There have been a multitude of businesses that have opened in West Columbia in the last five years or less. Those new businesses have reshaped the commercial landscape. And the entrepreneurs who chose West Columbia to locate their businesses are very pleased with their decision.

“I’m in a wonderful location.” said Bob Klotzbach of West Point Coins at 132 State Street, West Columbia.  “I’m very glad I chose West Columbia for the site of my business. I get plenty of traffic here. It’s a nice neighborhood. We’re doing very well.”

Bob has been in the coin business for more than 30 years. He deals in coins, currency and bullion. He loves to look at coin collections and he can evaluate coins. His clientele is coin collectors who like to buy gold and silver.

Bob said it helps that a lot of people are moving into residences around his business. He also said he gets traffic to his shop from Columbia and Lexington.  And because of the unique nature of his coin and currency shop (without collectibles) he attracts buyers from out-of-state to West Columbia who are looking for his type of rare inventory.

Debbie Truett owns The Cake House Casa del Pastel with her brother Bryan. It’s a dessert shop and bakery at 323-B Ninth St. in West Columbia. It opened in 2021. She bakes for weddings, anniversaries, baby showers and birthdays. 

Debbie has been in the baking business for more than 15 years. She was once at Ft. Jackson and has a following from there to her new location. And she likes her current site. 

 “I’m glad we opened in West Columbia,” Debbie said. She grew up in West Columbia and is a graduate of Airport High School.

“This is coming home.”  Debbie said, along with the customers from elsewhere, she has developed a loyal customer base in the West Columbia Community. She also has a great relationship with the City of West Columbia and the West Columbia Beautification Foundation. The Cake House Casa del Pastel has been featured at the WCBF’s Taste on the River for the last three years. 

“We always get a lot of attention at Taste on the River,” Debbie said. “We bring more deserts each year and each year they are all gone before the end of the night. I feel like we’ve been blessed.” 

Three years ago, Akera Sellers opened BrickHouse Gourmet Coffee and Tea Co. at 725 Meeting Street in West Columbia. He grew quickly and he moved his operation to a larger location next door, 729 Meeting Street, where he offers single-origin, blended and flavored coffees and teas. 

“West Columbia is a great, business-friendly community, Akera said. “We’re so glad we found this spot. It has worked out well for us. Everyone has been so supportive. I would not want to be anywhere else.”

And the new businesses keep coming. Mi Tierra De Maiz, a Guatemalan and Mexican-influenced restaurant opened this month at 1505 Charleston Highway in the Granby Village and Compton’s restaurant is scheduled to open at 1118 B Avenue on Labor Day.

There have also been many more thriving businesses that have opened fairly recently in West Columbia. Below is a list of some of those businesses:  

• Pedego Electric Bikes – 521 Meeting Street
• Always Original Bakery – 501 Meeting Street
• Breakfast at Ruiz – 116 State Street 
• The Hideout In WECO – 118 State Street
• Brickhouse Gourmet Coffee & Tea Co. – 729 Meeting Street
• Savage Craft Ale Works – 425 Center Street
• The Cake House Casa del Pastel – 323-B Ninth Street
• Planet Fitness – 2410 Augusta Road
• West Point Coins – 132 State Street
• Tessera Physical Therapy – 840 Meeting Street
• Gentleman’s Quarters Barbershop – 117 State Street
• Another Broken Egg – 101 State Street
• LS3P Architectural Firm – 103 State Street
• Garden Relic – 312 State Street
• Select Physical Therapy – 125 State Street
• Barbara Jane’s Boutique – 1505 Charleston Hwy, Granby Village
• Breads and Such ­- 1220 C Avenue
• Cucinella’s – 2250 Sunset Blvd. Westland Square
• La Cienaga – 1607 Fairlane Drive
• Mi Tierra De Maiz – 1505 Charleston Hwy, Granby Village