Exciting New Dining and Entertainment Destination to Open in Columbia’s Former Brewery Space

Exciting New Venture Coming to Columbia’s Former Brewery Space!

Columbia residents, get ready for some big news that will soon transform a stretch of Shop Road into a hub of delicious food and fun! A fresh project called Finn’s Farm is gearing up to take over the space where River Rat Brewery used to brew up its popular craft beers.

Finn’s Farm Set to Revitalize Brewery Space

Finn’s Farm is moving into the former brewery space at 1231 Shop Road, and it’s creating quite the buzz in the community. The new development is set to feature a fabulous restaurant and cafe that will be run by the owners of popular local coffee shops, Drip (located in Five Points) and Brickhouse (in West Columbia). This exciting new addition promises an absolutely charming rooftop view of none other than Williams-Brice Stadium!

Harvest Cafe: A Family-friendly Delight

Akera Sellers, who took over the operations of Drip late last year, is leading the charge with the upcoming Harvest Cafe. The cafe plans to serve up mouthwatering food, aromatic coffee, and a selection of alcoholic drinks to cater to all tastes. Sellers is gearing up to open the cafe portion of Finn’s Farm by summer, and he has a vision for creating a family-friendly environment.

“The yard is still out front so we’re going to have benches out there; it’s going to be a real family environment,” Sellers shared. “What I’m really looking forward to [are] good weather days where people just come hang out and have fun.” Doesn’t that sound lovely?

A Brewery Partnership? Maybe!

But wait, there’s more! A sign announcing “coming soon” for Finn’s Farm also hints at the involvement of another local favorite, Bierkeller Brewing Company. This popular brewery opened its doors in the riverfront Canalside Lofts off Taylor Street in August 2023. They’ve been pouring their tasty brews at various tailgate events hosted at Finn’s Farm this football season. However, the owner of Bierkeller, Scott Burgess, hasn’t confirmed his business’s association with the new project yet. Stay tuned!

A Look Back at the River Rat Brewery

The atmosphere is a world away from the former River Rat Brewery that closed its doors in December of last year, leaving behind the legacy of being one of Columbia’s initial three production breweries to open during the craft beer craze of the early 2010s. With Conquest Brewing Company and Swamp Cabbage Brewery also closing in recent years, the former River Rat space has a lot of history — but it’s clearly ready for a new chapter.

In fact, the property was sold in July for a notable $875,000, according to county deeds. Cheers to new beginnings!

What’s Next for Finn’s Farm?

Columbia’s very own Finn’s Farm is shaping up to be a fabulous addition to the local scene, bringing a new, vibrant atmosphere to Shop Road, complete with fantastic dining options and perhaps even more delicious beer options if Bierkeller gets involved.

The community can hardly wait for the summer opening — imagine enjoying a delightful meal with a backdrop of a game day at Williams-Brice Stadium; it doesn’t get much better than that!

So, keep your eyes and ears open for more updates on Finn’s Farm. Exciting times are ahead for Columbia, and you won’t want to miss what’s brewing!