Yesterday, Mayor Steve Benjamin presented the Keys to the City to the former Yesterdays restaurant owners, Darrell Barnes, Duncan MacRea + Scotty MacRea, during a socially distanced ceremony next to the iconic building.

What does it mean to get a key to the city? It is a ceremony where a metaphorical key is given to valued members of the community by a municipality. This tradition dates back to medieval times when honored guests would visit secure communities and would be given the key to access the city as a symbol of trust and respect.

The former Yesterdays building remains one of Five Points’ most recognizable fixtures, located in the center of the shopping and dining district for 43+ years. The owners of the restaurant were selected to be recognized for the decades of economic and cultural contributions to Five Points + the City of Columbia.

Darrell Barnes, Duncan MacRea + Scotty MacRea opened Yesterdays restaurant in 1976, at

the intersection of Devine, Harden and Santee Streets. The building was originally built in 1935 and was intended to house the Gibson’s Drug Store.

More than just being known for the food, drinks and signature decorations, the owners also held the first Five Points St. Patrick’s Day festival in the restaurant’s parking lot and over the years, the festival has become one of South Carolina’s largest and most recognized events.

While the restaurant has hung up it’s hat, there are potential plans in the works for the building.

Earlier this month, the City of Columbia’s Design and Development Review Commission reviewed a proposal to redevelop the space. According to the plans submitted to the commission, the owners want to work with Lambert Architecture and Construction to divide the space into multiple units and restore it to it’s mid-1900’s look.

Renderings via proposal from Lambert Architecture and Construction

Renderings via proposal from Lambert Architecture and Construction

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