Blue Flour Bakery to open downtown location

First Citizens Bank announced Wednesday that beginning this fall, Irmo's Blue Flour Bakery will become a tenant in the Brennen Building’s First Citizens Café space at 1210 Main St. in Downtown Columbia next door to Bourbon whiskey bar and Creole kitchen.

The bakery will serve breakfast sandwiches, baked items and cookies, bars and brownies. The location will be the second for Blue Flour since owner Teri Pringle opened the first at 7703 St. Andrews Rd. in Irmo 10 years ago.

"Teri approached us about this opportunity earlier this year, knowing we both are passionate about the continued revitalization and development of downtown Columbia and Main Street," said Sharon Bryant, regional executive vice president for First Citizens Bank. "She operates her other location with the same commitment to quality and exceptional customer service our café patrons have come to expect and enjoy from us over the past three years. This alliance is a natural progression of our desire to celebrate this acclaimed historic landmark and offer a prime location on Main Street for people to meet and enjoy a cup of coffee or tea and delicious baked goods."

First Citizens will continue to use the courtyard for events, and the courtyard will be named "The First Citizens Terrace on Main." The second floor of the Brennen Building will continue to serve as office space for members of the First Citizens Wealth Management team.　

"Our brick-and-mortar bakeries have become go-to places for socializing, celebrating and experiencing incredible customer service," said Pringle. "We look forward to our alliance with First Citizens Bank on Main Street. Our menu is seasonally inspired, so our bakery case will change daily. We specialize in custom-decorated sugar cookies for all special occasions and bakery gift boxes, and we will provide local honeys, jams, and coffees that complement our bakery items."

Blue Flour Bakery plans to make some interior renovations prior to opening on Main Street, so the First Citizens Café will close to the public　Friday, Sept. 2, to expedite construction and ensure it does not interfere with the café’s customer experience. Blue Flour Bakery plans to open for business by early November.　

"This exciting new arrangement is a wonderful example of two strong businesses working together to take our downtown to new levels of energy and success," said Matt Kennell, president and CEO of the City Center Partnership. "It is exactly the kind of unique retail experience that defines Columbia’s Main Street revitalization."