:NoVA Office Vacancy Rate Drops; Rideshare Arrest; VHC Construction

Heading into the new week, Patch highlights the previous week's top business stories from across Virginia. Below is a roundup of those stories. You can catch up on other business news by clicking here.

NoVA Office Vacancy Rate Ticks Downward, Commercial Sales Rise In Second Quarter

NoVA's office vacancy rate dropped slightly year on year, with the city outperforming the region in filling space.

VHC Health Marks Construction Milestone For New NoVA Emergency, Urgent Care Center

VHC Health's new NoVA facility will combine emergency and urgent care and is expected to open in early 2027.

VA Lawmaker Unveils National Data Center Legislation

The Virginia congressman has put together a package of four bills he says will help regulate and mitigate the impact of new data centers.

Bob’s Discount Furniture Celebrates VA Opening With $5K In Local Donations

Bob's Discount Furniture celebrated its VA grand opening with a ribbon cutting and $5,000 in donations to local groups.

VA Wants Your Acorns: Where To Donate Them This Fall

Virginia is collecting acorns and nuts to grow future trees, with 25 designated drop-off locations accepting donations through Oct. 11.

NoVA Labor Day Car Show Crowns 2026 Winners

See the cars, trucks and motorcycles that took top honors at NoVA's 27th annual Labor Day Car Show.

NoVA National Golf Course Redevelopment Meetup Set For Oct. 15

YIMBYs of NoVA will host a NoVA meeting with project information, a developer Q&A and help preparing public testimony.

NoVA Students Create Drone Warrior In Battle Against Agricultural Pests

Four NoVA students created an award-winning drone system to help farmers identify crop blights sooner.

NoVA Woman To Lead VA Digital Services Overhaul: Reports

The NoVA resident will direct the new Virginia Digital Services team, tasked with improving online services and fighting IT waste.

One adjustment from the older workflow: I featured the office vacancy, rideshare and VHC construction stories in the introduction rather than hemp, ice cream and data centers because those are the three priorities you specified for this edition.

Restaurant Openings

• Fresh Monkee To Open First Virginia Location In Fairfax City: Report
• Alexandria's Newest Record Shop To Open This Weekend With Music And Freebies
• New Chinese Dumpling Restaurant Coming To Loudoun County: Report
• Open Road Outpost & Biergarten Opens At The Boro In Tysons
• Nash & Smashed Opens New Arlington Restaurant: Report
• Potbelly Adds Franconia Shop, More Locations Planned: Report
• Makers Union To Open Sixth Location In Fairfax's Mosaic District This Fall

Crime Report

• Stafford Man Faces Drug, Identity Theft Charges After Donut Shop Report
• 2 More Men Arrested In Connection With Fatal Shooting At Manassas First Friday Event: Police
• Man Accused Of Striking Arlington Police Officer After Entering Business He Was Banned From
• 2 Men Stabbed Inside Potomac Mills Shopping Center, Suspect At Large: Police