‘I felt like this would come.’ How downtown Lexington became a hopping spot for a night out

There is the gathering, and then there is the migration.

A perfect example of a gathering that has become typical on a weekend night in downtown Lexington happened on Friday, Dec. 6, as thousands of people packed the seating bowl and connected pavilion at the Icehouse Amphitheater for the town’s annual Christmas Carolighting.

Families with young children crowded into the Icehouse area to get photos with Santa Claus, browse the shopping options from dozens of vendors who set up for the event, nibble on slices of pizza from one of a number of food trucks, and sip on cups of piping hot chocolate, with steam rising from their cups on a night with temperatures that dipped into the 30s.

It was an event that was capped with the lighting of the town’s towering Christmas tree, and a showing of the holiday movie “The Muppet Christmas Carol” in the amphitheater.

And as that festive gathering in the town’s trademark, $5 million amphitheater was beginning to wind down, the migration started taking place, as residents exited the amphitheater and headed up the hill toward Main Street in little packs, looking for nourishment, libations and a spot to keep the festivities going.

Some ducked into Barrio Tacos for nachos and tequila. Others landed at TakoSushi, the Asian and Latin restaurant that opened its doors near Main and Church streets in September. There was a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd in the bar at Irish pub O’Hara’s Public House, and a standing-room crowd at Keg Cowboy, the craft beer spot where Christmas lights dangle overhead and a painting of a young Robert DeNiro hangs above an ever-cranking jukebox.

It was a all indicative of a scene that has become increasingly common in downtown Lexington, where events at the amphitheater — from weekend markets to family movies to concerts featuring artists ranging from Tokyo Joe to Sister Hazel and beyond — help funnel patrons to the nearby bars, restaurants and boutiques that line Main Street.

There was a time when, if you lived in Lexington and wanted to have a bite of Thai food or a sip of craft beer or a slice of pizza in a downtown setting, you likely would have had to get in a car and head to Columbia. But now it feels like Lexington is increasingly carving out a vibe of its own.

It’s a scene Keg Cowboy owner Brian Nelson said he’s anticipated coming down the pipeline for some time. Nelson, who has had keg Cowboy for about 10 years, was at the restaurant on Dec. 6, working the kitchen and chatting up regular customers. During a break, he took a long slug from an icy bottle of Labatt Blue and surveyed the Friday night landscape at the bar, where patrons laughed and yelled and the crowd stretched to the door.

“In all honesty, this is what I’ve been hoping for for a decade,” Nelson said, with a little matter-of-fact shrug. “I felt like this would come. ... I [previously] spent 17 years in Charleston, and when we went out, we hopped. Drink and appetizer at one place, then you walk to the next place and do a drink and an appetizer, then you walk to the next place. We are getting there [in Lexington]. We are really close.”

Icehouse heats it up

If you build it, they will come, even in the bracing cold.

During the Dec. 6 carolightng events, residents crowded into the Icehouce Amphitheater and its connected plaza and market area to browse the dozens of vendors and food offerings that were available. Among them was Lexington resident Julie Noufal, who was with her daughter Amira, a local middle school student.

Noufal has lived in Lexington for just more than 10 years, and said she has watched as downtown has “boomed” in that time period. She said she likes to come to amphitheater events, and then head to nearby restaurants for a bite.

“We come up here [to the amphitheater] quite often,” said Noufal, who was bundled against the cold during the recent carolighting ceremony. “We follow Lexington’s [social media] pages and we love to see what’s going on, because when something is going on here it has Main Street really popping with all the restaurants and stuff, too.”

Aside from the residents who flock to the amphitheater for events, the venue also has become a critical spot for the vendors who offer various wares at the market that is connected to the venue. On Dec. 6, there were tables set out across the market space, with people offering everything from artwork to natural honey to clothing and jewelry and beyond.

Samad Green was manning the table for Christine’s Petite Sweets, which is his wife’s business. Christine’s specializes in various baked goods, and its mini cheesecakes are especially popular.

Green said he’s been amazed to watch the increased activity in downtown Lexington in recent years, with events at the amphitheater and new businesses popping up nearby.

