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Carolyn Haywood of High Point, N.C., and Karen Chessman of London, England, discuss their order with waiter Martin Nenor at Saffron, a new Moroccan restaurant and lounge.
Saffron is spicing up the dining scene on Devine Street.
Open for about two weeks, the Moroccan restaurant has replaced Al-Amir Mediterranean at 2930 Devine and has brought a flavor-packed menu along with it.
The restaurant’s name is indicative of one of the many spices and herbs used to prepare its North Africa-influenced fare — including baba ghanouj, couscous, lamb kabobs, baklava and pizza.
“We just wanted to do something new,” Sarah Amar said of her and her husband, David,’s decision to open the restaurant, which neighbors Half-Moon Outfitters and Za’s Brick Oven Pizza on Devine.
Her husband’s years of working in his family’s Moroccan restaurant in Israel and her training as a chef readied them for the challenge of operating their own, she said. They chose to make a start in Columbia because she had friends and family here.
Devine Street’s proximity to the affluent Shandon neighborhood and its cache of boutique retailers made it ideal, David Amar said.
The warmth of Saffron’s mustard-and-red decor and indoor waterfall fountain will likely woo Shandon families and others to its tables.
“I have built a restaurant that has Moroccan style with European style. And I have tried to make it feel like home,” David Amar said.
With a wait staff of about 20, Saffron is ready to serve.
The restaurant is open everyday from 11 a.m. until (the last customer leaves), Sarah Amar said. The restaurant also has a full bar and lounge where flavored tobacco for hookah pipes is sold — just like the former Al-Amir.
• Charlotte Russe has big plans for Columbiana
Charlotte Russe is building a 7,000-square-foot store inside Columbiana Centre mall near Dillard’s.
The teen and young women’s apparel retailer is planning a June 24 opening for its Harbison area store, a mall manager said.
The California-based Charlotte Russe’s also has a store at Columbia Place mall on Two Notch Road.
Attempts to reach Charlotte Russe’s spokespeople were unsuccessful.
• Blythewood to Wing it up
This June will bring warmer weather and Carolina Wings to Blythewood.
The Lexington-based ribs and wings chain is opening its sixth Columbia-area restaurant at 240 Blythewood Road — next to a McDonald’s restaurant.
The Blythewood Carolina Wings also will debut the chain’s new smaller format, which is about half the size of its established restaurants.
• Retail Chatter
• Sumo is open again in Northeast Richland: The Sumo Japanese Steak House on Clemson Road reopened this month. The restaurant was destroyed by fire in April 2007 and was under reconstruction for the past year.
• Two more for Sandhill: This June, eateries Rita’s Italian Ice and Brixx Brick Oven Pizza will open at the Village at Sandhill at Clemson and Two Notch roads.
Each week, Delawese Fulton, retail reporter for The State, will provide the latest retail development news. The goal is to give you the skinny on the new stores in your neighborhood, as well as any businesses closing. If you have any retail news, contact Fulton at (803) 771-8659 or ddfulton@thestate.com.
