WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Woodbridge is raising a glass one last time as Brew Republic Bierwerks prepares to close its doors for good after nearly a decade in business.

The beloved brewery, located at 15201 Potomac Town Place in Stonebridge Town Center, will host its “Closing Time Party” from Friday, July 25 through Sunday, July 27 — a weekend-long celebration filled with live music, karaoke, trivia, and farewell toasts. The brewery invites the community to stop by for one final round of fun, food, and memories.

This weekend’s lineup includes bands from past years, karaoke nights, trivia contests, and plenty of beer specials. It’s a final opportunity to celebrate the role Brew Republic has played as a community hub and nightlife staple in eastern Prince William County since opening in 2016.

As previously reported, the closure follows the termination of Brew Republic’s lease by a new landlord. Citing the high cost of relocating and ongoing challenges in the restaurant and brewery industries, the owners said the current environment made it unlikely for the business to resurface elsewhere.

Brew Republic will officially close to the public at the end of the day on Sunday, July 27.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – The president of the Belmont Bay Homeowners Association says a clear majority of residents oppose a proposed $100 million flyover interchange at the intersection of Richmond Highway (Route 1) and Gordon Boulevard (Route 123).

In a message sent to residents and shared with Potomac Local News, KP Lau, president of the Belmont Bay HOA, detailed the results of two surveys showing overwhelming community opposition to the project.

According to Lau, during a contentious public meeting held earlier this month and hosted by Prince William County Woodbridge District Supervisor Margaret Franklin and county transportation officials, residents were asked to participate in a live vote. Of the 73 people who voted that evening, 53 opposed the project while 20 supported it.

Following that meeting, Supervisor Franklin directed the Prince William County Department of Transportation to post the survey online to gather additional input from both residents and non-residents. Lau says the survey closed with 956 responses from Belmont Bay residents, with 797 (83%) opposed and 159 (17%) in favor. An additional 96 non-residents responded, with 83 against and 13 in favor.

“The majority of the Belmont Bay residents have spoken again,” Lau wrote. “The design of the flyover is flawed, and the price tag of $100 million is a waste of tax dollars. It is time for us to put the flyover on permanent freeze.”

Lau added that the HOA board formally rejected the flyover project three years ago; however, the recent push to revive the plan has prompted renewed concern among residents.

During the July town hall meeting, residents expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and questioned who, if anyone, had been advocating for the project. Franklin and county staff said the project was being revisited due to requests from unnamed community members and reiterated that the project remained in its conceptual stage. Franklin asked attendees to scan a QR code during the meeting to cast votes in favor or against proceeding with the design.

In his latest message, Lau also proposed a new ingress/egress option for Belmont Bay. He suggests exploring the construction of a road along the southern edge of the Belmont Bay Industrial Park, which he says may allow for a less intrusive and more affordable underpass. This road could serve commercial traffic, while Dawson Beach Road would remain residential, improving traffic management and offering a viable backup route in emergencies.

Supervisor Franklin’s office for comment on the HOA’s position and the survey results. As of the time of publication, she has not responded.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Two separate house fires on Sunday displaced multiple families in Prince William County and left two people hospitalized, according to fire officials.

The first fire occurred at 8:46 a.m. on July 20 in the 2300 block of West Longview Drive in Woodbridge. Crews arrived to find fire showing from the front of the home. All occupants had exited the house after being alerted by working smoke detectors.

Two adults, who lived in the basement where the fire originated, were transported to a local hospital for treatment. In total, five adults and three children were displaced by the fire, which caused moderate damage to the home. A building official has deemed the residence unsafe to occupy. The Red Cross is assisting those affected, and the Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the cause.

Later that day, at 3:23 p.m., firefighters responded to a second house fire in the 12300 block of Lavender Flower Court in the Bristow area. Flames and smoke were visible upon arrival, and fire crews quickly worked to extinguish the blaze. All occupants evacuated safely, and no injuries were reported.

The Bristow fire displaced four adults and two children. Damage was significant enough that the house was also declared unsafe to occupy. The Red Cross is providing assistance, and the Fire Marshal’s Office continues to investigate the cause of the fire.

