Harvey’s Hosts 6 Local Businesses in ‘Spotlight Falls Church’

When local businesses collaborate they tend to thrive together. 

To boost community, collaboration, and market awareness, Harvey’s restaurant –  known as a “home for good food and friends” at 513 W. Broad St. – hosted six local businesses and nonprofits in their Spotlight Falls Church outdoor patio event, the sweltering summer evening of July 17. 

Join us “for an evening of local flavor as we showcase the amazing businesses that make our community shine,” Harvey’s Insta invitation for the showcase read. Community members were invited to learn more about the following local concerns:

𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬:

🎨 Clay Café Studios – paint-your-own pottery fun

📚 Acton Academy Falls Church – learner-driven education

📝 The Learning Quest – personalized tutoring & support

🍷 MetroCellars – exceptional, curated wines

😄 LP Dental – modern dentistry with a smile

💪 Body Dynamics, Inc. – integrated wellness & fitness

❤️ Doorways – supporting pathways out of homelessness & abuse

In the restaurant, The Falls Church Independent spoke with Thomas Harvey, chef and owner of Harvey’s, and on the patio we mingled and browsed the tables. We were curious about Chef Harvey’s motivations for taking on such a public showcase and what the various table reps had to offer the community. 

Turns out, the themes of collaboration and community genuinely appeared to be on everyone’s minds.

As he was passing through the pleasantly air-conditioned dining room decorated with local memorabilia, we asked Chef Harvey “what compelled you to do this event this evening?” 

“I love everything about Falls Church, you know?,” Harvey began. “The community has been super-welcoming to us as we’ve come in. I remember when we opened, all the other restaurant owners and different business owners would come in here and offer advice, and offer help to us.” In March, Harvey’s celebrated their third anniversary in the Little City. 

“It’s the kind of community you just want to give back to,” Harvey continued. “So, with all the change and everything that’s coming into Falls Church, and the growth with all the different businesses, I just feel like you always hear about all the different restaurants that come in, and it’s a fun new thing. But, we also have so many other cool businesses here. So I’m just trying to reach out here and show the swath of other really great community businesses here.”

At the height of the pandemic when Harvey’s first opened in Falls Church, Chef Harvey was impressed by how collaborative the local business community turned out to be. “So, during Covid, I looked for the restaurant [site] and we opened up right at the tail end of 2021 and it was a tough time, but it was a good time [for our business]. So, the community – all of us in the area – we all talk. We’re constantly going over different things, you know?, ‘This is working for us,’ or, ‘This is not working for you.’ And I’ve never worked in an area where everyone wants to help each other so much and it’s not looked at like it’s only a competition. It’s more like, ‘If you’re doing better, then we’ll all be doing better, etc.’ It’s all good for everybody. So, it’s a really great community for that.”

Since moving to town, Chef Harvey has appreciated how resilient local businesses have been to accompany the growth of the City. “....The growth has been good. A lot more people are coming in from out of town,” he said. “They’re building tons more places for people to live. So, we’ll get more people in the area. But, change is always good. Sometimes, even when it’s not, you pivot some other way and you find a way to get good out of it."

A resident of Alexandria, Harvey was not so familiar with the City of Falls Church until after he began looking for the perfect place to open a new Harvey’s location. And the camaraderie of the local business owners was a major factor in his choosing the new Broad Street location. 

“So, I always think community is, at the end of the day, what lifts us up. You learn from so many people and you see so many different things. And before I opened the restaurant here, I didn’t know that much about Falls Church. I would drive through it, going to different places. I knew Dominion Jewelers because I got my wife’s ring done there. So, it was like, 'Well, I know that.'” 

“But, when I was looking for a restaurant, I said I wanted ‘an urban environment but I want a small town feel.’ And everyone I talked to said, ‘Well, that’s Falls Church!’ And we walked around, my wife and I, looking for places. And we were instantly thinking, ‘This town is amazing!’ It’s like everything you want. It has the walkability and you can find whatever you want. But, it’s also still very much a small town where everybody knows what’s going on and you can talk and figure things out. It’s got a charm to it that’s hard to find elsewhere.” 

For Harvey, the theme of community is embedded in his concept of the sort of restaurant where “everybody knows your name.” “Looking for what we’re trying to build going forward, my whole goal is a modern day ‘Cheers,’ and you know, I looked at different places and different cities all around northern Virginia and, Falls Church was really where I thought, ‘These are the people who will understand what I want to do.’ And that’s been 100 percent true."

“I wanted to be a neighborhood place,” Harvey said, elaborating on the Cheers theme. “And we say we do American food, because America is a melting pot. So we’ll cover everything from pupusas, to freshmade pastas, to roast meats – you know, there’s nothing held back here. And we just like to have fun and get a little weird and have a good time. I think restaurants are a staple of community, you know, they’re public houses. So, that’s why we don’t have TVs, because we want people to come back and get together and be a community. That’s what we do here.”

