Check the Coming Soon & Just Opened section at the top of Now Open Columbia. It lists every new restaurant we spot in Columbia, SC, from the first business filing and buildout permit through the opening inspection, and it updates as new public records come in.

Restaurants leave a paper trail before they open. A new food business usually registers with the SC Secretary of State, files a buildout permit with the City of Columbia, Richland County or Lexington County, and passes a state inspection before opening day. We watch those public records, so we often see a new spot weeks or months before the sign goes up.

Restaurant inspections in South Carolina are done by the SC Department of Agriculture, which took them over from DHEC in 2024. Full inspection reports are on the state's SC Food Grades website. We post new Columbia grades in the Health Grade Watch section as they come out.

South Carolina grades restaurants on a 100-point inspection. A score of 88 or higher earns an A, 78 to 87 earns a B, and 77 or below earns a C. Inspectors can also lower a grade for repeat violations or for serious violations that aren't fixed by a follow-up visit, so the posted grade doesn't always match the score.

The Closed & Changed section tracks Columbia restaurants that have closed for good, along with new menus and hours changes. Our blog also runs a monthly roundup of what closed and what's moving into the empty spaces.

Yes. The Columbia Food Map pins every spot we cover, color-coded by coming soon, just opened, closed and latest health grade, so you can see what's new near you.

Email hello@nowopencolumbia.com with your restaurant name, address and opening date. We can feature you before your doors open, and we can also help with a website, menu page or online ordering.

Use the Send a tip button or email hello@nowopencolumbia.com. If you've seen a new sign, a For Lease sign come down, or a favorite spot go dark, tell us and we'll check the records.