Topgolf Site Future, Street Racing: Top Kingstowne News Of 2021

KINGSTOWNE, VA — While 2021 continued to be overshadowed by the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, there was a variety of news that interested Kingstowne Patch readers. We're taking a look at the top stories of the year.

Business news tends to be one of our popular topics. Early this year, supervisors approved a drive-thru Chick-fil-A that will be located at Kingstowne Towne Center. The region's first Amazon Fresh opened in the Franconia area's Manchester Lakes shopping center. There was also much discussion about the future of the former Topgolf and Ruby Tuesday site, as a comprehensive plan amendment was deferred indefinitely by the Fairfax County Planning Commission. But a new report indicates the property owner may be planning a similar golfing facility.

There were some notable police and fire stories affecting the Kingstowne area. There was a report of street racing at Kingstowne Towne Center involving hundreds of cars, leading police to review video and photo evidence. In the nearby community of Newington Forest, a military veteran couple was killed in a double homicide in May. That followed a fatal shooting of two teens in the Newington Forest area in April.

We've also included other stories of interest affecting Kingstowne and Fairfax County as a whole. The Kingstowne Fire Station made county history with woman leadership, and the renamed John R. Lewis High School was dedicated. In county news, a plastic bag tax will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022, a new magisterial map was approved with impacts to seven precincts, and senior real estate tax relief eligibility was expanded for the first time since 2006.

To stay up to date on Kingstowne and Fairfax County news in 2022, subscribe to our free news alerts and morning newsletter. If you would like to share story ideas, send me an email at Emily.Leayman@patch.com.

Here are Kingstowne's top stories of 2021:

Business

• Supervisors Approve Kingstowne Chick-fil-A Drive-Thru Restaurant

• Amazon Fresh Grocery Store Opens In Franconia In Late May

• La Fiamma Opens In Franconia, Replacing Paradiso Restaurant

• Spin Pollo To Join Pair Of New Restaurants At Kingstowne Center

• Topgolf, Ruby Tuesday Site Could Become Another Golfing Facility

• Concerns About Topgolf Site Plans Raised At Kingstowne Meeting

• Homesense Opens In Franconia Area Shopping Center

• Chopt Sets Opening Date In November In Kingstowne

• Wegmans Stores In Fairfax County To Eliminate Plastic Bags

• Springfield Restaurant Gets Help From Barstool Fund

• Springfield Garage Project Gets Underway With Groundbreaking

Police and fire

• Street Racing Draws Crowd At Kingstowne Towne Center: Report

• Suspects Charged In Springfield Double Homicide Of Military Vets

• Pedestrian Dies After Early February Crash In Franconia Area

• Franconia Hit-And-Run Crash Victim Seeks Information On Driver

• Armed Carjacking In Franconia Area Leads To Arrest: Police

• Kingstowne Pursuit Leads To Crash With Another Vehicle: Police

• Shed Fire Spreads To Springfield Home, Displaces 3

• Florida Abduction Suspect Arrested In Springfield By State Police

• Residents, Pets Displaced By Rose Hill House Fire

• Shooting Of Springfield Woman Holding Knife Shown In Police Video

• Springfield Man Accused Of Raping Women: Police

• Indecent Exposure Suspect At Springfield Town Center Arrested

• 2-Alarm Fire Injures Firefighter At Newington Area McDonald's

• Residents, Dogs Safe After Rose Hill House Fire

Other community news

• New Magisterial District Map Approved By Fairfax Supervisors

• Fundraiser Helps Teacher, Youth Coach After Strokes And Seizures

• Kingstowne Fire Station Makes History With All Women In Charge

• John R. Lewis High School Officially Dedicated In Springfield

• Brabrand To Leave Fairfax Schools After Contract Ends

• Senior Tax Relief Expansion OK'd By Fairfax County Supervisors

• Attorney General Accuses Springfield Gas Station Of Price Gouging

• Updated Zoning Ordinance Takes Effect July 1 In Fairfax County

• Plastic Bag Tax Starts Jan. 1 In 3 Northern Virginia Localities

• Fairfax Prosecutor Clarifies Position On Animal Cruelty Cases

• Fines To Be Eliminated For Most Items At Fairfax Libraries

• Man Scores $115K Jackpot In Hayfield Area

• Homelessness Point-In-Time Count Sees Regional Improvement

• Christmas Gift Becomes $300K Lottery Prize For Springfield Man

This article originally appeared on the Kingstowne-Rose Hill Patch