Officials emphasize the critical role of smoke detectors in both incidents. “The outcome could have been much different if not for the home being equipped with working smoke detectors,” fire officials stated. Residents are encouraged to check their devices and contact their local fire station or the Fire Marshal’s Office at 703-792-6360 if they need help obtaining smoke detectors. Landlords are required by law to provide working smoke detectors in rental properties.

“Smoke detectors save lives,” the Fire Marshal’s Office stressed.

11 a.m. Friday, July 28, 2025 update – Prince William County police have identified the man who died during an officer-involved shooting on July 17 near Garza Way and Potomac Mills Circle in Woodbridge as Harrison Charles Deppe, 52, of Woodbridge. The investigation remains active and is being led by the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). More information will be released as it becomes available.

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WOODBRIDGE, Va. – A 52-year-old man was shot and killed by police Wednesday afternoon near Potomac Mills mall after officers say he ran toward the shopping center armed with a crossbow.

According to Prince William County Police, officers found the man around 2:45 p.m. inside a parked vehicle on Potomac Mills Circle while searching for a suspect wanted in connection to a brandishing incident on Colchester Road the day before. In that earlier encounter, police say the man pointed a gun at someone during an unprovoked confrontation and fled the area in a vehicle.

The same man was reportedly involved in a similar incident earlier Wednesday on Birchdale Avenue, police said.

Officers spent several hours trying to negotiate a peaceful surrender, but the suspect exited his vehicle and ran toward the mall with a crossbow, police said. Officers opened fire, killing him.

No officers or bystanders were hurt. Police said the incident was “contained and isolated to the roadway” and there is no ongoing threat to the public.

The suspect was identified only as a 52-year-old man from Woodbridge. His name has not been released.

Chief Peter Newsham has requested the regional Critical Incident Response Team to conduct an independent investigation. More information is expected as the investigation continues.

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. – A federal study aimed at closing major gaps in the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail (PHNST) is nearing completion, marking a significant step forward in Prince William County’s long-term effort to expand its trail network and connect communities.

The $375,000 study, funded by the Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP), identifies preferred alignments to close three key gaps in the trail:

• Gap 1: From the Town of Occoquan to Belmont Bay, constrained by an already-built urban environment and the need to cross I-95, Route 1, and CSX rail lines.
• Gap 2: From the Town of Dumfries to Prince William Forest Park, requiring coordination with town development plans and safe passage across I-95.
• Gap 3: From Prince William Forest Park to the National Museum of the Marine Corps, including the challenge of crossing Joplin Road and its busy interchange.

A fourth gap—from the Potomac Shores Virginia Railway Express (VRE) station to Dumfries—was not part of the FLAP study because earlier plans depicted it as a direct on-road connection. However, the county’s 2040 Mobility Plan now calls for a trail alignment through shared-use paths and open space areas within the Potomac Shores development.

Trail advocates say recommendations from the subcommittee reviewing the study will be forwarded to the Prince William Trails and Blueways Council and could shape the final Trails Master Plan, expected to go before the Board of County Supervisors for adoption in January.

Meanwhile, a prominent segment of the PHNST already open to the public—the Neabsco Creek Boardwalk in Woodbridge—offers a model for future trail development. The ¾-mile ADA-accessible boardwalk, which opened in 2019, spans the sensitive wetlands of the Julie J. Metz Wetlands Preserve. The elevated trail, popular with birdwatchers and families, features interpretive signage and observation decks and was designed to minimize environmental impact while improving access to nature.

Despite progress, no funding has yet been secured for designing or building any of the trail segments identified in the study. The next opportunity for funding arises during the county’s FY27 budget cycle, which commences with internal planning in October and public participation in January.

A coalition of trail supporters is encouraging residents to speak up. Last spring, a push to increase trail funding to $5 million in the FY26 budget nearly succeeded, with the Board of County Supervisors retaining $1 million in base funding. Supervisors have signaled they may support a $5 million trail investment in FY27 if public support remains strong.

