Jeff Amberg
Congratulations to winners of Columbia Metropolitan Magazine’s Best of Columbia 2018 contest! Once again, area businesses, organizations, and individuals shine. Read about what makes them tick — from time management and success strategies to how they prepare for uncertainty. Many laud their customers and staff, while others share raw insight regarding the day-to-day challenges and triumphs. The varied, distinct flavor of the Columbia metropolitan area is on display within these pages. Read each entry and become better acquainted with the restaurants, shops, and service organizations that make Columbia great.
A heartfelt congratulations from all of us at Columbia Metropolitan Magazine to the 2018 winners!
Logan Scott balances the tee and ball for golfer Sam Friar in celebration of the Best of Columbia win for The Members Club at Woodcreek and Wildewood. Claude Thorn, Stan Perry, Mike Rauch, Jason Hnat, Katie Coughtry, Brittney Himsl, and Tom Perry watch the precarious endeavor.
Justin Hayes takes a scooter ride with his daughter Maddy, 8, to celebrate Best of Columbia neighborhood “Palmetto Shores” in Chapin. Leslie, his wife, and daughter Macey, 5, follow the fun downhill. Palmetto Shores, owned by Mungo Homes, is a quiet lakefront community on the shores of Lake Murray that offers homes for all stages of life.
Modern Exterminating, voted best pest control company, serves more than 11,000 customers in a 50-mile radius from downtown Columbia. Charles Pace, Steve Gier, and Tommy Metts spray Glenn Matthews, owner, for being a pest!
Madalyn Wanbaugh, Elliott Bridgers (owner), and Kaye Mullinax are stepping in style at Mainstream Boutique, winner for best accessories. From earrings, purses and scarves, for a happy smile, they know how to accessorize.
FOOD
Best Appetizer
Bonefish Grill
Best Barbecue
Shealy’s BBQ
Best Chicken Salad
Di Prato’s Delicatessen
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? I feel that after 50 years in the restaurant business (from pizza to fine dining and now Di Prato’s), one of the most important strategies for being successful is to listen to your customers. Train the staff to be aware of any suggestions or complaints and personally address them immediately. And never leave the building!
Best French Fries
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Best Hamburger
Pawleys Front Porch
Best Fried Chicken
Zesto
Best Hot Dog
Sandy’s Famous Hot Dogs
Best Sandwich
Groucho’s Deli
Best Pizza
Il Giorgione Pizzeria & Wine Bar
How do you prepare for uncertainty? We have quickly learned that the one thing that is certain is that we will face uncertainty many times during our busy schedule. We prepare for that by having strong staff and a great network of other professionals to call upon to help and advise us as needed.
Best Ribs
Hudson’s Smokehouse
Best Shrimp and Grits
Blue Marlin
Best Steak
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Hire the best people, maintain a positive work environment, genuinely appreciate each and every guest for their business, and don’t sweat the small stuff.
Best Biscuits
Eggs Up Grill
Best Iced Tea
Chick-fil-A
Best Wings
D’s Wings
Best Bakery
Tiffany’s Bakery and Eatery
Best Cookies
Tiffany’s Bakery and Eatery
Best Cupcake Store
Cupcake DownSouth
Best Dessert
Nonnah’s
What are your best time management strategies? Although you have to be aware of events that are scheduled several weeks ahead, concentrate on the events happening this week and next week. Trying to keep too many balls in the air at once is asking for trouble, especially when it’s not necessary.
Best Frozen Yogurt
32° A Yogurt Bar
Best Milkshake
Rush’s Fabulous Food … Fast!
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Our burgers and chicken are supremely fresh, never frozen or microwaved, and served efficiently and courteously. Basket style offers great value. Shakes and desserts are made the old fashioned “soda fountain” way. We appreciate loyal customers who help us remain successful as a locally owned and operated enterprise.
Best Organic Food Store
Whole Foods Market
Best Supermarket
Publix Super Markets
RESTAURANTS
Best Restaurant in
Columbia
Motor Supply Co. Bistro
Best Restaurant in Irmo
Miyo’s
What is your best time management strategy? Prioritizing.
