Fields and Creative Staff (Ad for Russian School of Mathematics)
… AND 23 INDIVIDUAL AWARDS:
PLACES
Astri Wee, Feature Photo
Kara Thorpe, Page Design • Chris Wadsworth, Arts Writing • Chris Wadsworth and Larry Lichtenauer, Public Affairs Writing • Jill Devine, Leisure, Lifestyle or Home Writing • Steve Dennen and Creative Staff, Entertainment advertising
• Connie Fields and Creative Staff, Education, Churches and Organizations advertising and Real Estate advertising
• Judy Harbin and Nicky Marshok, Home and Garden advertising and Professional Services advertising
SECOND PLACES
• Astri Wee, Pictorial Photo
• Chris Wadsworth, Feature Writing Portfolio
• Staff, Design and Presentation
• Jill Devine, Arts Writing
• Jonathan Hunley, Public Affairs Writing
• Judy Harbin and Nicky Marshok, Medical & Healthcare advertising and Lifestyles advertising
• Steve Dennen and the Creative Staff, Professional Services Advertising
THIRD PLACES • Astri Wee, Feature Photo • Jill Devine, Arts Writing
• Kara Thorpe and Chris Wadsworth, Front Page/Front Cover • Steve Dennen and Creative Staff, Medical and Healthcare advertising • Judy Harbin and Nicky Marshok, Professional Services advertising
Ashburn Pub celebrates 30 years as the quintessential neighborhood bar
BY CHRIS WADSWORTH
The year was 1995. Three decades ago. “Toy Story” was one of the biggest movies of the year. The Atlanta Braves won their first World Series.
And the “Macarena” song – and the silly dance – were a sensation. It was also the year that The Ashburn Pub opened in the Ashburn Village Shopping Center.
If we’re not mistaken, that makes it the oldest bar and restaurant still in operation in all of Ashburn.
“There was nothing else around here then,” said Kevin Bednarz, the Pub’s current owner. “The nearest bars were over in the hotels along 28.”
A little history: The Ashburn Pub was originally opened by Mark Eckert, and it was a Florida Gators bar. Eckert was a big Florida fan, and the original logo was an alligator in a chef’s hat. Today, there’s no particular team affiliation at the bar other than the local Washington teams – especially the Commanders.
The bar was also modeled after a traditional Irish pub, but you won’t find any bangers & mash on the menu. It’s an American bar through and through. “We do know how to pour a proper Guinness, though. That’s for sure,” Bednarz said.
Bednarz came on board in 2004 as a manager and bartender, and he and his wife, Jennifer, became the owners in 2008. The couple lives in Purcellville with their son and they opened a sister establishment – The
Purcellville Pub – in 2019. They also have a restaurant there called Purcellville Eats!
In honor of the pub’s 30th anniversary, Ashburn Magazine sat down with Bednarz to learn more about its past – and its future. What’s the origin of the bar?
You said it was originally opened by your buddy, Mark.
“Mark worked in a lot of restaurants as a general manager and as a bartender and his uncle Jack – whose picture is on the wall – left him some money when he passed to open up a bar. So along with his parents, Mark opened up and he planted his flag in Ashburn when there was nothing around. I mean the closest was probably Ruby Tuesday’s and the hotels near [Route] 28 were the only competition. And he was busy since day one – it just took off as the local neighborhood spot.”
So many establishments, so many restaurants seem to open and close. Why do you think The Ashburn Pub has been the exception? Why has it lasted so long?
“I really think it’s hospitality. A robot can do service, right? You can go to a kiosk. It can take your payment and get you sauces. It can tell you the specials. But it's the hospitality. One thing I learned from Mark was that people want a cold beer and a warm handshake. At The Ashburn Pub, it's like ‘Cheers’ – everybody knows your name.
Our bartenders know who’s coming by the car that parks in the parking lot. When that guy walks in, the Budweiser is waiting for him. The regulars become your family –that’s really just what it turned into.”
You’ve been with The Ashburn Pub for 20-plus years. How has it changed and how has it stayed the same?
