COLUMBIA — The former Starbucks cafe in the Vista has not been in operation for months, but it looks like it will be a while longer before it has a new tenant.
There has been strong interest already expressed by possible tenants in the site at Gervais and Lincoln, according to Scott Garvin, president of Garvin Design Group and one of the partners that own the building.
However, Starbucks is still negotiating with the owners to get out of its lease, and until that deal is complete, the property cannot be shown to potential new clients, Garvin said.
There have been two or three inquiries from intriguing possible new users, Garvin said, but those talks cannot proceed until a deal with Starbucks is struck.
"I don't even have a key," Garvin said.
Garvin expects the site to be sought-after and he shot down speculation on social media that frequent damage to the location's large windows had made it an unattractive site. That has not been a major problem, he said.
The cafe closed in 2021 in an action that originally was called temporary. Only in early December did the company announce that the site would not reopen.
Like many companies, Starbucks has struggled with staffing issues and has focused in recent years on drive-thru sites, an option the Gervais Street location does not offer.
Other changes have been happening in the Vista.
The Jason's Deli restaurant at 823 Gervais closed on Feb. 7. Lunch restaurants have felt the pinch of the reduced number of downtown workers on weekdays.
Workers are getting close to completing the Cambria hotel at 1000 Lady St. The hotel is projecting an opening date of June 1, according to Abby Anderson, director of the Congaree Vista Guild.
It will offer a hotel of 144 rooms and is affiliated with the Choice Hotels chain.
