Vista Guild

Richland Mall’s glow up ✨

Richland Mall redevelopment includes apartments, a grocery store, and a park
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Rendering of the upcoming development project at Richland Mall. | Provided by the City of Forest Acres

Plans to redevelop Richland Mall into 500 apartments, retail space, a city park, and a grocery store took another step forward this week with approval from the city council of Forest Acres.

Last month Richland County Council voted to approve tax incentives on the $100 million project to offset the cost of redevelopment for developers.

The 32-acre site — near the intersection of Forest Drive and Beltline Boulevard — will be redeveloped by the Southeastern Development based in Augusta, GA which will demolish parts of the mall and redevelop others. Southeastern is no stranger to redeveloping obsolete malls into multi-use properties. The company is currently working on a similar project on 44 acres at the former Aiken Mall.

Good news Belk fans, the Charlotte-based department store chain will stay on site as an anchor store but will be moving into the vacant space where the Parisian department store was once located. The move will take about two years to complete and will remain open in its current location until then. Plans for Barnes and Noble have not been finalized.

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Aerial shot of the Richland Mall development in 1961. | Photo via Richland Library Digital Archives


Let’s take a quick look at the Richland Mall property over the years.

Timeline
  • 1961 — Richland Mall opens as the first mall in Columbia. It was an open-air mall that housed 27 stores including a Winn-Dixie grocery store and a movie theater.
  • 1980s – The open-air mall concept was considered outdated and converted into an indoor shopping mall named Richland Fashion Mall. The $150 million expansion in 1988 was the largest industrial investment in the county to date.
  • 1990s — The mall changed its name back to Richland Mall in 1996 and the Barnes and Noble opened the following year.
  • 2000s — Plans to redevelop the mall into a mixed-use retail and residential development called Midtown at Forest Acres never came to fruition.
  • 2020 — The City of Forest Acres and Southeastern Development start work on a plan to redevelop the property.
  • Winter 2022/23 – Southeastern Development is projected to close on the mall property and begin phase one of redevelopment.
  • ~2028 — The first phase of the redevelopment is expected to be completed in five years.
  • ~2033 — The estimated completion of the second phase, which includes additional retail space + apartments.
Nephron Pharmaceuticals

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Thursday, Nov. 10
  • Devine Night Out | Thursday, Nov. 10 | 5-8 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost, 709 Woodrow St, Columbia | Free | Join Devine Street for a night of shopping, dining, and socializing.
  • Herb Kokedama Workshop | Thursday, Nov. 10 | 6:30-8 p.m. | Gardener’s Outpost Cottontown, 1211 Franklin St, Columbia | $25 | Nothing beats readily accessible fresh herbs, especially during the busy holiday season.
Friday, Nov. 11
  • Arts & Draughts | Friday, Nov. 11 | 7-11 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St, Columbia | Enjoy beer from The Whig, live music, DIY art projects, scavenger hunts, unique perspective tours, and a variety of food vendors.
  • Disney Junior Live On Tour: Costume Palooza | Friday, Nov. 11 | 6 p.m. | The Township Auditorium, 1703 Taylor St, Columbia | $33-$63 | Take your kids to see some of their favorites and heroes.
Saturday, Nov. 12
Sunday, Nov. 13

  • Duane Betts | Sunday, Nov. 13 | 8 p.m. | The Senate, 1022 Senate St, Columbia | $23 | Enjoy music from this American guitarist and singer-songwriter.
Thursday, Nov. 17
  • Baker + Baker presents Zion: A Composition | Thursday, Nov. 17 | 7-8:30 p.m. | The Columbia Museum of Art , Columbia | $15 | Composed by local musician Saul Seibert, experience a multifaceted artistic performance seen and heard in four acts.*

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.
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Now Available: Newly-renovated designer apartment homes in Soda City

Now Available: Newly-renovated designer apartment homes in Soda City
Presented by a COLAtoday Partner
View of the kitchen nook and living room from the neutral kitchen in a Heron Lake apartment home.
Imagine cooking up your favorite holiday sides + desserts in this luxe kitchen. | Photo provided by Lincoln Property Company
Did you know the Heron (found throughout the wetlands of SC) symbolizes balance, stability, and tranquility? It’s also the namesake of the newly renovated apartment homes at Heron Lake in Northeast Columbia.

Every home was carefully crafted with the highest quality materials, finishes, and features including name-brand appliances, walk-in closets, private patios + balconies, and formal dining areas.