Clay Cafe Studios

At Clay Cafe’s table we met Jessi Cash, the studio’s “manager and future owner,” happily painting clay pigs to plant around town for kids and folks to find as part of Harvey’s and Clay Cafe’s collaborative advertising and outreach work. “This is going to be the next pig we hide in the community for the month of July,” Cash said. “This month I got behind because we run a summer camp at the studios,” and it's the studio’s “ peak season.” “I don’t actually know how this one’s going to look yet. I kind of pick a theme for every month.”

“For Harvey’s third anniversary, it was the 'Three-Esta.' And, I’m trying to think – that was the same month that Brown’s [Hardware] went out of business. So we hid it near Brown’s after they had closed down. So, you find the pig – there’s always a little note kind of glued with rubber cement to it and it says, ‘You’ve found the pig.’ And you have to bring the pig back to Harvey’s and you get a specialty appetizer…. You also get a studio VIP card from us,” with “like 5 or 7 sessions on it, I believe…. and if you find a pig, you get free studio sessions.”

“I love painting, I painted my entire life, it’s just nice to share it with other people,” Cash said. 

Cash has loved seeing generations of residents exploring ceramic creativity at Clay Cafe. “There are actually families who’ve been coming to us now, and the kids who were there who were doing hand plates when we first opened in 1998 years ago under the original owner, they’re now bringing in their own children to do handprints, and in some cases, they’re even old enough to bring in their own grandchildren. And some of them are even applying for jobs and that just blows my mind,” she said.

“I have kids now – I’ve only been there since 2019 – but I absolutely fell in love with the place, especially during Covid, I felt like it was really worth fighting to save. So, I helped the owner and there were only two of us and at one point we pivoted and went to-go and it was crazy. And we tried to host some normalcy for the kids. Like every Monday on their asynchronous days, we did a Mini Art Camp and stuff like that.”

“So, it saved us and it gave the kids a lot of foundation and now it’s funny because one of those kids who came consistently is now in my older class. She’s like 14 years old now and she still loves art. And I love that. She’s been coming since 2020 consistently and it’s awesome… I’ve been there since 2019 and I’ll actually be buying the place in January.”

Stemming from her experiences in the studio, Cash is looking to provide more opportunities to support the community. “I wanted to provide a work opportunity for our oldest son, Morgan. He’s about to be 21 and he’s on the autism spectrum. When he graduated in 2023, there weren’t a lot of work opportunities available to him, so we hired him. And that kid – I think everybody underestimated him, because now he’s running my kiln room, he helps me in so many ways, and he’s just awesome with customers. It’s fantastic. So, eventually I want to provide more opportunities for people on the spectrum.”

Acton Academy of Falls Church

Next we sauntered over to the Acton Academy table where we met very enthusiastic Co-Founders, Julie Jauregui and her husband, Hernan Dario Feler. The academy, now in its fourth year on Broad Street, is a Christian, Montessori, and project-learning based school of approximately 45 students. 

“We try to build community and Falls Church is amazing for that,” Jauregui said. “And we really appreciate the energy of the City. I know it’s also like a ‘vibe,’ but it really is. And the people are super-collaborative and they want what’s best for you. And Barbara [Jauregui, Co-founder and Executive Director] once said, ‘This is a great city and very good for business and high quality businesses.’ And our school, we put so much effort in every day, and the families are amazing, amazing, and so it’s a way of giving back to the community.”

As a nextdoor neighbor in the same building as Harvey’s, Acton Academy contracts with Harvey’s to provide lunches and meals for the students. “Harvey’s makes a special menu for them… And the kids made a song for them too…. and they always talk about Harvey’s,” Jauregui said. "And [the Harvey's folks] sometimes come here and they sang this song to Tom [Harvey] and it was so sweet.... I’m sometimes in the classroom with the little ones, and they ask, ‘Can I write a note to my mommy?’ And they always write, ‘Dear Mommy, I want to go to Harvey’s!’ "[Laughs]. "Every single note! It’s so cute.”

Describing Acton Academy’s offerings, Jauregui said, “It’s mixed-age classrooms, and we only have three studios, the Montessori, from 3-5 years old, the Discovery studio, 6-9 years-old, and then the Quantum Room, from 10-13. And they work amazingly well at their own pace. And it’s like Montessori for the 21st century. So, the Montessori is Montessori. But then, in the Discovery Room and the Quantum Room, they start using computers too and they do so many amazing – we call them ‘Quests,’ they’re like projects…. [It’s] project-based learning.”

