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Restaurant Roundup
Whats cookin’, good lookin’?
Black Dog Pizza serves traditional Neapolitan pies. | Photo by Lynn Luc
Looking for the next new restaurant hitting Cola’s food scene? Check out these buzzy places to eat and drink in Columbia — plus, some spots coming soon. Keep tabs on this list to stay ahead of the culinary curve. And don’t forget to bookmark it.
Now open near Food Lion off Blythewood Road, the new shop offers specialty coffee, pastries, breakfast, and lunch in a cozy space for chats or coworking.
Retro 803 is now open across from Zesto’s in West Columbia. Stop in and browse an array of clothes from the 1990s and 2000s, along with comics, sports cards, and shoes.
Coming Soon
Traveling Penny, the charm bar that began as a Soda City pop-up and later opened a Greenville storefront, is expanding to Gather Cola this spring. The brand is hiring ahead of launch.
Civic
Blythewood leaders are exploring annexing the 29016 zip code, a move that could add about 30,000 residents and 86.1 square miles to town limits. Mayor Sloan Griffin said the council may pursue a November referendum. (WLTX)
Biz
West Columbia businesses can now apply for the city’s Mural Grant Program to add public art to commercial properties. Eligible buildings must be within designated areas, and murals must face the street and meet city guidelines.
Festival
The Vista’s Light and Lantern Parade returns Saturday, April 18, inviting the community to fill the district with handmade lanterns after sunset. Free workshops will be held leading up to the parade.
Arts
Stormwater Studios is accepting submissions for “Building Bridges Through Art,” a juried exhibition in partnership with the Women’s Rights & Empowerment Network. South Carolina artists exploring social equity and advocacy themes must submit a single PDF by April 1, 2026.
Experts are naming this versatile card “essential for 2026” for its 0% intro APR on balance transfers through 2027. Translation: It can save you hundreds (or thousands) in interest. Even better — it has zero annual fee. Learn more + apply.*
Eat
Who doesn’t love a deal? With East Bay Deli’s app, earn one point for every dollar you spend, browse the menu, place online orders, and find a location near you — all in one convenient place. Available on Google Play and the App Store.*
Health
Listening to your body is important — but understanding your risk factors is just as critical. A simple assessment can uncover hidden heart health concerns before symptoms appear, giving you the knowledge to take action early. Proactive care starts with knowing your numbers. Take the Heart Health Assessment.*
BizBrief is your weekly, business-focused companion to the daily newsletter. | Graphic by 6AM City
Hi there — I’m Cat, Senior Managing Editor of BizBrief, our new weekly newsletter built to highlight our local business community.
BizBrief is your download on the local business landscape, delivering concise recaps — from news and podcasts to events, thought leadership, jobs, and company updates — all in one scroll-worthy newsletter to start your week informed, not overwhelmed.
If you already read COLAtoday, think of BizBrief as its weekly, business-focused companion — zooming in on the stories, opportunities, and conversations shaping the local business community.
A little about me: I started at 6AM City , the parent company of COLAtoday, as a City Editor over four years ago, became a Managing Editor overseeing six markets (including COLAtoday), and now I’m excited to bring that experience back to community content as the Senior Managing Editor of BizBrief.
We want BizBrief to highlight what matters most to you. Got a local business story, podcast, or company update worth sharing? Send it our way or fill out this short survey — your ideas can help guide our coverage.
The Buy
Sale alert. If you love Vuori’s soft feel, flattering cuts, and performance fabrics as much as we do, shop the workout clothes + casual wear marked down for less this week:
“South Carolina’s second-biggest cash crop in the mid-to-late 1700s was this inedible one named for a land far to the east.”
Locals were excited to see their eighth-grade South Carolina history knowledge come in handy during Final Jeopardy. Unfortunately, none of the contestants answered correctly. The correct response was indigo — the state color.
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