The restaurant and retail scene across the Midlands continued to evolve and grow during 2025.

It was a year that saw scores of new businesses across the region, from Mexican restaurants to brunch spots to new high-end steakhouses and beyond. There were a number of new big box stores, some new supermarkets, and a host of boutiques and clothiers made their debuts.

What follows is a look at many of the restaurants, bars, stores and other retail businesses that launched in the Columbia and Lexington area in 2025. To be absolutely certain, it is not an exhaustive, comprehensive list of every single business that debuted this year. Rather, it is a robust sampling of the broad tapestry of retail growth reported by The State in the last 12 months.

centerSukiya Japanese Steakhouse recently opened at 360 Columbiana Drive in Columbia’s Harbison shopping area. The space was formerly long home to Yamato.Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Asian cuisine

The hibachi grills were fired up once again in December when Sukiya Japanese Steakhouse opened at 360 Columbiana Drive in Columbia . It went into the space that formerly had been Yamato.

Ni Hao Hibachi ‘N Wok, a Chinese restaurant, opened Nov. 30 at 4360 Augusta Road in Lexington . That’s in the Mills Corner shopping center near the corner of Augusta Road and Oak Drive .

The Irmo area got a new place for Asian flavors when Sumo Sushi & Hibachi opened in October at 1100 Dutch Fork Road . The menu at Sumo includes nearly three dozen different types of sushi rolls, as well as hibachi plates and more.

Downtown Columbia got a new spot for hibachi and more when Surfin Sumo opened at 1211 Taylor St. in August. It’s in the spot that formerly was home to Sandwich Depot.

A new Japanese restaurant made its debut in a busy commercial area of Lexington in July. Hibachi & Wings officially opened its doors July 23 at 5594 Sunset Blvd. sSuite B. That’s in a popular shopping strip that includes a Verizon store, a Chipotle restaurant and a Fleet Feet shoe shop, among other businesses.

Sola Ramen & Sushi opened at 185 Earth Road sSuite H in Elgin near northeast Columbia in the Market at Spears Creek shopping center that is anchored by a new Publix supermarket. The eatery has dozens of different types of sushi rolls.

Columbia’s Harbison retail district added a new Mongolian eatery in July when Yummy Bowl debuted at 1220 Bower Parkway . That’s in a section of the Columbiana Station shopping center that is anchored by the Regal Columbiana Grande movie theater.

Bibimbox Korean Kitchen & Wings opened in April at 275 Park Terrace Drive , near Bower Parkway , in the busy Harbison retail district northwest of downtown Columbia . They serve bibimbap, hibachi bowls, tteokbokki, Korean shaved ice and more.

Panda Express Chinese Kitchen , which has locations across the U.S. , opened its doors Friday, May 2 , at 5416 Platt Springs Road near Red Bank .

centerVoodoo Brewing Company in Lexington will be opening soon. The restaurant and bar is located on Lexington’s Main Street .Tracy Glantztglantz@thestate.com

Bars and clubs

The Skyline Club , a popular West Columbia club that was long known for country music and line dancing, reopened its doors Nov. 1 . Located at 100 Lee St. The Skyline had been closed since 2023.

A sports bar called The Yard opened in October at 1626 Main St. , near the Cannon parking garage. It’s an effort from LTC Hospitality, which has a number of restaurant concepts in the Main Street corridor and elsewhere.

Downtown Lexington got a new place for beer, food and good times in October when Voodoo Brewing began serving at 102 W. Main St. It’s at the northwest corner of Main and Church streets, near the Icehouse Amphitheater .

Also in Lexington , the Charter 803 Bar & Grill opened over the summer at 269 Charter Oak Road in the location that formerly was known as Lexington Tap House . It’s about a mile north of Lexington High School .

A new spot moved into the former Carolina Western Pub location on Lady Street in Columbia when Bailey’s debuted in the fall. That’s in the heart of the Vista hospitality and nightlife district.

Champagne Restaurant & Lounge opened at 902 Gervais St. in the Vista in 2025. The establishment has touted “elevated cuisine, live entertainment, and a plush two-level space designed for unforgettable nights” on social media.

centerBreakfast at Ruiz has opened a new Midlands location at 566 Spears Creek Church Road in Elgin , near northeast Columbia.Photo from Breakfast at Ruiz’s Facebook

Breakfast and Brunch

A West Columbia spot known for its brunch added a second location, this time near northeast Columbia , when Breakfast at Ruiz opened at 566 Spears Creek Church Road in Elgin in October. The breakfast spot is in the space that formerly was home to Ratio .

