‘Gather Cola’ looks to enhance the city’s culinary, social scene with a variety of local vendors, lively bar areas, community gathering spaces and more.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A new food hall is coming to the BullStreet District, bringing a diverse mix of local restaurants, pop-up retail spaces, office areas, and entertainment venues to the site.
The development, called ‘Gather Cola’, looks to enhance the city’s culinary and social scene by having a variety of food vendors, retail space, community gathering spaces, and more.
“We feel like we’ve put together the best possible team here in Columbia to create this project,” said Patrick DiMarco, a development associate with Cason Development Group. “It’s going to change the scape of Bull Street in Columbia, all in all.”
Cason Development Group is partnering with Four Oaks Property Group and Hughes Development Corp. to bring ‘Gather Cola’ to life. The open-air food hall will span more than 32,000 square feet and will serve as both a dining and retail destination.
DiMarco explained that discussions to bring a food hall to Columbia have been ongoing for years.
“We [Cason Development] reached out to Gather GVL two and a half years ago about trying to get this concept down here to Columbia,” he said. “And back then, you know, two and a half years ago, it wasn’t the case. Then, in the last 14 to 15 months, we have opened up that dialogue again.”
Mack Cross, managing principal of Four Oaks Property Group and founder of the Gather concept, emphasized the significance of bringing this project to Columbia.
“It will be an authentic Columbia food experience,” Cross said. “There seems to be a need and a desire for this sort of thing in Columbia. So we’re very excited to bring this, you know, community gathering place, this entertainment venue, this food and beverage collective, to Columbia, where really nothing like it exists.”
Full construction on ‘Gather Cola’ is set to begin later this month, with plans to open by the end of the year. The project is modeled after the successful Gather GVL in Greenville but will offer additional features.
“It will have the outdoor food hall component, which is kind of the anchor to the project,” Cross explained. “But in addition to that, it’s got a significant office component—two levels of office in a three-story structure. We’ll also have three small retail bays that we do not have in Greenville. So it’s very much an evolution of the concept, a true small-scale mix of uses.”
As for vendors, ‘Gather Cola’ is looking to fill its space with local businesses.
“Just really highlighting Columbia people who love what they do, are passionate about what they create, and want to share that and move forward with this concept,” said Holly Buxton, development associate for leasing with Cason Development.
With Columbia now set to receive the social and culinary hub it has been waiting for, Cross hopes families and friends will take full advantage of the space.
“It will be an amazing place to spend time with people you care about,” he said. “That’s what it’s all about. You know, putting the phones down, having real conversations, having a shared experience with food and the community.”
Gather Cola anticipates opening in time for the tail end of this year’s football season, giving visitors a chance to enjoy the outdoor space before winter arrives.
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