By Nicole Bayne
Renovations have been under way at the 38-year-old University Mall in Fairfax since plans were approved in 2012. The George Mason University hot spot with a scruffy exterior is known for fast food, cheap movie tickets and the New Orleans-themed bar Fat Tuesday’s. That will change when construction clears revealing the new restaurant Oh George and several new tenants as part of a face lift for University Mall.
Oh George comes from Stephan Parry Restaurants, and will be the combination of its two pizza concepts, Fry’s Spring Station in Charlottesville and Waterstone in Lynchburg, with their burger concept, Beamers 25 in Roanoke.
“This is an idea we have knocked around for a while and a combination menu concept we haven’t done before,” says restaurant group owner Stephan Parry.
Parry says the 6,000 square foot venue with patio dining will “definitely offer gourmet pizzas and gourmet burgers” with signature styles and a make-your-own option and 30-40 different craft beers “predominantly from Virginia,” says Parry.
Its name is a tribute to GMU, but Parry simply wants Oh George to be a local neighborhood restaurant. The exterior is almost complete and interior construction begins January 1. Parry expects the restaurant to open in April or May 2015.
Oh George will be the newest culinary venue to grace University Mall after the Wendy’s opened one year ago and more are on the way. A Tropical Smoothie Cafe is expected to open in May 2015, Brion’s Grille has renovated its interior and added a patio dining area expected to be finished in early spring 2015 and another potential restaurant is also being discussed. / University Mall, 10681 Braddock Road, Fairfax