“I’ve seen enough change that I know that the draw is coming back to the historic downtown,” Green said. “I appreciate it. I have had a chance to support a couple of the new restaurants that have popped up. We support those restaurants, instead of driving down to Columbia. It’s a beautiful, quaint little downtown. Most of the time you get to meet the owners or the people who are invested in the business.

“I love it, and to watch it begin to branch out into other parts of Lexington is amazing, as well.”

Lexington Mayor Hazel Livingston, who served on Lexington Town Council for 25 years before being elected mayor in 2023, was on-hand for the Dec. 6 carolighting. In a later conversation with The State, she noted the growth that has come to downtown Lexington in the years since the Icehouse Amphitheater opened.

And the mayor was also quick to point out there is more on the way. Voodoo Brewing Company has announced plans for a location at the northwest corner of Main and Church streets, and restaurateur Steve Cook, who runs Saluda’s in Columbia’s Five Points, plans to open a modern steakhouse on Main Street in the former Alodia’s space.

Livingston said the Icehouse Amphitheater is at the center of it all. It has drawn more than 162,700 visitors to downtown Lexington in the past year, the mayor reported.

“The growth is about more than numbers,” Livingston said. “It’s about creating a thriving downtown. One where people can explore diverse dining options, shop unique retailers and enjoy world class entertainment in the heart of Lexington.”

Disco nights and Christmas lights

The bar at O’Hara’s Public House, located 131 E. Main St., was extremely full on the night of Dec. 6. Patrons were shoulder-to-shoulder at the bar, with regular tables and hi-tops packed with customers, and many others filling the standing room space.

Aside from the Christmas event that drew thousands to the amphitheater just down the street, O’Hara’s was also having Disco Night, a popular event it puts on the first Friday of every month. Owner Matt O’Hara said Disco Night has been a draw since it began nearly three years ago, and tables for the Dec. 6 edition had been reserved two weeks in advance.

O’Hara noted the Irish pub has sponsored various events at the Icehouse through the years, particularly those involving the band Tokyo Joe, which has also played at O’Hara’s. The pub owner — who also owns the nearby O’Hara’s Bakery Cafe — said the town’s keystone venue has been a boon for downtown businesses.

“The events at the amphitheater pretty much always drive a spike in our business,” O’Hara said. “We have gotten involved in sponsoring and helping make some of those events happen because they are such a good correlating bump for us. We do love that the town of Lexington has invested in bringing people into town.”

Over at Keg Cowboy, where Friday night revelers were trying different beers and noshing on fresh-baked pretzels, owner Brian Nelson took note that not all shows at the Icehouse are created equal, at least in terms of their ability to draw customers to the bar.

“It depends on what show is down there,” Nelson said. “There are shows that are absolutely our crowd. They come in here and pregame and postgame in here. There are shows that are not our crowd and they pregame and postgame other places. But collectively I’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who says it is a bad thing. I think, in the long run, it helps everybody.”

Gavin Smith is a member of Lexington Town Council and a native of Lexington County who grew up in the White Knoll area. He was at the Icehouse on Dec. 6, greeting citizens as they reveled in yuletide cheer.

Smith said the scene is a far cry from yesteryear.

“When I was a kid I can remember coming down Main Street and I remember there being limited things to do,” Smith said. ”Now you come down Main Street and we have thousands of people here on a Friday night to celebrate the Christmas season kicking off, and after they leave here they go and have a number of options to eat, to grab a drink with friends, to get dessert or to stay here at the amphitheater and watch a movie with their family.”

Both Livingston and Smith say downtown will continue to be a priority for town council, with each saying they’d like to see a larger public art presence in the town center, among other amenities.

The downtown scene is unfolding as town leaders had hoped, Livingston noted.

“It’s warming to my heart to see people out interacting with each other,” the mayor said. “I think what is happening in our downtown is a testament to council’s vision plan for years. It is literally coming to life before our eyes. We are seeing people interact with each other and be in community.”

This story was originally published December 13, 2024 at 5:00 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.