What a difference a year makes — for Reston Town Center’s retailers, that is.

While RTC has welcomed a number of new tenants this year, including Honeygrow, Balducci’s, Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls, &pizza, and Lululemon, the closures outnumber the newcomers.

Businesses are closing twice as fast as they are opening in RTC. Several small businesses and restaurants that have been in the area for decades have pointed to dwindling numbers of customers due to paid parking as the main reason behind their closures.

The shift from free to the ParkRTC paid parking initiative at RTC began at the start of 2017. Then in June 2017, Boston Properties, RTC’s owner, changed its paid parking structure, which originally charged for weekday parking, following a major outcry from tenants and customers.

Still, some Restonians are boycotting RTC.

Red Velvet Cupcakery Owner Aaron Gordon previously told Reston Now that his decision to close the Reston location was driven by Boston Properties’ paid parking structure.

Employees at Busara Thai Restaurant, which served up authentic Thai cuisine in RTC for 13 years, and Obi Sushi Japanese Bistro, which recently closed after 14 years, said the paid parking drove customers away.

When Appalachian Spring closed at the start of 2018, the store’s president told Reston Now that customer traffic dipped over the last few months and that customers often complained about the paid parking.

The handcrafted gifts and handmade jewelry store, one of the first tenants in RTC, opened its Reston location in 1990.

Reston Now reported on the following closures at RTC this year:

Dec. 30: Hen Penny set to close at 1820 Discovery Street

Dec. 26: Dawn Baby Price closed at 11985 Market Street

Dec. 22: Obi Sushi Japanese Bistro closed at 1771 Library Street

Aug. 28: Edibles Incredible Desserts closed at 11917 Freedom Drive

May 28: The Bike Lane closed at 11943 Democracy Drive

May 27: Red Velvet Cupcakery closed at 11939 Democracy Drive

May 19: Busara Thai Restaurant closed at 11964 Market Street

Jan. 24: Appalachian Spring closed at 1187 Market Street

January: Neyla Mediterranean Bistro closed at 11898 Market Street

While 2018 saw several small businesses and restaurants shutter their doors, large department stores are slated to close in RTC next year.

Williams-Sonoma and Pottery Barn, which are both operated by Williams-Sonoma Inc, are set to close at RTC in January.

Pottery Barn (11937 Market Street) will close sometime around Jan. 21, a store employee told Reston Now. A specific closing date has not been announced yet for Williams-Sonoma (11897 Market Street).

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