Answered: If you’re really a local to Columbia, SC you know....

We asked, and, boy did you answer.

Between our social media platforms, the newsletter, and our email inbox, 100+ of you shared local nuggets of knowledge about our city — and we loved reading all of the responses.

We don’t want anyone feeling left out, so we’re going over some of the answers so everyone can know what makes Columbia, well, Columbia.

Let’s start with the basics.

1️⃣ “I give up, what’s a “Soda citizen?” — @andysmithsc86

That’s us! But where did that term come from? Columbia SC’s nickname is Cola. Cola is used as another name for soda. Soda City = Soda Citizens.

Let’s step it up a notch.

2️⃣ If you’re a local, “you know how to pronounce Huger and Gervais.” – @fordboydbailey

It’s pronounced YOU-GEE and JER-VAY. But, the real kicker is if you know where those names originate. A little local trivia for you:

Huger Street is named after Isaac Huger — a French Huguenot — who was a brigadier general and veteran of the Cherokee + American Revolution Wars. Born in 1742 (some say 1743), he also served in the SC Senate, House of Representatives, and the First Provincial Congress. Read more about him — and the famous street — here.

Gervais Street is named after John Lewis Gervais — A German-born, French Huguenot — who helped establish Columbia as the capital city and named the city in 1786.
Let’s see if you know this one.

3️⃣ If you’re a local, “You know where Rockaway’s is.” — @d_cantelmi

Do you know where this unmarked restaurant is? “Rockaway’s” is short for Rockaway Athletic Club. Located at 2719 Rosewood Dr., Rockaway’s is known for its pimento cheese burgers, pimento cheese fries, and The South Carolina Liquor Library.

Did you know all of those? We challenge you to look below + put your local knowledge to the test. From train schedules, unspoken road rules, and local lingo— see how much you really know about Columbia.

