Ah, we’ve come to the unmentionables section of our list. Looking for some lingerie, some fun and naughty accessories or perhaps something for your alone time? Nancy’s Nook continues to provide the widest selection and the dirtiest deals. If you want to add a little spice to your date night, this is the nook in which to look.
Honorable Mention: Lion’s Den The more things change, the more they stay the same, which is probably why Loose Lucy’s in Five Points still tops our alternative clothing category. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, and Loose Lucy’s is still humming along just fine with a wide and weird selection of clothes for those who are not like everybody else. Honorable Mentions: Strange Times Vintage, Pannerpete Vintage John A.
Carlos II / Special to The Free Times Do you love the thrill of a good antique hunt on a lazy Saturday afternoon? Re-find has you covered. It’s a vintage mall with an eye towards the young and groovy, and there are dozens of vendor booths with clothing, accessories, and plenty of other just plain interesting/weird treasures to discover. And with this year's move from Pontiac to Rosewood, there's more than double the floor space to explore.
Happy hunting! Honorable Mentions: Three Rivers Antiques, Attic Fanatic Why settle for the grocery store bakery when Ally & Eloise has got the pastries, cakes and cookies to die for? Not only is Ally & Eloise home to the delicious Crunchy Cookie, they’ve got great selections of custom cakes, cookie gift boxes and more, plus they can cater your event. And did we mention the Crunchy Cookie? Honorable Mentions: Silver Spoon Bake Shop, O’Hara’s Bakery Made-from-scratch macarons at Ally & Eloise. You know how we use the word “Band Aid” to refer to ALL bandages, or Kleenex to refer to ALL tissue? That’s basically what you’ve got when people say “Green’s.
” You think of booze, right? Green’s continues to be a go-to spot for alcohol for simple reasons: Massive selection, helpful staff and reasonable pricing. It’s difficult to top a beer one-stop. Honorable Mentions: Craft and Draft, Bottles There’s nothing wrong with a good chain-store, but locally owned All Good Books is a cut above.
It’s not just about the great selection of new bestsellers, classic faves or local authors, it’s about fostering a reading-friendly environment, too. The Harden Street shop hosts events like readings, discussions, book signings and book groups, plus serves up beer, wine and coffee to enjoy while you peruse their well-organized shelves. Head to this Five Points spot for your next great read.
Honorable Mentions: Queer Haven Books, Ed’s Editions Best Book Store goes to All Good Books. John A. Carlos II / Special to The Post and Courier Weddings are stressful enough.
Why not entrust part of the best day of your life with a trusted name that melts the hassles away? They have a stunning collection of bridal gowns, and they can handle a wedding that’s planned a year in advance and one that’s coming up this weekend. Honorable Mentions: New York Bride & Groom, Bella Bridesmaids Vegetarians, this one’s not for you. Ole Timey Meats has — you guessed it — meat, meat, and more meat.
This family-run butcher shop has the highest quality beef, pork, poultry and fish in town. Want to buy your meat by the 40-pound? Ole Time Meat is a one-stop-shop with its family meals that include everything from beef stew to gator tail. Honorable Mention: Brice Corbitt’s Meat Market, Caughman’s Meat Plant With sizes ranging from preemie to boys 12 and girls 14, Duck Duck Goose has style that grows with your child.
In addition to its two storefronts on Devine Street and Forest Drive, the boutique offers free delivery throughout downtown Columbia for online orders. Whether paisley or plaid, patterned or plain, expect to fall in love with clothes for every occasion at Duck Duck Goose. Honorable Mention: Enchanted Closet, Marigold Whether you’re looking for a dress for a night out or the perfect pair of shades for summer, Revente is the place for high-quality, high-end products — at a fraction of the original price.
Featuring brands that range from Gucci to Tori Burch, the consignment store offers new life to women’s clothing, shoes and accessories. With new arrivals regularly rotating in, there’s always a fresh find at Revente. Honorable Mention: Once Upon a Child, Sid & Nancy Spurs up, spokes out.
Whether you’re an avid cyclist or a casual cruiser, Outspokin’ has everything you need to conquer even the steepest of Columbia’s hills. Offering everything from the bikes themselves to repair, accessories and professional, personalized fittings, Outspokin’ is more than just a bike shop — it’s a place to tailor your bike to your specific needs. Honorable Mention: Cycle Center, Pedago Bikes Whit-Ash Furnishings at 831 Gervais St.
in 1982. This win comes bittersweet, as the longtime Vista staple announced its closure just last month. At Whit-Ash Furnishings, you could see your dream room in real time (and, of course, give those recliners a test drive).
