The vacant space at 1307 Main St. (next to Cantina 76) has been sitting empty since December 2016 – when Atlanta Bread Company closed its doors for good. In 2016, N.C.-based breakfast restaurant Famous Toastery (which now has a location in NE Columbia) announced it would move into the building to start upfitting the space in 2017 + open in 2018 – but that never panned out.
Today, the 3,850 sqft. of retail space at 1307 Main St. is being managed by local commercial real estate company Trinity Partners – and they want to know what type of business you want to see occupy the space (so maybe they can make it happen).
We asked you to tell us what biz you want to come to Main St., with bonus points for tagging the business in a comment on our posts – because #TBT to when y’all wanted Home Team BBQ to come to the old Harper’s in Five Points… and now it’s happening. 👀
From Korean BBQ and tapas to bookstores and a hookah lounge, click the button below to see all 176 of your answers. ⬇
Restaurants
Salad shops
“@Chopt or @Potbelly!” -@jmacleod823
“@Chopt” -@thirddogrock
“Potbelly, CAVA or Chop’t Creative Salad Company” -Brielle H.
“@chop’t” -Rock D.
“Chopt Creative Salad Co.” -Ashley Elizabeth K.
“Saladworks or something comparable!” -Mackenzie H
“@eatatverde 🥗❤️” -@allio84
“@choptsalad ‼️” -@rebeccakaze
“@vinaigrettesalads” -@lanejgoodwin
“@happyandhale or @choptsalad or an authentic bagel spot !” -@cjquinn07
“@happyandhale !” -@gray_toney
“@happyandhale” -@alison_grossman
“@choptsalad” -@mckenzie_roland
“@choptsalad or @vivachicken” -@berryhicks
“@choptsalad” -@amberdanielle_87
“@coolgreenseatery” -@fergusonhall75
“@choptsalad @jtbelz” -@cmespie
Chick-Fil-A
“@Chickfila” -@lizlocke_33
“Chik-fil-A. They had a booming business when they were nextdoor by left when the rent increased. They were rumored to be moving under the Hub when it was finished but alas they didn’t.” -Deborah J.
“CFA!!!” -Marc M.
“Chick-Fil-A or a Biscuit Head!!!!” -Alex W.
“@chickfila! I remember when it was in the Cantina spot.” -@hardcore34
“@chickfila !!!” -@emjeanot
And everything in between...
“Biscuit head!” -Jessica S
“Maple Street Biscuit Company” -Scott B.
“I second a Chopt or diner concept (maybe open 24 hours?). In terms of chains, a Paris Baguette or Bon Chon would be fantastic. Something locally grown but similar to Decatur’s Brick Store Pub or Charleston’s Leon’s Oyster Shop would be fun.” - Renee Williamson C.
“Chip’s or Freshe Poke” @thirddogrock
“@WaffleHouse” -@ColaCol02541539
“Tupelo Honey would be great.” -Monica W.
“Chicken Salad Chick” -Kelly W.
“Anything but pizza” Deanna A.
“A second dukes thai location or a noodles & co.” -Shannon A.
“Columbia needs a tea room.” -Fran S.
“A Indian restaurant or seafood restaurant like crab shack or a proper bakery with all cakes or may be ice cream parlor ..” -Subhshri S.
“Sandy’s Hot Dogs 🌭” - Brantley C.
“Metro Diner!” -Jennifer M.
“We need burgers or BBQ in that spot! @southernbellybbq BURGERFI, Higher Ground Char House, or maybe @kairos or CAVA.” -Jenna B.
“Chicken Salad Chick” -Pat Z.
“Can we just expand cantina 🥰🥰” -Katherine A.
“Doner kebab shop” -Zach P.
“A keto eatery.” -Rumi L.
“@dukes_pad_thai” -@hildyerbrannon
“@bibibopasiangrill” -@katieallgor
“Dim Sum” -@geo___rge
“Bryn Davis I’ll keep saying it til I’m blue in the face! we need a Bryn and Danes down here!! 😉🙏🏻” -Erin Burns D.
“A good taco shop” -Arif Ashfaq R.
“Kairos Greek Kitchen” -Karen G.
“A second The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli!” -Melissa Brantley L.
“A second Drake’s Duck In location.” -David Russell S.
“Either another Inakaya Watanabe or The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli.” -Carissa O.
“BurgerFi” -Amanda H.
“Also the answer is @elburrito_columbia” -@pauldoesntexist
“@noodlescompany” -@chelccamille
“Tapas bar! Or, a place with healthy Paleo, Whole30 or Keto options” -Amber Wagner G.
“any place i can ride my bike ..park .. sit outside...order food and drink a beer )” -Brett K.