Meanwhile, the owners of the former Random Tap at 117 Spears Creek Church Road in Elgin reimagined the space in 2025, turning it into Eatery 117, which offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and more.

Biscuitville Fresh Southern, which has had biscuit restaurants in Southern states for decades, opened a new location at 10605 Broad River Road , near Dutch Fork Road , in Irmo in January.

centerA burger and fries from Mel’s Dairy Bar in Forest Acres, SC .

Burgers

Rural Lexington County got a new spot for burgers and breakfast in November when Hardee’s opened at 8039 Edmund Highway in Pelion . It is one of 1,500 Hardee’s locations across the U.S.

If you like burgers, fries and really thick milkshakes, you are in luck. Cookout, the well-known chain, opened a location in July at 1413 Charleston Highway in West Columbia .

This was a year when Whataburger continued its march into the Midlands . The Texas -based chain opened several locations in the area in 2025, including one at 4456 Devine St. in Columbia , one at 5440 Platt Springs Road in the Red Bank area, and one at 888 S. Lake Drive in Lexington .

Sonic Drive-In, which has locations across the U.S. , debuted a new spot on July 1 at 2207 Airport Blvd. in Cayce . That’s just west of Interstate 26 , in front of a Country Inn & Suites hotel.

The Forest Acres area got a new burger spot in a familiar location. Mel’s Dairy Bar opened in June at 3239 Forest Drive in the spot where a Zesto used to be. Mel’s serves burgers, ice cream, fried chicken and more.

Cajun and Creole

A taste of New Orleans hit downtown Columbia in March when Bistreaux on Assembly opened at 1301 Assembly St. It offers a host of Cajun and Creole favorites, including red beans &and rice, shrimp or crawfish étouffée, chicken & beignets and more.

centerA sign announces Bojangles at 109 Bo Tire Way , near Hwy. 378 , in Lexington is now open.Photo by Chris Trainor

Chicken places

Guthrie’s Chicken made its debut in the Midlands in 2025 with a pair of new restaurants. The first of those came in April at 2404 Mineral Springs Road in Lexington . And a second location opened in December at 339 Generations Way in northeast Columbia .

It’s their pleasure: Chick-fil-A opened a new location at 425 Bush River Road in Columbia . It replaced an older version of the fast food chain that was down the street for years. Meanwhile, in August Chick -fil-A also opened a new restaurant in the Gateway 737 development in downtown Columbia across from Colonial Life Arena

Chex Grill & Wings , which has restaurants across the Carolinas, opened a Columbia location in October at 2800 Rosewood Drive . It’s in a shopping complex anchored by a Publix supermarket.

Wingstop , the national chicken wing chain with a strong presence in the Midlands , opened a new location at 132 Assembly St. in downtown Columbia . That’s in a strip of shops near the intersection with Whaley Street that includes Addam’s Gamecock Store . Meanwhile, Wingstop also opened a location at 185 Earth Road in Elgin in 2025.

Columbia’s Five Points got a little cockier when Cocky Rooster, a new chicken restaurant, opened in March at 2019 Devine St. They’ve got wings, tenders, sandwiches, fries and plenty of specialty sauces.

Things got a little spicy at 109 Bo Tire Way in Lexington in February when Bojangles opened a new store there. The chicken joint is adjacent to U.S. 378 not far from Lake Murray .

centerA new Copper Penny location has opened at 743 Saluda Ave. in Columbia’s Five Points.Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Clothing

The Columbiana Centre got a new place for sneakers and more when JD Sports opened its doors in November. It’s on the northern end of the mall, near Hollister and Auntie Anne’s pretzels.

Outdoor clothing store Sierra, which has locations across the U.S. , opened a new store at 136 Harbison Blvd. in Columbia on Oct. 18 . The store is in the Columbiana Station shopping center, in the section that also includes a Target, a Publix, a Rack Room Shoes and other national brands.

Tradehome Shoes , which has stores across numerous states, opened a new location in the Columbiana Centre mall in October. Brands the company carries include Nike, New Balance, Adidas, On, Oofos, Reef, Timberland and Steve Madden , among a number of others.

The Harbison area of Columbia got a new place for University of South Carolina and Clemson gear when Rivals A Store Divided opened in August at 108 Park Terrace Drive . This was the second Rivals location, following the original in Florence .