“It has changed technology-wise. I came aboard right when social media hit, and I think that’s something I brought to the table. But I heard a great quote from someone that said the more people become like the Jetsons the more the people like the Flintstones will flourish. What that means is nowadays people want a butcher. They want a good barber and a good haircut. And they want their local neighborhood bar. So,
yeah, I’m posting stuff on Facebook and I’m doing reels. We’re updating our POS [point-of-sale] system. We’ve got DoorDash and we have the TVs and all that, but once all those tools get the customers in the door, it’s the human interaction. It’s knowing their kids’ names and knowing what they want to eat and making something special for someone at midnight when the kitchen’s closed. We will turn the fryer back on and throw some fries in because some guy had a long day.”
How do you change and not change at the same time?
That must be tough.
“I think it’s a combination. You’ve got to grow, right – you’ve got to be evolving. If you’re not growing, you’re dying. But we still are the neighborhood bar that has their Commanders games on. We’ve got Jell-O shots during the games. We’ve got halfprice burgers on Thursday. We’ve done that for 30 years. Half-price wings on Friday –we’ve done that for 30 years. And sure, the
menu has changed over the years, but there are still probably 10 items on the menu that were there in ’95. So, it's a tough balance you know – to stay up-to-date and still be a little nostalgic.”
From your perspective, what's the best part of being a bar and restaurant owner?
“The best part is that every day is different and – for an owner – it’s really 24/7. Someone’s there closing at 1 a.m. The cleaning crew comes in at 3 a.m. The deliveries come in at 6 or 7 if they’re on time. And then we’re open for breakfast, so it’s 24 hours a day. It’s always on your mind, which can be a negative, but the great thing is every day is different. You might have a spirit night with a local team. A celebrity might come through the doors or a Commanders player or – oh my God – two people got sick and there’s a blizzard - I’ve got to go and cook. So, it’s thriving in chaos. I think anybody that loves this business loves thriving in the chaos.”
On the flipside, what’s the toughest part of being a bar owner?
“You’re kind of in the spotlight, you know what I mean? Like everybody is your friend – which is good – but when you have hundreds and thousands of customers, it’s a lot of personalities. I used to leave there at 1
a.m. after a bartending shift and I wouldn’t even turn on my radio. I’d go home in silence. You could get really over-stimulated. Having to be ‘on’ – I think that’s probably the hardest thing. You have to be ‘on’ all the time.”
What’s one of the most memorable moments for you from The Ashburn Pub?
“If you’ve ever seen the ski shots [Editor’s Note: where shot glasses are attached to a long ski and multiple people do a shot of liquor simultaneously while holding the ski] – we were the number one seller of Tuaca liquor for like five years straight. So, we actually went out and bought like nine skis. We hooked them together from out in the back parking lot to out the front door, and it was the world’s longest ski shot.”
You get the occasional celebrity in here as well, right?
“One time I had an actor from [the classic 1976 film] ‘The Bad News Bears’ come in and guest bartend. It was David Stambaugh – he was doing a charity thing, and we became friends. The actor who played ‘Spaulding’ from the movie ‘Caddyshack’ has been here. Marcus Luttrell, the military guy that ‘Lone Survivor’ was based off –he’s been in here. All the Redskins coaches. Steve Spurrier. Tons of players. Nobody bothers them. I think that’s why they like to come in – because it’s just like, ‘Coach, have a good game.’ They're not getting flocked for autographs.”
www.astriwee.com
Off the top of your head, what drink gets ordered the most at The Ashburn Pub?
“Back in the day, we were known for Tuaca. That’s run its course now. In the last couple years, it’s been Fireball. But Busch Light in the can has become the new staple and I can’t figure out why. All of a sudden over the last year or two it’s been crazy. Then you have the people that want Busch Apple now. They’re beating down the door for it. It’s unbelievable.”
What menu item is the most popular?
“Probably the Beaver Wings, and they’re not from the beaver. It’s actually named for one of our regulars. Her last name was Beaver. She passed away, but she used to mix all the sauces together and drive us crazy. So, we would yell in the kitchen, ‘Hey, make those wings Beaver style,’ and then we figured out the recipe and we put them on the menu and now it's become this whole thing.”
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing restaurants in 2025?
“Staffing. I don’t want to say this millennial generation is lazy. I don't think that’s true, but I think there’s more options,
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right? People can start businesses on YouTube. They can drive for DoorDash. I think a lot of that talent pool is doing other things and the enticement of being like the ‘rockstar bartender’ is not the same as it once was. So, we’re always looking for talent, but when you find talent and you get it, it’s great.”
What do you think the next 30 years holds for The Ashburn Pub? You’ve got the Purcellville spot. Any plans to expand again?
