‘Old friend’ departing: Another Midlands Zesto restaurant is closing its doors
A restaurant bearing one of Columbia’s quintessential food brands is hanging it up.
The City of Forest Acres announced Monday that the Zesto restaurant on Forest Drive will close this month after decades in business. The restaurant was one of three burgers-dogs-and-chicken outposts still operating in the area with different ownership under the longstanding name in fast food, previously a chain that broke up in 1955.
Two other Zesto locations remain in the Midlands, including one in West Columbia that sits below its large and iconic ice cream cone, and Angelo’s Zesto on North Main Street in Columbia.
It will be the second local Zesto to close this year, following one that shuttered in May in Chapin after 18 years in business.
“From the food, to the ice cream treats to maybe even your first job as a kid… Zesto’s in Forest Acres has always been like an old friend to welcome you home,” the city posted. “We’ve spoken with management who tells us the owner is simply retiring. We wish him well and say, thanks for the memories.”
Forest Acres said the last day hasn’t officially been decided, but “it’s looking right after Christmas and before the New Year.”
This is a developing story and will continue to be updated.
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