Happy 100th birthday, Five Points

In 1889, Columbia Land and Investment Co., a pioneer in residential housing, is chartered. The company develops Old Shandon.

Columbia Electric Railway Co. extends its trolley car route in 1894 and joins with developers to open a pavilion for entertainment on Devine Street, near Harden Street. Today, Pavilion Avenue is the only remnant.

In 1912, Valley Park, now King Park, is created.

In 1915, Rocky Branch Creek is “sent underground” through large culverts, allowing Five Points to begin taking shape.

Five Points becomes the city’s first neighborhood shopping district.

The first business in Five Points, a Gulf filling station, is built in 1919 along a main thoroughfare at 700 Harden Street. Over the next 10 years, there is scattered development in the area.

The popularity in the 1920s of the Shandon and Wales Garden neighborhoods helps spur development of shops, lunch counters, drug stores and other retailers in Five Points. Other stores that open include Goss and McKinnon Repair Company and Carter Furniture Company.

In 1928, Claussen’s Bakery is built in Five Points as part of a family business that extended from Charleston and Greenville to Augusta and Savannah. Claussen’s is built along the railroad tracks, allowing supplies and bakery products to move by rail.

The Columbia bakery ceased operations in 1963. But the Claussen’s building, a landmark that highlights the Greene Street entrance into Five Points, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Today it houses an inn, and many of the guest rooms feature the original hardwood floors.

In 1936, businessman Theodore Dehon borrows $1,000 to buy a barren field that would become Saluda Avenue.

Dehon builds several businesses in Five Points, including Shandon Coal Co. on Greene Street and Gasque’s Sport Shop.

Dehon builds Saluda Avenue’s first storefront in 1945.

Blossom Shop is one of the early businesses along Saluda Avenue. The shop opens in 1948 and, with successive owners, has kept the same name and address. The front door of the triangular Blossom Shop swings open at the point of Saluda and Devine.

Gibson’s Drug Store, an old-fashioned soda fountain and pharmacy, is opened in 1937 by Dr. Carl Gibson at Harden, Devine and Santee streets. Gibson sells his pharmacy in 1955, and it is renamed Economy Drugs and given a second-story addition. Today, it’s Yesterday’s restaurant.

Five Points becomes home to Columbia’s first supermarket, an A&P.

In 1939, the Five Points Theatre opens on Harden Street and admission was a mere 9 cents. During the 1950s, the Five Points Theatre screened foreign films in a Columbia Finer Films series before eventually closing in the ’60s.

Harold “Groucho” Miller comes to Columbia in 1941, and opens the first Groucho’s Deli later that year.

In 1948, the United States Post Office opens on Saluda Avenue.

Kester’s Bamboo House opens in the 1950s, the first Asian restaurant in Columbia. It is known for its Sunday buffet.

A Sears store opens in 1954. In later years it closes as some business begins shifting to the suburbs.

Harrell’s Jewelers opens in Five Points in 1954 on Devine Street. It stays there for 28 years before moving in 1982 to Saluda Avenue.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina moves in 1957 to Five Points from Greenville. In May 1966, the company moves into a two-story facility at its current location in Northeast Richland.

Some of the original Five Points’ college hangouts were Don’s and the Owl’s club back in the 1960s.

In 1970, Five Points was home to the Joyful Alternative, a popular shop that specialized in incense, crafts, books and clothes. It was in the building where Starbucks is now.

The Stage Door bar in Five Points claims to be the first restaurant in the state to serve a cocktail after the Legislature’s approval of the sale of liquor by the drink in 1973.

Yesterday’s and Group Therapy open in 1978.

Andy’s Deli opens in 1978.

Portfolio Art Gallery opens in Five Points 35 years ago.

The Gourmet Shop opens around 1979.

Randy Dennis of 2G’s Clothing started selling shirts out of his car when he was a student at Carolina, and has owned clothing stores around Columbia since.

In 1983, merchants organized the first St. Pat’s in Five Points festival, held in the Yesterday’s parking lot. Today, it’s one of the largest St. Patrick’s celebrations in the Southeast.

In 1984, Greenstreet’s bar and music hall on the 2000 block of Greene Street burns down. It is re-established on Harden Street, but lasts there just four years.

Rockafellas opens in 1984. It hosts hundreds of bands – among them the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Green Day and Hootie and the Blowfish.

