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COLUMBIA — ColaEats, an initiative to address food insecurity among Columbia students, made its official launch April 26. The program will run with the support of Columbia-based community partners, including Columbia Food Policy Committee, Columbia Urban League, No Kid Hungry and Wholespire Richland.

"This is a very essential initiative, and an issue that we've got to address," said James T. McLawhorn, Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Columbia Urban League. "If we don't address food insecurity, we are really not maximizing opportunities for young people to become productive, contributing members of society."

The program will operate in three Midlands school districts: Richland One, Richland Two and Lexington-Richland Five. During this year's summer break, the districts will identify 1,500 total eligible students to receive a $120 gift card to supplement food purchases during the summer months.

"We all know that a lot of kids eat the majority of their meals at school," said Robin Cooper, chair of Wholespire Richland, an organization with the mission to improve public health, education and accessibility across Richland County. "We're recognizing the gap, stepping in and coming up with some programming to help adjust it."

While Wholespire is not providing funding for ColaEats, the organization is focused on raising awareness about the program. "We're hoping to get the word out, with the hopes of garnering financial support," said Cooper.

Cooper believes ColaEats has a special relevance in the wake of Gov. Henry McMaster's recent decision to not participate in the Summer 2024 Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program. The state's lack of EBT funding added urgency for this initiative, Cooper said.

"ColaEats came about, with the various partners at the table, wanting to make an impact on that."

Citing McMaster, McLawhorn said South Carolina "has become an economic development mecca," like the $2 billion Scout Motors plant under construction in Blythewood. With more economic opportunities, McLawhorn said, comes more hurdles.

Co-Owner Jody Kreush cites increased foot traffic — a result she credits to Cinnamon Roll Deli's appearances on the Food Network, People Magazine and ABC 25 — as one of her team's biggest drivers for expansion.

"People have waited in line for 45 minutes to an hour, and we've had a lot of people coming in from out of town to dine with us," she said. "We're hoping that this makes it easier for people to get in and out."

According to Kreush, the expansion has been underway for the past year. While they do not yet have an opening date, her team is now ready to begin construction.

Food & Drink

"The process is long," Kreush said. "You have to go through all different types of engineering, with lots of different drawings and scenarios, to get to the point where we are right now."

Along with a selection of flavored cinnamon rolls made from sweet Hawaiian bread — including strawberry cheesecake, coconut cream and black pepper bacon maple glaze — the Cinnamon Roll Deli also offers breakfast sandwiches and lunch offerings, like New York City bagels and hot dogs.

Kreush assures future customers that her team aims to stay loyal to its roots as a family business. With the upcoming expansion, along with her son and co-owner, Richard Kreush, at the helm, she believes the Cinnamon Roll Deli team is well-situated to take this next step.

"Guests can expect the same great experience," she said. "Great music and a great environment — just with more efficiency and more space."

May 2: The Root Doctors @ Icehouse Amphitheater

We kick off our May concert calendar with one of the area’s most popular and enduring bands, The Root Doctors. A typical Root Doctors show is packed with classic hits and favorites delivered with maximum enthusiasm and irresistible funky fun. This show is free to attend. Visit icehouseamphitheater.com for show information.

May 3: Gavin DeGraw @ The Senate

New York’s own Gavin DeGraw has spent the last 20 years honing his mix of blue-eyed soul, rock and country, scoring multiple gold, platinum and multi-platinum albums and singles along the way. DeGraw is a compelling live performer, especially when delivering hits like “I Want To Be” and “Not Over You.” Visit thesenatecolumbia.com for show and ticket information.

Arts & Entertainment

May 5: High On Fire @ The Senate

Sludge metal kings High On Fire have a bit of a ringer in their lineup: Sleep guitarist Matt Pike. Thanks to Pike’s molten, slow-motion riffing (he’s also High On Fire’s frontman), the band perfectly embodies the gigantic, glacially paced sound that stoner-metal fans love. Visit thesenatecolumbia.com for show and ticket information.

May 10: Clutch @ The Senate

The mighty hard-rockers Clutch return to one of their strongholds: The Southeast. You’d be hard pressed to find a more devoted fanbase for Neil Fallon’s guttural vocals and filthy riffs than the one right here in SC. The band’s New World Samurai tour pulls from recent albums like "Sunrise On Slaughter Beach" and "Book Of Bad Decisions," but don’t be surprised to hear some classics from the band’s "Transnational Speedway League" era. Visit thesenatecolumbia.com for show and ticket information.

