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A new spot for breakfast and lunch is launching in a space that formerly was long home to a popular bar.

Eatery 117 debuted Tuesday, June 10 at 117 Spears Creek Church Road in Elgin, near northeast Columbia. The restaurant, which will focus on breakfast, brunch and lunch, was in a soft opening phase on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to posts on the Eatery 117 Facebook page, with a fuller menu launch planned for Thursday.

Owners Kimberly and John Gagliardi are opening Eatery 117 in the Elgin space where they previously operated Random Tap for nearly a decade. That bar and taproom, known for its craft beer selection, closed in April, as the owners cited the skyrocketing cost of liquor liability insurance in South Carolina.

Now the Gagliardis have pivoted to a concept that will offer a host of lunch, brunch and breakfast items in a space that has been renovated and updated in recent months. Eatery 117 is operating off a more streamlined soft opening menu its first couple of days, but that menu, as shared on Facebook, offers a glimpse at the type of fare the establishment will offer.

For instance, the menu features an avocado toast, which has toasted multigrain bread with olive oil, seasoned smashed avocado, roasted tomatoes, pickled onions and a poblano ranch drizzle. Additional items on the soft opening menu include loaded cheddar grits, breakfast wraps, bagels, espresso, a house salad and more.

Eatery 117 has shared on Facebook that it will be offering coffee and espresso from Greenville’s Methodical Coffee and will be partnering with Columbia’s The Bagel Guys for its bagels.

The new restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, according to hours posted on social media. It is closed on Mondays.

The State

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 20 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of a host of South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.

COLUMBIA — When Lizard's Thicket Operations Manager Matthew Williams thinks of some of his earliest memories, he pictures sitting in the passenger seat as his dad drove to the meat-and-three restaurants across the Midlands. He remembers eating chicken legs and sitting on a milk crate while learning how to make banana pudding.

Sara Kisnow, the restaurant's community relations manager and Matthew's cousin, remembers tagging along with her mother as she made schedules at Lizard Thicket's West Columbia store. There, the servers were her babysitters, and her only goal was to grab a few pieces of candy from the bowl next to the register and be a part of the family business.

And while everyone in the Williams family started differently, from washing dishes to learning numbers by counting change, it's safe to say that all of their earliest childhood memories revolved around the family restaurant.

Now, every Father's Day, Mother's Day or any holiday (because Lizard's Thicket is open every day of the year except Christmas) is a chance to remember and celebrate the strong family legacy that makes the restaurant the iconic Columbia landmark it is today.

A long history

Anna and Bob Williams opened the first Lizard's Thicket restaurant on Broad River Road in December 1977 with a few meat selections and a handful of vegetable sides.

Over time, the restaurant evolved, adding more entrees and sides and opening new locations across the Midlands. Now, there are 13 Lizard's Thicket restaurants from Columbia to Blythewood to Red Bank, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner every day of the week.

As the number of Lizard's Thickets grew, so did the Williams family. Now, Bob Williams' sons, Bobby, Jimmy, Mark and John, play significant roles in the business. Plus, multiple members of the third generation of the Williams family, a total of 24, have stepped into leadership positions.

Matthew Williams said he and many of his family members always knew they would join the business started by his grandparents over 47 years ago.

"We just felt a great deal of respect and reverence for all the hard work that had been put before us and of the great example that they showed us and the rewards that were reaped," Matthew Williams said. "And just in the same breath, you know, how proud we were of our family and how proud of all the work that had been done to have this shining legacy."

Bobby Williams Jr., Lizard's Thicket's CEO and Robert and Matthew Williams' father, said the legacy was built through tough love and hard work.

"My father was a tough taskmaster, and hard work is what he taught all of us. We were honoring him to work shoulder-to-shoulder with our father and our mother," Bobby Williams said. "But I feel that even with the children that are in the business now, they kind of honor my father and my brothers and myself by the way they're working."

Robert Williams said his father passed on the same determination that his grandfather had and helped him understand the importance of uploading high standards. And while he didn't enjoy as much free time as his friends, Robert Williams said he was grateful for what those before him helped build.

"What always grounded me is I felt like as hard as I was working, I would never have to work as hard as my father did, and (my grandparents and uncles) did to lay the groundwork for this," Robert Williams said.