With over 40,000 square feet of showroom space, Whit-Ash was sure to have exactly what you needed to style and furnish everything from your dining room to your home office. Honorable Mention: La-Z-Boy, Re-Find Library at 4:00, tailgate at 6:00? Addams Bookstore has you covered on everything that fuels the Gamecock lifestyle — from laptops and planners to USC-themed shot glasses and jerseys. Located on South Assembly Street, Addams is the perfect pit stop on your way to Willy B (student section tickets not included.
) Honorable Mention: Barefoot Campus Outfitters, Gamecock Traditions A mainstay in the Columbia gaming community since 2011, Firefly Toys and Games has all the supplies you need for your next board game night or D&D campaign — including a place to play. With monthly opportunities for both kids and adults to enjoy role playing games, Firefly offers a family-friendly atmosphere to both learn and play. Can I get a persuasion check? Honorable Mention: GameStop, The Gamez Block Wish you could buy a green thumb? Gardener’s Outpost is about as close as you can get.
With plants for both indoor and outdoor spaces and a lawn & garden consultation service, this shop is sure to have plants that can work with your lifestyle. With a focus on sustainability, Gardener’s Outpost uses organic products and offers a community compost program that’s available to all. Honorable Mention: Mill Creek Greenhouses, Reese’s A Little Happy wins Best Gift Shop.
John A. Carlos II / Special to The Post and Courier It's so preppy in here! Whether you’re shopping for that special Swiftie in your life or your favorite sorority sister, A Little Happy offers gifts over a wide range of price points. From stickers to clothing to party favors, this little shop in Five Points is perfect for a post-brunch browse — so cute you’ll likely start shopping for yourself instead.
Honorable Mention: Blush, Nonesuch Whether you’re a proud gun owner or just want to dress the part, Palmetto State Armory has you covered. With daily deals featuring hundreds of dollars in discounts, this one-stop-shop won’t break the bank — and all products have a lifetime warranty. Additionally, the company’s website offers resources for veterans, information on gun safety and manuals for various featured weapons.
Honorable Mention: Amick’s Guns, Sandhill Shooting Sports Car trouble? Ace is the place. Air conditioning broken? Ace is the place. Need to repaint your bedroom? You guessed it, Ace’s Hardware has that, too.
Whether you believe in the power of doing it yourself or are just in the market for a new grill, this classic location isn’t just your dad’s favorite hardware store — it’s Columbia’s best. Honorable Mention: Ace Hardware Bolands, Bob’s Ace Hardware Ready to pop the question? Need to get an heirloom fixed? Just love all things shiny? A fixture in the Midlands since 1974, Carolina Fine Jewelry specializes in all things bejeweled, boasting over 400 different engagement rings in addition to a variety of other fashion jewelry. Featuring a comprehensive buying guide, Carolina Fine Jewelry makes luxury shopping easy — no need to wait for a special occasion! Honorable Mention: Gamecock Traditions, Unforgettable Be honest, where else would you get your liquor? A Columbia classic, Green’s has fueled tailgates, pregames and wine nights since 2003.
And they don’t discriminate: whether you’re dumping tequila into the foulest of PJs or celebrating with a boujee champagne pop, Green’s has what you need. In addition to offering a wide array of spirits, wine and beer, the Southern chain also offers party planning consultation to ensure that your next event runs smoothly. (Don’t forget the ping-pong balls and red solo cups.
) Honorable Mention: Bottles, Total Wine & More Need to clean up nice without cleaning out your wallet? With a variety of custom and semi-custom packages to build up your wardrobe, Granger Owings ensures that you can get everything from casualwear to black tie in one place. While fittings are available in-store in their Main Street and Trenholm Plaza locations, you can also get the perfect fit from home using their 3D body-scanning app. Honorable Mention: Belk, Strange Times Vintage Rosewood Market is voted Best Natural Food Store.
Photo by John A. Carlos II Eating fresh food should be simple, so Rosewood Market makes it easy. And its healthy offerings aren’t the only thing that’ll make you feel good from the inside-out.
Rosewood Market’s commitment to community means that you’re supporting local farmers and producers with every visit. With options that accommodate even the strictest of dietary restrictions and a lunch bar that makes your mouth water, there’s something for everyone at Columbia’s long-time neighborhood market. Honorable Mention: 14 Carrot, Earth Fare At the Soda City market, grocery shopping is never a chore.
Pick up a coffee and some flowers on your way over to find some of the freshest berries, biggest tomatoes and sweetest customer service in town. Since everything in the market is locally made or grown, it’s no wonder it’s Columbia’s best! Honorable Mention: Farmer’s Market, Rosewood Market A woman shops for fresh produce on Main Street at the weekly Soda City Market on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023 Yep, you read that right.
