Paris Baguette, a bakery café, is now open and can be found at 9765 Liberia Avenue, Manassas.
Paris Baguette serves lunch, coffee, and a variety of bakery goods, with specialty items like strawberry soft cream cake, mochi donuts, and chocolate croissants.
The bakery café is open daily from 7:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.
“We’re thrilled to officially open the doors to our neighbors in Manassas. After months of waiting, the time is now here to grab a cup of coffee and celebrate all of life’s moments, big or small, with our expertly baked goods. The grand opening is just the start of welcoming community members to their new Paris Baguette,” said owner Sean Shin in a press release.
The Manassas City government honored its entrepreneurs at an annual business appreciation breakfast on Friday, May 5, 2023.
Business owners were invited to attend with a guest. It was hosted in partnership with the Prince William Chamber of Commerce with guest speakers from the WRC-TV and Telemundo channels.
It took place at the Salisbury Center, 8890 Mathis Avenue in Manassas. More than 140 attended.
Guests helped themselves to a buffet-style breakfast at 8 a.m.
The program began at 8:45 a.m. with speeches from Bob Sweeney, Prince William Chamber of Commerce CEO and President, followed by city mayor Michelle Davis-Younger, and Patrick Small, director of economic development in Manassas.
A panel discussion followed, moderated by Davis-Younger, shared information on how businesses can interact with a newsroom. This included using a limited advertising budget, how to reach diverse audiences, ways to improve community partnerships, and the importance of using a story to convey a business message.
Some of the city’s featured employers are Micron, UVA Health, and Aurora Flight Sciences.
It's a sure sign that something new is coming to Downtown Manassas.
On Saturday, May 13, 2023, Mark Olsen's construction crew brought down the Olde Towne Inn sign, marking the old motorway inn that dates back to the 1960s. Olsen, who serves on several non-profits and city committees, also took down the Manassas Flea Market Discount Plaza sign in 2o16.
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In Historic Downtown Manassas, a new shop called Black Metal Mercantile has opened. The store opened in April at the 1,300-square-foot retail space at 9082 Center Street.
Black Metal Mercantile is a vintage general store with a modern twist selling everything from food and drinks to toys, “dude gifts,” and home décor.
It is owned by Deron Blevins, who has long worked with Pete Evick , of the neighboring candle shop, Shining Sol.
Blevins had long been interested in bringing the general store concept to Downtown Manassas. He then jumped on the opportunity to secure a retail location in the heart of the City.
“With Shining Sol having so much success across the street, I jumped on the opportunity to bring a concept that would match the lively atmosphere of Downtown,” says Deron Blevins, a Manassas native. “Black Metal Mercantile’s slogan of ‘Purveyors of the unique & distinct’ and inventory for literally anyone, is a great compliment to the City’s Historic Heart and Modern Beat.”
The store joins a host of other business developments downtown. This includes fellow retailers, Fillagreen opening down the street, Zengo’s, and the Gadfly Gastro Pub under construction.
— Manassas Economic Development Department
Summit Community Bank will open a new location in Manassas at Landing at Cannon Branch office buildings, at 10500 Gateway Boulevard.
Summit Community Bank originated in West Virginia. This location will serve as Summit’s principal commercial and business banking regional office.
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A “Flags for Heroes” installation was set up at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center by the Woodbridge Rotary Club on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
The installation occurred on the hospital’s front lawn at 2300 Opitz Boulevard in Woodbridge.
The display of appreciation will be stay up during National Hospital Week and National Nurses Week. Both taking place May 6 to 13, 2023.
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Prince Wiliam County Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin announced 13 new bus shelters would be erected on Route 1 bus shelters in Woodbridge, between Occoquan Road and Wayside Drive near Dumfries.
It is a joint project between the Potomac, the Rappahannock Transportation Commission, and the Prince William County Department of Transportation. The project is currently a work in progress, the transportation system explains.
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On May 5, 2023, Trio Caliente, a D.C.-based Latin pop, rock, and jazz band, will open this year’s Fridays at 5 Concert season.
The performance will occur at Sean T. Connaughton Plaza, 1 County Complex Court, Woodbridge. It will start at 5 p.m.
The event will be free and includes food for purchase with beer and wine sales for patrons over 21 with identification.
No dogs, except service dogs, will be permitted at the concert. Restrooms will be available inside the McCoart Government Center. Parking is free onsite.
The band has performed locally at Strathmore in Bethesda, The Birchmere in Alexandria, the Kennedy Center, and the Blues Alley Club in Washington, D.C. They will bring music from Brazil, Argentina, Cuba, and Mexico when they come to perform in Prince William County.
Some of the band’s song selections include Ricky Valenz’s “La Bamba” and Luis Fonsi’s “Despacito,” along with Gypsy Kings and Carlos Santana.
“It’s going to be a family-friendly event on a Friday night. It’s always a good time,” Bard said.
The concert series is sponsored by the Prince William Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, VA StrEATS, and Luxe Entertainment.
Jack Rowley of Stafford County was the Germanna Community College winner of the 17th Annual Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy last week in Richmond.
More than two dozen individuals, families, and organizations were honored with the 2023 Chancellor’s Award for Leadership in Philanthropy.
The annual event, hosted by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, recognizes philanthropists from each of Virginia’s 23 community colleges and the statewide foundation. Recipients are nominated for their commitment to the growth and development of Virginia’s community colleges and their respective foundations.
This year’s class contributed $14 million to Virginia’s Community Colleges.
“Jack was involved with the Stafford EDA when they helped fund Germanna’s first little, tiny center in Stafford in 2009,” Davis said. “That facility was overwhelmed with students within three months of opening. Jack was then integrally involved in Germanna moving to a much larger rental facility which has served the school well up to the present,” Davis said.
“With the spectacular growth in Stafford, Jack has led the Germanna Real Estate Foundation effort to purchase two office buildings totaling 40,000 square feet recently,” Davis added.
The two buildings will open in 2024. One will be dedicated to the Germanna Nursing and Health Sciences program to double the number of graduates by 2027. The other building being primarily dedicated to the Germanna cybersecurity program, allowing students to work on their degree program while at the same time interning for defense and intelligence contractors based in Stafford.
Rowley has served on the GCC Educational Foundation board for 25 years and is the Stafford appointee on the Germanna Local College Board.
