A new café and market in Columbia to debut next year. Check out where
A new café and market is being planned near a popular Columbia neighborhood not far from downtown.
Melrose Market will open in early 2026 at 2710 Gervais St. in the Melrose Heights neighborhood area. Project organizers said in a release that the market “will be a modern take on a classic European café, pairing approachable dining in a refined atmosphere with the warmth of a neighborhood hub.”
The café comes from local restaurateurs Chad Elsey and Jeb Babcock, both of whom are former partners in Columbia’s Cantina 76 restaurants. Elsey’s wife Ashley also will be part of the Melrose Market team, leading the restaurant’s brand identity and communications efforts.
“Opening a café-style restaurant is something I’ve wanted to do for years, and I am excited to be able to do it in my own backyard,” Chad Elsey said in a statement. “We wanted to bring something to Melrose Heights that feels fresh and modern but is still connected to the neighborhood’s character.”
The Melrose Market news was first reported by Columbia’s Free Times.
The café will be 5,000 square feet and will offer lounge seating, a bar, a dining room and a “patio that invites guests to linger,” a release said. There will be a retail area with “handpicked pantry staples” and other goods, officials noted.
“It’s about building a place we’d want to spend time in,” Chad Elsey noted in a statement. “Somewhere that makes it easy to gather, to connect, and to celebrate moments big and small — all while adding to the incredible community we’re proud to call home.”
The market and restaurant will be part of the Melrose Heights Retail Center, which is being renovated. Architecture firm Studio 2LR is designing the Melrose Market. Construction is underway on the project.