How do you prepare for uncertainty? I believe that there is always a solution to every problem.
What is your strategy for success? Keep learning and keep loving.
Best Restaurant in Lexington
Travinia Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar
Best Restaurant in Northeast
Solstice Kitchen & Wine Bar
Best Restaurant in West Columbia/Cayce
Al’s Upstairs Italian Restaurant
Best NEW Restaurant
Tallulah
Best Happy Hour
Tombo Grille
Best Brewery
River Rat Brewery
Best Wine List
Cellar on Greene
Best Coffee House
Drip
Best Bang for your Buck
Cantina 76
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Keeping it simple. We believe in fresh, creative food and great customer service. Also, given that our customers are our most important asset, listening to their feedback is paramount to our present and continued success.
Best Business Lunch
Mr. Friendly’s
Best Family Restaurant
The Original Pancake House
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Our strategy for trying to stay successful is to “keep to our knitting,” so to speak. We’ve mostly had the same menu for 27 years. We don’t chase the latest trends in food! We specialize in breakfast foods using the best ingredients we can obtain and making all batters, sauces, and syrups in house. Our loyal customers appreciate the difference.
Best Romantic Dinner
Ristorante Divino
Best Fine Dining
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
Best Outdoor Dining
Pawleys Front Porch
Best Sunday Brunch
Cafe Strudel
Best Seafood
Blue Marlin
Best Healthy Restaurant
Zoës Kitchen
Best Food Truck
2 Fat 2 Fly
Best Wait Staff
Mr. Friendly’s
Best Wine Shop
Morganelli’s Party Store
Best Fast Food Restaurant
Chick-fil-A
Best Chinese
Miyo’s
Best Greek
Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe
Best Italian
Rosso Trattoria Italia
Best Japanese
Miyabi Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar
Best Mexican
Cantina 76
Best Sushi Restaurant
Inakaya Watanabe
Best Thai
Basil Thai
RETAIL
Best Women’s Clothing
Just the Thing
What are your best time management strategies? I try to be super organized as a working mom and rely heavily on “my village.” I find it easier to get office work done in the early morning before the store opens or from my home office when no one else is home. Making lists, prioritizing, and keeping things in perspective helps, too! I try not to work when I’m home with my kids.
Best Women’s Evening Wear
Copper Penny
Best Women’s Shoes
Monkee’s of Columbia
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? At Monkee’s, one strategy for continuing a successful business is to ensure we listen to our customers and meet their needs with brands and designs they desire. We’re constantly adjusting our inventory, and our close relationships with designers allow us to deliver the latest fashion trends, while meeting our customers’ needs.
Best Men’s Clothing
BP Skinner Clothiers
Best Men’s Formal Wear
Brittons of Columbia
Best Men’s Shoes
BP Skinner Clothiers
Best Children’s Clothing
Little Lambs & Ivy
Best Children’s Shoes
Tootsies Children’s Shoes
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? We focus on the customer service; our sweet customers are what has kept us going for more than 30 years. Tootsies really enjoys the personalities of our small customers, and we pride ourselves in offering the selection, care, and knowledge that our moms expect.
Best Bridal Wear
London and Lace
Best Bridal Registry
non(e)such
Best Weekend Wear
Pink Sorbet
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? We are so grateful our community has embraced this small business. We are successful only because of the support of our customers shopping locally with us. We sell Lilly Pulitzer’s colorful resort chic clothing, which is a unique brand in the fashion industry because of the line’s multi-generational appeal. Many of our guests feel an emotional bond with the brand, and we love witnessing the delight on customers’ faces when they find something they love!
Best Jewelry Store
Sylvan’s Jewelers
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? As with many other retailers around the country, we face increasing competition from the internet. At Sylvan’s, we stress the critical importance of personal, one-on-one contact to insure not only business for today, but for the future as well. Building an established and loyal clientele whom we are on a first name basis with is our ultimate goal. Our mission is to provide uniquely high quality jewelry coupled with unparalleled levels of service and commitment to our customers. This is an experience that the internet cannot provide.
