The opening of Columbia’s first Tupelo Honey restaurant is getting close. What we know
A popular restaurant chain known for its elevated Southern fare is nearing the opening of it first Columbia restaurant, and it’s looking to staff up.
Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, which has locations across the U.S., particularly in the South, will open in February at Columbia’s BullStreet District, according to a release from the company. The restaurant will be located on the ground floor of the Bennet at BullStreet apartment development that is just west of the Segra Park baseball stadium. Tupelo Honey didn’t list an exact date in February when the doors would open, but said more information is forthcoming as the debut draws near.
Tupelo Honey has a strong presence in the Southeast, and currently has South Carolina locations in Greenville and Myrtle Beach. The restaurant is known for its brunch and dinner offerings, as well as cocktails and more. It’s menu features everything from fluffy biscuits with blueberry jam and whipped butter to avocado toast and eggs to chicken and waffles to burgers and beyond.
The Columbia restaurant is looking to fill more than 100 positions, including servers, hosts, bartenders, line cooks, prep cooks, dishwashers and other posts. Tupelo Honey is hosting open interviews from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily from Jan. 2 through Jan. 19 at the Hilton Garden Inn at 1200 Pickens St. in Columbia, according to the company. Management from Tupelo Honey will be at the hotel to conduct interviews and applications will be accepted. Applicants are asked to bring two forms of ID and a resume, if available.
Applicants can also apply online ahead of the event at harri.com/thcolumbia.
The coming Tupelo Honey restaurant is the latest development at the BullStreet District, where Hughes Development and the city of Columbia are working to overhaul the sprawling, 181-acre campus of the former State Mental Hospital.
The site is home to hundreds of apartments and residences, with more under construction, as well as the Columbia Fireflies baseball team, a Starbucks, an REI outdoor store, a Publico restaurant, the Iron Hill Brewery, and a host of professional offices, among other uses. The University of South Carolina also is planning a $300 million medical school campus on the northeast side of the BullStreet property.
And recently, storefront business and retail announcements have been picking up at BullStreet. Fitness studio Pvolve has opened a location there and growing seafood restaurant chain Shuckin’ Shack is developing a location in the district. Popular Greenville coffee company Methodical also has announced a location in BullStreet. Additionally, high-end salon Image Studios recently opened its doors in the district. And Coastal Crust Wood-fired Pizza has announced it will open a restaurant there in 2025, as part of a community lawn project near the WestLawn building.
This story was originally published January 2, 2025 at 11:24 AM.
