Oliver Gospel Mission in Columbia is extending its services through the opening of a coffee shop downtown.

West Columbia small business owners, organizers, and local leaders gathered at 803 Meeting St. Wednesday to hold a ribbon cutting for the newly-revitalized River District Association.

Chapin resident Doug Collier has acquired a variety of skills throughout his 23 years as an FBI special agent. He became well-versed in training law enforcement officers for firearm usage, tactics, and active shooter response.

A slice of Brooklyn is coming to the Vista this week with the opening of Brooklyn Express Pizza.

Silver Airways, a low-cost regional airline, will begin to offer flights from the Columbia Metropolitan Airport in December.

Lexington will soon welcome a new business to the community. Showmars, a “Southern-Greek” restaurant will open its doors in mid-November at 5318 Sunset Blvd.

Columbia’s BullStreet District has been booming with new construction and a new addition will soon be welcomed to the area.

Magnus Development Partners announced the groundbreaking Tuesday of Midway Logistics VI, a new 192,780 sq.-ft. spec industrial building located in Lexington County Industrial Park in Pineridge.

Moe’s Sandhill is unveiling its new, refreshed interior design and to celebrate, the business is selecting ten winners to receive free Moe’s for a year.

There was a new restaurant sign installed Thursday morning that may have caught the eye of drivers on Highway 378 in Lexington. Tropical Grille will be coming to 5449 Sunset Blvd. in the former Smashburger location.

Jim Hudson Automotive Group has just opened a Chevrolet Dealership in Columbia. The family-owned company purchased what was formerly Stiver’s Chevrolet and officially opened its doors to customers under the new ownership Tuesday. The dealership is located at exit I-20 and Clemson Road in Columbia.

Midlands residents can soon experience dining in a festive atmosphere at Columbia’s Publico Kitchen and Tap.

Regal Cinemas announced Monday that operations at all theaters will cease at the close of business Thursday, until further notice.

Camp Discovery has joined the growing list of businesses and organizations hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic - and now desperately needs money, according to Amy Ellisor, the camp’s executive director.

There are quite a few updates, for businesses old and new, in the Village at Sandhill.

Uptown gift shop on Columbia's Main Street will celebrate its grand reopening with a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday at 1 p.m.

Owner of Columbia's Solstice Kitchen, Ricky Mollohan, announced via Facebook Tuesday that the restaurant will not be reopening after what began as a temporary closure, due to COVID-19.

Several Midlands Waffle House locations are hosting a virtual hiring event Thursday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for full-time and part-time positions.

Columbia’s Main Street welcomed a new neighbor Tuesday with the opening of Family Fresh Mex. The restaurant originally began as a food truck at Soda City Market but has since opened in a brick and mortar space where customers can visit six days a week.

Another Columbia business has fallen victim to COVID-related setbacks.

Blue Flour Bakery’s Main Street location in Columbia will close its doors permanently after taking a hit from the COVID-19 pandemic. The closure was announced on the business’ Instagram page Wednesday.

Chef Javier Uriarte is sharing his Peruvian heritage with the Midlands through the opening of his restaurant, Ratio.

Customers of The Happy Café only have a few more months to enjoy the home cooking of owner Sue Hodges. The 17-year-old Forest Acres eatery is closing at the end of December as Hodges starts a new venture.

The donuts were flying off the shelf Tuesday morning as Dunkin' employees welcomed guests to the store's opening day in West Columbia.

Blythewood area residents should soon have a new reason to shop and dine close to home.

Residents around Shandon and Heathwood in Columbia have likely noticed a new pharmaceutical store on Devine Street across from Earth Fare that opened in August.

Representatives from the Town of Lexington announced Thursday that a Trader Joe's could possibly be coming to the area.

The taste of the Louisiana bayou has arrived in Columbia. Crabby’s Cajun is a new seafood boil restaurant, located in the former Takosushi spot on Assembly Street.

Kelly and Brian Glynn, owners of Village Idiot Pizza in Columbia, are celebrating a milestone many restaurateurs do not achieve.

Palmetto Cafe in Lexington celebrated its grand reopening Tuesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The key to driving more business is knowing what problem you solve for customers — and then being able to communicate it clearly, according to Jared Clary with Splash Omnimedia.

Professional Women in Building Week continues through Friday.

Representatives from the Town of Lexington announced in August that the old Rite Aid building location, which has been closed since July 2018, will be the future location of a Murphy Express.

Tre Dabney and his wife Sue were heartbroken Tuesday morning when he said they arrived at their Chapin business, Chickenbutt Donuts, to find the back door had been broken into, cash was cleared from the register, and the safe was missing.

Clemson fans in the Midlands have one more reason to get excited about football season.

Lexington will welcome another new business to the community Thursday. Biblestore Outlet, offering discount Christian literature is the second location in the state, after its first location in Florence, which also serves as the headquarters of the bookstore.

Although many events have been canceled due to COVID restrictions, the Midlands Crafters Association has figured out a safe way to continue their annual event.

Pizza lovers can expect a new spot to enjoy their favorite food coming to Columbia this fall. Owner of Saluda’s in Five Points, Steven Cook, will open Il Bucato, a carry-out only restaurant on North Beltline Blvd.

Lexington will be getting a sweet addition this year with the opening of Crumbl Cookies. The business, founded in Utah almost three years ago, has become a widespread franchise across the country with 150 operating locations in 17 states and 100 new stores on the way.

Alex Lee Inc. announced Tuesday that the company will be purchasing 20 BI-LO stores in South Carolina and Georgia from Southeastern Grocers Inc.

Officials from Adrenaline Entertainment Center announced in August that the company would be closing the doors of its locations indefinitely. 

Harvest Hope Food Bank will be hosting a Midlands Job Fair Drive-Thru, created by SC Works Midlands, the SC Department of Employment and Workforce, and the SC Department of Social Services. The event will be held Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Republic Biergarten and Kitchen is hosting grand opening to the public Friday. The business, located in the former home of the Vista's Flying Saucer, held its soft opening for friends and family Thursday and management was pleased with the turnout.

Blythewood’s larger companies want to share the wealth with the area’s numerous small businesses.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recognized Columbia VA Health Care System last week for three national VA awards: the VA Patient Experience Award for Cultural Innovation, the Excellence Award in Social Work Leadership, and the 2020 Excellence Award for Voluntary Services.

Upon permanently closing its doors in June, owner of Uptown gift shop on Columbia's Main Street, Martha Studstill, notified the public that anyone interested in purchasing the business was welcome to do so.

Middleburg Plaza, just off Forest Drive in Columbia, will soon be the home of a new restaurant specializing in lunch options. Badd Boys Cafe is slated to open during the first half of September in the former Mousetrap restaurant location, which closed in January.

When a healthier diet became a priority for Amanda and Carlos Dawkins, the couple decided to turn their lifestyle into a business to share with the Midlands.