Potential plans emerge for vacant shopping center across from West Columbia chicken plant

An oft-complained-about chicken plant in West Columbia isn’t likely to leave anytime soon, but it seems that this won’t stop redevelopment of the vacant shopping center across the street.

A conceptual design to redevelop the site was shared by Baker Commercial Properties as part of the recently updated redevelopment plan adopted by the city, which identifies the Capitol Square Shopping Center as a key opportunity for West Columbia.

The shopping center sits on the other side of Sunset Boulevard/U.S. 378 from the House of Raeford slaughterhouse near downtown Columbia, and it has been empty since its last tenant, the Chinese restaurant Jin Jin, closed in December. The restaurant noted in its announcement that the closure came as its lease in Capitol Square was ending.

The redevelopment plan indicates potential for a food market, small shop retail space and residential units, with the conceptual design suggesting clear spots where each of these uses could land. They include what appears to be a residential complex surrounding a swimming pool.

The document notes that the “rendering shown is conceptual for the property at the time of this report, and market conditions may reduce the overall density of the project.” The report was first presented to West Columbia City Council in May.

Baker Commercial Properties didn’t respond to requests for comment, but the company lists the Capitol Square Redevelopment Project among its future efforts on its website.

The company has owned the shopping center since 2005. The plan posted to the city’s website loops in two other parcels: One is a vacant lot along Sunset Boulevard owned by House of Raeford and used as a parking and staging area; the other, located next door and owned by Baker since 2023, is the 135 Sunset Blvd. home of another long-standing Chinese restaurant, Eggroll Station.

The building along Meeting Street that includes Ed’s Editions Bookstore isn’t included in the plans, nor is the former home of Al’s Upstairs, located just down Meeting Street and purchased by Baker last year.

There were indications earlier this year that a push on the part of House of Raeford to open a plant in Aiken would likely mean shutting down the current slaughterhouse on the banks of the Congaree River, which the company has operated since 1998. That deal fell apart when Aiken County rejected tax incentives for the plant and the city of Aiken subsequently dropped water and sewer upgrades to make the new operation possible.

In West Columbia, the River District surrounding the Baker property is increasingly a hub of activity, bolstered by additions like Savage Craft Ale Works and the Brookland dining, retail and condo development, which sits catty-corner across the intersection of State and Meeting streets from Capitol Square.

That wave of redevelopment has been met with the departures of some neighborhood mainstays, including Jin Jin, long-standing rock club New Brookland Tavern (which left its spot on State Street for Five Points when the building was sold) and fine-dining Italian institution Al’s Upstairs (which closed after Baker Commercial Properties bought its building).

West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles said he’s thankful for Baker’s partnership over the years, including the use of the shopping center as public overflow parking for the burgeoning nightlife options along State Street. Miles added he fully expects for this use to continue and for the city to play some role in any redevelopment at Capitol Square.

“I think that the team that Baker has pulled together over there have been patient working on a project, which will be great for that key piece as you enter into West Columbia,” Miles said. “We’re certainly hopeful that it will bring some additional retail offerings, maybe some additional dining. There’s no doubt that it will bring residential along with it. But we’re excited about all the possibilities of potentially better retail and all the things that come with that.”

David Moye, the West Columbia city councilman whose district contains the shopping center, echoed Miles on the site’s importance and circled one of the suggested uses as particularly advantageous.

“The redevelopment of Capitol Square is a special opportunity for West Columbia to add an economic driver, and this would benefit our entire city,” Moye said.

The councilman added that the city has talked with the developer about “how best to handle access and parking, how to maximize the amenities to the nearby neighborhood, and of course, virtually everyone would like to see a nice grocery store on this side of the Gervais Street Bridge — this would be a perfect site for one.”