A new Panda Express drive-thru opened Monday, Aug. 10, at 598 Elden St. in Herndon, replacing a former Burger King and bringing the fast-casual chain's Fairfax County footprint to 11 locations. The restaurant marked the occasion with a $1,000 check to Cornerstones, the Reston-based nonprofit that provides housing, food and financial assistance to roughly 26,000 people a year across northwestern Fairfax County.
The ribbon cutting drew a crowd by 9:30 a.m., with the first 88 customers in line receiving free T-shirts, FFXnow reported.
Huaning Pi, area coach of operations for Panda Express, said the chain hopes to support local organizations through fundraising and become a lasting part of the Herndon community. Pi said the location is also creating new jobs, though the company did not specify how many positions were filled.
Founded in 1970 as Reston Interfaith, Cornerstones operates the 76-bed Embry Rucker Community Shelter in Reston, owns more than 100 affordable housing units in Fairfax County and runs the Laurel Learning Center at Lake Anne Plaza, which houses a food pantry and day care. The nonprofit's financial assistance programs serve residents in both Reston and Herndon zip codes, according to its website.
The Herndon Panda Express joins existing Fairfax County locations at Tysons Corner Center, Fair Oaks Mall, Fort Belvoir and Greenbriar Town Center. Cornerstones has not publicly commented on how it plans to use the $1,000 donation.
