Stephanie Spear Falls Church’s newest dining destination has something for everyone. Literally: pets, people, early birds, and night owls will all find something to enjoy at Stratford Garden, located at 300 W. Broad Street in Falls Church. The site was once home to a dilapidated motel and is now a vibrant day-to-night hangout spot. The Fairfax Girl chatted with the Stratford Gardens team about what patrons can expect and got an exclusive first look at the space. Read on for more about Stratford Gardens in Falls Church.
About the Team
Dominion Wine + Beer is located at 107 Rowell Court, just down Broad Street from Stratford Garden, meaning the team drove by the property for years as it fell into disrepair. Cameron Cousins, director of restaurants, said, “It was such an eyesore. It’s right on this great corner, with lots of potential for the city.” When the opportunity to buy the property came up, the team jumped.
The property’s official name was the Stratford Motor Lodge, built in the 1960s. By the 2010s, it had become run-down, eventually closing in 2021. Several proposals were floated for the space, including a senior center and a freestanding convenience store, but nothing stuck. The Dominion Beer + Wine Team initially made its proposal to the City of Falls Church in 2023.
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“There were a lot of things we were doing at Dominion that we knew we could do in a bigger way,” Cameron said. Work began on the space in early 2025, starting with demolition of the existing structure. “We wanted to keep something of the original space so it would tie back to that,” Cameron said. “So the kitchen is at the center of the building, and there are many of the original walls in that section.”
What to Expect
Stratford Garden will be open early and late, starting with a coffee + grab-and-go selection, and winding down with a beer garden and late-night bites. The Market is a street-level café and coffee shop that will open at 7AM. “We’ll have pastries, breakfast items, coffee drinks, and then switch to lunch midday,” Cameron said. “That will be some grab-and-go items, hot and cold sandwiches, and so on.” The Market faces Broad Street and has its own entrance, and there will be gluten-free pastries available. “The coffee beans are from Potomac Coffee from Ashburn. The owner, Tom Fasolo, has created a special roast for us,” Cameron said.
The restaurant will be the main seating area. “It will open at 11AM during the week and probably 10:30AM on weekends,” Cameron said. “We plan to stay open till 11PM at the beginning, and then see what the neighborhood wants, in terms of later hours.”
The dining room includes deep-seated banquettes and tables that can be configured for larger parties, and the design of the space makes it easy to create private dining areas. “As far as the menu, there will be a little bit of something for everyone,” Cameron said. “There will be gluten-free options, plus some vegan and vegetarian options. Some favorites from Dominion will be on the menu, like our Seitan Bolognese.”
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The beverage menu will be an expanded version of what’s available at Dominion. “We’ll have 12 core beers, with 5 to 6 rotating selections,” Cameron said. “Our buyer is on the lookout for high-quality wines from all over the world, and we plan to do beer and wine flights. We’re considering a cocktail flight too.” Non-drinkers will also have plenty to enjoy. “We’ll also have a strong mocktail list so people who don’t drink can still feel like they’re part of the party,” he added.
Stratford Garden will be able to accommodate private and semi-private dinners. Cameron said that many of the wine and beer dinners hosted at Dominion will now take place at Stratford Garden.
But the beer garden is what will make Stratford Garden a true neighborhood destination. “It will open in the spring,” Cameron said. “The seating will be first-come, first-served, but we’ll have TVs outside, heaters, and at least 75 to 80 seats.” Stratford Garden will open in mid-December 2025.
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