By Matthew T. Eng, Offbeat NOVA
If you follow local news, you’ll notice the staggering amount of shop and restaurant closures around Northern Virginia. Business owners, saddled with difficulties stemming from the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic, often decide to close up shop. We recently posted about the closure of the iconic L.L. Bean store location in Tyson’s Corner Mall. By far our most popular post on the subject matter has been the closure of America’s first Top Golf location in Alexandria, VA. After opening in 2005, the multi-use venue and adjacent Ruby Tuesday’s closed their doors in 2021. Well, it seems that the landowner has done the unthinkable during these tough economic times: rebranded the former facility and opened a new establishment.
Yes, that’s right. The former Top Golf location will be another Top Golf…sorta. Rudy’s
The owner of the land clearly looked for new options after several hearings and votes were stalled on what to do with the land for rezoning. After filing plans with the Fairfax County Government for several years to repurpose the space for townhomes and commercial space, it seems they got fed up and decided to shift focus. Given the timeline between previous filings and community hearings, these details happened rather quickly (and all during these COVID years). Speculation as far back as November 2021 had the former sight turning away from the long-term development plans in favor of a corporate “up-cycling” of the golf experience. According to Alexandria Living Magazine, the plans are “on hold, but they aren’t totally off the table.” For now, there is Rudy’s.
Beginning in January, the Leesburg-based Rudy & Roy LLC began hiring for servers, managers, event coordinators, and porters for the venue. Much like Top Golf, the experience is billed as “part driving range, part restaurant and sports bar.”
At some point between the beginning of January and early March, Rudy’s officially opened. Reviews so far are good. There are five reviews on Google for the new establishment. It boasts a perfect 5-star rating. One local, “William B,” had a glowing review for the fun and food:
“Visited Rudy’s Golf today and it was a great experience! Thrilled that this local business has finally opened. The driving range has mostly been fully restored since TopGolf closed and the food/drinks were great. Highly recommend the burger w/ fries! Prices were reasonable and the service was friendly and attentive. We will definitely be back!”
Google Review of Rudy’s (Google)
Other individuals had very good things to say about the restaurant and its burger and fries. Their website is sparse, but officially up. There is no word what will happen to the adjacent restaurant, formerly a Ruby Tuesday, and the mini-golf course.
Rudy’s is open on Monday-Thursday from 11am to 8pm, Friday-Saturday from 11am to 10pm, and Sunday from 10am to 8pm.
Offbeat NOVA 
3 replies on “Rudy’s: New Life for Former Top Golf Alexandria Location”
Well I’m here to tell you Rudy’s one year and a month after the launch is by far the most trashiest run down dump of a family friendly environment! Luckily we did pay $40 yes $40 dollar for 2 adults and one young kid. The minigolf course that we were excited to take our son for the first time thinking it was be kind of fun. I was appalled by the walk through the makeshift of a sports bar and “DJ”. With maybe 3 people at the bar. And when we finally made it through the smell and onto the mini-golf course I realized that the stinch was coming from the trash cans full of booze and sadly whoever Rudy and Roy are and I almost went and demanded my money back for that bullshit. The felts still the same fucking blue and green turfs as there was back in 2005! Holes in the course. Lights not working on half the 36 holes. Vandalism on the walkways and the stinch of misquotes festering in the water ways was absolutely pitiful. So what my family and I were really excited about. My family snd I left there disgusted the place is run down they didn’t put a nickel back into rebranding once a great place to go as a teen. Even the driving and the staff. I wouldn’t even give it one star. I wouldn’t give that shit whole another fuckint penny of mine. Don’t waste yours I am so glad we went on half price night. I can’t believe they are not shut down in violation in accordance with the state of Virginia. Rudy or Roy do yourself and cut your losses now. Place is a joke and garbage.
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We actually got an email from the owner asking us to come check it out for ourselves. Never did, but now I am curious!
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Matt Eng – please do come check it out for yourself!
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