(From DCist contributor Amadie Hart) Clarendon, a historic shopping hub in Arlington County that was devastated by the construction associated with the construction of Metro’s Orange Line in the 1970s, has undergone a wholesale transformation in the last decade. Small storefront retail and ethnic restaurants have been giving way to larger, chain developments. In recent years, stores such as Crate and Barrel, The Pottery Barn, the Container Store, and Williams Sonoma, and restaurants such as the Cheesecake Factory and Baja Fresh are attracting larger crowds of shoppers and diners. However, a couple of new openings in Clarendon are continuing the retail and restaurant explosion in Arlington’s Orange Line corridor with a decidedly more “local” flavor.

The Pacers running store, an Old Town Alexandria fixture for the past 13 years, is holding the grand opening of its second location this Saturday, right across from the Clarendon metrorail station. To celebrate, local runner (and Olympic marathon trials participant) Michael Wardian will attempt to break the world treadmill marathon record of 2:31:05, beginning at 11:00 a.m.