The Whig, 1200 Main Street: 20 November 2022 8 comments
Honestly, I had good intentions about The Whig. There was plenty of notice given that it was going to close, and I was determined to visit it at least once before it did. In the event, as usual, good intentions did not a solid plan make, and I never got around to it.
The first time this underground space in the basement of Columbia's oldest skyscraper caught my eye was when it had the oddly compelling name The Frog & Brassiere, two things that don't usually go together. The Whig opened in 2005, and lasted 17 years until ongoing renovations to make the host building a hotel, and plans for a basement hotel bar as part of that resulted in the lease not being renewed.
You can read about it in The State and The Post & Courier
8 Responses to 'The Whig, 1200 Main Street: 20 November 2022'
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Ken
7 Apr 23 at 9:42 am
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The Blue Dog cafe is how I will remember that place. Ruperts last wing place.
Dan R
7 Apr 23 at 8:58 pm
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1338 Main (Barringer Building) is Columbia’s oldest skyscraper. 1200 here was the second and I believe the tower across from 1338 was the third, I could be wrong. Historic Columbia’s site has some info on these buildings. Very interesting if you have time to research. Thank you for the photos.
Russell
7 Apr 23 at 9:04 pm
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Is this the building where a woman died by falling or jumping? I think it happened in the 90s.
Robin
7 Apr 23 at 9:42 pm
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I think this building was built around 1912 or so. This is the same building where a woman jumped to her death back in the late 80's if I remember correctly. There was someone too that jumped off the old Home Federal Building across from the Arcade building I think back in the 60's or 70's...but don't remember the exact year.
Db
8 Apr 23 at 12:05 am
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Here's info on the building history from Historic Columbia's website:
https://www.historiccolumbia.org/online-tours/main-street/1200-main-street
According to HCF The Barringer Building built in 1903 in Columbia's oldest skyscraper. Union National Bank (where the Whig was located) is second being in built in 1913 and the Palmetto Building third, also built in 1913.
Tom
9 Apr 23 at 9:12 am
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I think The Whig used to have a "taco Tuesday" or something like that because I recall a drummer whom I used to be in a band with inviting the rest of us to The Whig for tacos. I didn't end up going. The Whig was in a different location at that time.
I definitely was not aware that the ABC affiliate had moved out of this building.
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Glad someone mentioned Blue Dog Cafe. I loved that place. As far as I know this was the only location for the Whig. It was named that, because the owner joked about how there was nothing on Main Street but wig shops. It was a neat little spot. They were known for taco Tuesdays, and they used to have some of the best pizza around One of the owners has WECO off of meeting street.
Mr Bill
14 Apr 23 at 12:01 pm
The Whig was the absolute best and will be missed.