In addition to being Columbia’s best natural food store, Rosewood Market and Deli also has a broad selection of CBD oils, supplements, gummies and even coffee — anything you need to relax and unwind. And do yourself a favor: grab a THC seltzer the next time you stop by. Honorable Mention: Rava Life CBD It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Columbia’s best! With vintage toys, used books and a collection of over 50,000 comics, there’s a reason Heroes and Dragons has earned comic shops’ top spot for six years running.
If you’re an avid fan, join their subscription club and get exactly what you want delivered in-store every week. Or, if you just want to browse, its constant flow of new inventory will ensure a fresh find with every trip. Honorable Mention: 2nd & Charles, Cosmic Rays There’s nothing quite like the feeling of clay between your fingers to get yourself back in tune with your creative side.
But if you want to play with paints and ceramics without risking your security deposit, Mad Platter is the place for you. With a selection of pottery ranging from $12 to $80, you can decorate and design a ceramic masterpiece however you want — and they’ll fire it for you. What’s not to find on Devine Street? Grab a drink from Azalea Coffee Bar before hitting the shops, where you really could spend the whole day exploring this corridor.
Packed full of other Best of Columbia winners, it’s no wonder that Devine Street is top of mind when it comes to shopping districts in the city. Get your workout in at Barre 3, shop until you drop and top it off with margs and tacos at Cantina 76. Honorable Mention: Forest Acres, Harbison Devine Street wins Best Shopping District.
John A. Carlos II / Special to The Post and Courier Seeing double? You just couldn’t choose between Devine Street and Trenholm Plaza, so they’re both winners in our books. The perfect combination of places to run errands and spots for fun, Trenholm Plaza is a perfect reminder of why people love the suburbs.
Get jewelry, clothing, groceries and even a snack all in one spot at Trenholm Plaza. Honorable Mention: Forest Acres, Harbison Hot girls don’t roll — and you’ll never have to if you shop at Planet Vapor. Featuring a variety of paraphernalia in addition to vapes and eLiquids (ranging in flavors from sugar cookie to “your mom”), there’s a reason this shop has grown into one of the largest smoke shop chains in Columbia.
With knowledgeable staff, American-made eLiquids and legal cannabis products, there’s something for every kind of smoker. Honorable Mention: Lite Um Up Celebrating its 80th anniversary this month, Todd & Moore knows a thing or two about sports equipment. With a staff that’s played and coached a variety of sports, the store offers specialized shoe fittings, custom embroidery and individualized guidance based on your particular needs.
Whether you’re just picking up pickleball or have been playing a sport for decades, Todd & Moore has the goods (and the insight) you need to stay in the game. Honorable Mention: Break Point Cola, Sportsman’s Warehouse Both affordable and reliable, there’s a reason all your thrift hauls start here. With consistent pricing and everything from clothing to dishware, snagging the perfect find always feels good at Goodwill.
With roughly half a dozen locations in the midlands, Goodwill makes shopping second-hand easy — and you know there’s always something new (to you) to find. Honorable Mention: Pannerpete Vintage, Sid & Nancy Goodwill in West Columbia Still smoking out of an empty Gatorade bottle? Step up your game at Illuminati Smoke Shop. With both nicotine and hemp-based vapes, intricately designed pipes and other general glassware, this shop has everything a smoker needs and then some.
And don’t be nasty — grab some cleaning supplies while you’re there. Honorable Mention: Jay's Vape and Wellness Center, Seven Sense Smoke Shop Wish you could inhale a piña colada? Look no further than Planet Vapor. Whether you want your vape to include a high-def screen or just want to get as many puffs out of your disposable as possible, Planet Vapor has something for you.
With a wide variety of flavors and locations across Columbia, Planet Vapor makes it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for. Honorable Mention: Jay's Vape and Wellness Center, Seven Sense Smoke Shop Whether you’re an amateur sommelier or just want to slap the bag, you already know you’ll find a deal at Total Wine & More. And don’t knock the “More” — Total Wine has been serving up deals on spirits, barware and beer for years.
Few wine sellers — or even liquor stores — can truly claim to be a one-stop-shop, but Total Wine has it all, complete with prices that make it well worth the trip to Harbison. Honorable Mention: Morganelli’s, The Gourmet Shop With dresses of every color for every occasion, you’ll be hard-pressed to find something you don’t love at Scout and Molly’s. Adorable matching sets, chunky earrings and summery sandals are just a few things they have in store at their Trenholm Plaza location.
Be sure to keep an eye out for the shop’s Instagram story to get up-to-date info on inventory and sales. Honorable Mention: Coplon's, Just the Thing, Westmore.