National retailer Burlington expanded its Midlands footprint in November when it opened a store at 6880 Garners Ferry Road in Columbia . That’s a short distance from the Dorn Veterans Affairs Medical Center .

Mountain High Outfitters , which has locations in a number of states across the U.S. , opened its first South Carolina location in 2025 at the Columbiana Centre mall just off busy Harbison Boulevard . The store carries a number of outdoor clothing brands including The North Face, Patagonia, Hoka, Birkenstock and others.

Copper Penny, which was founded nearly four decades ago and has several locations in the South, opened a new spot in March at 743 Saluda Avenue in Five Points. It’s right between Uptown Gifts and Bang Back Pinball Lounge .

centerMethodical Coffee has opened on the ground floor of the WestLawn building at the BullStreet District in Columbia , SC.Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Coffee

A Greenville favorite brought its vibes to Columbia in October when Methodical Coffee opened at 2149 Pickens St. in the BullStreet District . That’s on the ground floor of the WestLawn office building.

Vibez Coffee opened in August at 622 Canalside St. in the Sola Station complex in the Canalside development near the Congaree River . They have specialty coffees and teas, as well as baked goods.

The trendy Cardinal Crossing development on Forest Drive in Forest Acres got a new spot for a sip when Lazy Daisy Coffee Co. opened in July. It serves coffee that is roasted by Methodical, and also offers baked good and more.

Something new was brewing in Lexington in February when Canal Coffee Co. opened up at 510 Columbia Ave. They have coffee, tea, smoothies, energy drinks, breakfast items and more.

centerThe Cuban sandwich at Caribe Cuban Cafe in West Columbia.Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Cuban food

West Columbia got a taste of Cuba in November when Caribe Cuban Cafe began serving at 3813 Augusta Road . They’ve got a host of Cuban delicacies, including churrasco, which is a grilled skirt steak with chimichurri, and ropa vieja, which is slow-braised shredded beef in tomato sauce.

Cuban Corner, which has been a popular vendor at the weekly Soda City Market, brought a brick-and-mortar restaurant to 1212 Hampton St. in October. It’s next door to the Hampton Place Cafe , near the intersection of Hampton and Sumter streets.

centerA Murphy USA gas station was built where a Hooters used to be in the 7700 block of Two Notch Road .Paul Osmundsonposmundson@thestate.com

Gas stations and convenience stores

Where once there were Buffalo wings and ice-cold draft beer, now there is a place to fill up your gas tank. Murphy USA , the gas station and convenience store chain with locations across the U.S. , built a new store at 7711 Two Notch Road in Columbia . That’s on the property that formerly was long home to a Hooters restaurant that closed in June 2024 .

Circle K , which has locations across the U.S. and many stores in the Midlands , opened a new location at 5904 Platt Springs Road , at the corner of Platt Springs and Kyzer roads in the Red Bank area. That’s about a mile southwest of White Knoll High School .

centerPublix opened a new store at 185 Earth Road in Elgin, SC on April 30 , 2025.Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Groceries, markets and big box places

Columbia got its second Trader Joe’s in December when a new location opened at 275 Harbison Blvd. That’s in the Harbison Center shopping complex, next door to 2nd & Charles.

A major membership warehouse retailer opened a new location in the Midlands . BJ’s Wholesale Club , a Massachusetts -based company with locations throughout the U.S. , debuted a new store on Dec. 12 at 1475 Alice Drive in Sumter . It’s the third BJ’s in South Carolina , following locations in Myrtle Beach and Summerville .

Growth in the Red Bank area continued with the November opening of Lowes Foods supermarket at 5436 Platt Springs Road in the burgeoning Platt Springs Crossing development. It is the sixth Lowes Foods in the Midlands .

The popular Rosewood Market opened a new “mini” location during the fall at 601 Main St. in Columbia . The market is in the space that formerly was home to The Corner Blend smoothie place.

Dollar Tree , which has stores across the U.S. and the Midlands , opened a new location in 2025 in the Shoppes at Woodhill shopping center at 6090 Garners Ferry Road . The discount store went into the space that formerly was home to Party City.

The Elgin area near northeast Columbia got a major grocery upgrade in April when Publix opened a new 47,000-square-foot supermrket at 185 Earth Road in a newly constructed shopping center. It employs about 140 people, per the company.

centerPeople gather on April 9, 2025 at the grand opening of The Laundry, a new event space venue in the BullStreet District .Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Food hall and other BullStreet things

Excitement hit Columbia’s BullStreet in December when Gather COLA, Columbia’s first open-air food hall, officially opened. It features 10 different restaurants, two bars, micro retailers and more, just a couple blocks from Segra Park .

