Popular Midlands eatery Cafe Strudel has new owners; Lexington location closed
A longtime Midlands restaurant known for its brunch and more is under new ownership, and one of its locations has closed and will give way to a new concept.
The Foundry Hospitality Group has purchased Cafe Strudel, the breakfast and brunch spot that has been located at 300 State St. in West Columbia since 1997, according to restaurateur and Foundry Executive Vice President Steve Cook.
The purchase included the Cafe Strudel property at 300 State St. in West Columbia, as well as the location at 309 S. Lake Drive in Lexington. The West Columbia location remains open and will continue to operate as Cafe Strudel, Cook said. Meanwhile, the Lexington location is now closed, and Cook said it will be revamped and reimagined as a different restaurant.
Foundry Hospitality includes local restaurateurs Cook and Joe Walker III, among others. Earlier this year the group opened Ember, a high-end steakhouse on W. Main Street in Lexington near the Icehouse Amphitheater. Outside the Foundry umbrella, Cook also owns restaurants that include Saluda’s fine dining and Arroyo Tacos & Tequila, each in Five Points.
Cook said Cafe Strudel seemed like a good fit for the burgeoning hospitality group.
“For us, this was the perfect opportunity,” Cook said of the acquisition. “We’re trying to open new restaurants in the Columbia area, but we also are open to acquiring places that we can add value to, and Cafe Strudel was a perfect example of that.
“We’re not going to change anything carte blanche or anything like that, but hopefully we can make some improvements and add some value to it.”
As for the now-closed Cafe Strudel space on S. Lake Drive in Lexington, Cook said the Foundry Hospitality Group is exploring its options on reopening it as a different restaurant.
“We are still determining what will be the best fit for that one,” Cook said of the Lexington restaurant space. “It’s a great piece of property. Obviously we love Lexington, and we opened Ember just down the street from there. We hope to do something cool in that space.”
As for exactly what type of restaurant might go in the S. Lake Drive spot, Cook noted it is “to be determined.” Cafe Strudel had been in the space at 309 S. Lake since 2018.
Cafe Strudel was founded by Trip and Marila Turbyfill in West Columbia in 1997. In the years since it has become a go-to spot for breakfast, brunch, lunch and more along busy State Street. Among the famous items on its menu are the Hangover Hashbrowns, which come with cheddar cheese, onions, tomato, banana peppers, sour cream and eggs. The dish has been featured in Southern Living magazine.
With new ownership on-board, Cook stressed that the hallmarks of the West Columbia Cafe Strudel will remain.
“We aren’t going to change the things people love about Cafe Strudel,” Cook said. “The Hangover Hashbrowns aren’t going anywhere.”
This story was originally published October 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM.
