Fairfax City is getting a new brunch spot this summer, and it’s not just about the coffee.
Layered.—a café and pastry shop from the team behind Chateau de Chantilly—is setting up shop in Courthouse Plaza, taking over a long-empty McDonald’s at the corner of University Drive and Main Street. But this isn’t a quick fix or a pop-up concept. The space has been completely transformed, thanks in part to city grant funding.
The 3,600-square-foot building has been overhauled through Fairfax City’s Façade and Interior Improvement Grant (FIIG) program, which helps businesses revamp older or underused commercial properties. In this case, it helped turn a vacant fast food joint into what the owners hope will become a go-to destination for baked goods, brunch, and specialty coffee.
The menu will center around handcrafted pastries, desserts made fresh in-house, and a full coffee bar. Think French patisserie meets modern brunch.
For Fairfax City, it’s also part of a bigger effort to bring life back to Old Town—not just with more foot traffic, but by encouraging longtime business owners to invest locally. Chateau de Chantilly has built a solid following in Fairfax County, and the owners say they’re excited to bring something new to the heart of the city.
Layered. is expected to open its doors later this summer.
