Food & Drink

There’s a new ‘fresh Mex’ restaurant headed to this popular development near Columbia

Surcheros, a fresh Mex restaurant, is planning a location in the Cardinal Crossing development off Forest Drive in Forest Acres.
Surcheros, a fresh Mex restaurant, is planning a location in the Cardinal Crossing development off Forest Drive in Forest Acres.

A growing chain that offers “fresh Mex” favorites such as burritos, quesadillas and more is planning a new spot in a popular commercial development in Forest Acres.

Surcheros, which has numerous locations in Georgia and Florida and recently announced expansion efforts in Tennessee, will bring a location to 4609 Forest Drive suite 2 in the Cardinal Crossing development. The Surcheros will be next door to a Yoga Six location, and across from a Nothing Bundt Cakes.

City of Forest Acres officials said plans for the Surcheros have been reviewed and approved. Construction was ongoing Tuesday morning when a reporter rode by. The restaurant could open in November, according to a release from Surcheros.

The Forest Acres location will be one of four Surcheros the company plans to open in the Columbia area in the next few years, the company said.

“Columbia has always been a target market for us, with its strong business community, family presence, and vibrant student population,” Surcheros vice president of business development Jake Philpotts said in a statement.

Andrew Powell, a two-decade veteran of the food service industry, will be the franchisee for the Forest Acres Surcheros.

“We chose to partner with Surcheros because of several reasons, including their commitment to using the freshest ingredients and their strong focus on community involvement,” said Powell. “What really stood out to us was how they engage with the communities they serve. We’re eager to bring that same dedication to Columbia and become an active, supportive part of the community.”

Cardinal Crossing has continued to be a thriving commercial development in the heart of Forest Acres. It features a host of restaurants and businesses, including Yoga Six, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar, Clean Juice, and more.

It’s in a high-traffic area, as more than 27,000 cars per day travel down Forest Drive, per the SC Department of Transportation.

This story was originally published August 13, 2024 at 11:31 AM.

Chris Trainor
The State
Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 21 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of a host of South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.
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