The Laundry, a new event venue, officially opened in April at 2046 Talley St. in the BullStreet District , right behind The Babcock apartment development. It features nearly 8,000 square feet of event space across two levels, geared toward weddings, corporate gatherings and any number of special occasions.

A new spot for breakfast, brunch and more debuted in February in the BullStreet District when Tupelo Honey opened at 2138 Pickens St. It’s on the ground floor of the Bennet at BullStreet apartment development, next door to Segra Park .

centerThe Schezwan fried rice at Vedha Indian Cafe in Lexington , SC.Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Indian cuisine

A taste of India came to a bustling area of Lexington in July when Vedha Indian Cafe opened its doors at 5076 Sunset Blvd. Suite A in the McCauley Square shopping center. That’s across the street from the Lexington Target store.

A restaurant that blends the flavors of Mexico and India opened in January in northeast Columbia . Bowl N’ Burrito is located at 2000 Clemson Road and has burritos and bowls can be customized with a number of tastes, including tikka masala, butter masala, Indian curries and more.

centerTacos from Mi Tierra De Maiz in West Columbia.Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Mexican food

A new spot for Mexican cuisine debuted near the Township Auditorium . San Jose Jr., which is a smaller version of the many San Jose Mexican restaurants across the Midlands , opened its doors Oct. 13 at 1616 Taylor St.

Downtown Columbia got a new Mexican restaurant when Que! Bueno, a growing local chain, opened a location at 1467 Sumter St. in September. It’s right next door to Greek Boys in the heart of the Main Street District .

Na’cho Margarita opened its doors July 22 at 712 W. Main St. in Lexington . This marked the second location of the restaurant in the Midlands , following the original spot on Lake Murray .

Mi Tierra De Maiz Restaurante Guatemalteco & Mexicano Latin Grill opened in July at 1505 Charleston Hwy. in West Columbia at the Granby Village shopping center. The new Latin eatery is a couple doors down from the Golden Chopstix Asian restaurant and other shops such as The Mail Room and Barbara Jane’s Boutique.

Lower Richland got a new Mexican spot in July when Mr. Flaco’s Tacos made its debut at 10115-A Garners Ferry Road in the Eastover area. They’ve got tacos, burritos, tortas, empanadas and more.

A new Mexican spot opened near Lake Murray . La Fogata is located at 1605 N. Lake Drive in Lexington . This marked the fourth La Fogata location in the Midlands .

The growing Platt Springs Crossing development in the Red Bank area of Lexington County added a new spot for burritos and more in April when Chipotle opened its doors there. It is one of several restaurants and businesses that have started up at the development.

El Charro Express Mexican Restaurant officially opened its doors on March 3 at 4350 Augusta Road in Lexington . The Mexican eatery is near the intersection of Augusta Road and St. Davids Church Road , just east of the Barnyard flea market.

The Vista got a new spot for Mexican eats in February when Taco Mundo Kitchen y Cantina debuted. It’s located at 828 Gervais St. in the space that formerly was home to Liberty Tap Room for two decades.

centerA pizza from Rock N Pizza in the Village at Sandhill in Northeast Columbia.Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Pizza

Where once there was pizza, there is pizza once again. Rock N Pizza opened in November at the Village at Sandhill complex in northeast Columbia . It is in the same spot that formerly was home to Blaze Pizza , which closed in September.

New York-style pizza came to downtown Columbia in October when Manhattan Pie opened at 1004 Gervais St. in the Vista. The spot serves pizza by the whole pie or the slice, and also has chicken wings, salads and more.

In August, Domino’s, one of the nation’s largest pizza companies, put a new shop in the Gateway 737 student living development on Gadsden Street , right across the street from the University of South Carolina’s Colonial Life Arena .

Little Caesars , the ubiquitous pizza chain, debuted a new location at 185 Earth Road in Elgin near northeast Columbia . That’s in the Market at Spears Creek shopping center.

Buck’s Pizza, which has locations in a number of states, opened a new spot in February at 101 Sandalwood Road in Leesville . That’s on the shores of Lake Murray near Prices Bridge Road , on the western side of the lake in Lexington County .

centerBOHO Links, formerly known as Lake Murray Golf Center, had a soft opening event from 4 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2025 at 2032 Old Hilton Road in Chapin.Photo provided

Recreation

Fore! The golf balls are flying again at 2032 Old Hilton Road in Chapin after BOHO Links opened its gates. The driving range and more is a resurrection of the property that formerly was home to Lake Murray Golf Center.