May 11: Travis Tritt @ Township Auditorium

Country singer Travis Tritt’s has taken a deep dive into MAGA territory but he's still slinging his tunes across the country. Tritt has landed more than 40 hits on the country charts, including “Here’s A Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares),” “Can I Trust You With My Heart,” “T-R-O-U-B-L-E” and many more. Tritt’s days of multi-platinum albums might be behind him, but he’s got one hell of a catalog to pull from onstage. Visit thetownship.org for show and ticket information.

May 11: The Ghost Inside @ The Senate

Formerly known as A Dying Dream, The Ghost Inside are rapidly becoming a metalcore band on the rise. They’ve somehow landed six albums of brutal, uncompromising music on the indie charts, and even a tragic bus crash a few years back couldn’t stop them. You should also show up early for the opening bands Bleed Within and Great American Ghost — get a good start on your hearing loss. Visit thesenatecolumbia.com for show and ticket information.

May 15: Les Merry Chevaliers @ New Brookland Tavern

Our favorite local group of hard-rock dandies put on their powdered wigs and finest gentlemanly apparel for a night of rollicking rock & roll fun. You will definitely never get rocked this hard by a band dressed like this anywhere else. The Wall Boys open the show. Visit newbrooklandtavern.com for more information.

May 15 & 16: Squonk presents “Brouhaha” @ Koger Center for the Arts

The Koger Center for the Arts is bringing back Squonk, the larger-than-life visual and musical spectacle, for two free performances on the Koger Center Plaza Stage. “Brouhaha,” Squonk's newest show, is an immersive outdoor spectacle bursting with rollicking music, dazzling imagery and audience participation.

At the center of this riotous romp is the Squonkcordion, an enormous musical instrument powered by bellows and topped with tuba bells. At the peak of the performance, Squonk invites the audience to play this foghorn organ, welcoming them to experience the joy of a brass band and the fireworks of community. The show ends with a 30-foot head made of brilliantly colored banners that blows smoke from its nostrils. Yes, everything you just read is true. Visit kogercenterforthearts.com for show and ticket information.

May 18: Sawyer Hill @ New Brookland Tavern

Sawyer Hill is one of those, “How is THAT voice coming out of THAT guy?” performers. His miles deep vocals sound like that of someone twice Hill’s age, but when he applies that burnished, soulful approach to anthemic hard rock, the results are surprisingly simpatico. Visit newbrooklandtavern.com for show and ticket information.

Inspections showed that a minor child and their mother were living in an apartment with toxic black mold, but the Columbia Housing Authority did not disclose the results of that inspection and instead told the family that the mold had been taken care of, according to a lawsuit filed against the housing agency last month.

Ebony Chatman and her minor child were living at The Reserves at Faraway Terrace in 2022 when her child began getting headaches, a severe cough and other respiratory problems, according to the lawsuit, which was filed April 19in state court in Richland County.

Chatman notified the Housing Authority about the health concerns, but the agency did not immediately inspect the property, the lawsuit says. When the Housing Authority did inspect the property, it did not disclose the results of the inspection to Chatman until after she had retained an attorney, the suit adds.

The first inspection was conducted in January 2022. The second inspection was conducted in April 2023, after Chatman retained an attorney. Chatman was not provided the results of the 2022 inspection, which found toxic levels of mold, according to the suit.

Additionally, the housing authority “made misrepresentations” to Chatman about the extent of the mold problem, telling her that the problem had been resolved, the suit adds.

Attorneys Michael Masciale and Kevin Corrigan with Charleston’s O’Reilly Law Firm are representing Chatman in the suit.

They are asking for a jury trial and are hoping for money damages.

Yvonda Bean, CEO of the housing authority, declined to comment on the suit, as the agency does not comment on ongoing legal matters, she said.

This is not the first time that concerns have been raised over toxic levels of mold at The Reserves and other housing authority properties.

In June 2023, housing advocates with the S.C. Appleseed Legal Justice Center and the Carolina Health Advocacy Medicolegal Partnership (or CHAMPS clinic) decried the conditions at housing authority properties where tenants were reporting mold, roaches and unfair eviction practices.

S.C. Appleseed attorney Emily Blackshire Giel called the properties, which included The Reserves and Latimer Manor, “untenable and frankly uninhabitable,” while speaking to the Housing Authority Board last year.

Macaulay Morrison is the assistant director of the CHAMPS clinic, which serves low-income families and children. She previously told The State that she had numerous clients experiencing health problems from mold at The Reserves.

