Columbia, August 22, 2025
News Summary
Bessie’s Burgers and More is transitioning from a food truck to a permanent location in the upcoming Gather COLA food hall in Columbia’s BullStreet District. Scheduled to open in Fall 2025, Gather COLA will feature ten restaurant spaces, two bars, and an outdoor area for events. The food hall will provide a diverse culinary experience, solidifying its role as a community dining hub with vendors offering a range of delicious foods. This marks an exciting development for local food enthusiasts.
Columbia, South Carolina – Bessie’s Burgers and More is set to join the new Gather COLA food hall, currently under development in the BullStreet District of Columbia. The announcement made via social media this week has elicited significant excitement among food enthusiasts, marking the expansion of the popular Bessie’s Bites & Sweet Delights food truck into a permanent location.
Gather COLA, which is expected to open its doors in the Fall of 2025, will showcase a diverse menu featuring smashburgers, sweets, sides, and more from Bessie’s Burgers and More. This new venue aims to enhance the community dining experience by hosting a variety of food and beverage vendors, alongside Bessie’s offering, with the intent of creating a vibrant shared meal atmosphere.
Located at the intersection of Sabal and Freed streets, near the REI outdoor store, Gather COLA covers a total area of 32,000 square feet. Within this space, it will house ten unique restaurant spaces, two bars, and an outdoor area designed for live entertainment. Additionally, the facility will include 8,500 square feet of office space across multiple floors.
Bessie’s Bites & Sweet Delights is celebrated for its southern flavors and warm hospitality, attributes the owners are excited to bring to their new establishment. Bessie’s Burgers and More marks the fourth food truck to transition into a permanent spot at Gather COLA, joining other notable vendors such as Spicy Voodoo’s Big Easy Seafood, Los Chicanos, and Smoke It Up. Earlier this summer, additional vendors including Bull & Bread and Cocobowlz were announced, along with Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles, a James Beard Award-nominated restaurant.
In addition to the culinary offerings, Gather COLA will also feature Remedy, a new cocktail bar that will overlook an amphitheater, further enhancing the entertainment quotient of the food hall. Gather COLA is modeled after its predecessor, Gather GVL food hall in Greenville, with the shared goal of capturing the energy and spirit of the community around food.
This development is being executed by a collaboration of Greenville’s Four Oaks Property Group, Cason Development, and Hughes Development. The fusion of culinary options and communal spaces at Gather COLA is projected to serve as a flagship destination within Columbia’s dynamic BullStreet District, promising a rich array of dining experiences for both locals and visitors alike.
Key Features of Gather COLA
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Total Area | 32,000 square feet |
| Number of Restaurant Spaces | 10 |
| Office Space | 8,500 square feet across multiple floors |
| Outdoor Entertainment Area | Designed for live performances |
| Number of Bars | 2 |
| Opening Date | Fall 2025 |
FAQ Section
What is Bessie’s Burgers and More?
Bessie’s Burgers and More is a new food establishment that will be located in the Gather COLA food hall, offering a menu specializing in smashburgers and southern flavors.
When is Gather COLA set to open?
Gather COLA is scheduled to open in Fall 2025.
What other vendors will be present at Gather COLA?
Other vendors will include Spicy Voodoo’s Big Easy Seafood, Los Chicanos, Smoke It Up, Bull & Bread, Cocobowlz, and Kiki’s Chicken and Waffles, among others.
What are the key features of Gather COLA?
Key features include 32,000 square feet of space, ten restaurant spaces, an outdoor entertainment area, and two bars, along with office space for businesses.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- The State
- Cola Today
- WIS TV
- WLTX
- Post and Courier
- Wikipedia: Columbia, South Carolina
- Google Search: Gather COLA
- Google Scholar: Food Halls
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Culture
- Google News: Columbia Food Hall
Author: STAFF HERE LEXINGTON WRITER
The LEXINGTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELexington.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Lexington, Fayette County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Woodland Art Fair, Crave Food and Music Festival, and Railbird Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like Commerce Lexington and Blue Grass Community Foundation, plus leading businesses in education, manufacturing, and technology that power the local economy such as University of Kentucky, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, and Lexmark. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBowlingGreen.com and HERELouisville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Kentucky's dynamic landscape.
