The Wild Hare Sports Cafe, 5474 Augusta Rd: 6 January 2014 9 comments
Based on the available evidence, it appears to me that Monday 6 January was the last day of operation for the Lexington Wild Hare, on US-1 north of I-20. This closing leaves the chain with two restaurants: one in the Vista and one on the Western segment of Bush River Road near the former Irmo Kmart.
(Hat tip to commenter badger)
UPDATE 25 September 2016 -- This is now The Kingsman Cue & Brew:
9 Responses to 'The Wild Hare Sports Cafe, 5474 Augusta Rd: 6 January 2014'
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Homer
15 Jan 14 at 2:51 am
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Good point Homer, I wonder if the “sports bar” is not a thing of the past, or at least a dying breed. Now days many people have very large TVs in their home and usually can receive almost any sporting event they want to watch. The Carolina Wings in Lexington recently closed and that was the last of the big sports bar locations for this chain. The two CWs left. in Red Bank and Cayce. are much smaller and are more restaurant than bar.
ED
15 Jan 14 at 10:08 am
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I don't watch very many sporting events but the ones I do watch, I know I'd be more comfortable at a friend or family member's house than an eating establishment and with the large TVs most homes nowadays have, I do think that is going to appeal to more people than watching at a restraunt with a bunch of random people.
As far as Wild Hare goes, only time will tell. Sometimes restaurants try to have several locations but it becomes more headaches than it's worth (I think that happened to Zorba's and D's Wings) and sometimes the restaurant has its run and the owners decide it's time to do other things or the business isn't conducive to continuing operations. I think it's best to see how the other two mentioned in the main post pan out in the months to come to see what this is a case of.
Andrew
15 Jan 14 at 10:15 pm
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ED, you must be talking about the Lexington/West Columbia area. CW's is still open at the corner of Clemson and Hardscrabble.
I have a big screen TV (65") and I still enjoy going to the bar to watch sports. Mostly at Buffalo Wild Wings since they have so many TV's that you can see from one spot. What turns me off is how high liquor drinks have gotten lately. 1 Crown Royal with your preferred mixer is between $8.75 - $10.00 after tax. Even beer prices have increased. An imported beer (but really made and bottled in the USA) such as Dos Equis is $3.50 or more.
There are too many "sports bars". If I had the money, I would open up a Comedy Bar. Set up just like a sports bar, but have a stage with comedians throughout the week. Instead of music playing, I would have comedians playing through the speakers. And all the TV's would have a comedy show or a stand up show playing. After 10:00pm, no kids allowed and it will be like Comedy Central, no censorship. On Saturday afternoons, have a comedian for the kids. And even have a kids comedy talent show. Bring in a clown on Kids Night (Tuesday Nights).
Who has the money to do it? Go ahead and steal my idea. I just want free Dos Equis (lager NOT amber) and Crown every time I come in.
Sidney
16 Jan 14 at 8:27 am
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The Carolina Wings at Hardscrabble and Clemson became CW's Grill. I didn't think they were under the same corporate umbrella, but I could be wrong.
badger
16 Jan 14 at 10:21 am
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I would think this would all come back to the part owner being sentenced to 5 months in jail and 5 months probation last year. Just wonder if the other part owner could keep them all going. I would think part of Gunter II probation would have barred him from owning a sports bar since he was convicted of being a bookie after his involvement with Brett Parker that came to light his murder trial for killing his wife
chris
25 Jan 14 at 11:06 am
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A new bar has opened in this location by the name of The Kingsman Brew and Que. Guessing by the name they must have a number of pool tables.
James R.
2 Aug 16 at 9:00 pm
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Or maybe they serve BBQ. Didn't think about that when I first saw Que in the name. If it were pool tables, it would likely be spelled Cue, unless of course its British.
James R.
2 Aug 16 at 9:02 pm
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It's an offshoot of the Cayce Kingsman.
badger
2 Aug 16 at 10:08 pm
I wonder if this is the beginning of the end for this chain?
There was a comment in the Free Times this past week about Columbia's idea of night life being nothing more than sports bars. Yes, we are in the south, where sports (especially collegiate sports) are king. Don't get me wrong, I love sports, but it seems like too many bars calls themselves a sports bar (and even if they don't, they essentially are) . It seems like the easy way to open a club. Put together a bar menu, throw up a bunch of TV's and wait for the masses to come. And hope that they do show up.
But how many can a city the size of Columbia support? We need more of a variety of places for people to go for entertainment other than sports. And, yes, I am commenting on more music venues in town that have been lacking for several years.
As always, any comments are welcome.