“We recently just hired a new director of operations. I called him our first executive. He’s fantastic and that’s allowed us to work on the business instead of in the business – because lately me and my wife – we’re still working a lot. I’m fixing a dishwasher. She’s hosting. If the right space opens up, we would not be against opening another one. I don’t think I want to franchise, but you never say never. We just want to keep growing, but there’s no rush. Ashburn is the flagship, and it’s been really good to us for 20 years. I don’t think it’s ever going to go anywhere. It’s got roots – and Purcellville is on that path too. So, we’ve been really lucky. It’s all because of the customers, man. The customers are great.” A
The Ashburn Pub actually opened in August 1995. As the official anniversary approaches, Bednarz says he is planning a celebration to be held at the bar later this year. Keep your ears open for more details.
THAI STREET FOOD & CULTURE FESTIVAL
One Loudoun 44578 Atwater Drive, Ashburn
Saturday, May 17
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Experience the delicious cuisines and cultures of Thailand – the Land of Smiles – with over 60 vendors and beautiful traditional cultural performances. Free entry, free parking and petfriendly. There will be special celebrity guests and interactive shows featuring Muay Thai/ Thai Boxing as well as traditional Thai fashion.
RINGING IN HOPE: A SALUTE TO OUR TROOPS 5K, 10K, FUN RUN
Starting from Christian Fellowship Church 44505 Atwater Drive, Ashburn Monday, May 26
8:30 a.m. 10K
8:40 a.m. 5K 10 a.m. 1M
Celebrate Memorial Day and honor our past and present military heroes by running, walking or jogging with your friends and neighbors in this 5K, 10K or 1-Mile Fun Run race. The event includes prizes, family activities and patriotic music and performances.
For a complete list of events around Northern Virginia, visit InsideNoVa.com/calendar
Morven Park International Equestrian Center 41580 Sunday Morning Lane, Leesburg Saturdays beginning June 7 6-10 p.m.
SPONSORED BY LOUDOUN PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
Segra Field Parking Lot
42095 Loudoun United Drive, Leesburg
Saturday, May 17 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There’s something for everyone at the PRCS Food Truck Festival. This free, outdoor event will be held rain or shine and features a wide variety of local and regional food vendors, live music, cornhole tournament (advance registration required), beverages for all ages and more.
Ida Lee Park
28 Ida Lee Drive NW, Leesburg
Saturday, May 31 Noon to 6 p.m.
This event has a new location at scenic Ida Lee Park. Enjoy music, food and beverages and tons of family-friendly activities.
Two arena polo matches each evening, one at 7 p.m., the other at 8:30 p.m. See nationally and internationally recognized polo players at the top of their game.
Spectators are encouraged to bring a picnic or visit the food and wine vendors onsite.
WOOFIE’S PAWS IN THE PARK 2025
Frying Pan Farm Park
2709 West Ox Rd, Herndon
Saturday, June 8
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Woofie’s Paws in the Park returns. This annual pet adoption and community event brings area families together with local animal shelters and rescues, pet owners and local businesses for a day of adoptions, fun, food, shopping and community connection.
Organization:
Second Serving Foundation
Founded: 2024
Founders: Siddharth Nara
Arpit Pareek
Jayesh Muktaparapu
Purpose: Reduce food waste by collecting leftover food from restaurants and markets to donate to local homeless shelters and food pantries Website:
secondservingorg.com
Ashburn teens collect leftovers for folks in need
Believe it or not, Siddharth Nara, Arpit Pareek and Jayesh Muktaparapu are just 10th-graders at Rock Ridge High School in Ashburn and the Academies of Loudoun. They came up with the idea for Second Serving in the spring of 2024 and spent all summer working through the legal challenges of becoming a 501(c)3 nonprofit – which they accomplished.
Since then, they have established ongoing relationships with the Panera Bread in Ashburn, which donates leftover bread; the Woodlands vegetarian restaurant in Fairfax, which donates produce and other products, and their biggest supporter – the Crumbl cookie shop in Ashburn Village.
Siddharth has delivered cookies at the Loudoun Homeless Shelter in Leesburg and has seen the happy reaction from both adults and kids there.
“They’ve been really excited,” he said. “They don’t usually see things like Crumbl cookies. They usually see normal meal prep foods. I like to see the joy on their faces.”
