Located under Saluda’s in Five Points, Godspeed Coffee hopes to open by the end of the year. | Photo by COLAtoday
After a string of pop-ups, Godspeed Coffee is settling down in the very place where it all began.
The locally owned coffee concept, led by baristas Roger Caughman and Kailey Cunningham, is building out its first permanent location inside the former Starbucks by the fountain in Five Points. The space once housed beloved counter-culture shop The Joyful Alternative and was home to Columbia’s first downtown Starbucks for two decades.
Layers of past lives — vintage wallpaper and bold wall colors from The Joyful Alternative were uncovered during demolition at Godspeed Coffee’s future home. | Photo by COLAtoday
Godspeed’s journey has come full circle. After launching in 2024 with a vinyl-and-coffee pop-up alongside Papa Jazz, the team later set up in the front area of the Boyd Innovation Center. Now, with the help of building owner Richard Burts — who helped guide the early pop-ups — they’re returning to where it started.
A. A casual coffee shop meetup B. Doing something fun (arcade, mini golf, etc.) C. A classic dinner date D. Checking out an event or art show E. A walk in the park or outdoorsy outing
Corks & Kayaks | 6-8 p.m. | Saluda Shoals Park | $47+ | Tandem tickets are still available to paddle the Saluda River and sip fine wines.
Zac Kellum Trio | 7 p.m. | Savage Craft Ale Works, West Columbia | Free | Grab a Galaxy Banger and settle in for a soulful country set from this SC-based artist blending modern grit with classic roots.
Disney’s The Little Mermaid | Friday, July 25-Sunday, July 27 | Times vary | Town Theatre | $17+ | Dive into this splashy, timeless tale directed by Shannon Willis Scruggs with music direction by Lou Boeschen.
Brian Kelley | 8 p.m. | The Senate | $20+ | The Florida Georgia Line alum brings beach-country vibes on his “Sunshine State of Mind” tour.
Saturday, July 26
Soda City Market | 9 a.m.-1 p.m. | Main Street | Free | Browse this lively downtown market to find local artisans, businesses, and food vendors — rain or shine.
Bigfoot Fest | 6-10 p.m. | The Babylon Kino | $17 | Catch a marathon of so-bad-they’re-good Bigfoot movies curated by a young cryptid enthusiast.
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.
Tuesday, July 29
Lexington BlowFish Blood Drive | 12 p.m. | Lexington County Baseball Stadium, Lexington | Free | Donate blood, earn $70 in TBC rewards, and hit a home run for those in need.*
Charter 803 Bar & Grill is set to open in Lexington, taking over the former Lexington Tap House space. The new bar and grill comes from restaurateur Arif Ashfaq Rizvi, of Bubba’s Biscuit. An opening date has not been announced. (The State)
Development
Benedict College’s historic Antisdel Chapel is undergoing a full-scale renovation, adding modern tech while preserving the architecture. Upgrades include a new video wall, livestream-ready sound system, ADA-compliant restrooms, and restored pews and windows. Work is set to finish this fall. (Cola Daily)
Festival
The Second Annual 803 Day weekend returns Friday–Sunday, Aug. 1–3, with food, music, $8.03 specials, a citywide scavenger hunt, and a free Sunday festival. Events benefit nonprofits like Cola Rose Shower and Christian Assistance Bridge.
Active
All Is Well Wellness is hosting a “Pilates, Prosecco + Patches” pop-up at 818 Harden St. in Five Points. Join a 45-minute Pilates class with Michaela Leung, then enjoy light bites and bubbly by Curious Elixirs, and a custom patch bar by Forever Style Studio.
Cause
Registration is open for the Mayor’s Walk Against Domestic Violence, set for Saturday, Oct. 25 at Page Ellington Park. The $5 fee supports Sistercare’s services for abuse survivors.
Real Estate
Holland Farms, a 75-acre wedding venue and cattle farm in Newberry, is on the market for $2.167 million. The 1919-era property includes two homes, a rustic barn with seating for 250, pastures, streams, and an artesian well. (The Post and Courier)
Fact or Fiction
The color of your car impacts your car insurance rate. Fact or fiction? Luckily for Nicki Minaj, this is fiction. Still, rates can change for other reasons, so experts advise shopping around regularly. See if you could save with this quick questionnaire.*
Read
Tangle is a rare political newsletter that doesn’t take sides — it lays them out. Every day, it delivers balanced reporting on major political stories, minus the bias. Subscribe for free.*
Post of the Day
Ever browsed local art and saw something you loved… then walked away empty-handed? “Money Where Your Mouth Is” invites you to change that. On Wednesday, July 31 at 6:30 p.m., join artist Monique Dove at The Proof Space at 2001 Greene St., Ste. D in Five Points for a night of cocktails, creativity, and community — and walk out with something meaningful while supporting local artists.
Amazon’s deals are still rolling, and we’re here for it. Shop more picks while the sales last:
📱 Shop 15% off a MagSafe portable charger that’s sleek, slim, and comes in light pink and lavender.
🍚 If you cook rice, oatmeal, or quinoa almost daily, Cosori’s 4.8-star rated grains cooker is 10% off for a limited time.
💺 Upgrade your home office chair for a high-back leather version while it’s 38% off.
📹 Snag 44% off a like-new Ring stick-up camera that can be installed inside or out.
📚 Get a like-new version of Kindle’s latest model, the Paperwhite, for 26% off.
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.
Paying your auto taxes isn’t fun, but at least it’s easier now. Richland County just launched a redesigned website, making it simpler to pay online, register your vehicle, or even check when your trash gets picked up. Whether you’re looking for public meeting info or want to peek at property records, it’s all right there front and center.
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