“Brad successfully got my reckless driving ticket lowered to a much more minor moving violation. We had multiple consults, he put together a game plan and executed on it perfectly. I would 100% refer Brad to anyone in a similar position. Well worth his reasonable fee!”
A new Panera restaurant is one step closer to becoming a reality in the Sudley Manor Square Shopping Center, thanks to the efforts of Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian (VF&N) land use attorney Olaun Simmons. On behalf of his client, Simmons successfully secured approval from the Prince William Board of County Supervisors for a Special Use Permit (SUP) allowing the development of a drive-through restaurant on a portion of the shopping center site.
The SUP pertains to approximately 1.16 acres located within the larger ±18.5-acre parcel at 7809 Sudley Road in Manassas (GPIN 7697-41-6415). The targeted area lies in the northwest corner of the shopping center, about 300 feet southeast of the intersection of Sudley Road and Sudley Manor Drive—a high-traffic commercial corridor.
The approved plan includes the construction of a new commercial building designed to accommodate two separate restaurant spaces divided by a common wall. The east-side tenant space, approximately 2,600 square feet, will be home to the Panera restaurant and include a drive-through feature. The west-side space, approximately 2,375 square feet, is also designated for a restaurant use but will operate without a drive-through.
Simmons guided the application through the County’s detailed land use review process, which involved coordinating with planning staff, traffic engineers, and community stakeholders. He ensured compliance with zoning and development regulations, addressed staff comments, and helped the applicant navigate key issues such as site access, vehicle circulation, queuing, and compatibility with surrounding uses.
At the Board of Supervisors hearing, Simmons presented a thorough case that demonstrated the project’s alignment with the County’s Comprehensive Plan and development goals for the area. He emphasized the economic and community benefits of bringing a high-quality restaurant brand like Panera to the site, including job creation and enhanced dining options for nearby residents and visitors.
The Board voted to approve the SUP, allowing the project to move forward to site plan and building permit stages.
With deep experience in land use law and a track record of successful entitlements across Prince William County and Northern Virginia, Simmons continues to be a trusted advocate for commercial development clients navigating complex regulatory processes.
“Bradley helped me with a terrible mistake that I had made and was terrified for the outcome. With his experience and professionalism he helped me get the best possible result for my situation. He was very knowledgeable about different avenues on how to approach my incident. He took the time to check in on me from our first meeting all the way through court and now follows up with me. I would highly recommend his service to anyone.”
“Olaun Simmons is smart, aggressive, thoroughly prepared and simply an outstanding attorney.”
“I’ve worked with the team at Vanderpool, Frostick & Nishanian for over seven years and have always found them to be honest and reliable. I like the fact that they are local and have deep community roots, I feel that this has benefited my business because they have the power to call in a favor in order to speed something along. Their timeliness is something I greatly appreciate. I wouldn’t hire another firm for my business, I will always go with VF&N.”
“Kris, Thank you for the incredibly thorough and professional job you did conducting our investigation. We felt like our case was your priority …. The care you took to make our employees feel comfortable was appreciated. We feel confident in the decisions we made based on your findings and professional recommendations which you helped us discern through conversation.”
“On behalf of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, I am writing to say “thank you” for the legal services and representation you have provided the church over the many years. We deeply appreciate your unfailing attention to detail in servicing our account and, as important, for working with us on payment terms that were fair and reasonable. We are fortunate to have you as our legal team. Your staff is very professional and always provides legal advice that is in the best interest of the church. Please know that your high standard of quality service has not gone unnoticed.”
“I appreciate all the help from the attorney Olaun Simmons. Thanks to his help that he gave us during our judicial process where we could resolve our case in a satisfactory way. We were facing a zoning violation with Fauquier County due to not having a site plan for the property. In the process of creating the site plan for county approval there were multiple easements and deeds with other parties that had to be made and multiple court hearings to deal with since the county did not give us much of an opportunity to finish the site plan. Olaun did not put us to the side or lower our prioritization. He took our case with great care and always advised us on all possibilities. ”
My firm has used VF&N for real estate legal matters for 20+ years in Prince William County. They have always performed for us.
Most recently we needed to gain approval for a Special Use Permit and hired Olaun Simmons to represent the ownership. Through a collaborative team effort, with Olaun directing the process, we succeeded in gaining the SUP approval in less time than we originally expected. We have already engaged Olaun again to assist with our utility easement work. We highly recommend their services.
“Mr. Marshall got my case reduced dramatically. I was facing serious points and conviction on my DMV record and within 24 hours of hiring Mr. Marshall, he was able to get my case amended with no DMV conviction or points on my record and was able to keep me from having to appear in court. Mr. Marshall was very prompt in resolving this case and staying in communication with me constantly while resolving the issue. I would highly recommend Bradley and he will be the first call if the need ever arises again for a lawyer.”
I had a great experience working with Mr. Simmons and Anne. They were responsive, knowledgeable, and handled my case efficiently from start to finish. Mr. Simmons explained everything clearly and made the whole process feel much less stressful. The outcome was exactly what I was hoping for. I truly appreciate their professionalism and would definitely recommend their services.
“I have enjoyed a long term relationship with Mike and his team. Since I relocated to this area 30 years ago we have worked together on many successful projects thanks to him and his team’s skill & ability to get projects approved. I have always found them to be very professional, informed as to the issues relating to my projects and prepared when it came to presentations to boards, planning commissions and councils. They work well with the other outside professionals on my team and Mike is truly a team player. I highly recommend his firm and am convinced there are projects I would not have completed without their involvement.”
“Bradley Marshall was able to help me turn a reckless driving into defective equipment within a week of hiring him. The best lawyer I’ve ever dealt with and if I ever have traffic court again he’s gonna be the first one I call.”