Since collections started in late summer 2024, the teens have donated more than 1,000 pounds of food representing more than $10,000 in value.
They also participated in the Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition put on by Loudoun Youth Inc. The program challenges local kids to identify an issue in the community and create a solution to address
it. Second Serving placed in the top 10. The team is now working on setting up new partner businesses, including an Indian supermarket in Sterling as well as several additional restaurants in Loudoun.
The food items they collect go to the homeless shelter in Leesburg as well as to the Anna Sudha Community Kitchens in Sterling, which provides fresh meals to area residents in need.
The teens still have several years of high school left and hope to grow Second Serving not just locally, but also farther afield. “We want to expand nationwide,” Arpit said. “And get a bigger volunteer outreach network and expand to different schools. We want to expand as far as we can.” A – Chris Wadsworth
To learn more about Second Serving, make a donation or partner with the nonprofit toward its goal of reducing food waste locally, visit secondservingorg.com.
A round-up of the latest restaurant, retail, and other cool news from Ashburn and beyond. Check out The Burn at TheBurn.com and follow it on Facebook and Instagram.
1 ASHBURN GETTING
WILLIAMS-SONOMA, POTTERY BARN STORES
A couple of big-name tenants have reportedly signed on for the ever-growing One Loudoun center in Ashburn. According to the landlord, they are famed kitchenware and home goods dealer Williams-Sonoma and home furnishings store Pottery Barn. Both are slated to take large spaces in the new section of One Loudoun under construction along Exchange Street. Williams-Sonoma is earmarked to take a nearly 5,800-square-foot space along the new block while Pottery Barn is apparently going to have its own freestanding 13,260-square-foot building. They will be joining other new tenants such as Bartaco, Arhaus, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and a Tatte Bakery & Café.
2 NEW STARBUCKS PLANNED FOR LOUDOUN STATION
The Loudoun Station development next to the Ashburn Metro station is getting a
new Starbucks. That per Comstock, the developer of Loudoun Station.
The new coffee shop will take an 1,800-squarefoot space on Gramercy Park Drive near the AMC movie theater.
It’s one of several new businesses announced for the center, including a Dogtopia boarding and grooming facility and a Curry Pizza House restaurant.
3 LOUDOUN GETTING ITS FIRST DRYBAR
Drybar, the popular hair salon brand with locations across the country, is finally headed to Loudoun County with a new spot in Ashburn.
The company has announced it will open in One Loudoun, next door to the Alamo Drafthouse movie theater. That spot is currently occupied by an AT&T store. Drybar specializes in blowouts – they wash a client’s hair, then blow dry and style it. They don’t cut or color hair or offer other typical salon services. No word yet on when the new Drybar will open.
4 SLICE THEORY
PIZZA SHOP OPENS IN ASHBURN ICE
HOUSE
Pizza fans took note when the Rai’s Pizza restaurant inside the
Ashburn Ice House closed recently and a new pizza place took over the space. Here’s what happened: Rai’s Pizza moved up the street and is now sharing space with its sister restaurant, Rai’s Rendezvous. Meanwhile, a new concept created by two local entrepreneurs called Slice Theory has opened in the Ice House space. The new restaurant has a menu of pizza pies with “punny” science-themed names, as well as salads, wings and sandwiches.
5 NEW RESTAURANT CALLED THE TACO SHOP HEADED TO ASHBURN
A new Mexican restaurant and bar is coming to Loudoun, and we’re told it will be called simply The Taco Shop. The team behind the new restaurant has signed a lease for the former Neighbors Sports Bar & Grill spot in Ashburn’s Broadlands neighborhood. Neighbors closed last year. The exact address is 42882 Truro Parish
Drive next door to the Café Opera Restaurant. The Taco Shop will be what’s being billed as a “fast casual taqueria” with “classic Mexican dishes” including enchiladas, fajitas, ceviche, and – of course – tacos.
A full bar is also planned.
6 ASHBURN VILLAGE INN CLOSING
In late April, the staff at the Ashburn Village Inn started telling customers that the neighborhood restaurant and bar would close for good on April 30. Employees confirmed the news for The Burn as well. The Ashburn Village Inn originally opened at the worst possible time – February 2020 –just a month before the
COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the tavern persevered for five years, but recently the decision was reached to close the establishment. No specific reason for the closure was given, and no new tenant for the 2,900-square-foot space has been named. A