Anytime a new restaurant would open, or doubts would be cast on whether Lizard's Thicket could survive, Bob Williams' advice was simple.

"As my daddy said, you just outwork them," Mark Williams said.

As many restaurants came and went, Lizard's Thicket and the Williams' bond stayed strong.

"We found out there was more strength in the family unit together," Jimmy Williams said. "You know, that's how we got going. We were shoulder to shoulder, and working together."

A family affair, related or not

Robert Williams said the Lizard's Thicket staff is close and dedicated, with many employees staying for years on end. Some staff members were hired by his grandfather and have worked at the restaurant for 40 years.

"The employees have their own family atmosphere in the restaurants, and they take pride in that," Robert Williams said. "We treat people like they're part of our extended family, and understand when they're having hard times, and help them through tough situations, and a lot of people don't have anybody to help them out in tough times or advice. And I think we do a good job of going that extra step for the people involved with us, to make sure everybody's prospering the right way, and set themselves up for success."

The Williams also know and treat customers like family, Robert Williams said.

"Our regular customers, they can be two times a day, seven days a week, and if they're not here, they tell the waitress I'm going out of town, or, God forbid, they're in the hospital or something," Robert Williams said. "That's what it takes for them not to be here, because they're always here."

Krisnow said Lizard's Thicket has become part of many families' Father's Day, Mother's Day and everyday traditions.

"Lizard's Thicket is where they come for celebration," she said. "So we know exactly what's going on with their families, because they bring them all here."

Carrying on the tradition

Most of the fourth Williams generation is still too young to work, but Robert Williams and Krisnow said they hope their children will want to continue working in the family business.

From gaining customer service skills by working with "hangry" people to learning how to talk to anyone who walks through the door, Krisnow hopes her kids will be able to thrive in the business as she did.

"Whatever they want to do we'll support, but I definitely want them to work in the restaurants growing up," Krisnow said. "I think those are some skills that I learned at an early age that (have) helped me be successful in life. And I think that I'd like to give the fourth generation that opportunity as well."

While the Williams family may not know what the future will look like, they do know that Lizard's Thicket isn't going anywhere.

"Lizard's Thicket is going to keep going," Krisnow said. "I can promise you that."

Sydney Dunlap is a reporter with the Free Times. Reach her [email protected]

At Friday’s Jump Shots for Justice in Columbia, South Carolina, DJJ used sports and mentorship to steer kids away from contact with the justice system.

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) held its second annual Jump Shots for Justice event Friday.

The event brought together law enforcement, community leaders, and families from across the Midlands to offer youth positive alternatives through sports and mentorship.

The event, held in Columbia, featured a basketball tournament as its centerpiece, but kids also participated in kickball, STEM activities, face painting and more. Food trucks were on-site, and all activities were free to the public.

Rhonda Holman, Deputy Director at DJJ, stressed the importance of outreach programs like Jump Shots for Justice, which aim to connect with youth before they enter the juvenile justice system.

"To ensure that the message is getting out there, that our youth are hearing and seeing that you don't have to take the alternate route to get to DJJ, but we're out here in the community and we're providing those services to prevent that pipeline," Holman said.

The basketball tournament allowed participating teams to compete for a trophy and bragging rights.

"When you learn about it, start stretching those quads, stretching those hammies, because it hurts to run. I'm a little bit too old to be running out here with these dudes these days because they got a lot of young fellas, but in all seriousness, get out here, show your support, and be a part of these initiatives," Byron Gipson, the Fifth Circuit Solicitor, said.

Gipson serves Richland and Kershaw counties, which include much of the Columbia area.

DJJ officials say they plan to continue hosting Jump Shots for Justice in the future. Those interested in getting involved can find more information at the SC DJJ website.

When you step into JJ’s Place on Meeting Street, you are immediately met with the hallmark aromas of a bakery filled with fresh breads, pastries and more.

For owners Janice Caldwell and Andrew Reininger, their new West Columbia shop is a dream several years in the making.