Her clients are typically referred to her by medical providers who feel some outside issue, such as a person’s living environment, is affecting their health. She started noticing a pattern: A lot of her clients lived at The Reserves. She’s seen severe cases with children sick from exposure to mold in their homes.

“I feel pretty confident calling it a complex-wide issue,” Morrison said at the time.

Bean told The State at the time that both The Reserves and Latimer Manor had mold problems but that those issues had been dealt with.

She also acknowledged that both of the properties required a great deal of work. Both are on the agency’s list of properties it hopes to demolish and rebuild.

When the housing authority completed an analysis of its properties in 2021 as part of its broad Vision 2030 plan, it determined Columbia Housing’s units needed $250 million worth of work. Using a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program, the housing authority plans to demolish a number of its properties in favor of building new, modern housing with more units.

More than 460,000 people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to the Columbia metro area’s $54 million economy. But have you ever wondered about the Capital City’s heaviest hitters?

Consider this Columbia Business 101 — your guide to our region’s five key industries and major employers.

Note: When we say Columbia metro area, that refers to the Central SC Region that includes Calhoun, Clarendon, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg, and Richland counties.

The key industries

Five key industries represent ~55% of the Columbia metro area’s economy, based on data from Central SC. We’ve listed them in order of employment numbers.

Fun fact: Blue Cross Blue Shield of SC offering insurance services, contact center, claims processing... etc. employs over 10,000 people alone and is the top private employer in the region.

Prisma Health Midlands + Lexington Medical Center together employ over 21,000 individuals. The services in these industries are delivered by trained professionals and include establishments providing medical care, health care, and social assistance.

Under that retail bracket of employers, Wal-mart came out on top, employing almost 6,000 people. Amazon followed, employing over 2,600, and Samsung + UPS, both employing 1200-1350 people.

Manufacturing in the Midlands comes in many different forms, but at the top of the list are Nephron Pharmaceuticals, Michelin, Trane, which makes metal products + machinery, and Samsung. Local players such as Kraft Heinz, and Westinghouse Electric Company, also carry a significant employment presence.

Fun fact: According to the latest tourism data from Experience Columbia, visitation increased from 15.1 million in 2021 to 15.8 million in 2022, and visitor spending increased 12% over the previous year to $1.7 billion.

Of the $1.7 billion spent in Columbia, food + beverage spending accounted for $487 million — that’s 29% of each visitor’s budget.

The economic impact of tourism on our region is substantial and the total economic impact in 2022 sustained over 22,300 jobs and generated $130 million in state and local tax revenues.

The top food and beverage employers in the Midlands region are Dak Americans LLC, a company that creates plastic materials and resins, Mark Anthony Brewing, a brewer and producer of hard seltzers, and Devro Inc., a company that creates edible casings for meat packaging.

The Public Administration sector consists of establishments of federal, state, and local government agencies that oversee and manage public programs. In total, the state of SC employs over 30,000 in the Midlands, the top two being the SC Department of Corrections and the SC Department of Social Services.

Now that we’ve established the major industries, we bet you’re curious about some specific names. Whether you’re job hunting (or just “casually prospecting”), here are five major employers — all that employ more than 5,000 workers on average.

32,085 employees | Public sector | Search jobs

With Cola being the capital of South Carolina, the city’s largest employer is the state — which helps drive tourism, the economy, business, and local government agencies.

15,000 employees | Healthcare | Search jobs

In 2017, Greenville Health + Palmetto Health merged to become Prisma — and became the second-largest employer in Richland County and one of the largest healthcare providers in the region.

10,998 employees | Insurance services | Search jobs

BCBSSC is the only SC-owned + operated health insurance carrier in the state and has a family of companies and affiliates also offering services to South Carolinians.

6,557 employees | Healthcare | Search jobs

The hospital in West Columbia delivers more than 4,000 babies each year and performs more than 25,000 surgeries. It was also named the No. 2 hospital in SC and is recognized as the No. 1 hospital in the Midlands, according to U.S. News and World Report.

6,456 employees | Educational services | Search jobs

The over 200-year-old university is the largest in South Carolina and has been ranked as the nation’s number one first-year student experience. The university also boasts the country’s number-one ranking for international business via the Darla Moore School of Business. With its campus spread throughout the city, USC is the heartbeat of Columbia.

2023 was a year of record achievements for economic growth in Richland County. The Richland County Economic Development Office (RCEDO) announced capital investments have surged to $2.35 billion, and with them, 4,532 new job opportunities have become available.

Scout Motors | Automotive |~4,000 jobs | Volkswagon is entering the electric off-road vehicle arena under the Scout Motors nameplate and building those cars at a new facility coming to Blythewood.

