Fredericksburg

It looks like this will be the last summer of barbecue and live music on Caroline Street as Billikens Smokehouse opts not to buy the antique house it operates from and closes the restaurant when the lease expires in November.

It’s a loss for everyone — including the diners, the bands that play in their outdoor venue, and especially the Shalawylo family: Greg, Sharon, and Ashlie — who have put the final touches on their special barbecue for more than 10 years.


Stafford

A new Chick-fil-A restaurant will open its doors on Thursday, May 21, at 930 Garrisonville Road, giving the community a fresh spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Owner-operator Mike Lindblom and his team are marking the occasion with a Moove-In Party on opening day. Guests of all ages who wear cow spots — from a full suit to a simple accessory — can redeem one free entrée or kid’s meal inside or at the drive-thru. The restaurant will serve customers Monday through Saturday from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. with dine-in, drive-thru, carry-out, delivery, and mobile options. It will also include an indoor play area where parents can keep an eye on their children.


Stafford

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors approved a conditional use permit (CUP) on April 21, 2026, for a drive-through restaurant and retail space in the Cardinal Forest subdivision, despite objections from nearby residents over traffic, child safety, and proximity to neighborhood amenities.

The 1.2-acre undeveloped site is located at the intersection of Warrenton Road and Cardinal Forest Drive in the Hartwood Election District. Plans call for a one-story building with a Chipotle restaurant featuring a pickup window, additional retail space, 43 parking spaces, sidewalks along Warrenton Road and Cardinal Forest Drive, and an interparcel connection to the future Tractor Supply store on the adjacent parcel. The project is projected to generate 1,534 daily vehicle trips.


Stafford

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors approved a conditional use permit Tuesday night for a new Checkers fast-food restaurant with drive-through service on Warrenton Road, clearing the way for redevelopment of a long-vacant commercial pad site in the George Washington District.


Prince William

Darden Restaurants is winding down its Bahama Breeze brand nationwide while moving forward with taxpayer-backed expansion of Olive Garden and LongHorn Steakhouse in neighboring Stafford County.

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Features

A new restaurant concept from Great American Restaurants is coming to Gainesville, bringing a brand unfamiliar to many local diners to a highly visible intersection.

Key Takeaways


Stafford

The Stafford County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved meals tax incentive agreements for two Darden Restaurants brands planned for the Courthouse West area during its January 20 meeting.

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Stafford

Stafford County leaders are expected to approve incentive agreements that would return up to $500,000 in meals tax revenue to two national restaurant chains seeking to open new locations in the county.

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