Jauregui proudly displays a student quest project to write a Declaration of Independence based on real-life (or real-classroom) grievances the students felt or were made to feel. “Everything is real world,” in their experiential-learning approach, Jauregui emphasized. “We take them, whenever we can, outside. I mean, Acton is a whole network of schools. I think there are 300 in the whole world. And so we connect them with other Actons. And, actually, they're super happy. In the classroom they can sit wherever they want. They have so much freedom. And very, very clear boundaries. So, whenever someone pushes a boundary, the others hold them accountable. It’s amazing.”

And word of the academy’s success has disseminated through the community. “It’s like a community-based school,” Feler said, and word has spread from the founding families, to friends, and now far and wide. “We love our children and we love our families,” Jauregui said. “They are the best!”

Doorways

At the Doorways table, we chatted with Director of Development, Jan-Michael Sacharco and Community Relations and Development Specialist, Ashley Stewart. It’s hard to imagine a group more concerned about struggling members of the community.

“Doorways is a nonprofit that supports survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault,” Sacharco said. “And so we have our 24/7 hotline – we’re based in Arlington but we cover Falls Church as well. So, one of the things we’re really trying to do is raise awareness. Whether you’re in trouble, or you’re trying to free a partner, or you know someone, or you have a friend, [you can call] (703) 237-0881 and a staff person or volunteer will pick up the phone 24/7 and give you the resources you need where you can get to safety.”

“We do have a safe housing shelter where people can come both with their children and their pets,” Sacharco continued. “We have a safe kennel – to do everything we have to do to get people back to safety, whether it’s a protective order against a partner, looking for new housing, or doing all sorts of planning to keep them safe to start their next chapter.”

Doorways has also developed adaptable curricula to teach students about consent, “red flags,” developing healthy relationships, and finding resources in case of abuse. 

Since they mentioned educational materials, we asked if they knew the folks on the table across from them at Acton Academy. “Just meeting them,” Sacharco said. “One of the people at [the] Learning Quest [table] knows us from another volunteer opportunity. So, it’s a small world. And we are definitely going to talk to everybody here.”

Learning Quest

Next, we met Advocacy and Communications Specialist Belen Quellet of Learning Quest. “What we want to share is that we’re working with the City of Falls Church and in the City of Falls Church to transform it and to foster a learning environment so that anybody can learn anything anywhere,” Quellet said. 

“That’s why one of our initiatives is the Teddy Bear Fix-it Clinic where people gather to share their expertise,” Quellet continued. “We’re also working with the Senior Center to see if we can bridge that gap between what seniors know and then do a fix-it clinic on whatever expertise or trade they have so that they can share it with the younger ones. So the whole idea is that you can learn anywhere, foster and promote the love of learning, outside the school. The school is not the only place where you can learn. So, we’re hoping to walk around the city and generate learning spots.”

Asked about the pile of construction tools displayed on Learning Quest’s table, Quellet described another of the group’s ambitious quests. “So, another initiative we have is to create a Tool-lending Library,” she said. 

“It might not happen within the city limits but we already talked to the City and we’re going to be part of the Recycling Extravaganza in October. They’re going to ask for tool donations.... But the idea is to have either a Tool-lending Library or a Library of Things. If you need a pan for a party, you can take it. The idea is to connect the community with whatever they need. Also the sharing-economy kind of approach.”

In an even more collaborative initiative, Learning Quest is exploring a partnership with the Falls Church Education Foundation (FCEF) to help learners take on social issues of their own in a project called Nexus. The goal is to work within the City’s Business and Education Initiative along with FCEF “so that learners can tackle a social issue. Maybe they can [create or join] a focus group for the recycling app the city has. It’s kind of to get out there and do those things before you get out of college. But the opportunities are everywhere. Even, we think, a cafe can be a place where somebody can walk in and learn. We have one [young man] who does something very special. He has his art. So, that’s what we’re looking for.”

Body Dynamics

At the Body Dynamics table, we spoke with Ashley Templer, DPT, and Massage therapist, Marie Tien. “Body Dynamics is so happy to be part of Falls Church City,” Dr. Templer said. “So, any opportunity we have to join events like this is wonderful.” 

“Body Dynamics is a physical therapy and wellness practice where all the services work together as a team. It’s physical therapy and massage, counseling and nutrition, fitness classes including pilates,” Dr. Templer said. The group has around 25 professionals on staff and has been in Falls Church for 13 years. 

“It’s a place where people can come at all levels – either movement experience or injury history – and they can find the right place to start. And then as a team we can work together to get them where they want to be,” Dr. Templer continued. “So, for some people, that might be that they’re injured and need to get back into fitness. And physical therapy can work with that person to get started, but massage would be a nice complement, and their goal is to, say, play tennis or some other sport and fitness classes can help them get there. So, there’s that spectrum of support.”

