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🌱 Patch AM: Which Columbia restaurants and shops quietly disappeared in 2025?

Make time for Release and Renew: A Sound Healing Journey into 2026 on the Columbia Patch calendar

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Hello Columbia! Here's our latest buzz. Let's get into it. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Which Columbia restaurants and shops quietly disappeared in 2025?
  • How will Columbia’s new design boards change downtown development approvals?
  • What led to the deadly Christmas shooting at Colony Apartments?

Also on today's calendar: Release and Renew: A Sound Healing Journey into 2026 and 2 more events.

Find out what's happening in Columbiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: The world champion tongue twister just got arrested! 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Columbiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Tuesday: Sunny to partly cloudy, with a high of 49 and low of 30 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny, temps: high: 53, low: 38.
  • Thursday: Sunshine, with a high of 57 and low of 37 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. From beloved restaurants to shops, these Columbia area businesses closed in 2025 (thestate.com) — If you’ve wondered what happened to some favorite Columbia-area spots, this roundup tracks many of the restaurants, shops, and even a movie theater that closed around the Midlands in 2025. From BullStreet’s Iron Hill Brewery to neighborhood staples on Garners Ferry, West Columbia, Lexington and beyond, it’s a snapshot of how the local business landscape has shifted.
   

2. Columbia to disband board that approves building design, historic tax credits. What happens now? (postandcourier.com) — Columbia is dismantling its powerful Design/Development Review Commission and replacing it with two specialized boards that will separately oversee historic preservation and new downtown projects. City officials say the shift should streamline approvals for developments in areas like Five Points, the Vista, North Main and the city center, with the new boards expected to start work by early spring 2026.
   

3. Columbia police arrest man in deadly shooting at apartments (wach.com) — Columbia police have arrested a 35-year-old man after a deadly Christmas holiday shooting at the Colony Apartments on Bailey Street, where a male victim was found dead at the scene. Investigators recovered a gun during the arrest and are checking if it was used in the crime. The suspect faces murder and weapons charges, while victim services staff support the victim’s family.
   

4. SCETV profiles Columbia's superstar comic artist and the bond he's maintained with his HBCU (postandcourier.com) — Columbia readers can take pride in Benedict College alum Sanford Greene, a nationally known comic artist who now returns to campus to teach a master class in comic art. A new 10-minute SCETV film, “Still Here,” spotlights his journey, Benedict’s unique comics arts program, and how this historically Black college is nurturing the next generation of visual storytellers.
   

5. ‘Your best weapon': How SC trains new police officers using communication and deescalation (scdailygazette.com) — New police officers from across South Carolina are trained at the Criminal Justice Academy in Columbia, where instructors emphasize communication and deescalation before using force. Recruits spend 12 weeks learning law, firearms, crisis communication, and realistic scenario training in a mock village. Leaders are also watching how artificial intelligence may change policing while stressing that old-fashioned observation and conversation remain essential.
   

📸 Around Columbia

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Good morning, neighbors.
    Happy Sunday. I hope today offers a little breathing room before the new week begins. Sundays are a great time to slow down, enjoy the simple things,… (Nextdoor Murraywood)
  • Please help me find my german shepherd Duke and Valkyrie.
    Any information would be really helpful. Thank you! https://neighbors.ring.com/n/ZR59megS4O (Nextdoor College Place)
  • County Councilwoman Gretchen D. Cooper will host a #townhall on proposed rezonings in District 7 at 6. Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 7494 Parklane Road,... (X: RichlandSC)
  • Follow along with DEW as we dive into Explore SC@Work! Today, we get to know Landon Baun, an inside wireman. As an electrician who powers up the... (X: SCDEWinfo)
  • University of South Carolina posted a job opening for Custodial Worker in Columbia. Apply here.
  • ServiceMaster Clean posted a job opening for Gym Janitor in Columbia. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Columbia here.

Ok Columbia! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I hear they’re giving him a really tough sentence.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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