1. You know where Soda City Market started (original location). — @merrittm13
2. You grew up hearing stories of the Three Eyed Man in the tunnels and sewers of downtown! — @colascgirl
3. You know how to pronounce Huger and Gervais – @fordboydbailey
4. What Red Hots and Sharky’s were — @lifting.faith
5. Do you remember the newsprint smell of The Capitol Newsstand on Main? Or how much fun it was to spin on the barstools at The Seaboard Diner? Do you know where the Seaboard Diner was? — @dremeboatannie
6. When Cromer’s Peanuts used to be in Dutch Square Mall — @mssunshine803
7. Hash — @richardomarx
8. You know Blue Sky & where his art is located around Cola — @deb27west
9. Where did the phrase “famously hot” come from? — @abundantgraze_sc
10. You know who Dog West is — @myowngirlfriday
11. DON’T STOP MOVING IN MALFUNCTION JUNCTION 😂☠️ — @jaymesonhope
12. Cromer’s peanuts used to be in Dutch Square Mall and they had monkeys in the glass front of the store. — @maggiegray927
13. I give up, what’s a “Soda citizen”? — @andysmithsc86
14. The Whig — @enchantpix
15. You know Mack’s on Laurel St. has the best hamburgers hands down! — @rachwest89
16. You know where the best boiled peanut stands are and when they’re open! — @ruthwiley_guildmortgage
17. The n on the Five Points logo painted on the train trestle going to campus isn’t capitalized. — @alexmfogle
18. Tunnel Vision and Classics — @heatherlynnstrebig
19. Hearing “Hello my friend,” “hello my dear” before eating deliciousness — @margaret_ruth
20. You are more active in your neighborhood [Facebook] group than you care to be — @megangcarlton
21. You ate at Hooligan’s — @marysarahk
22. You know where Rockaway’s is — @d_cantelmi
23. You’re from Columbia if you’ve passed No Name Deli on Elmwood and thought, “I should go there sometime” but never do. — @micahperoulis
24. How to find Mr. Friendlys! — @emmabearcat
25. You know who the chicken man is. — @alyssalfarris
26. Why George Washington’s cane is broken in front of the State House.— @laura.gisler
27. …. That @grouchos_deli 45 sauce will cause life-long addictions. — @gamecockshan
28. Dog West is an icon. — @tjoshbennett
29. You know what the Publix building on Gervais used to be – @alanpiercy
30. Rupert’s Blue Dog Cafe – @kunaldas
31. Edna’s drive in💔 a taste of my childhood! – @victoriarose2011
32. Zestos has the best fried chicken. Just look for the chocolate cone in the sky! — @cody_brodie_
33. Kinch’s — @luvmama
34. Tunnels. — @hubcap_carl
35. Lake Murray sunsets — @haydenrothschild
36. Convincing the trains to blow their horns while sunbathing on “Party Rock” at the Granby Riverwalk — @timlandholt
37. Onnie’s hot dogs — @alicekle
38. How to get to Williams Brice without crossing a railroad track — @eking1231
39. You know that Rush’s is a staple — @aishaaude_
40. Labrascas Pizza🍕 — @angierye
41. Belk’s and Berry’s on Main. And Christmas windows at Belk’s — @jbballance
42. You know what those stars on the outside of the State House represent. — @sandylaneyphotography
43. JB Whites was the best department store! — @kershawkwilts
44. Beezers has the best sandwiches in cola!! — @mrs.mmyi
45. The locations for every Bojangles in town. — @micahperoulis
46. You toldMr. Knozit what you wanted to be when you grew up! — @taytompkins
47. Cromer’s popcorn and peanuts — @kerryandmissy
48. You know about the catacombs — @med_zeppelin_
49. Congaree isn’t a fancy drum circle… — @djacousticmotorcycle
50. The State House Dome was a copper brown and is turning green due to weathering.🙌🏽 — @sayednairb
51. The old Richland Mall — @jjhough1122
52. Bandana man — @fluffygyaldat
53. The Chicken Man and would recognize him on the street — @megankrystofik
54. Tapp’s was a department store before it was a art center — @trashcanwillie
55. Loose Lucy’s! — @samanthacbrown
56. Nightcaps. End of discussion. — @inamichelle
57. You know about the salamanders around downtown — @elisabeth.brenna
58. You know there used to be a trolley line along wide median on Saluda Ave between Five Points and Haywood St. — @alanpiercy
59. To turn on your brights driving down Millwood at night — @gandyrobbie
60. The old Cafe Strudel spot. — @nikkikuhlen
61. Mr. Popper’s caramel corn and Icees with ice cream on top. — @youaremysunshine10
62. Gouda Mac — @dnancejr
63. Columbia used to have one of the oldest underground “subways.” It was horse drawn under Main St — @jakonesko
64. Camping out for NUMEROUS concerts for sometimes numerous nights at the original Coliseum 😁 — @thecorkedcook
65. Chucky Cheese was Showbiz pizza first — @7_d_j_p_7
66. Alligator Man story — @fluffygyaldat
67. Joyful Alternative still lives in the hearts of 90s kids. — @staceybee313
68. Pizza Man!!!! RIP — @abigail3607789
69. You remember the old ET sign over the bike shop in Triangle City in the 80s. — @faireundefi
70. You know Garners Ferry smells like dog food — @lauraanne803
71. In 1964 there was a A&W Rootbeer drive up restaurant (Sonic Style) on Devine St. — @mimi2some
72. You’ve actually seen the Ra statue — @gumbynator
73. 🐓Ernest Lee (AKA Chicken Man) — @mikeys_cereal
74. Underground Columbia — @allison_m_bertram
75. …that @transmissionarcade “The Arcade Bar” has the best late night bar food downtown…🤤😶🤭🙃😆 — @avadbraxton
76. Social Pig — @kedmiston66
77. That people have tried to drive in Blue Sky’s tunnel — Becky P.
78. Heathwood Hall is not in Heathwood, and Shandon Baptist Church is not in Shandon. — Sandi Reid B.
79. Meet at the rocket! — Hillary H.
80. Town Theatre is the oldest continuously running Community Theatre in the United States. — Chris K.
81. History of Survey Building in Eau Claire — Julie Hunt B.
82. Best ways to get around the trains that come through at 5 o’clock and actually stop on the tracks. — Meagan H.
83. That Carolina played Clemson on Big Thursday — Salley R.
84. Five Points and The Vista — Chris K.
85. Adluh Grits — Lynetta M.
86. Gibbes machinery company . Kline steel. — Linda H.
87. Pimento cheese fries at Rockaways. — Susan Funderburk G.
88. Egyptian mural — Laney C.
89. Herb’s Grill. — Renee B.
90. West Columbia is the BEST Columbia — Suzanne R.
91. Cola = Columbia — Renee R.
92. That saying I was stuck behind a train is a legitimate excuse — Laura R.
93. That the frozen food (especially pizza) and general housewares sections of Target will be practically sold out for the whole month of August (because students moved back in) — Laura R.
94. That you always need to park up on the sidewalk on Devine to avoid getting hit — Laura R.
95. That meters are no joke and you will get a ticket 95% of the time you don’t pay them — Laura R.
96. How Five Points used to be (RIP Pav’s, Dr. Rocco’s, Cockpit, Sharky’s, Knock Knock Club, Chubby’s, Pops Pizza, Sub Pub, Harper’s and so many more) — Laura R.
97. What it was really like to see your friends’ houses, the stores you frequent and the roads you take every day covered in flood water — Laura R.
98. That anonymous brick building on Rosewood holds the best pimento cheeseburger and pimento cheese fries in town. — Roxanne A.
99. WIS stands for Wonderful Iodine State. — Angela T.
100. Do you know that Mr. Cain Neely ran a grits mill and small grocery story on the corner of Huger and Tobacco Streets (now Catawba St.) in the Granby Mill village? Mr Neeley ground corn Into grits and also corn meal. — James K.
101. If you’re a local, you know not to try and pass someone while driving on the Gervais Street Bridge. — COLAtoday City Editor, Sam
102. Don’t even try to do anything outside in August — it’s not worth it. — COLAtoday Intern, Katie.
103. What Rox Chix means. — COLAtoday City Editor, David.

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