In addition to the PHNST developments, the Board recently approved a related trail project in Haymarket: a $3 million underpass under Route 15 near Catharpin Creek that will connect the Dominion Valley neighborhood to James Long Park and Battlefield High School. The project replaces a shelved pedestrian bridge proposal and is funded largely by developer contributions.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – A new walkable community featuring more than 1,000 homes, restaurants, and Prince William County’s first Whole Foods Market is moving closer to reality at one of the region’s busiest intersections.

Over 100 people attended a community meeting at the Prince William County Government Center in Woodbridge on Saturday, July 12, where county officials and developers shared updated timelines and new design details for the Quartz District, a long-planned mixed-use development located at the intersection of Minnieville Road and Prince William Parkway. But the project’s future hinges on the construction of a Single Point Urban Interchange (SPUI)—a first for the county.

“We didn’t expect this turnout,” said Neabsco District Supervisor Victor Angry to the standing-room only crowd. “But I’m glad you’re here, and I want to make sure we continue having these meetings throughout the project.”

The Interchange: A New Era for Local Infrastructure

Transportation Director Rick Canizales told residents the SPUI design is “90 percent complete” and said the county expects to “award the construction contract in November 2025.” Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with a target completion date of 2027.

“We expect construction to begin late 2025 or early 2026,” Canizales said. “We’re trying to accelerate the timeline and finish by early 2027.”

The SPUI will lower Prince William Parkway beneath Minnieville Road, funneling all left turns and through movements through a single central traffic signal. The design is meant to reduce congestion and support the surrounding development.

A temporary detour road will connect Elm Farm Road to the Parkway during construction and will be removed upon completion of the project. Left-turn movements will be limited at various stages, but pedestrian access will remain open, with crosswalks and potential audible signals in place.

Noise, Speeding, and Resident Concerns

Some residents, especially from nearby Lakeside Townhomes, voiced concern about the lack of a sound wall. Angry responded by acknowledging safety and noise complaints.

“We hear you. There are problems on Minnieville, on the Parkway, Elm Farm, Pennington. We’ve got to do better, and we’re working on ways to slow people down.”

A county sound study concluded that the project would not increase noise levels by more than 3 decibels—below the threshold to require mitigation like a noise wall.

“We’re not ignoring the concerns,” Angry said. “We’ll continue to monitor and explore future mitigation.”

Quartz District: What’s Being Built

The Quartz District includes 1,015 residential units, including 610 townhomes and 405 multifamily units in the form of stacked condos and apartments. There are no single-family detached homes in the project.

“We’re building a walkable community with a mix of housing types,” said developer Russell “Russ” Gestl, Executive Vice President of Buchanan Partners.

Of the total, 90 homes will be income-qualified affordable housing units for residents earning between 60% and 100% of the area’s median income.

“This isn’t Section 8,” Gestl clarified. “We’re targeting working families and individuals who are priced out of the market.”

Whole Foods and Experiential Retail

The commercial portion of the project won’t break ground until the interchange is complete.

“Whole Foods isn’t going to come until the road’s done,” Gestl said. “They’ve made that very clear.”

Confirmed and potential retail tenants include:

• Whole Foods Market (anchor)
• Wawa (signed lease)
• Shake Shack
• Tatte Bakery & Café
• Great American Restaurants (the firm that opened Sweetwater Tavern, Coastal Flats, and Mike’s American)

“We’re focused on experiential retail,” said Gestl. “No big box, no discount stores.”

There will be no residential-over-retail; the commercial and residential components are distinct but walkable.

Public Benefits and Civic Commitments

The project sets aside:

• 19 acres for a public park or school site
• 7+ acres of preserved open space
• A stormwater management pond that will also serve as a community feature

Sidewalks will be built along Elm Farm Road and extended into surrounding communities where funding permits.

Gestl said Buchanan Partners has contributed over $3 million to the interchange’s design and has acquired nearby parcels to ease construction impacts.

“We’ve committed to updating the community through 2030,” Gestl said. “Every civic association involved in this process will stay in the loop.”

Background: How Quartz District Was Approved

Potomac Local News first reported on the Quartz District in February 2022 when it appeared in the Dale City Small Area Plan. The Prince William Planning Commission later recommended approval of the rezoning.