Tien recounted how Body Dynamics had first reached out to Chef Harvey to host local businesses for a showcase. “I actually live around the corner. And I live in Falls Church City. My son goes to Falls Church City Public Schools,” she said. So, she was happy when Harvey followed through with the suggestion. “Actually, it’s great. I like how he reached out to other organizations in the community so we can all be involved and meet each other too.”

“I think we’re going to stay forever!,” Tien said. “This is a great little city and I think we’re so fortunate to have so much within walking distance. I mean, restaurants, and we now have a new movie theater.”

“I actually grew up in Falls Church City,” Templer said. “So, I’m a ‘95 graduate of George Mason and Body Dynamics just hit our 30th anniversary. Actually, we were in practice in Arlington for quite a while before coming to Falls Church City. And I worked with the group at the time and I was so happy we came to Falls Church City for reasons that Marie just listed.”

Asked if they believed Body Dynamics helped contribute to U.S. News & World Report’s declaration that the City of Falls Church is the “healthiest community in America,” Templer said that in addition to the City’s walkability and bikeability, it has to do with “people’s commitment to their own health. The example of the type of client who enjoys being at Body Dynamics is they have ownership over their wellness and see the benefit of investing and spending time in the community.”

MetroCellars

At the MetroCellars table, we schmoozed with co-owners of the wine distributors, Chris Campbell and MaryBeth Campbell who’ve lived in Falls Church City since 2012. “We’re as local as it gets,” Chris Campbell emphasized. “We’re Falls Church residents. We represent small, family-owned wineries from all over the world. And, we supply them here to Harvey’s, Dominion, Whole Foods, the State Theatre, The Falls, and North Side Social.”

“And we love it! People are great. And we turn 15 this year. Complimenting one of their beloved customers, Chef Harvey, Chris Campbell said, “He’s such a great addition to the City and he’s really been supportive of other local businesses in a way that we haven’t seen a whole lot of other people trying to engage with the rest of the City this way. It’s really cool that he’s tried to embrace all of us with open arms.” MaryBeth Campbell added, “We’re very grateful for Thomas and Harvey’s, both as customers and consumers.”

LP Dental

Perhaps owing to my general antipathy toward all aspects of modern dentistry, I saved the final table representing LP Dental for last. 

Despite the anxiety in my choppers, however, I was soon comforted, by dentist Sarah Yang, DDS, and Office Manager Ashley Nielsen. “We love to have long-term relationships with our patients. We like to take our time with them from our first appointment. We spend a lot of time in conversation just getting to know what their experience has been at the dentist’s in the past,” said Yang, the sole dentist in their practice of only two and a-half years in Falls Church. 

Was all this simply a smoke-screen?, I wondered, asking flippantly, “Would you say you’re a sensitive dentistry operation?” 

“Yaasss,” Dr. Yang said reassuringly. “So, we’re known for being extra-gentle, extra-caring. We take our time with you. We want to know everything about what your goals are and what you’re looking for in a long-term dental home. Because, if you want to have healthy teeth for life and a smile that you love, the best way to get it is to have consistency with your dental care, someone who knows – because every mouth is different…."

And, it’s better for patients to establish a relationship with a smaller dental office. “It’s less like playing telephone,” Yang said. “If you go to a big clinic with a lot of providers, you see someone different each time, so it can kind of feel confusing about what’s going on with your teeth. And we like consistency.”

Dr. Yang emphasized that the City of Falls Church has been ideal for opening up her practice. “I love it. I grew up in Fairfax County and I always saw Falls Church as – you know how they call themselves a Little City? – So, I feel like everybody knows each other and even though it’s always changing a little bit, it’s just different here. All the small businesses here are very active and we want to get to know each other.”

LP Dental even collaborates with Falls Church City Schools by hosting interns and students interested in exploring careers in dentistry. “There are high-schoolers interested in getting hands-on experience,” she said. “We host students all the time. They want to see what it’s like to be a dentist or a dental hygienist.”

Asked if the curious high-tech objects around their necks were modern therapeutic devices to relax stressed out patients, Yang and Nielson laughed and said they were simply small neck fans for the billowing summer heat. But, they quickly added that they do indeed provide patients with all sorts of calming devices: “neck pillows, stress relief balls you can squeeze, ear plugs, blankets, and nice music.” Yang added, “We get a lot of compliments. I have a twelve-hour playlist.” 

“I need to switch to you guys,” I joked. “We’re here to listen!,” Yang said. “We have patients who come in that are super-scared and they come in for a couple of visits and now they come in and they can’t wait to tell us updates on their life,” Nielsen said. “And it’s really amazing and it really connects you with the community and has changed our business perspectives.”

“I’ll get you a goody bag, Chris!,” Dr. Yang reassured.

By Christopher Jones