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Hops / Hooters, 5195 Fernandina Road: Early June 2025   10 comments

Posted at 11:02 pm in closing

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In general I have had a fairly positive impression of Hooters. The chain kind of epitomizes the Breastraunt class of chains, is open late, has good scenery and a decent burger. I did feel the Two Notch Store had gone downhill some the last few times I went there. The chain itself filed Chapter 11 in March with the original plan being to reorganize without closing stores. That didn't work, and apparently now they are moving to a franchaise model with the original founders involved somehow.

Anyway, I don't believe I ever visited this store, which moved here from Broad River Road (which I don't recall visiting either), though I have eaten at the neighboring Applebees, where the view isn't as good, but the burgers are a bit cheaper.

(Hat tips to commenters Larry & MJ)

UPDATE 15 June 2025: Folks in the comments have pointed out that this locathion, like the Two Notch one started out as a Hops brewpub, so I have added that to the post title.

Written by ted on June 9th, 2025

Tagged with , , , , , , ,

10 Responses to 'Hops / Hooters, 5195 Fernandina Road: Early June 2025'

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  1. This used to be a "Hops" location as well.

    Jason

    10 Jun 25 at 9:08 am

  2. I've read multiple positive comments by former Hooters employees, saying that it was a better place to work than other restaurants, and they developed strong friendships. Also, several people say that managers are serious and don't put up with inappropriate behavior by customers or employees.

    As a woman, I don't have a problem with Hooters. It's just one of those places that I always forget about until after I ate somewhere else already!

    Lavender

    10 Jun 25 at 10:22 am

  3. So many great times, doesn’t seem real.

    John waters

    10 Jun 25 at 11:14 am

  4. bound to happen. applebees and Best Buy are gone too. the upcoming harbison exit construction will have an exit ramp going through where applebees currently is and will have the exit ramp going through where best buy currently is.

    fred

    11 Jun 25 at 12:56 am

  5. This was built as a Hops, which was a brewpub chain that also made a killer root beer. In fact, the root beer was better than their beer offerings. The Hops chain went out of business nationwide. It's one of the few places that avoided the rule "There isn't a business Columbia can't put out of business." Looking at you, Steak and Shake.

    Steve

    11 Jun 25 at 11:45 am

  6. That Hops was so good. They had a bbq Cheddar burger that was awesome.

    Mr Bill

    11 Jun 25 at 8:33 pm

  7. Hops really did make some good root beer! Here's a post about the Two Notch Hops, but there is not one for the Harbison location - http://columbiaclosings.com/wordpress/?p=331

    Payne

    12 Jun 25 at 2:57 pm

  8. I knew the Two Notch store had been a Hops, but if I ever knew this one had, I had forgotten.

    ted

    13 Jun 25 at 12:48 am

  9. Everything has a lifespan. I hate it, but I wouldn't be surprised if the "breastraunt" is on 14:59 of its fifteen minutes of fame. Twin Peaks isn't anything to write home about either.

    This location was arguably nicer than when they were on Broad River Road. Was in that location with friends the night a guy got robbed in the mens room. The Broad River Corridor is *not* safe after dark and hasn't been in long time.

    I thought Hooter's had decent food. But lotsa folks in Columbia & Lexington have good food, so...

    Lone Wolf

    13 Jun 25 at 1:47 pm

  10. I do remember having lunch here with my brother one time when it was Hops many years ago (ca. 2001-03) but never ate at Hooter's.

    I have seen plans that might force the demolition of this for the Carolina Crossroads project but I've seen rumblings that they've redone it in an attempt to minimize property impacts but the design has yet to be finalized. Be that as it may, Hooters's bankruptcy is the culprit in this case. I've also seen rumblings that the corporate health of Applebee's isn't the greatest so that might come into play as well.

    Andrew

    14 Jun 25 at 9:20 pm

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