Early childhood education and daycare center signed a 12,000 square foot lease with St. John Properties and is expected to open in mid-March

DULLES, VA – Celebree School franchise owners Namita Arora and Ruchiee Chawla have signed a lease with St. John Properties, Inc. for 12,000 square feet of space at Arcola Center in Dulles, Virginia. The operators will open a new early childhood education and daycare center within the 34-acre business community this month. The school, which will join Dulles Gymnastics, Enginuity Power Systems, Dream On Dance, and Morsink Soccer Academy, is located at 24540 Arcola Center Plaza, situated at the intersection of Loudoun County Parkway and Dulles West Boulevard. St. John Properties recently completed the first phase of development, consisting of four buildings offering 130,000 square feet of flex/R&D space. St. John Properties’ Danny Foit represented the landlord and Adam Schindler of Colliers International represented the tenant in this transaction.

This represents the first Celebree School franchise location for the ownership team, who are both long-time residents of Northern Virginia. Arora has a background in information technology and, together with her husband, owned a Popeyes Louisiana Chicken franchise and were investors in The Zone, a family entertainment venue in Ashburn. She explains that she has a passion to provide “an enriching educational environment for Loudoun County youngsters and providing an important service to the local community.” Arora, who will oversee run the day-to-day operations of Celebree School, also operated a home daycare center with her sister for more than seven years.

“We looked at several childhood education franchise concepts, and were most impressed with the compassion, processes and leadership of Celebree School,” stated Arora. “The children-driven curriculum provides a strong foundation for youngsters prior to entering a formal classroom environment, and their core values of providing an enriching childcare and educational experience aligned perfectly with ours. The entire operation is extremely well-structured and thought-out.”

“I enjoy working with and taking care of the children immensely, and we are seeking 25-30 experienced teachers that share a similar passion and mindset,” she added. “Families struggle to find the right fit when it comes to daycare and education, and Celebree School’s Montessori-style program provides tremendous value, together with the all-important peace of mind.”

Curriculum incorporates science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics

National franchisee group Celebree School offers early childhood education that provides infant and toddler care, preschool, before and aftercare, and summer camp programming. Presently operating more than 150 locations across 19 states, the school incorporates STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) into every daily lesson. Infant child care programs are suitable for children ranging from six weeks to school age and are designed for personal, social, language and physical development. All locations are locally-owned and staffed by degreed teachers. The Dulles location represents the fourth Celebree School in the St. John Properties portfolio joining Maryland sites in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Prince George’s County.

Arcola Center location offers perfect mix of area amenities

“We intend to provide the perfect balance of childcare, education, social interaction, and discovery that provides the most enriching experiences,” said Chawla. “This will be the first Celebree School in the immediate area, so we are filling a void in the marketplace. We are also striving to unlock the full potential of this franchise, while serving the local community in a meaningful way.”

Chawla added that the nearby presence of retailers such as Target and Walmart help create a family-like environment in and around Arcola Center and that Celebree School aims to become “the epicenter of quality childcare and education in the greater Ashburn area and a cornerstone in the community.” 

Each of the four flex/R&D buildings currently nearing completion at Arcola Center will range from 29,404 to 37,080 square feet and feature free parking and flexible suite sizes to support the real estate needs of professional services, tech firms, light manufacturing, retail-type uses, logistics companies, and a variety of other end-users. The single-story buildings will be constructed with 16-18’ clear minimum ceiling heights. In addition, the buildings have been designed to earn LEED© certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Buildings receive this designation based on the use of sustainable and locally-sourced building materials and the implementation of construction practices designed to conserve energy and resources while creating an eco-friendly environment.

“We are pleased that our first two leases at Arcola Center serve the needs of families in the community,” said Matt Holbrook, Regional Partner, Virginia and Central Maryland for St. John Properties. “Finding a high-quality early education and childcare provider remains a point of emphasis for young families nationwide. Celebree Schools is known for its innovative programming and strong reputation, and will be an excellent addition to our business community.”  

Holbrook adds that leasing activity is strong for all four buildings currently under construction at Arcola Center. “Businesses, especially those started by entrepreneurs, need adequate spaces to house their operations, hire employees, and store equipment and inventory,” Holbrook said. “We intend Arcola Center to quickly become a long-term job generator and the home to businesses both small and large. This, will add to and diversify the tax base of Loudoun County, while contributing significantly to the economic health of the region.”     

Arcola Center is adjacent to the Dulles Landing shopping center and the future Shops at Arcola Center. It is also within close proximity to South Riding Market Square, Avonlea Town Center, and Brambleton Town Center. Arcola Center is approximately five miles from the Dulles Toll Road (VA Route 267) and Dulles International Airport, 11 miles from Leesburg, 16 miles from Tysons Corner and 30 miles from downtown Washington, D.C. 

Founded in 1971, St. John Properties, Inc. is one of the nation’s largest and most successful privately held commercial real estate firms. The company is distinguished by its commitment to customer service, achievements in green building, and top-rated workplace culture. Throughout St. John Properties’ 55-year history, the company has developed more than 25 million square feet of flex/R&D, office, retail, and warehouse space and has investments in over 3,000 residential units. The company proudly serves more than 2,600 clients in Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Utah, and Wisconsin. For more information about the company, visit www.sjpi.com.