Dutch Bros Coffee plans Columbia shop; new sports bar opens downtown
A popular national coffee chain looks to have plans for a location in Columbia.
Dutch Bros Coffee, which has a growing profile across the South, Midwest and West, is planning a shop at 7001 Garners Ferry Road, according to city of Columbia records. A permit was issued on Sept. 16 for new Dutch Bros signage at the Garners Ferry Road address, per city paperwork.
Additionally, online resources indicate there was construction bidding for a Dutch Bros at 7001 Garners Ferry Road in September.
There are more than 1,000 Dutch Bros Coffee locations across the U.S., per data website ScrapeHero. The company started in 1992 with a cart in Oregon. Its menu includes a host of coffees, teas, smoothies, sparkling sodas and more.
The company also is planning a store at 5211 Sunset Blvd. in Lexington, alongside a Lidl grocery store. Those plans are under review by the town of Lexington, according to the town’s September planning and zoning actions report.
New sports bar opens downtown
There’s a new spot to catch some wings and watch a game in downtown Columbia.
A sports bar called The Yard opened recently at 1626 Main St., near the Cannon parking garage. On social media, the bar has touted $1 wings, $5 beers, $4 mimosas and plenty of big screens.
“Game day energy is here!,” The Yard exclaimed on Instagram. “Grab your crew, $5 beers, and catch every play on our big screens. Downtown’s ultimate fan spot awaits!”
The Yard is the latest effort from LTC Hospitality, which has a number of restaurant concepts in the Main Street corridor and elsewhere, including Hanabi Hibachi & Sushi (which is also located in the building at 1626 Main), The Grand on Main, Smoked and others.
Columbia’s Free Times first reported the opening of The Yard.
The State Fair is back. It’s corn dog time, baby
It’s fall in Columbia, and one of the hallmarks of the season has returned: The South Carolina State Fair is on from Oct. 8-19.
Now, everyone has their favorite part of the fair. For some, it’s the spinning, twisting rides along the midway. (Long live the Crazy Mouse.) For others, it may be the livestock exhibits, or the daily circus that takes place under the big top.
But for many, the highlight is the food. The State Fair is stuffed with booths and trucks offering up everything from elephant ears to corn dogs to pizza to those delectable Fiske Fries.
As it has in many past years, the State Fair is offering a “lunch bunch” promotion this year. With that, fairgoers can pop in to the fair from noon to 2 p.m. each weekday (excluding opening day Wed. Oct. 8) and receive a refundable $20 ticket. As long as you return to the ticket booth by 2 p.m., you get your ticket money back.
This story was originally published October 8, 2025 at 12:19 PM.
