Forest Acres to get Eggs Up Grill

The Columbia area’s third Eggs Up Grill will be joining Lowes Foods in the Forest Park shopping center located at 4711 Forest Drive. Located in the heart of Forest Acres, the center was previously home to Bi-Lo.

"We're hoping to start construction mid October with plans to open the first of January," said Drew Hampton, who, along with his business partners, owns the local Eggs Up franchise group known as Cypress Management Group.

Hampton and his wife got the idea to bring the Pawley's Island-based Eggs Up to Columbia several years ago and opened the area's first location on Devine Street in 2014. Last year, Hampton and his partners opened a second area location in Lexington.

Hampton is no stranger to operating a restaurant in Forest Acres. He has owned and operated the Groucho's Deli there since 2000.

"I'm real excited to crack an egg in Forest Acres," Hampton said. "That area is like home to me."

Eggs Up is known for its corned beef hash and seasoned home fries and for serving breakfast and lunch items all day every day.

"If someone comes in at 6 a.m. and wants a salad or a burger they can get a salad or a burger and if someone comes in at 2 p.m. and wants pancakes they can get pancakes," Hampton said.

Hampton believes the 2018 opening of Lowes Foods will make the shopping center--located at 4711 Forest Drive--a great fit for the restaurant.

"I think we'll complement each other perfectly," Hampton said.

The 2,900-square-foot Eggs Up Forest Acres location will seat around 100 people and will employ approximately 35. Hours of operation will be 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.

This story was originally published September 5, 2017 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Forest Acres to get Eggs Up Grill."