Your top ideas from 600+ responses. 💭

TBH, I couldn’t imagine a better time to be a Soda Citizen.

Every single day it seems as if we get to tell y’all about new restaurant openings, big development announcements + more companies deciding to do business in Columbia.

With so many opportunities for growing businesses and entrepreneurs in Cola’s blooming developments (like the BullStreet District, Devine Station + Brookland) and evolving neighborhoods (like Five Points + Main St.), we wanted to know what you want to come here + fill those spaces.

So last month, we asked: What if Columbia had __________? And you told us what you wanted – with 600+ responses.

Here are the top 10 things you want to see come to Cola, pulled from the most-popular answers to our question.

1️⃣ Top Golf

More than 30 of you had the same request on your Cola wish list: Topgolf, a.k.a. a driving range in the sky. Ask and you shall receive… kinda. A couple weeks ago, Topgolf announced they’ll be launching S.C.’s first Swing Suite – a 21+ indoor virtual golf facility, with suites that you rent by the hour – at the Venue on Main this Fall.

2️⃣ More riverfront dining/access

A lot of people made mention of Wilmington’s riverfront district. This is what it looks like (and we totally dig it):

But with the Brookland and Sola Station developments in the works, we’re certainly making strides towards a more popping riverfront area (with riverfront dining). 🙌

Here’s what you said:

🗣“Boardwalk along the river with shops and restaurants. It will attract tourists and put Columbia on the map” –@almassri

🗣“A 1,000+ capacity riverside lakeside amphitheater downtown that can draw as much awesome live music as @greenfieldlakeamp in Wilmington!” –@soulshinesista

3️⃣ Apple Store

Even though rumors are alway swirling about Columbia getting an Apple Store, according to experts, we’ll probably never get one because our city’s retail districts are scattered all over the Midlands – rather than everything in one centralized location. Lame.

🗣“I would love an Apple Store in Columbia. The main campus of USC is located here. Yet I have to travel to Charleston or Augusta to get to an Apple store.” –Tina F.

🗣”An Apple Store, but not just a store, a gathering space: like this.” –Ernest G.

4️⃣Public transit

I live all the way out in Lexington… and with traffic it sometimes take me an hour to get home. I’d fully support some type of light rail (similar to Charlotte) that could just zip me home in 15 minutes. I know I’m reaching for the stars here. 🙃

But we do have The COMET – which is working on expanding its services (including routes to Lexington + NE Columbia). We also have the Soda Cap Connector, offering free rides around downtown Cola. We just need to take better advantage of our resources.

🗣“A metro system that ran between Cola, West Cola, and Lexington!” – M. Bryan

🗣“A light rail/subway system or even better an electronic personal rapid transit system like the PRT at WVU, Morgantown, WV. This would be good for the environment, cutting down on the use of cars, bypassing the darned trains, reducing the need for parking, bypassing traffic, connecting various points of the city very rapidly. If we cannot do that we should at least look at improving existing mass transportation looking at it regionally--combining USC and city buses for instance and looking at free comprehensive bus service like they have in Chapel Hill, NC. –Sue C.

5️⃣ Waterpark

Did you know that there’s a waterpark in Orangeburg run by the YMCA? And don’t forget about Palmetto Falls Water Park on Fort Jackson – even though it’s on the military base, it’s still open to the public. But we know what you mean – the closest commercial water park is in Myrtle Beach.

🗣“A water park...it’s so hot here!!!” –Adleen S.

🗣“Waterpark and putt putt. Need more family friendly places.” –Kristen B.

While we wait for this to happen, check out some of Cola’s splash pads (no waterpark, but work with me here).

6️⃣ Bike lanes/trails

🗣“More dedicated bike paths that allowed people to get around the city safely. The River walk is great but I’d like to be able to ride my bike to the vista, main street or forest acres. Bike lanes are ok but something like the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Greenville would be amazing; off the street, extra wide, flat, well-marked and straight (unlike the river walk). Ride my bike to Curiosity Coffee, Columbia Craft or The Nick? Yes, Please!! Convert the train tracks to bike paths!!” –Jaime E.

🗣“A walk bike path connecting West Columbia to The Vista over the Congaree River? With the upcoming connection to the Zoo, think of the foot and bike traffic on both sides. Then take the path from Vista to the baseball and then football stadium so people could walk or ride or catch a ride to the games and breweries near the stadium.” –Jim C.

Remember with Beth tested out how bike-friendly Columbia was? While Columbia is making efforts to allow easier access to bikes (i.e. the bike share program, likely to launch in August or September, and eBike Central, which just opened in Main St.’s Arcade Mall), we agree we need to be more bike-friendly with where we can ride. Currently, the city is working on a Bike Pedestrian Master Plan, but hasn’t earmarked any funds for bike lanes.

