Gateway 737, USC’s new 650,000-sqft student housing and retail complex, rises beside Colonial Life Arena. | Photo by COLAtoday
650,000 — that’s the square footage of Gateway 737, the new student living and retail development next to Colonial Life Arena in the Vista. With a ~$170 million price tag, it’s the largest single investment in the USC Development Foundation’s history.
Formerly home to USC intramural sports fields, the complex features:
311 fully furnished apartments
940 beds across one- to four-bedroom units
Rooftop lounge + resort-style pool
Two-story fitness center
42,000 sqft of study and collaboration space
The development is fully leased, and residents begin moving in later this month ahead of USC’s first day of classes on Tuesday, Aug. 19.
The ground-level retail includes Knowledge Perk Coffee, the second Columbia location for the Rock Hill-based coffee shop, a Chick-fil-A, and Domino’s Pizza. Roxanne’s Market, an Irmo market led by Chef Saul, will also open a downtown location in the complex.
Wednesday Night Karaoke | 8 p.m. | Uncle Festers | Free | Grab the mic, a cheap beer, and show off your shower version of “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Corks & Kayaks | 6-8 p.m. | Saluda Shoals Park | $47+ | Paddle the Saluda River, sip fine wines, and take home a keepsake glass at this 21+ guided event.
The BIG Plant Expo | Saturday, July 26-Sunday, July 27 | Times vary | South Carolina State Fairgrounds | $20+ | View rare and exotic plants, hear guest speakers, and shop global vendors.
CTRL + ALT + CREATE | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | South Carolina ETV and Public Radio | Free | Explore SCETV’s digital world at this free, family-friendly event with hands-on exhibits and kids’ activities.
Midlands Women’s Day | 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center | Free | Enjoy free chair massages, express facials, brow waxing, manicures, and lash application.
Sunday, July 27
Cheer-Accident | 8 p.m. | Transmission Arcade | $15 | Chicago’s genre-bending avant-rockers come to town with a wild live set along with a special food pop-up event out front.
The Post and Courier ranked the Top 25 Gamecock football players of the past 25 years, with QB Connor Shaw taking the No. 1 spot. The list includes stars like Marcus Lattimore, Alshon Jeffery, Deebo Samuel, and Hayden Hurst.
Civic
Columbia’s new $29 million police headquarters on Laurel Street is under construction and expected to fully open by September 2026. The 175,000-sqft facility near Riverfront Park will consolidate operations, including investigations, training, and emergency response. (WLTX)
Learn
The Free Times is fixin’ to teach y’all something, rounding up classic SC sayings — from calling a grocery cart a “buggy” to “if it was a snake, it would’ve bit you.” Whether you’re wet behind the ears or not, it’s worth a scroll.
Cause
Leadership Columbia is now accepting project proposals from nonprofits in its six-county region for the Class of 2026. One project will be selected and completed by April 2026. Proposals are due by Friday, Aug. 29 at 5 p.m.
Robin Waites, former executive director of Historic Columbia, received the Order of the Palmetto, SC’s highest civilian honor. The award recognizes her two decades of preservation leadership, including work on the Woodrow Wilson Family Home and initiatives spotlighting underrepresented histories. (The Columbia Star)
Featured Deal
Did you know? Lowes Foods has digital coupons that could save you hundreds. Think: Discounts on everything from seafood and steaks to everyday household items. Start clipping.*
Quiz
St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, Little St. Simons Island, and this final island make up the four barrier islands of the Golden Isles, the stunning stretch of coastal Georgia midway between Savannah, GA, and Jacksonville, FL. Have your guess? Now see the correct answer.^
Community
Do you need hiring help? We’ve got your back. Post your open roles on the COLAtoday Job Board + get connected with local candidates quickly and efficiently. Pssst — did we mention it’s free?
Post of the Day
We may have Peach Week last week, but this small batch peach pie ice cream from Silver Spoon Bake Shop is still calling. Local Instagram account @TipsyTalkEats shared the sweet find. The bakery drops a weekly pre-order menu Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on its website, with set pickup windows. Other ice cream flavors include salted caramel brownie, cinnamon roll, and cotton candy macaron.
Teva’s original universal sandal, now 50% off on Nordstrom Rack. A cushioned footbed + adjustable canvas straps make this a hikeable, wadeable, walkable sandal that will see you through all of your outdoor summer adventures.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
Catch one of the Midlands’ most breathtaking natural shows before it flies by. Two million Purple Martins take to the skies over Lake Murray each night through August, and you can catch them on Bomb Island via a private tour from Lake Murray Boat Tours or Carolina Safari.
^This content was created by our Client Success Team. Let’s work together — explore affordable advertising options at advertise.6amcity.com.
}})
