Slapfish, a modern seafood franchise serving up bold, crave-worthy dishes in a fast casual setting, announces the opening of its newest location in Ashburn, Virginia. The first restaurant in Virginia—and 12th location total—is slated to open its doors at 44727 Thorndike Street in One Loudoun in early June 2018 as it continues spreading its brand of ridiculously fresh, refreshingly responsible seafood across the nation.
Known for inventive dishes like the Clobster Grilled Cheese and Chowder Fries, the modern seafood shack has created a niche in the marketplace, serving up well-managed seafood in a casual environment. Catering to both health-conscious individuals and those looking to indulge, Slapfish One Loudoun offers an array of heart-healthy dishes including the Lobster Grinder, Baja Mahi Sandwich, Grilled Shrimp Burrito, and a rotating menu of seasonal salads, bowls and sandwiches.
“Expanding into Northern Virginia makes perfect sense for our brand, as it offers easy access to unlimited seafood off the shores,” says Chef Andrew Gruel, founder and CEO of Slapfish. “With the booming population and demand for quality, convenient seafood offerings in the area, Ashburn is a natural fit for our first East Coast location.”
Slapfish One Loudoun is owned and operated by brothers Mike and Phil Nguyen. Growing up working at their parent’s Vietnamese restaurant, the duo discovered their passion for restaurants at a young age. After being introduced to Slapfish by their eldest brother in California, the current Dentist and Mortgage Specialist fell in love with the brand. Several months later, when they had no luck finding quality lobster rolls in the Ashburn area, the brothers knew they had to bring Slapfish to their community, and signed a franchise agreement in early 2017. Named one of the “Top 50 Places to Live” by Time magazine, the flourishing city of Ashburn is an ideal market for Slapfish to expand into.
“With our close proximity to Maryland and the coast, seafood is a big deal for locals, yet surprisingly, there is a major lack of quality offerings in the market,” adds co-owner Mike Nguyen. “We look forward to getting back into the restaurant scene and bringing this incredible concept to our community. One Loudoun is a rapidly expanding area, and we are confident that residents will fall in love with Slapfish, just as we did.”
Founded by Chef Gruel in 2011, Slapfish started as a food truck serving boat-to-plate seafood and quickly grew into eleven brick-and-mortar locations, with upcoming openings in South Korea, the UK, Oklahoma, Nevada, Arizona, Florida and Northern California in 2018. With plans to open five locations throughout Northern Virginia by 2022, the Nguyen brothers look forward to making Slapfish a household name in partnership with Gruel.
