QuikTrip adding more Columbia locations; bubble tea, ice cream shop opening in Five Points (2024)

COLUMBIA— QuikTrip is serious about its plans for the Midlands.

The Oklahoma-headquartered convenience store chain, known as QT for short, now has three projects under construction along the same stretch of Interstate 26 northwest of Columbia.

One construction site is at the corner of Lake Murray Boulevard and College Street in Irmo.

That store, expected to be open next spring, will be one of the company's smaller retail sites, only the third use nationwide for that store design, QT spokeswoman Aisha Jefferson-Smith told The Post and Courier Nov. 10.

A couple exits closer to town, QT is working on a large site at the junction of Piney Grove Road and Jamil Road. That store is expected to be open in the summer of 2022, Jefferson-Smith said.

A third QT, at St. Andrews Road near I-26, is close to completion. That store is expected to open early next year, she said.

The company is at work on the other side of town as well. A QT store is under construction on Fort Jackson Boulevard next to I-77.

That store, expected to open before the end of 2022, will be the 100th QuikTrip location in the Carolinas, Jefferson-Smith said.

Another QT location is planned for the vicinity ofShop and Atlas roads, but that is a longer-term plan, she said.

Already there are three locations for QT open in the Midlands: 8205 Two Notch Road, 10320 Wilson Blvd. in Blythewood and 925 S. Lake Drive in Lexington.

Most QuikTrip locations feature a food counter called QT Kitchen, offering sandwiches, wraps and pizza made to order.

When all its planned locations are open it will have eight stores in the Midlands, a major investment by the company in the market.

The Carolinas have been a successful market for QuikTrip, so it makes sense to find the right sites and continue investing, Jefferson-Smith said.

Tea & Ice Cream in Five Points

Five Points is getting a couple new treats to try.

Gong Cha, a tea place, and Kremo Ice Cream are opening on Nov. 12 at 701 Santee Ave., according to the Five Points Association.

Gong Cha features bubble tea and milk drinks, with added flavors such as chocolate, winter melon and strawberry.

The Gong Cha brand started offering Taiwan-style bubble teas in the Bay area of California in 2013 and since has opened six locations in the Atlanta market.

Kremo is gourmet ice cream thatis spread out on a freezing pan, chopped while it freezes and then served as a roll rather than a scoop, according to the company website.

Animal hospital in Irmo

A new animal hospital building has been proposed for Irmo, according to documents on file with the town.

Plans have been submitted for a new, free-standing building at 10737 Broad River Road for Friarsgate Animal Hospital.

Friarsgate has been serving the area since 1993 and currently has an office nearby at 10216 Broad River Road.

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Have any Midlands business news to share in the column? Reach Mike Fitts atmfitts@postandcourier.com.