Local

6 recent restaurant closures in the Columbia area

Stories by The State journalists, with AI summarization

A handful of restaurants in the Columbia area have recently closed their doors. Carolina Western Pub, a line dancing bar in the Vista neighborhood downtown, and Random Tap, a longtime bar near northeast Columbia, both shut down due to rising liquor liability insurance costs, but the owners of Random Tap are reopening it as Eatery 117 with a breakfast and lunch focus. Ratio, known for its creative Peruvian tapas, announced its last dinner service after five years in Elgin, though the chef hints at possible future projects.

Alley Street Eats, a spot for Asian favorites like Taiwanese popcorn chicken and miso udon noodles, also closed after less than a year. In Forest Acres, Chubby’s Burgers ended operations at one location while maintaining another, and June Mari’s Deli in West Columbia paused business indefinitely following a fire.

Random Tap at 117 Spears Creek Church Road in Elgin will close its doors April 13, 2025. In its place, owners are opening Eatery 117, a place for breakfast, brunch and lunch. By Photo from Random Tap's Facebook

NO. 1: A LONGTIME BAR NEAR COLUMBIA PLANS TO CLOSE. CHECK OUT WHAT ITS OWNERS ARE PLANNING NEXT

The Midlands bar has been open for nearly a decade. Now its owners are planning another restaurant concept at the facility. | Published April 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Trainor

Alley Street Eats Asian restaurant at 4478 Rosewood Drive in Columbia has closed, according to a sign on the door. By Chris Trainor

NO. 2: AN ASIAN RESTAURANT ALONG A BUSY COLUMBIA ROAD HAS CLOSED ITS DOORS. WHAT WE KNOW

The restaurant focused on Asian street food and was located in a heavily commercial area in Columbia. | Published April 8, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Trainor

Chubby’s Burgers recently closed one of its locations, at 102 Percival Road in Columbia, near Forest Acres. By Photo by Chris Trainor

NO. 3: A COLUMBIA AREA BURGER JOINT HAS CLOSED ONE OF ITS LOCATIONS. WHAT WE KNOW

The spot was one of two Midlands locations of the restaurant that is known for smash-style burgers. | Published April 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Trainor

Ratio, a Peruvian restaurant in Elgin, SC near northeast Columbia, plans to close June 28, restaurant officials said. By Photo from Ratio's Facebook

NO. 4: A POPULAR PERUVIAN RESTAURANT NEAR COLUMBIA PLANS TO CLOSE. WHAT WE KNOW

The owner of the Midlands restaurant noted that the decision to close soon did not come lightly. | Published May 1, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Trainor

The Skyline Club at 100 Lee St. in West Columbia is up for auction. By Photo from Auction Management Corporation

NO. 5: AS ONE COLUMBIA LINE DANCING BAR CLOSES, ANOTHER COUNTRY SPOT MAY RISE AGAIN

Following a downtown closure, few Columbia venues offer a home for the popular pastime. | Published May 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Riley Edenbeck

June Mari’s Deli on Augusta Street in West Columbia was heavily damaged by fire on May 27, 2025, fire officials said. By Chris Trainor

NO. 6: A WEST COLUMBIA RESTAURANT IS CLOSED FOR NOW AFTER FIRE RAVAGES BUILDING

Three Midlands departments responded to the fire that happened early Tuesday morning. | Published May 27, 2025 | Read Full Story by Chris Trainor

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.