Eden Center facts for kids
Eden Center Entrance
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| Location | Falls Church, Virginia, United States |
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| Coordinates | 38°52′25″N 77°9′14″W / 38.87361°N 77.15389°W |
| Address | 6751 Wilson Blvd |
| Opening date | 1984 |
| Owner | Capital Commercial Properties Inc. |
| No. of stores and services | 120+ |
| Total retail floor area | 200,000 sq ft (19,000 m2) |
| No. of floors | 2, split level with most businesses in front and some in back adjacent to a Planet Fitness gym |
| Parking | 1,100 spaces |
Eden Center is a lively shopping area in Falls Church, Virginia. It's a special place for Vietnamese American culture. Many people visit it, and it's even called the top tourist spot in Falls Church!
This center has over 120 shops, restaurants, and businesses. Most of them serve the Asian American community, especially those from Vietnam. You can find many delicious Vietnamese foods here, like phở soup and bánh mì sandwiches. There are also bakeries and markets.
Eden Center is the biggest Vietnamese shopping area on the East Coast of North America. It's a true hub for Vietnamese culture, drawing visitors from Virginia, Maryland, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
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History of Eden Center
The shopping center first opened in 1962. Back then, it was called Plaza Seven Shopping Center. It had a large supermarket called Grand Union and a Zayre discount store.
In 1984, the Grand Union store closed. Around this time, many Vietnamese businesses moved to this area. They came from a place called "Little Saigon" in nearby Arlington, Virginia. They had to move because of new subway construction.
The Vietnamese-American community in the Washington, D.C. area grew a lot after the Vietnam War. This made Falls Church a new home for many. The shopping center soon became known as Eden Center. Its name comes from a famous arcade in Saigon from the 1960s.
Later, the owners added a special clock tower and an archway with lions. These were inspired by the famous Bến Thành Market in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
What You'll Find at Eden Center
Most of the shops at Eden Center are on the ground floor. They have direct entrances from the sidewalk and parking lot. This makes it easy to pop in and out.
There are also about 65 stores and restaurants inside three enclosed malls. In the back of the center, you can find a nightclub and a gym.
The center has plenty of parking spaces. There are about 900 spots in the front and 300 more in the back. You'll often see the South Vietnamese Flag flying proudly above the mall. This is common for many Vietnamese-owned businesses in the Washington, D.C. area.
Shops and Restaurants
In November 2014, a large supermarket called Good Fortune opened here. Many businesses at Eden Center are food-related. You can find all kinds of Vietnamese restaurants. Some offer quick take-out dishes like stir-fries and spring rolls. Others are busy phở soup restaurants. There are also fancier sit-down restaurants with big menus.
Besides food, you can find other types of shops. There are jewelry stores, herbal medicine shops, clothing stores, toy stores, and travel agents.
Fun Events at Eden Center
Eden Center hosts two big annual festivals that are very popular.
One is the annual Tết, or Vietnamese New Year festival. This event is full of special foods, performers, fireworks, and exciting lion dancing.
The other is the annual Moon Festival. This festival also features delicious food, entertainment, and cultural displays.
Every September, Eden Center also hosts the "Miss Vietnam DC" scholarship pageant. This is a major beauty contest for young Vietnamese-American women in the Washington D.C. area.
Eden Center in the News
Eden Center has been featured in many reviews and TV shows.
On January 19, 2009, the TV show Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations visited Eden Center. The host, Anthony Bourdain, tried food from the Song Que deli. He gave very positive reviews of both the deli and the entire Eden Center.
Many other newspapers and magazines have also reviewed the restaurants at Eden Center. These include The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, and the Falls Church News Press.
