Pan Am Shopping Center — Local services in Merrifield

Although Pan Am Shopping Center is centrally located at the crossroads of Lee Hwy (Rt 29) and Nutley, its entry and exit is not convenient and especially exiting can be a time killer and irritating. Nothing is a straight shot. The main entrance/exit on Nutley is an obstacle course of lights, twists and turns. Traffic entering must be on Nutley and turn left (at a light) into the shopping center, then must go negotiate a twist to go towards Safeway and the smaller businesses on one side of the parking lot or make an immediate right onto a long, service road that is not marked as a way to get to Michael's and Microcenter on the other side of this L-shaped shopping center. Both paths are complicated by cross traffic trying to exit. Exiting, traffic lines up single file, hampered by two stop signs, traffic trying to get in line from the gas station on the right and traffic trying to get in line from the service road to the left, all trying to beat the short-timed light to turn right or left onto Nutley. So, one lane in and one lane out for traffic trying to jam in from multiple directions. Probably the main reason I don't shop here more often. There is another entry point on Lee Hwy but it requires an immediate right-left turn to get to the primary parking surface. Other than stores already mentioned, there is a well-stocked Plaza Art location with a great staff of knowledgeable folks, a CVS (where one is lucky to find anybody who works there and a Baja Fresh, among three (or more) other restaurants and shops. The Safeway is a flagship lay out and is open late. Despite, or perhaps because of, its large format, it is hard to find a staff person, and check-out is always slow because few registers are ever open and at least one of the self-check stands is out-of-order (or in use by a person with an overflowing cart or trying the technology for the first time, or buying alcohol (or all 3!)) Microcentern it's online sales) is the only store of this chain in the area except Rockville... but sometimes, one just needs to actually 'handle the merchandise/kick the tires' before making a purchase. While this isn't a review of Microcenter, just know that sales people are very helpful (because they are on commission), the store has most of the online items on the shelf, but the check-out queue can be painfully slow as cashiers are trained to push add-on sales including extended warranties (which often lead to extended explanations.)

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We ate at California Shabu Shabu located within Pan Am Shopping Center, located to the right of Safeway near the end. It was our first time eating here, and is actually also our second time having a hotpot-style meal outside of our house. First of all, the decor is very modern and has a "hipster" vibe to it. There's a bar immediately to the right as soon as you walk in along with some high tops. To the left is an amazing work of art sprawling across the wall. The main dining area is basically one long table that loops around the server work area, and everyone is seated side by side, each person having their own hotpot in front of them along with the necessary utensils such as a small strainer and ladle. Each person also has their own condiments including togarashi, fresh crushed garlic, chopped scallions, and soy sauce. Service was spot-on, our server was extremely kind and was able to explain the whole process for us and what to expect. She would also help make our sauces catered to our taste preference. All the servers were very attentive and would always make sure our pot and ice water were topped off. As for the food, absolutely delicious. At first glance the menu may seem a little intimidating but it is actually quite easy to understand once it was explained to us. The main attraction is the beef which comes in either choice, prime, or wagyu. Regardless of which grade you go with they slice it very thin to order. They also offer chicken, pork, and various seafood. By default everyone gets their own plate of assorted veggies and noodles, however, only the Napa cabbage is replenished for free. If so desired extra veggies or noodles can be added a la carte. We ended up getting two combos for both of us. Her combo consisted of choice beef, pork, and shrimp. My combo had prime beef, chicken, and salmon. For broth choices, you can either go with just a lightly seasoned clear broth, a spicy miso, or tonkotsu broth. Basically, the idea is that we are in charge of how to cook our meals, there are no right or wrong ways. Simply drop the veggies, noodles, and meat into the boiling broth for however long, and dip or not dip into one of the sauces especially created for you. Overall, our dining experience was wonderful. It was pretty quiet when we started but by the time we left the dinner crowd started moving in. We would definitely eat here again and we look...

!!!BEWARE!!!! Too many troublesome, aggressively asking/demanding $money$ homeless vagrants/felony convicts ( whom, too many, are alcoholic substance abuser's - needing the demanded $money$ help for nothing else but their next substance abuse 'fix'/bottle of alcohol - they get anything the need in life from places like The Lamb Center - they actually need no $cash$ for anything other than for their substance abuse habits ) frequent this shopping mall, pretty much 24/7 - that are 'ushered in', in 'mass', for the most part, by the lure of SUPPOSEDLY Christian based organization - The Lamb Center, located just of FX Circle/Blake Lane, just around the corner from this Pan Am shopping mall. In which is run/operated by a convict, supposedly 'ex'-long term alcoholic, himself, who extremely advocate's 'his own kind'. ( at The Lamb Center ) Leave early and be prepared to spare the extra TIME and $money$ ( if u dare! ) having to 'deal' w/them if/when headed for this particular mall. Also, many of these homeless vagrants are taking advantage of the very close-by state-run/owned property in and around the very nearby Rt.66/Nutley St. traffic interchange. Even setting up permanent camp site's - including many Hispanic/Latino's illegal immigrants whom carry parasites & diseases and are, for the most part, criminally minded criminals fleeing from their home country's because of same ( their lifetime habits in criminality ) !!!👿!!!BEWARE!!!👿!!! Also - CUSTOMER parking is alway's a huge hassle - while the business operator's/employee's take up all the close to/shady same business CUSTOMER PARKING-DESIGNATED parking space's. With all of them made/painted up to be as small as possible so getting in and out of your auto is like squeezing in and out of a full sardine's can of sardine's. While 'they smile in your face, while all the time they want to take your ( parking ) space!' ( the business operator's/employee's - are BACKSTABBER's in regards to the above mentioned parking issue ) This, typically, is the same 'TWO FACED' issue w/the parking, where ever u go - at strip mall's, etc.. Then, they smile in your face - look you straight in the eye and say - SO FAKE(!) - 😈'May I...