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I actually think this is more of a statewide issue than a Columbia-specific issue and it's mainly due to the lack of knowledge-based, professional jobs compared to those in nearby states. It's just too easy for someone who's graduated from Carolina, Clemson, Francis Marion, CofC, Winthrop, etc. to hop on the interstate and move a relatively short distance away to Charlotte, Atlanta, or Raleigh.
I agree, but I will tell you and I dont mean to bring up Greenville in a Columbia post but I just moved up here and they really have done a great job at retaining and recruiting the 20 something post grads. The city is full of them and its really great to see.
Columbia very easily could do the same thing and it looks like they are starting and thats great to see.
I agree, but I will tell you and I dont mean to bring up Greenville in a Columbia post but I just moved up here and they really have done a great job at retaining and recruiting the 20 something post grads. The city is full of them and its really great to see.
Columbia very easily could do the same thing and it looks like they are starting and thats great to see.
I think this is where Columbia has fallen behind in the last decade: developing entertainment and lifestyle options for young professionals. Like you said, Greenville has really blossomed in this regard and it shows. I agree that Columbia does seem to be on the cusp of fleshing out its offerings for twenty- and thirty somethings. This will do a lot towards retaining graduates who otherwise may have left to find a city with more grown-up options.
What's strange to me is that this was ever an issue for Columbia. The offerings for people in their forties and older (museums, theatre groups, ballet, philharmonic) are excellent, as are the options for college aged people. The young professional scene was the hole in the doughnut.
Sorry, but young professionals are visible in Columbia, too. No city in SC has retained them on as large a scale as we would like, but it's not like none have stayed Here. Columbia's got a live music scene, so that helps. Offerings for young professionals are here, and they're only going to get better.
Sorry, but young professionals are visible in Columbia, too. No city in SC has retained them on as large a scale as we would like, but it's not like none have stayed Here. Columbia's got a live music scene, so that helps. Offerings for young professionals are here, and they're only going to get better.
The offerings are here, but Greenville and Charleston's have grown faster than ours in recent years. There are indeed many young professionals here, and it is an underserved market based on the numbers, in my opinion.
The offerings are here, but Greenville and Charleston's have grown faster than ours in recent years.
How so? I'm genuinely curious. More nightlife, arts events, etc.? I think Columbia has been making notable progress in this area but being the modest city that it is, it doesn't really promote its success; the rapid growth of the Indie Grits festival is but one example that comes to mind.
How so? I'm genuinely curious. More nightlife, arts events, etc.? I think Columbia has been making notable progress in this area but being the modest city that it is, it doesn't really promote its success; the rapid growth of the Indie Grits festival is but one example that comes to mind.
Not talking about the arts. Columbia is very strong in that regard. I was talking more about upscale nightlife options (craft cocktail bars, beer gardens, breweries, bistros, etc.) that fall somewhere between a high-end restaurant and a cheap, beer-in-plastic-cups type of place. I would like Columbia to have more bars like Liberty, the Kraken, and Bourbon. I was excited to hear the news about The Reserve opening on Main St next to the Free Times office, but that seems to be dead.
Columbia has a lot to offer and, if it promoted itself better, would be better known for its culture. I just wish we had more places like Proof, Prohibition, or Cocktail Club in Charleston.
Columbia has three breweries and is getting a fourth. It's going to be on Gervais Street in the Vista. There are also several craft beer joints. Greenvilleonline.com did a couple of articles just last week decrying the lack of live music venues or even a live music scene there, asking what it's going to take to get one going. Columbia has Music Farm, Tin Roof, New Brookland Tavern and several smaller places in Five Points. Township Auditorium has also done some impressive booking in the last couple of years, and the Free Times, which wouldn't be caught dead sugar-coating anything for Columbia, wrote about how that venue has been knocking it out of the ballpark. Of course the Greenvilleonline.com article didn't mention Columbia. It talked about leaving town to see live music in Asheville, Charleston, Atlanta and Charlotte, but no mention of Columbia - of course not. Columbia doesn't have a huge contingent of people who rush to their computers and smart phones every time there's some online contest asking for votes for the best city for this or that. They should do more of that IMO, but I guess they have better things to do.
Typical scenes at noon in Columbia's central business district 12 months a year:
Columbia has three breweries and is getting a fourth. It's going to be on Gervais Street in the Vista. There are also several craft beer joints. Greenvilleonline.com did a couple of articles just last week decrying the lack of live music venues or even a live music scene there, asking what it's going to take to get one going. Columbia has Music Farm, Tin Roof, New Brookland Tavern and several smaller places in Five Points. Township Auditorium has also done some impressive booking in the last couple of years, and the Free Times, which wouldn't be caught dead sugar-coating anything for Columbia, wrote about how that venue has been knocking it out of the ballpark. Of course the Greenvilleonline.com article didn't mention Columbia. It talked about leaving town to see live music in Asheville, Charleston, Atlanta and Charlotte, but no mention of Columbia - of course not. Columbia doesn't have a huge contingent of people who rush to their computers and smart phones every time there's some online contest asking for votes for the best city for this or that. They should do more of that IMO, but I guess they have better things to do.
Typical scenes at noon in Columbia's central business district 12 months a year:
I keep hearing about the brewery coming to City Market, but haven't seen an official announcement other than the random mention on article that the development includes a microbrewery. I hope this comes to fruition, is there something more definite?
Guys re new microbrewery. Remember that Hunter Gatherer said they were building a stand alone brewery so high likelihood this is it re City market which also includes Grill Marks and Newks.
I agree, but I will tell you and I dont mean to bring up Greenville in a Columbia post but I just moved up here and they really have done a great job at retaining and recruiting the 20 something post grads. The city is full of them and its really great to see.
Columbia very easily could do the same thing and it looks like they are starting and thats great to see.
Greenville is actually going the opposite direction........from 2010 to 2013, the percentage of population between 25 and 39 dropped from 20.4 to 19.8. In the same time period, the percentage above 65 grew from 12.8 to 13.8.
The percentage of people over 65 in Columbia is less than 11%.
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