“Korean BBQ like Iron Age. Or Dim Sum. Or Sichuan Hot Pot. Or a Cava. We seriously need a @cava” -@arieffermadness
“El Burrito!” -@ejconner
“How about a diner.. maybe call it main st diner” -@thisisjamesdavid
“@dukes_pad_thai” -@maureenemilygrewe
“@tazzakitchen” -@maureenemilygrewe
“@j_c_williams_#lizardsthicket” -@frederickcarpenter
“@basic_kitchen !!!!” -@brielogue
“@sorghumsalt !!!” -@brielogue
“I sure miss White Duck Taco!” -@alebon37
“A place to eat or drink for sure” -@al_braun
“@huskrestaurant@husknashville @huskgreenville@husksavannah we deserve nice things in @columbiasc!!! In fact, we demand it!” -@somer_daze
“@chickensaladchick” -@elise_marshall
“@grouchos_deli” -@reeveballew
“@sullyssteamers” -@emily.l.dunn
“@mattorr_21 i miss @zoeskitchen sooooo baaadddd” -@lanejgoodwin
“@tupelohoneycafeTupelo Honey!” -@carolinatbrown
“@freshepoke! 🍣🍚” -@gamecockgirl76
“How about a great Indian restaurant?” -@amykuenzie
“@arieffermadnessohhhhhh.... we need dim sum and Sichuan hot pot.” -@homeslicebaker
“@homeslicebaker for real the Asian food in this town is atrocious. I’ve tried half of 929s menu and it’s depressing how bad they fucked up korean cuisine. Almost as bad a m vista and tsunami for Japanese cuisine” -@arieffermadness
“@fatbabybakingco” -@thicc.hank
“DiPrato’s or Chicken Salad Chick!” _@sehuggin
“I know it’s a chain and I feel bad, but I miss @qdoba SO MUCH” -@_haylieclaire_
“@fatcatcolumbia yes please! They’re Mac and cheese is amazing” -@delaneymorganhomes
“@nomsushiizakaya another restaurant 🍣😍” -jkatew
“@chocolatenirvana” -@scottfreedman
“@bonchonchicken 🙌 @a_town427” -@tonni_2
“@maplestreetbiscuitcompany” -@teambarrineau_weichertrealtors
“Anything!! So many places have closed... here, Zoes, persona pizza, M Cafe on Sumter” -@jessica0406
“@rootsandfruitssc” -@carlynmarae
“We have no local donut shop.” -@jimmy_mcclellan
“@biscuitheadavl is the stuff of dreams!” -@ednylone
“I would like to see my new restaurant there!!” -@mayskydome
“@localssushibar 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥” -@leapofrach
“Portuguese Bakery” -@misterbraziltravels
“@vivachicken 🎉” -@hchoneycutt
“@froghollowtavern” -@commanderkoon
“@ohhiheyitsme what about another generic bar&grill?!” -@commanderkoon
“Einstein Bagels!” -@esthermaldonado
“@hattiebs please!” -@amylee120
“@first.watchpleaseeeee” -@nicole.m.salisbury
Bars
“A decent irish pub.” -James N.
“Hookah with alcohol” Corrie K.
“Irish bar!!!” -Suzanne R.
“Local arcarde bar… like #abari in @CLTgov” -@tbrown9015
“A barcade!” -@jake___blair
“A speakeasy. Like one with a password and you should walk through a phone booth or closet to get into.” -@thegingergoon
“Is it big enough for a mini @abarigamebar? That would be awesome.” -@bradkingsmore
“‘Something like @brewerybhavana” -@kmack1920
“@bullcityciderworks A Columbia, SC location! 😍” -@klr_____
“Main St. Fermentory @chsfermentory” -@jasnjacksn
Retail
“Please, please, please an independent bookstore :)))” -Kara B.
“An independent bookstore” -Maegan G.
“A quaint bookstore..” -Tonglea W.
“bookstore/wine bar a la Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar” -Glenna B.
“Busboys and Poets” -Tiffany J.
“Apple store?” -@barbdogg
“Bookstore locally owned with public readings and space for people to read/work. With coffee shop by day and beer on tap toward evening. Could partner with university and Richland library. Someone do this, please!!” -@professoressafrey
“Lush Cosmetics North America” -Ashley Elizabeth K.
“Somewhere that sells books and beer” -@theoverflowfoodblog
“We so need a proper bookstore.” -@zsofia
“Mattress store for sure!” -Rachel P.
“Apple store!!!” -@magscars
“A cooking school!” -@drunkenyoga
“Lush Cosmetics North America we need one in Columbia” -Karli S
“A second Local Yocal” -Rebecca W. M.
“ A mini Quick Trip convenience store.” -Ted C.
“Caviar and bananas” -Kristin S.
“There is certainly a need for an Apple Store in Columbia. What would that do for our Main Street/ inner city revitalization if that was where they landed? Kinda like Mast General taking the leap…” -Rebecca D.
Keep it local
“Something local! You know how we like it.” -@sodacitysc
“Keep it small business - no more chains and for g-d sake NO MORE BANKS ON MAIN” -@ohhiheyitsme
“Yes local” -@sandyworthenryan
“@jleneecreative Art gallery” -@itsleneetoyou
“Not a franchise” -@rwtalbert85
“No chain stores! How about a local deli?” -@kelpware713
“Food. Need more local restaurants on Main Street.” -@ryalcurtis
And everything else
“I would love to open an indoor/outdoor dog park/bar (see @fetchpark for similar concept) on Main....although this particular space might not be the right one for it. Would love to hear if people think that’s a good fit for Main!” -@gamecockgirl76
“A Rage Room would be cool!” -David D.
“Men’s bathhouse.” -Pony N.
“Student housing?” -Bill G.
“Why give away my genius idea?!?! I’m eyeballing the vacant building across the street!” -Samuel H.
‘The new stadium” -Matt O.
“A yoga spot, a boba tea cafe, a book store, a tattoo shop…” -@skinnedkneecaps
Don’t see the business you want to come to Main St.? Leave a comment on our Instagram, Facebook or Twitter posts. Because you never know who’s watching…
– Sam
