News Summary
The Columbia dining landscape is evolving with the opening of new venues such as Curiosity Coffee Bar inside the Richland Library, while Little Caesars is set to open a new store. Conversely, Pelican’s SnoBalls faces closure amid a landlord dispute. Additionally, the former owner of Casa Maria’s is entangled in legal troubles, and Chipotle rectifies food safety concerns post-inspection. Overall, locals can anticipate new culinary experiences while bidding farewell to some long-standing favorites.
Columbia – The Columbia area is experiencing notable changes in its dining scene with the opening of new restaurants and the closure of others. Curiosity Coffee Bar and Little Caesars are expanding their footprint, while Pelican’s SnoBalls is closing a location amid landlord disputes.
Curiosity Coffee Bar has launched a new venue within the Richland Library located at 1431 Assembly Street. This location adds to its existing cafe at 2327 Main Street in Columbia, enhancing local options for coffee lovers. The new site features a robust menu that includes hot coffee, espresso, cold brew nitro coffee, teas, hot chocolate, and breakfast sandwiches. In recognition of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the library location will serve specialty coffees sourced from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia throughout May.
Little Caesars will also make a splash in the area with the grand opening of its new store at 185 Earth Road in the Market at Spears Creek shopping center on Saturday, May 3. The Market at Spears Creek recently welcomed a Publix grocery store on April 30, signaling a growing business presence in the area. The Little Caesars event will kick off at 10 a.m., where the first 100 customers will receive free pizza for a year, along with prize wheel giveaways, a DJ, and an appearance from Little Caesar, the brand’s mascot.
In stark contrast, Pelican’s SnoBalls at 2291 Highway 1 South in Elgin will be shutting its doors on May 18 due to a landlord dispute. This location has been a part of the community for seven years, and the owners expressed their gratitude for the support received during this time. Despite this closure, the company will continue operations at its remaining location in northeast Columbia at 202 Graces Way, which is set to expand its menu to include soft-serve and scooped ice cream.
Legal troubles are also surfacing in the local restaurant scene as Crystal Umfress, the former owner of Casa Maria’s Mexican Cantina, is facing charges of second-degree arson and forgery. A judge has appointed a special prosecutor for her case, where she is accused of hiring an individual to burn down a restaurant in Kennett last October and attempting to impersonate others to investigate various businesses. Hearings for Umfress are scheduled for May 27 to establish trial dates.
On a more positive note, Chipotle Mexican Grill at 306 S. Ninth St. has rectified temperature concerns following a routine inspection that found a cooler was not maintaining the necessary temperature. Additionally, other local establishments, including Crumbl Cookies and Domino’s Pizza, have addressed minor violations during recent inspections, showing a commitment to food safety and compliance standards.
In another development, Hampton Street Vineyard has welcomed Chef Wesley Fulmer as its new executive chef and managing partner. Fulmer aims to enhance the restaurant’s offerings, alongside owner Jonathan Lopez, who has prioritized elevating the dining experience since acquiring Hampton Street Vineyard in 2019. Both Fulmer and Lopez are working towards a shared vision that prioritizes quality and exceptional customer service, positioning the restaurant as a premier fine dining destination in Columbia.
As the local restaurant landscape evolves, residents can look forward to new culinary ventures while also saying goodbye to familiar favorites. These changes reflect ongoing developments and challenges within the dining community in Columbia.
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Que! Bueno Mexican Bar & Grill Opens in Columbia
Second Arrest Made in Theft of Kristi Noem’s Purse
Additional Resources
- KOMU: Special Prosecutor Assigned to Former Columbia Restaurant Owner’s Case
- Wikipedia: Columbia, South Carolina
- KMZU: Special Prosecutor Assigned to Former Columbia Restaurant Owner’s Case
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Columbia
- Columbia Tribune: Columbia Restaurant Inspections
- Google Search: Columbia Restaurants
- Columbia Business Report: Columbia Restaurant Names New Executive Chef
- Google News: Columbia Restaurant News
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