A historic mall located in the heart of downtown Columbia, South Carolina, featuring an array of…read morelocal art studios, shops, hair salons, and offices. Im a member and volunteer of Historic Columbia, go to their website for all the deets. Ive done a good review of Historic Columbia. They perserve the history of Columbia SC amongst other things in the city. Being a member has allowed me to attend behind the scenes of new projects and keep up with the new preservations of the city. The event " Columbia Down Under" was well planned and open only to members. We met up at the restored Arcade Mall in the DT area in the city. Parking can be a task since DT has become more popular with all the happenings in town. Once we met up inside the Arcade Mall we were gven tickets for light snack food and two beverage ticket. There history slides on a projector explaining the past life under ground. We were given the low down of the evening from the guide, then we went downstairs for the beginning of the tour. They had 3 groups, thankfully I was in the first to go under ground. The steps were a little steep, not to bad though. If you have any respiratory issues I would advice taking a mask with you. Its unfinished in its original state, untouched. For now they have no plans on restoring the "Under Ground". I actually learned quite a bit during this tour. The guide works for Historic Columbia and was very knowledgeable, he welcomed any questions for all us history buffs. This was my first visit to The Arcade but not my last, the buildings architecture is absolutely gorgeous. Plenty of shops and spaces to add a business. Its worth a visit if your DT Columbia!

This was such a great gift shop! They had so many cool South Carolina related items that I wish…read morethat it was its own standalone store. I loved their selection of South Carolina hats, artworks, household items, clothing, etc. Also, as a philatelist, (one who loves mail) this is one of the few places in Columbia to buy postcards (and they're affordable as well!) They also had a lot of cool Carolina and Clemson merchandise, as well as items that highlight the history of the state of South Carolina. All-in-all, it was a great store, and my only complaint is that it's not its own standalone location! Would highly recommend!

Cotton Mill Exchange is often thought of as the gift shop located within the South Carolina State…read moreMuseum. However, it's really more than that. It doesn't just handle museum related items and souvenirs. Its inventory is related to everything of the entire State of South Carolina. As they state, they've "...explored every corner of the state to bring you the best of South Carolina," and from what I've seen they have done that and then some. It's a really big store and has most everything one can think of that would be South Carolina related and most of the goods are of superior quality, not just cheap Chinese built trinkets. But the best part is the selection. They have everything from jewelry to clothing to home decorator items and the staff is more than willing to assist. It's really one of the better shops I've seen within or a part of any public museum.

Here We Go again with the truckers allowing our shopping area to become a truck parking. Who's…read morereally over keeping the village from becoming a truck stop where these drivers are leaving trucks parked at the old cracker barrel restaurant now.ride thur there and look at that!! The weekends are bad trucks fill the area.no over night parking signs should be place all over the village. There's a place on farrow for truck parking that's not free that's why they are parking in the village it's free and no one are doing anything about it!

We were so excited when this area was built and we had a few short years of great memories here…read more The shops, restaurants, and village vibe was excellent. It was our weekend date night, holiday shopping, family gathering, outdoor walking place to be. Not anymore. Don't blame it on the Pandemic either! It was dead BEFORE Covid hit due to the horrible influx of drugs, crime, and general feeling of unsafe atmosphere. The entire North East area of Columbia has been on a downslope with dropping property values, so I'd not even recommend anyone move to this area, because it will only get worse.

I was here for the Publix today because my wife asked me to stop on the way home and pick up some…read moredeli meats so that we would have lunch this week. The mall isn't too far from I-77 so it was easy enough. The plaza is a simple L shape with medium to higher end shopping available. Starbucks, Original Pancake House, Jos. A. Bank, Loft, a post office, Anthropologie and the Publix. The mall is in good condition. Easy access from Forest Drive through some folks are coming down that road at a heck of a pace. Be careful if you're crossing traffic! [Review 15858 overall - 838 in South Carolina - 1362 of 2021.]

This retail center has a very relaxing and casual atmosphere. Convenient parking. Fantastic store…read moreselection.

First time to a Mast General Store. Enjoyed it, especially the candy barrells. Lots of old…read morefavorites. Good selection of items, and prices varied from good to a little higher. Enjoyed looking around the store. Basement has lots of things for the outdoorsy person. Gamecock things are abundant. The staff at checkout were fast and friendly.

If you are looking for the opportunity to step back in the past the Mast General Store gives the…read more"Ole Town" nostalgic feel. Think the front entrance of a Cracker Barrel on steroids times 100, then you are in the realm of what you can find @ MGT. We popped in specifically to check out their selection of "throw back" candies. Off to a section towards that back you have the opportunity to grab a basket and walk down memory lane of some old sweet treats. I must admit I wasn't familiar with everything but they did have some fun finds from my childhood. The candy is weighed by the pound, so if you get too excited your tab will reflect your enjoyment. With two levels, they offer so much more than just candy, I believe you can find something here for anyone. However, they are pricey IMO. Just A Note: They have working vintage Coca-Cola coolers at the back if wanna grab a cold bev.

Loads of glass, stuffed animals, and books, with some interesting antiques thrown in. I did like…read morethe lemon and lime dispenser which was totally adorable. There were also cute bird houses. This is a fun way to spend a few hours, but you really have to pick through all the cutie stuff to find anything. You could honestly call antique. Nice layout with wide aisles.

This is an absolute gem of a lazy Saturday outing from Columbia. Plan to arrive at 10 am or later…read moreand spend an hour or more browsing the various vendor booths with a great range of vintage and antique merchandise. We always find something(s) we need to have. After 11 am, make your way to the basement and behold the welcoming nostalgic setting of the cafe. From quiche to salads to sandwiches, there are many tasty options with quality ingredients. I had the quiche and salad with house made dressing ... my wife had the BLT with pimento cheese and a great sour cream potato salad. We brought an amazing slice of chocolate cake home for our daughter ... scrumptious! Oh, and it's a bottle/can restaurant so you can have your personal preference of the soda you like. Be sure to check out the unique bathroom decor and try the hand salt scrub before returning to shopping. All in all, a great few hours of shopping and lunch.

This cute little shop carries something for everyone. There is a great selection of Nora Fleming…read moreand Happy Everything. Local gifts too!

Like most people, everytime I travel out of town, I like to bring back souvenirs for my family…read more Uptown Gifts is perfect for picking out souviners by maintaining a traditional atmosphere and a no pressure expierence. I really appreciate that while I was leisurely exploring the store nobody followed me around, repeatedly asked me if I needed help, or had their eyes on me as if they were assuming I was going to steal something. The only time I had someone in close proximity to me is when I asked questions about their products; furthermore, they just display excellent customer sercive here. I had found quite a bit of stuff for my mother and niece. The clerk even offered to gift wrap my items into a customized gift baskets tied with a beautiful ribbon free of charge. If you're in town looking for beautiful souviners I highly reccomend Uptown Gifts.