In the meantime, stay tuned for Cola Town Bike Collective’s app, Sprocket, that’ll help cyclists navigate around busier roads to pedal more safely from point A to point B.

7️⃣ More (and cheaper) flight options

🗣This one might be a bit random, but I think we need a discount airline! Frontier Airlines and Allegiant are flying out of both Greenville and Charleston, but Cola has so few options. Cheaper flight options would be a great asset to Cola-area residents and would also attract more visitors. –Alyssa Y.

🗣“international airport would be great.” –@RavMyFav

We would love discount airlines to come (back) to CAE. (Yes, they were once here, but left because the demand wasn’t.) As for flight pricing, that all boils down to supply and demand. Bottom line: The more people use CAE airport, the cheaper it becomes for everyone.

CAE recently reported seeing double digit growth this year because their fares are better and the airlines have added capacity (like American doubling down to Dallas/Ft. Worth starting last month + Delta increasing aircraft size this fall). There are 53,000 more seats for sale from CAE in 2018 vs. 2017. So let’s book those seats to attract more airlines + drive down ticket pricing.

8️⃣ Cheesecake Factory

We don’t haaaaaate the idea. A mid-scale chain restaurant specializing in cheesecakes + a variety of complimentary bread – along with a food menu so gigantic it reads more like a novel. Seriously: it even includes an entire section devoted to something called Glamburgers – which, upon closer inspection, appear to just be regular ole’ hamburgers… so there’s that.

Remember when The State reached out to them at the end of last year? They didn’t say yes, but they didn’t say no either…

🗣“A Cheesecake Factory and a dine-in movie theater like the ones in Charlotte would be really nice. –Rosheene H.

9️⃣ Rock climbing facility

It appears the only rock climbing wall Columbia has is at the Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center, which isn’t open to the public; just UofSC students. Here’s what we found in S.C., and of course, there’s always the walls at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte.

Could one go into the Venue on Main next to our new Swing Suite?

🗣“If someone would open a new climbing gym here, I’d be their first customer.” –@zackdjames

🗣”...a rock climbing place to give people something active to do on hot days & to foster a community for outdoor lovers.” –@elliegwu

🔟 More rooftop restaurants and bars

We’re pretty limited on rooftop bar options right now – with pretty much just the rooftop lounge on top of the Sheraton on Main St. (and some second-story options like River Rat’s new rooftop). But just last month there was an announcement of new rooftop restaurant, Hendrix, coming to 1649 Main St. this Fall, as well as news of a second-story restaurant being planned above Drake’s Duck-In on Main St.

🗣Would love to see a similar concept to the Workshop in Charleston. An “exploratory food court” with rotating vendors and indoor/outdoor/rooftop seating. –@akmoffat

🗣“Outdoor food court with pop up restaurants. May be on top of one of the empty garages?” –cal_boy1962

We’re so down for the idea of the next rooftop bar going on top of a food hall.

Thank you to everyone who answered our question + gave your input on what should come to our fair city. We know developers are listening to what you want – and we can’t wait to see if some of your wishes come true.

Here a few honorable mentions from your Cola wish lists... And some interesting requests.

Amphitheater. I know it’s a small trek from downtown Cola, but Lexington’s Icehouse Amphitheater is pretty cool – with events like live concerts, movie showings + an annual chili cook-off. We also have the amphitheater in West Cola on the Riverwalk, which also hosts concerts + other events, like Brookland Brunch.

“Get rid of the live police show they film in town.” –@kathleenb93

Dim sum restaurant. So many people suggested this. Perhaps somewhere in Five Points? I’m always down for more ethnic food options.

More public dog parks. One is planned for the 20-acre public park being built in the BullStreet District. Also, check out this list of 5 dog parks around Cola.

“A place full of arcade games? More graffiti or just painting in general. Places for ppl to take pics for aesthetic feels lol.” –@thaartist__. This roundup of insta-worthy backdrops should, hopefully, do for now.

P.F. Changs, Quick Trip, 7-11, IKEA, H&M. Fancy gas stations + big chains. Hmm.

“A larger green initiative, such as bans on styrofoam/single use plastics, more recycling options, and composting being a norm in restaurants.” –Susan. Preach. 🙌 A couple weeks ago, we actually asked our readers which local businesses in Cola has done away with plastic straws, and there are quite a few.

Don’t see your idea on here? Add it to the conversations happening over on our Facebook, Instagram + Twitter.

#Asked and #Answered is one way we love getting your opinions on what is or should be happening in our city. Look out for more of these – and if you have a question (or an answer to one of our questions) – hit us up via email, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

–Sam