Columbia’s Drake’s Duck-In closing temporary shop ahead of Main St. reopening. What to know
They need to duck out of Hampton Street before they duck back in on Main Street.
Drake’s Duck-In, the iconic Columbia joint known for fried chicken and more, is set to close its temporary restaurant location at 1840 Hampton St. The last day for business in that spot is Friday, Feb. 16, co-owner Daniel Boan told The State.
The closure comes as Drake’s makes plans to move back into its longtime spot at 1544 Main St. The Main Street location has been closed since last March as the space has been undergoing a complete remodeling. Boan said he doesn’t yet have a reopening date for the Main Street location — they are still waiting on some equipment and finalizing a few other details — but said it would be soon.
The Post and Courier first reported on the closure of the temporary Hampton St. location.
Drake’s has been around Columbia, at one location or another, since 1907. The restaurant has been at 1544 Main St. for 26 years. The building at 1544 Main St. was built in the 1870s, according to Historic Columbia. Uses for the building through the years have included a bookstore, beauty salons, a cafe and more. In addition to the newly renovated Drake’s, 1544 Main also is the new home of the “Flutter Wing” expansion of Hotel Trundle, which is in the finishing stages in the upper half of the building and expected to open soon.
Drake’s has long been known for its chicken filet sandwiches that come with two pieces of chicken on them, as well as its fried chicken and breakfast biscuits. The State readers in 2023 voted Drake’s as their favorite fried chicken place in the Midlands in an online poll.