It was “game on” in the Vista in February. The Game Show Challenge, an entertainment venue that lets groups of players participate in game show scenarios, complete with a professional host, opened its doors at 823 Gervais St. Suite 120 in the nightlife and entertainment district.

centerPressed Panini restaurant recently opened at 2712 Emanuel Church Road in West Columbia.Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Sandwiches and delis

A new spot for sandwiches debuted in West Columbia when Pressed Panini, which offers paninis, flatbreads, salads and more, opened its doors in October at 2712 Emanuel Church Road in West Columbia . That’s near the intersection of Emanuel Church and Platt Springs roads.

A busy area near northeast Columbia got a new spot for sandwiches when Firehouse Subs opened at 572 Spears Creek Church Road in Elgin in August.

centerMartin’s Landing Bar & Grill recently opened at 849 Marina Way in Prosperity along the shores of Lake Murray .Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Steaks, seafood and other American dining

Ember, a high-end steakhouse from a group of well-known local restaurateurs including Steve Cook and others, opened its doors in June at 101 W. Main St. in Lexington , at the southwest corner of the intersection of Main and Church streets, adjacent to the popular Icehouse Amphitheater .

Lake Murray got a new spot to eat when Martin’s Landing Bar & Grill opened in March at 849 Marina Way in Prosperity, right on the water. They’ve got burgers, shrimp & grits, chicken tenders, chicken sandwiches, fish sandwiches, salads and more.

Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks opened a Columbia location in March at 942- B Harden St. in Five Points. The company, which gained fame in Atlanta , offers cheesesteak sandwiches, egg rolls, fries and more.

A new spot for seafood and chicken opened in February in Irmo . Hutto Seafood & Wings is located at 7467 St. Andrews Road in Irmo , in the shopping center that is anchored by a Kroger grocery store.

Grace Lounge & Cafe opened in January at 515 Meeting St. in West Columbia . The menu includes offerings such as shrimp and fries, Philly cheesesteaks, hamburgers, and teriyaki wings.

centerBlueberry muffins at Twisted Whisk.Photo by Chris Trainorchtrainor@thestate.com

Sweet treats

It wasn’t closed for long. The Dear Donut, located at 728 Dewitt Drive in Lugoff , reopened with new ownership on Nov. 18 after a brief closure. The shop offers doughnuts, breakfast sandwiches, frappes and more.

Hava Smoothie Cafe debuted in November at 914 N. Lake Drive in Lexington . That’s in the popular Lexington Town Centre shopping complex at the corner of N. Lake Drive and Sunset Boulevard . The smoothie cafe is located in a space between a Moe’s Southwest Grill and a Jimmy John’s sandwich shop.

It’s just peachy: The Peach Cobbler Factory opened a new Midlands location in October at 7467 St. Andrews Road in Irmo .

16 Handles, which has frozen yogurt and soft serve ice cream locations across the U.S. , opened a new location on June 28 in the Trenholm Plaza shopping center at 4840 Forest Drive Suite 19.

A business that has been a favorite at Soda City Market opened a brick-and-mortar location. JJ’s Place opened its bakery at 557 Meeting St. in West Columbia in June, offering breads, brownies, danishes, muffins, scones and more.

Lexington got a little bit sweeter in 2025 as Twisted Whisk – which has been operating as a special order business for cakes, cupcakes and other treats for several years – opened a new storefront and walk-in shop at 206 W. Main St. The walk-in part of the operation officially opened on May 3 .

Coffee-and-doughnut giant Dunkin’ and ice cream favorite Baskin-Robbins opened a combo restaurant in 2025 at 1003 DeKalb St. in Camden . They’ve got coffee, doughnuts, ice cream and other treats.

Cold Stone Creamery , which has ice cream shops across the U.S. , opened a new location at 4333 Fort Jackson Blvd. That’s right next door to the Cross Hill Market shopping center that’s just off nearby Devine Street and anchored by a Whole Foods grocery store.

Looking for a muffin and also a chance to meet a feline friend? Well, you’re in luck. Cat Daddy Cat Cafe opened in 2025 at 2533 Main St. in Columbia . The cafe allows customers to grab a snack or sweet treat and then spend time with the many cats that call the cafe home.