Island Fin Poké Co. Sets Opening Date In Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH, VA — Hawaiian-style poke restaurant Island Fin Poké Co. is set to bring island vibes to Northern Virginia with the opening of a Falls Church location. The restaurant at 7501 Leesburg Pike, Suite 129, is set to open on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 18.

Island Fin Poké offers traditional poke (pronounced "poh-kay") with build-your-own, customizable bowls in a beach shack-style setting. Diners will find locally and responsibly sourced ingredients for their poke bowl. There will be eight protein options, over 25 toppings, house-made sauces and specialty mix-ins, allowing diners to create something new with every visit.

Island Fin Poké is a franchise, and the Falls Church location's owner is Bonita Bell. As an African-American entrepreneur, Bell sees the opening on Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a way to encourage others to volunteer in their communities. Island Fin Poké Falls Church will donate 20 percent of the proceeds from Martin Luther King Jr. Day sales to Food for Others, a food bank providing free food to families each week. The organization has stepped up amid an increasing need for food during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The past year has hit many people hard. With so many jobs lost from restaurant closings, we are happy to provide job opportunities and to partner with Food for Others to support those who are struggling in our community," said Bell. "The continuing restrictions due to the pandemic will present challenges, but we are now more excited than ever to start the new year promoting positivity and healthy lifestyles."

Bell and her husband, Howard, have committed to opening two local Island Fin Poké. The couple is looking at Vienna for their second restaurant and aims to open it in 2022.

“Bonita is the perfect addition to our ohana as she reflects our mission to bring guests high-quality poke in an immersive and welcoming environment," said Mark Setterington, co-founder of the Island Fin Poké franchise. "For us, ohana is a way of life, and we want every guest that walks through our doors to know they are a part of the family."

Setterington opened the franchise's first restaurant in Orlando after working in the restaurant industry for 36 years and overseeing ten restaurants in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Island Fin Poké has 11 locations around the U.S. with others in the stages of development. The first DC area location opened in Bowie, Maryland last year.

"The DMV area is somewhere we are really excited to grow in," said Setterington.

For more information, visit www.islandfinpoke.com.