On October 18, 2022, the project went before the Board of County Supervisors, and on October 20, the Board unanimously approved the rezoning of 145 acres for the Quartz District. That decision cleared the way for over 1,000 homes, nearly 375,000 square feet of office and retail space, and the county’s long-awaited first Whole Foods Market.

Since then, the project has moved into engineering, site preparation, and early residential construction phases, all while awaiting full funding and design finalization for the interchange.

The full buildout of the Quartz District is expected to continue into the early 2030s, with commercial construction beginning after the interchange opens.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Gestl said. “We want to do this right and make it something the county can be proud of.”

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Police carried out a major multi-agency operation today tied to a violent gang-related shooting outside a popular hookah lounge earlier this year.

According to a release from the Prince William County Police Department, officers executed around 14 search warrants early Tuesday, July 16, as part of their ongoing investigation into the April 13 shooting at Babylon Café, located at 3081 Golansky Boulevard in Woodbridge.

The investigation revealed that members of the Wheels of Soul motorcycle gang were involved in assaulting a 42-year-old man outside the café. Police say the man was forcibly removed from the business into the parking lot, where he was severely beaten. Shortly after, an acquaintance of the victim approached the group, leading to a shootout with more than 80 rounds fired.

In the coordinated operation today, law enforcement conducted searches at locations across Prince William County—including Woodbridge, Manassas, and Nokesville—as well as in Stafford, Linden, Falls Church, the Hampton Roads area, and two sites in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

So far, 19 individuals have been arrested or are being sought in connection to the case.

The large-scale effort involved hundreds of personnel from multiple agencies, including the FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S. Marshals Service, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Virginia State Police, among others.

Police say additional information about those arrested will be released when available.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – At first glance, it looked like a typical hospital simulation: blinking mannequins, beeping monitors, and focused students practicing CPR and drawing blood. But for 14-year-old students like those in the room at Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center, it was a first glimpse into what a future career in medicine might look like.

Sixteen rising 8th and 9th graders from Prince William County Public Schools spent a week at the hospital as part of the Sentara Healthcare Career Camp, a free summer program designed to expose youth to the wide array of healthcare professions beyond just doctors and nurses.

“A lot of young people, when they think of a career in medicine… they think, oh, yeah, there’s a doctor and there’s a nurse,” said Jon Radulovic, spokesman for the hospital. “But in actuality, there are careers that span the whole hospital.”

Throughout the week, students rotated through departments such as imaging, respiratory care, surgery, heart and vascular, and pharmacy. In the simulation lab, they practiced drawing blood from prosthetic arms, learned how to detect stroke symptoms, and suited up in full PPE to learn about infection prevention.

“The coolest thing is they have a simulation lab, and they have these mannequins that are really realistic,” said 14-year-old Afomia Asfaw, who will attend Osbourn Park High School in the fall. “One of the mannequins, they blinked, and I got scared.”

The students came from schools across the county, including Rippon Middle School, Marsteller Middle School, and Potomac High School. Many were drawn to the program by personal experiences with family in the medical field.

“My mom had a stroke,” said 13-year-old Christopher Brown II, a rising eighth grader at Marsteller Middle School. “So I wanted to learn more about the medical field and how to look for stuff at home, like symptoms of different sicknesses.”

Lorraine Gyamfi, 13, who also attended Rippon Middle School and is headed to Osbourn Park, said her sister’s experience inspired her in the school’s biomedical program.

“Originally, I just always wanted to be a doctor because it’s very interesting, like how the hospital works and stuff like that,” she said. “That made me want to go there, and also for the nursing program later on in high school.”

The camp was first launched at Sentara hospitals in 2023 in response to a growing concern about the shortage of healthcare workers following the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second summer the program has been hosted in Woodbridge, part of a broader effort to encourage students—especially those who may have limited exposure to the healthcare system—to consider careers in science, technology, and medicine.

“We’re looking down the road—by 2036, there are going to be millions of vacancies for healthcare providers,” said Radulovic. “Who’s going to be taking care of us when we’re going to need a lot of that care?”

Each day started with breakfast in the hospital’s conference center, followed by a full day of learning and exploration. By Friday afternoon, students were ready to present what they had learned during a graduation ceremony with their families.