Cirba Solutions | Energy | ~300 jobs | Cirba Solutions — an electric vehicle battery materials facility — is investing $323 million to establish operations in Richland County. The new state-of-the-art, world-class lithium-ion battery recycling + materials facility will be ~400,000 sqft and located at Pineview Industrial Park, which is less than 1.5 miles from I-77 via Shop Road and home to Mark Anthony Brewing.

FN America, LLC | Manufacturing | ~100 jobs | The United States subsidiary of global firearms manufacturer, FN Herstal plans to expand its Richland County operations. The company’s $18 million investment will create approximately 102 new jobs.

Blanchard Machinery Company | Construction | ~30 jobs | The construction equipment supplier is opening new operations in Calhoun County. The company’s $46 million investment will create 30 new jobs and transfer 150 existing jobs from its Lexington County operations to the new facility.

Cooperative Electric Energy Utility Supply, Inc. | Utility, Energy | ~100 jobs | A consumer-owned electric materials supplier plans to expand operations in Lexington County, making a $52 Million investment.

Xerxes | Manufacturing | ~80 jobs | Xerxes is planning to establish its first SC Operations in Richland County by leasing a new production facility that will expand the company’s capability to deliver market-leading underground fuel and water storage tanks.

Mark Anthony Brewing | Fourth largest brewer in the US |~300 jobs | The Mark Anthony Brewing is a supply chain management company that invested $400 million in a new facility that created 300 new jobs to increase production of White Claw and Mike’s Hard Lemonade on Shop Road in Columbia.

This information is derived from the most recent data published by Central SC.

The fast food chain's Killian Commons Parkway location, one of three planned for the Columbia area, broke ground on April 5. The restaurant is set to open in September.

The area's other locations include one in Irmo and another in Lexington. The chain also plans to open up eateries in the Upstate.

The burger chain, which started in 1950 in Corpus Christi, Tex., is set for 202 Bridgeberry Lane in Columbia.

Teriyaki Madness to open in Five Points

An Asian fusion chain has circled an opening date for its first Columbia location.

Teriyaki Madness, which is set for 942 Harden St. in Five Points, will open its doors April 12, according to a press release from the restaurant.

The Colorado-based chain has locations across 20 states and in 3 countries. Its Five Points location was first reported in September of last year.

The restaurant offers a variety of bowls, including chicken teriyaki bowls and spicy tofu teriyaki bowls, and sides like chicken eggrolls and crab rangoons, according to the website.

It will open alongside a strip of other popular chain businesses like Orangetheory Fitness, a boutique gym and Flying Biscuit Cafe, a Southern food brunch place.

Parlour 818, new hair salon, opens

A new luxury salon, Parlour 818, celebrated opening its doors on Millwood Avenue April 5.

The salon, which offers everything from hair cuts to hair extension applications, comes from Florence native Lex Moore.

"Parlour 818 was meant to feel like home, or like you were going to visit your best friend," Moore writes on her website.

The salon is located at 3306 Millwood Avenue and is open Mondays through Fridays 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Other business news you might've missed:

For the second year in a row, and for only the second time in Columbia's history, two restaurateurs from here have been named finalists in the James Beard Foundation awards.

"What are those?" you might ask. Essentially, the James Beards are akin to the Oscars or a Pulitzer, but for folks in the food and dining industry. They recognize excellence from chefs, bartenders and restaurateurs all across the country with categories like Outstanding Restaurant and Best Chef for each region.

This year, Robbie Robinson, owner and pitmaster of City Limits BBQ in West Columbia, is nominated for Best Chef: Southeast. This is Robinson's first nomination and it comes after he moved his longtime food truck to a brick and mortar location last year.

Lula Drake Wine Parlour, a wine bar and restaurant on Main Street in Columbia, is nominated for a second year in a row. This year, the bar is nominated in the Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program category. Last year, it was nominated for Outstanding Hospitality.

Columbia had two of the state's four nominations in the national awards. You can read more in-depth coverage of that news here.

In other restaurant news, the U.S. Department of Labor recovered more than a quarter of a million dollars from owners of Krafty Draft Brew Pub for around two dozen employees who the federal agency said were not compensated fairly. The Lexington restaurant's owners were found to be operating an invalid tip pool and using tips to cover most of the servers' salaries.

Lastly, if you're headed to the airport soon, be prepared to pay a little more for parking. The Columbia Metropolitan Airport announced it would up surface level parking from $10 to $12 a day and garage parking from $14 to $17 a day.

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