New businesses make their way to southeast Colombia

COLUMBIA, SC – Parts of Columbia are undergoing a transformation with new developments, moves and closures, including a veterinary clinic, the move of a Mexican restaurant and the beginnings of a hot chicken chain, while questions arise about a building on Beltline Boulevard.

Residents will notice lots of building activity and new development on Garners Ferry Road towards Cross Hill Market in Columbia.

They will also hear construction equipment energized and moving on Fort Jackson Boulevard as the complex behind Cross Hill Market comes to life.

“Shortly after they left, construction started and we now have a building next door, so it’s going really fast,” Brandee Langley said.

Langley owns the hair salon next door.

According to the Veterinary Emergency Group of Charlotte, a new veterinary clinic is on its way to Columbia.

“They work very diligently out there. Even in the rain,” Langley said.

As previously reported in March, Mexican restaurant Moctezuma, which was previously located on Fort Jackson Boulevard, will also be moving to the former Lizard’s Thicket on Beltline Boulevard.

On Devine Street, Smash Burger closed months ago, but will now host Nashville-style hot chicken, Dave’s Hot Chicken, a popular chain making its South Carolina debut. The CEO of MPZ Holdings, the franchise company, is Kal Gullapalli.

“You will see there are queues every time the company opens one of these sites and we see no difference with Columbia because we already get so many inquiries about when are we going to open, when are we going to open and we’re super excited to finally open,” Gullapalli said.

They are aiming for an opening date of June 16.

Hot Chicken on Devine towards Beltline, at the intersection of Beltline and Devine is a building with a sign in the window with a stop work notice. It reads that there is no permit for the installation of a range hood or cooking appliances. The document displayed was published in January of this year.

In 2021, News19 reported that a Lexington steakhouse was opening a new location here, but at the moment the property is vacant.

News19 has reached out to the City of Columbia to find out more about what this location will become, but we haven’t heard back yet.