For Aleah Cody, 14, who’s headed to Potomac High School, the week opened her eyes to the many options available in medicine.

“I know I want to do something in the medical field,” she said. “Right now, I think anesthesiology is what I want to do, but I’m still deciding.”

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – California Tortilla is diving into summer fun with the return of its popular Shark Week promotion, just in time to celebrate the brand’s 30th anniversary.

Starting Wednesday, July 23, anyone who buys a fish taco at a participating California Tortilla location will receive a free Shark Fin Hat—available in-store while supplies last. Guests who return with their fins by July 31 and make a purchase will receive a free fish taco in return. And for those ready to show off their fin flair online, posting a photo with the hat and tagging @caltort on social media will earn them another free taco through the Burrito Elito loyalty program.

The promotion is part of a series of fun throwbacks celebrating the brand’s 30-year milestone—an era known for quirky perks like Pop-Tart giveaways and the Wall of Flame hot sauce bar.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. – Nearly six months after the grand opening of Prince William County’s first commuter parking garage, new data shows the facility is being used far below capacity while operating costs continue to climb, renewing questions raised even before construction began.

The Neabsco-Potomac Mills Commuter Garage, a $53.5 million project located near Opitz Boulevard and Interstate 95, officially opened in November 2024. Since then, the county has spent $186,016 on operational expenses, according to recently released county records. The seven-story facility features 1,400 parking spaces, resulting in a construction cost of $38,214 per space.

Cost Breakdown

Records from Prince William County show:

• Electricity (Aug 2024 – May 2025): $21,508
• Water (Sept 2024 – May 2025): $558 (only one month of recorded usage)
• General maintenance work orders: $101,645
• Custodial services (since Dec): $20,459
• Groundskeeping and cleanup: $17,654
• Security guard services: $13,997
• Estimated snow removal: $10,000
• Porta-john rental: $195

Garage Usage Still Low

Despite being fully operational, usage of the garage remains modest.

• November 2024: 187 visits
• April 2025 (peak month): 4,902 visits
• May 2025: 4,488 visits

Assuming one visit equals one space used per day and accounting for 30 days per month, the April utilization rate is only about 11.7% (4,902 of 42,000 possible daily space uses). Average parking durations have increased over time—from 1 hour, 55 minutes in November to 5 hours, 40 minutes in May—indicating the garage is primarily used by long-term parkers such as commuters.

The third floor is the most heavily used, registering over 2,300 visits in May and average parking durations exceeding 9 hours. The usage of the ground, fourth, and fifth floors has also increased, although it is far from being complete.

OmniRide Relocates to Garage

In December 2024, one month after the garage opened, OmniRide officially relocated its eastern transfer hub to the Neabsco facility. The move included rerouting several Express, Metro Express, and Local bus routes to begin and end service at the garage. Previously, these routes served the OmniRide Transit Center at 14700 Potomac Mills Road.

This relocation was part of a significant service overhaul aimed at creating a true multimodal hub with seamless connections to the nearby I-95 Express Lanes, which now feature a dedicated ramp at Opitz Boulevard. The strategy, according to transportation planners, is designed to support long-term growth and reduce single-occupancy vehicle traffic.

Early Warnings Realized?

The data appears to validate concerns raised during the project’s approval phase.

In September 2022, when the Board of County Supervisors approved the final design, Coles District Supervisor Yesli Vega cast the lone dissenting vote. She pointed to a Virginia Department of Transportation study showing nearby commuter lots were only 20% full, questioning the financial wisdom of constructing a massive parking structure.

“Help me understand how this makes good fiscal sense,” Vega said during the meeting, addressing Transportation Director Rick Canizales.

At the time, officials stated that abandoning the federally funded project would result in financial penalties and the forfeiture of funding. Canizales defended the garage as a forward-looking investment, noting the county was already under contract with a construction firm and that future transit usage was expected to grow.

County Officials Offer No New Comments

Potomac Local News contacted all members of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors for comment on the garage’s current usage and cost. None responded, except for Potomac District Supervisor Andrea Bailey, who replied via email with a brief “No comment.”

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