Famous Toastery changes downtown location

After signing a lease for the former Moe Levy's space on Laurel Street, local Famous Toastery franchise owner Kim Kenney said Tuesday that the eatery has canceled that lease and signed a new one for 1301 Main St.

Both buildings are owned by The Arnold Cos., a local commercial real estate development firm.

Kenney said she couldn’t move into the Moe Levy’s location because of issues with the aging building. However, Kenney said, the Arnold Cos. directed her toward another location--the 200 and 300 suites of 1301 Main St. next to Cantina 76. The two spaces combined are 4,000 square feet, Kenney said.

"We were initially disappointed that the Moe Levy's space wasn't going to work out but we are very, very excited about the Main Street location — it's going to be just what Main Street needs," Kenney said. "With the new developments and restaurants coming downtown, we just feel like it's a great place to be. It's the heart of Columbia and, honestly, I think will become the new Vista."

Kenney hopes to get into the building by Jan. 1. She wants to open the restaurant by the end of April. In the meantime, her Famous Toastery location at 119 Sparkleberry Lane in northeast Columbia is set to open Dec. 1. The restaurant was delayed from opening in early August as originally scheduled because of construction and design issues, Kenney said.

North Carolina-based Famous Toastery opened its first restaurant in Huntersville in 2005 and franchised in 2013. The chain now has eight locations in North Carolina and two in South Carolina — in Tega Cay and Indian Land. The franchise has a dozen more restaurants scheduled to roll out in the Carolinas — and one in New York — during the next year. Famous Toastery offers breakfast items such as stuffed French toast, a "Northwestern" omelet with fresh herbs and goat cheese, and a sunrise burrito with homemade salsa. Brunch and lunch include a tofu fresco salad, bacon and bleu wrap, hot dogs and gourmet burgers.

This story was originally published August 10, 2016 at 7:37 AM with the headline "Famous Toastery changes downtown location."