Best Accessories
Mainstream Boutique
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Selecting merchandise can be the most time-consuming and expensive part of running a women’s clothing boutique. We realize the importance of listening to our customers, as they will let you know what they are looking for. Seasonal inventory should reflect both the national trends, as well as local market tastes.
Best Gift Store
Cottage and Vine
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Our strategy for a successful business starts with buying things that we love. Just as important as what we sell is how we treat our customers because without them we would not be able to do what we love! We are so fortunate to have a fabulous group of ladies working with us at Cottage and Vine, and we definitely could not do it without them.
Best Vision Wear
Columbia Eye Clinic
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? We have built our physician-owned practice by putting patient care first for more than 90 years, while staying abreast of the most advanced diagnosis and treatment options for virtually any eye condition. Our licensed opticians also fill prescriptions for glasses or contacts in our optical departments using the latest in lens technology.
Best Clothing Consignment Store
Revente Luxury Resale
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Hiring excellent team members and then delegating tasks to each of them that they can both succeed at and take pride in. We also strive to offer excellent customer service to all of our customers and consignors.
Best Toy Store
Be Beep A Toy Shop
Best Antique Store
The Red Lion
Best Frame Shop
The Frame Shop
Best Art Supply Store
City Art
Best Pet Supply Store
Mill Creek Pet Food Center
Best Hunting/Fishing Store
Barron’s Outfitters
Best Outdoor Store
Mast General Store
Best Running Specialty Store
Strictly Running
Best Bicycle Specialty Store
Cycle Center
Best Gamecock Store
Garnet and Black Traditions
Best Mattress Store
Best Mattress
What are your best time management strategies? I encourage all staff to not get bogged down every a.m. in emails; take care of customers’ needs and factory questions first.
How do you prepare for uncertainty? Uncertainty keeps all of us up at night. Cross train all employees. Stay informed by reading every business publication available. Make an informed decision, and don’t look back, ever.
Best Office Furnishings
Corporate Concepts
Best Office Supply Store
Lorick Office Products
Best Shopping Venue
Trenholm Plaza
HOME
Best Residential Community
Palmetto Shores, owned by Mungo Homes
Best Apartment Complex
5000 Forest Apartment Homes
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Developing long lasting relationships built on trust and performance.
Best Retirement Community
Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? By seeking out our next customer’s expectations, needs, wants, desires, and even hopes, we find answers. We study best practices nationally, we innovate, and we plan for successes. Most importantly, management and our board work together to implement strategic initiatives tenaciously. Called to be the best, we lean into that challenge wholeheartedly and with resolve.
Best Assisted Living
Lutheran Homes of South Carolina
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Success in our business depends upon three key strategies: invest in our teammates who are the heart of our organization, listen to our customers and address all their needs and desires, and embrace change as the senior care industry is a perpetually changing mosaic that demands commitment, creativity, and compassion.
Best Home Builder
Mungo Homes
Best Home Remodeler
Palmetto Construction and Renovations
Best General Contractor
Cohn Construction
Best Home Furnishings
Ethan Allen
Best Outdoor Furniture Store
Southeastern Salvage Home Emporium
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? We thrive to offer our customers huge variety and great deals. We travel the world looking for unique items that can only be purchased in our stores, making our stores destination stops. Because our merchandise changes often, it gives customers a reason to come in and shop often.
Best Furniture Consignment Store
Main Street Home
Best Custom Furniture
Strobler Home Furnishings
Best Furniture Refinisher
Colonial Woodworks
Best Appliance Store
Jeffers McGill Appliance and Furniture
Best Glass Store
Ace Glass
Best Flooring
Carpet One Floor & Home
Best Roofing Company
Seawright Solutions
Best Wallpaper/Wallcovering Store
Wallpaper Additions
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Making sure our customers have the services to help them in their wallpaper decisions.
Best Home Specialty Store
Southern Custom Doors & Hardware
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Being successful to us means exceeding our customers’ expectations with quality and service. We focus on staying ahead of the curve to offer our customers innovative products to suit their needs while matching their personal style. We select only those vendors to work with who mirror our focus on quality, innovation, and exceptional service.
