🚒 Columbia’s old Fire Department Headquarters in the Vista (at the corner of Park St. + Senate St., across from Monterrey and Music Farm) is being renovated into a multi-use development with two new restaurants, retail + office space, room for a third restaurant or boutique shop + a possible boutique hotel.

💸 The building (closed in the mid-90s) was purchased for $2.5 million in July 2015 by Jon Wheeler – a commercial real estate investor from Virginia who owns + manages 74 retail centers + grocery stores in 12 states (including two strip malls in Lexington + Batesburg-Leesville, as well as the buildings that house Piggly Wiggly + Long’s Drugs on Devine St.). He plans to invest $5 million in the building, originally built in 1950.

👔 Why? Wheeler is the father of a former UofSC volleyball player + coach – and for six years he traveled to Cola for volleyball games, always staying in the Hilton on Senate St., which overlooks the old firestation. He grew fond of the building – wondering why nothing had been put there over the years – so he made a phone call to then-owner Tom Prioreschi + purchased the digs. He says he’s enjoyed having a hand in Columbia’s development scene.
🍜 Kao Thai Cuisine, a sister restaurant to Tamarind in Asheville, will be the first restaurant in the building. The second – already confirmed – has not yet been named. The building should be ready for restaurant construction to begin by the beginning of 2018.