Perhaps the most interesting and eclectic home goods shop in Columbia [1] is Greek Store and More (745 Saluda Ave., 803/771-9837, Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.) in Five Points. As the name indicates, they have a good deal of Hellenic-style merchandise, but much more, including some good Gamecock gear.
Three Dog Bakery (625 Harden St., 803/312-9988, Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.) has some delicious-looking confections that you’ll be tempted to sample. But don’t—they’re just for Rover.
Seminal Columbia institution Cromer’s P-Nuts (1700 Huger St., 803/779-2290, www.cromers.com [2], Mon–Fri. 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m.) in the Vista has a strange twist on truth in advertising: Their slogan is “Guaranteed Worst in Town.” The story goes that during the Great Depression, Julian Cromer found he had some competition for his once-dominant one-man roasted peanut stand downtown.
Since the competition was making some headway claiming not only that they had the best peanuts in town but that Mr. Cromer’s were demonstrably the worst, Mr. Cromer had an idea. He put up a sign bearing his now-famous credo, and shortly he was back on top of Columbia’s cutthroat roadside roasted peanut business. Today the store remains in family hands and you can buy a range of snacks, party supplies, and of course peanuts.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/south-carolina/columbia-and-the-midlands/columbia
[2] http://www.cromers.com