Residents at Heron Lake enjoy a laid back lifestyle thanks to incredible amenities. Just imagine:

🏊‍♀️ Taking a dip in the sun soaked pool
🚶‍♀️ Hitting the nearby walking trails
☕️ Relaxing on your balcony with a cup of coffee or glass of wine

Hosting airy one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans, chef-inspired kitchens with custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, and features like Ring doorbell cameras + Nest thermostats, Heron Lake’s recent renovations left no stone unturned.

Pro tip: Mention COLAtoday and receive one month of free rent when you move in by Thanksgiving. 🦃 *
CALL IT HOME (JUST IN TIME FOR TURKEY)

Weather
  • 68º | Afternoon rain | 88% chance of rain
  • Hurricane Nicole is forecasted to move across the Midlands this afternoon and into Friday bringing wind gusts between 25-35 mph. Isolated tornadoes are also a possibility with rainfall expected to be between 1.5-3".
Open
  • The new Cava, a fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, located across from Trenholm Plaza on Forest Drive is now open. Formerly Zoës Kitchen, the location at 5166 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington is currently under renovation and will also become a Cava. 🫒
Read
  • Richland Library Main is hosting an author talk and book signing on Sun., Nov. 20 from 3–5 p.m.with Hootie and the Blowfish drummer Jim (Soni) Sonefeld. Soni’s new book “Swimming with the Blowfish” follows the band’s beginnings and their meteoric rise, fall, and rebirth over the past 30 years. 🥁
Sports
  • The USC men’s basketball team defeated SC State Tuesday night 80-77 in their home opener. Next up, the Gamecocks face off against Clemson on Fri., Nov. 11 at Colonial Life Area. Grab your tickets here. 🏀 (Gamecocks Online)
Cause
  • Know a nonprofit looking for a fresh look? Rhodes Branding opened submissions for its Branding for Good campaign where it rebrands a local nonprofit pro bono. Applications are due Tues., Nov. 22 and the winner will be announced the following week on Giving Tuesday.
  • It’s time for the 38th annual “Blood Bowl,” where The Blood Connection encourages USC + Clemson students and fans to see who can donate the most blood from Nov. 14-18. Want to donate? Make your appointment here. 🩸
Holiday
  • Experience Columbia SC shared a list of area restaurants open on Thanksgiving day. This list will come in handy if you’re not looking to cook or if the dogs snag the turkey. 🦃
Announced
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Watch
  • Imagine discovering you have breast cancer when you’re only 25 years old and six months pregnant. That’s what happened to COLA resident Katie Feaster, whose battle with cancer came when she least expected it. See her courageous story.*
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Learn
  • Going on vacation this winter and need to learn a new language fast? With Babbel, COLAtoday readers could be speaking a new language in as little as three weeks. Bonus: Get 55% off your subscription for a limited time. 🛫 *
Listen
  • We already know that you love Columbia, so you might love this too. Home Where You Belong is a weekly podcast that explores how to feel more at home in your living space and city, provides tools for deepening your relationships + connections with your community, and more. Listen online or wherever you get your podcasts. 🎧 *
Featured Deal
  • Cool Care Heating & Air is offering $300 off new HVAC Systems now through Wed., Nov. 30. Soda Citizens get one coupon per service address and cannot combine the coupon with other offers. Coupon must be presented at the time of service. Snag the deal.*

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6AM City In-house

Ball out with a superstar 🏀

A court from a legend for future legends
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Work is underway at Hyatt Park to reburbish the courts. | Photo by COLAtoday


On Sat., Nov. 12 from 9-10:30 a.m. Midlands native, WNBA champion + Gamecock legend, A’ja Wilson, will be on-site to unveil the new “Legends of Tomorrow” basketball courts at Hyatt Park (950 Jackson Ave.).

A’ja teamed up with Buffalo Wild Wings + MTN DEW LEGEND to revamp a hometown court to benefit youth athletes and provide a safe and fun space to play.

Designed by local artist Charmaine Minniefield with Project Backboard — a nonprofit whose mission is to renovate public basketball courts into large-scale works of art — the goals aligned to improve a popular space in our community. The Hyatt Park courts are often crowded in the afternoon with youth teams practicing and people playing pick-up games.

On Saturday morning maybe you can team up with A’ja as she hosts a scrimmage for attendees to participate in before she unveils the court.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by David.

Editor’s pick: I didn’t mention it in the Richland Mall timeline, but Richland Mall was also the last location of S&S Cafeteria, a Columbia staple for nearly four decades. Who knows? It could come back. S&S still has restaurants open in Greenville + Charleston.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Read about Aliyah Boston’s collaboration workout with Orangetheory, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Lindsey Rhinesmith | Advertise with us.

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