JJ’s Place officially opened its doors June 2 at 557 Meeting St., right next door to Brookland United Methodist Church and just east of the popular WECO Bottle & Biergarten. The bakery is currently open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Caldwell and Reininger’s baking prowess is familiar to many in the Midlands, as JJ’s has been a well-known bread vendor at Soda City Market for roughly three years. And while they still plan to sell at Soda City on Saturday mornings, they have now launched a full storefront operation in the two-story brick home at 557 Meeting St. The new space has been under renovation for more than two years, Reininger said, and signage out in front of the bakery as of Thursday morning cheekily announced that the business is “finally” open.

“I feel like it’s been going really great,” Reininger said of the nascent days of the new storefront. “The first week, we were doing more than we expected. There’s a new flow, so we are trying to figure out which things sell best at the store, which may not be the same things that sell best at the [Soda City] Market.”

Jalapeno cheddar bread has proven to be a universally popular selection, Reininger noted. Other popular breads at JJ’s Place include a traditional sourdough — it’s the top-seller, he said — and the garlic rosemary.

As the Meeting Street bakery has launched, JJ’s Place has expanded its offerings beyond bread. Treats at the shop include brownies, danishes, muffins, scones and much more. This reporter purchased a cinnamon bun during a recent visit. The offering was wonderfully flavorful, with a potent cinnamon taste and a generous, but expertly applied, amount of icing.

Caldwell said she started baking when she was a teenager, and still remembers the oatmeal cookies that were her starter specialty back then. Through the years she’s learned, read and experimented, honed her skills and explored new and creative recipes..

She is hopeful the recently opened storefront will connect them with their neighbors on a community level.

“We just really want to become a part of people’s routines, and genuinely be that neighborhood bakery that people come to,” Caldwell said. “One of our favorite things about [Soda City] is that we get to know people and follow their stories. We want to be able to do that [at the Meeting Street bakery], too. I’m a people person and I love to get to know people’s stories and follow up with them.

“That connection is important to what we do.”

Meeting new customers and sharing a bond through baked goods — both at Soda City and at the new bakery — has been a welcome aspect of the business, Reininger noted.

“Connecting with people through food has been fantastic,” Reininger said. “We’ve had people say, ‘Oh, my father really likes your bread and he’s Italian and he doesn’t like anybody’s bread but yours’ or ‘This reminds me of this cake that we used to get’ wherever. That’s really awesome, that we get to be a part of people’s family.”

The State

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 20 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of a host of South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.

WEST COLUMBIA — The Saluda River Pedestrian Bridge is about 70 percent of the way through the design phase of a project to build a walking path for West Columbia and Columbia residents over the Broad River, connecting the Saluda Riverwalk with the Columbia Canal.

The bridge will be located near the Botanical Gardens entrance to the Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens on Mohawk Drive in West Columbia.

West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles said he hopes the majority of the first phase of the nearly $6 million project will be wrapped up in about six months.

Then the city will be able to begin the permitting process with the S.C. Dept. of Environmental Control and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to be able to get approval on construction of the bridge.

"It's still certainly moving along and it's a project that we're still very, very excited for," Miles told The Post and Courier. "And it's just gonna take a while on the front end with it, because it's so design and permitting heavy."

Miles didn't have an estimate for how much the bridge project has cost thus far.

Miles looks forward to providing direct river access to neighborhoods like Saluda Gardens off of Mohawk Drive in West Columbia near the Riverbanks Botanical Garden entrance.

"It's going to open up pedestrian-based access to the river and the Riverwalk," Miles said. "And certainly, I'm excited for the expansion of the (Three Rivers) Greenway throughout our entire region."

The Three Rivers Greenway is an expansive trail network aimed at connecting Lake Murray and the Broad, Saluda and Congaree rivers with the surrounding municipalities.

Parts of the West Columbia riverwalk are currently closed due to damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene's deadly arc through the Carolinas.

Miles said he is looking forward to residents having direct river access and to have the city's waterfront amenities tied into the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden's planned $80 million expansion. He said this area public access to the restaurant the zoo plans to build.

"I think that any addition to the area that allows community member access to the outdoors and brings them closer to out beautiful river is a plus," Riverbanks spokesperson Matt Parron said. "I don't see it having a major impact on the zo, though."

Riverbanks is also in the process of a new project which will be up and running in September.

The Saluda Skyride will be a cable car to connect the zoo and garden. The price from the skyride will be included in admission into the zoo. The price for zoo admission will go up, but by how much is not known yet Parron said.

Once the skyride is open, the cars will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.