In 1987, Five Points loses two landmarks: Zesto’s at Blossom and Harden streets, and Dodd’s dime Store, at Harden and Santee.

Bar None opened in the neighborhood in 1994 where patrons enjoy playing shuffleboard and eating late-night food.

Mr. Friendly’s New Southern Café opens in 1995. It has since won “Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence” 10 times.

The Harden Street fountain is built in 1997. Today, it is a gathering spot for many Five Points events.

The Half and Half, Five Points’ graphic design studio, started on North Main Street. With its rapidly growing business, it moved two more times before settling into its current location in Five Points.

Suzi Sheffield opens El Burrito in 2000.

El Burrito was graphic design studio The Half and Half’s first client. They were paid in tacos!

The first Starbucks in Columbia opens in 2003 on Saluda Avenue.

In 2004, Five Points undergoes a $30.5 million project to beautify its streets and sidewalks, improve drainage and boost pedestrian safety.

Five Points extends from the intersection of Santee Avenue and Harden and Devine streets into the surrounding residential neighborhoods and the University of South Carolina area.

The district, with roots in retail, grows as a nightlife hub – particularly for college students – with more bars and restaurants.

The Saluda Avenue fountain is built in 2007. It is built with proceeds from the St. Pats in Five Points festival.

Bombshell Beauty Studio evolves from another salon – Vista Studios Salon – and moves to Five Points in 2007.

Before Drip came to Five Points, Harrell Jewelers occupied the space at 729 Saluda Ave.

City Yoga opened on Devine Street in 2003. Owner Stacey Millner-Collins moved the studio to College Street in 2007.

Before it was Scoopy Doo Gelato Shop, the space at 725 Saluda Ave. housed a toy shop called Creative Kids.

There used to be an ice cream shop where Sushi Yoshi is today.

There used to be a bookstore, Intermezzo, in the neighborhood. It was next to Goatfeather’s.

Richard Burts, of Five Points Properties, starts the Five After Five summer concert series in 1998.

Every year, Loose Lucy’s hosts JerryFest – a festival in Five Points paying tribute to the Grateful Dead and the late Jerry Garcia.

Village Idiot Pizza opens 25 years ago in Five Points. Today it is one of three locations in Columbia.

In 2010, the Five Points Association, Time Warner Cable and the city of Columbia build a contemporary art piece that represents the impact that Hootie & the Blowfish has had on the Five Points and the city of Columbia.

Yesterday’s owner Duncan Macrae remembers when Hootie & the Blowfish used to order to-go food from the restaurant (apparently they liked the meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans).

In between shows, Jimmy Buffett and his entourage used to grab a bite at Yesterday’s.

There are six bronze leprechauns hidden throughout Five Points that are said to bring good luck and prosperity.

Because Five Points has been a shopping and commercial district for 100 years now, many locally owned businesses are serving their third generation of loyal customers.

Saluda Avenue recently was beautified with the addition of rubber tree mulch and twinkling lights on the trees in the median.

November marks Harper’s 25th anniversary in Five Points.

As one of the largest record shops in the southeast, Papa Jazz has cemented a 25-year reputation for having some of the rarest, coolest stuff around.

Good for the Sole Shoes is marking 10 years in Five Points.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, Jake’s on Devine has Yappy Hour, where locals unleash their dogs in the fenced-in area and sip on a cold one.

Five Points hosted a public art making series throughout summer 2015, where local artists painted pictures of the neighborhood to mark the 100th anniversary.

New York City chef Sarah Simmons and former Oak Table restaurant pastry chef Charley Scruggs open Rise Gourmet Goods and Bakeshop on Harden Street in September.

There are seven salons in Five Points.

There are six sandwich shops in Five Points, including Andy’s Deli and Groucho’s Deli.

There are four banks in Five Points: Bank of America, TD Bank, Wells Fargo and BB&T.

Publico Kitchen and Tap is Five Points’ newest restaurant, featuring fusion cuisine and 54 local and craft beers.

Today, Five Points is home to nearly 150 businesses.

Five Points has 12 annual events and festivals.

The Five Points Merchants Association was established to keep Five Points a vital and integral part of Columbia’s city center. Today there are 120-plus members.

A re-branded website was launched for Five Points last year: www.fivepointscolumbia.com

This story was originally published November 29, 2015 at 2:15 PM.