Columbia, Lexington spots planned for growing chain Parker’s Kitchen. What we know
A convenience store known for its food options that has been popular along the coast has plans to expand into the Midlands market.
Parker’s Kitchen, which has roughly 100 stores mostly in coastal South Carolina and Georgia, has plans or more than a dozen stores in the greater Columbia area in coming years, a company official recently told the city of Columbia’s board of zoning appeals.
During a March 6 public meeting, the zoning board unanimously approved a measure to allow for a Parker’s Kitchen at 191 Earth Road near northeast Columbia. The convenience store will be at the Market at Spears Creek development at the corner of Earth and Spears Creek Church roads. That coming development is being anchored by a Publix grocery store and will also include Little Caesars pizza, Wingstop, a Palmetto Trading liquor store and other businesses.
“We are looking forward to our expansion here in the Columbia market,” Daniel Ben-Yisreal, real estate development manager for Drayton-Parker Companies, which develops Parker’s Kitchen stores, told the Columbia zoning board at the March gathering. “Our intentions over the next 4 or 5 years is to build approximately 15 stores in the greater Columbia market.”
Ben-Yisreal told the zoning officials the company is working on Parker’s sites in Columbia, Richland County and Lexington County.
One site the company appears to be circling for a Parker’s in Lexington County would be along busy N. Lake Drive.
Lexington County property records show that Drayton-Parker Companies, the Parker’s store developer, owns the property at 1367 N. Lake Drive, at the corner of N. Lake Drive and Pilgrim Church Road, having purchased the property in January.
Meanwhile, Lexington County planning commission agenda paperwork for April shows that stormwater management and sediment control fees have been submitted for a Parker’s Kitchen project along N. Lake Drive. The would-be Parker’s at 1367 N. Lake Drive also was mentioned in the January agenda paperwork for the Lexington planning commission.
Parker’s didn’t immediately respond to messages regarding the Lexington project.
The chain is known for all of the convenience store staples — gasoline, snacks, etc — but also for having a number of hot food items in its kitchens. That includes breakfast items such as fish & grits, biscuits & gravy, biscuit sandwiches and more, as well as lunch items including chicken tenders and sandwiches, pork chops and catfish.