Best Gardening Store
Woodley’s Garden Center
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? In addition to continually providing the best plants, displays, and knowledgeable staff, we are rapidly moving forward with digital marketing. Our instructional videos and posts to Facebook and Instagram share incredible tips and beautiful moments of every day here at the garden center. Subscribing to our weekly e-newsletter is a must!
Best Fence Company
Brabham Fence
Best Swimming Pool Company
Clearwater Pool Systems
Best Solar Company
G3 Solar
Best Tile Store
Palmetto Tile Distributors
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? We have always tried to distinguish ourselves not only by offering unique, yet perfectly appointed products, but by hiring exceptional staff. We believe that we can offer a more comprehensive design experience by having talented staff that is a cut above and able to bring a sophisticated eye to your project.
RECREATION
Best Farmer’s Market
Soda City Market
How do you prepare for uncertainty? As an events company, having a contingency plan in place isn’t an option but a necessity. For Soda City Market, that includes making the call to move the Saturday event from Main Street to the Cannon Garage on Taylor Street. The decision is made by noon on Friday to ensure city officials, participating vendors, and market staff have adequate time to make adjustments, as needed.
Best Festival
Greek Festival
Best Wine and Paint Studio
Wine and Design
Best Golf Course
The Members Club at Woodcreek & WildeWood
How do you prepare for uncertainty? The Members Club is a home away from home where our members and their guests can relax and have a great time. Life has its unexpected surprises, so we prepare daily for the “what if,” “uh-oh,” and “can we do this instead” moments. Being a private, member-owned club, we take pride in giving top notch service, day in and day out!
Best Marina
Lake Murray Boat Club
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Lake Murray Boat Club provides fun and safe recreational boating for its members. For more than 11 years, our strategy has been, “Do what we say we are going to do.” During the initial club tour, prospective members learn what to expect from their membership experience, and then our staff works hard to meet and exceed those expectations.
Best Exercise Facility
Orangetheory Fitness Columbia
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Orangetheory Fitness stays at the forefront of heart-rate-based interval training technology. While offering this results-driven program, we remain centrally focused on our members’ experience.
Best Lodging
Inn at USC Wyndham Garden
SERVICE
Best Facial
Eva’s Skin Care
What are your best time management strategies? Always come prepared to work 15 to 20 minutes before you actually see a client. Schedule a time mid-day to email, call back, and confirm future appointments. At the end of the day, allow yourself time to take care of any unfinished matters. And, of course, enjoy your time off with family and friends!
Best Massage
Urban Nirvana Salon & Day Spa
Best Nail Salon
OCCO Luxury Spa
Best Hair Salon
OCCO Luxury Spa
Best Spa
OCCO Luxury Spa
Best Medical Spa
Pura Medical Spa
What are your best time management strategies? I am a firm believer that women can multi-task and not only perform in the treatment room, but also perform all administrative duties, run other companies, and be a mother and wife at the same time. I fuse all of my agenda items within my work day and then I come home to my family. I may end up doing work-related items from my home office after my son goes to sleep, but I’m able to be with him every afternoon and run two successful companies.
Best Wellness and Rehab
Palmetto Health-USC Orthopedic Center
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? Our therapists are committed to providing patients with excellent, high-quality care through individually designed treatment plans tailored to meet their specific needs. Given their specialized orthopedic training, our therapists are well positioned to help patients achieve their goals and get back to their lives.
Best Physical Therapy
Paul Lomas
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? We focus on each patient’s needs and wellness goals through our preventive care approach to achieve desired outcomes. Our team partners with every client to effectively deploy evidence-based programs designed to prevent chronic conditions, including obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.
Best Florist
Blossom Shop
Best Caterer
Southern Way Catering
What are your strategies for keeping your business successful? We started as a small company grounded by deep Southern roots and a philosophy that demanded the best in everything we did. That sentiment prevails today. In an ever-changing marketplace, Southern Way puts a strong emphasis on staying at the forefront of trends in our industry. Our company is known for delicious cuisine and unparalleled service. We remain focused on absolute client satisfaction and a strong workplace culture built around long-term happy employees.
Best Event Planner
Cricket Newman Designs
What are your best time management strategies? A to-do list is essential for time management.
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