Doug Downer’s father was one of the founding members of Herndon’s Chamber of Commerce. Photo by Ken Moore.
More than 1,300 businesses have made Herndon their home.
On Wednesday, May 27, Mayor Lisa Merkel, Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce membership director Lauri Swift, Dennis Holste, Town of Herndon economic development manager, and Stephanie Barko, events manager with the chamber, visited six businesses to mark the occasion.
Panera opened its new location at Worldgate Herndon last week, and in addition to a ribbon cutting, Panera hosted a bread cutting to start the events.
10 a.m. - Panera Bread
13041 Worldgate Dr., Herndon, Va. 20170
703-251-0084
Panera Bread is one of Herndon’s newest businesses, and held a ribbon and bread cutting ceremony last Wednesday, May 27 in its new Worldgate location.
“For people with a busy schedule who want to get in and out quickly,” said Yonas Fisseha of Panera.
Customers can order online, order to go, avoid lines, and have orders ready to be picked up or delivered.
The Herndon Panera is one of the first five Panera’s to operate in its new format, and the second of three in Northern Virginia (Alexandria has opened, and a Sterling location is in the process.)
“It’s a new way of operating,” he said.
10:44 a.m. - Washington Dulles Marriott Suites
13101 WorldGate Drive, Herndon, Va. 20170
703-709-0400
Marriott opened its Herndon hotel at the beginning of 1990.
Views from its top balconies are lovely.
Many class reunions hold receptions here as well as wedding parties, said Kristen Murphy of Marriott.
11:02 a.m. - Quality Chiropractic and Rehab
102 Elden Street, Suite #12, Herndon, Va. 20170
703-581-8999
“I’m about to work with two patients,” said Dr. Camille T. D’Amato.
She left the Town of Herndon balloons for her colleague, Dr. Frankie Velez.
“Ahh, you’re the Mayor,” said Velez.
Dr. D’Amato and staff are scheduled to volunteer at the Athletes Village in Reston helping those participating in the World Police and Fire Rescue Games next month.
She also donates time to soccer tournaments.
11:38 a.m. - HRI Associates
718 Pine Street, Herndon, Va. 20170
703-435-3500
Doug Downer started working in the HRI insurance agency, his family business, immediately after graduating from Old Dominion University in 1982 and has been the sole owner and president since 2005.
Doug Downer’s father, Richard Downer, was one of the original founders of the local Chamber of Commerce.
HRI Associates, which offers homeowners insurance, auto insurance, commercial insurance, life and health insurance, insurance quoting, business insurance and personal insurance, moved to the former church on Pine Street in 2008.
11:59 a.m. - Dairy Queen
779 Station Street, Herndon, Va. 20170
703-481-6173
“You all are late,” said Dairy Queen’s Zaki Zakaria, with a smile.
Zakaria says 99 percent of his customers are repeat customers.
He knew Chamber of Commerce membership director Lauri Swift’s order before she ordered, a Mint Chocolate Extreme.
The Herndon Festival’s carousel was visible through the Dairy Queen’s Window.
12:28 p.m. - Signarama
Hank Allen, Owner
703-481-8858
Signarama moved to the middle of the Reston-Herndon Business Park the first weekend in May.
The new space gives the company the opportunity to do vehicle wraps inside the business all year round.
“I am a pretty happy camper,” said owner Hank Allen.
“Since we started in Herndon, I wanted to do what we could to stay in Herndon,” said Allen, who established his business approximately 18 years ago.
“There’s nothing else in northwest Fairfax County that has this kind of space,” he said.
He gave the Mayor and Chamber of Commerce a tour of his company, including where a vehicle wrap was being done and a banner being made in action.