COLUMBIA — The Vista now has one less “neighborhood gathering spot.”
Hickory Tavern closed its Vista location at 907 Senate St. on Aug. 23, according to a press release from Artistry Restaurants, which manages the Hickory Tavern brand.
“While never an easy decision,” Artistry Restaurants CEO Bryan Lockwood said in the release, “it is important that we regularly evaluate where we can operate more efficiently so our resources and future investments are directed toward the priorities that will best serve our teams and guests. These changes, along with other efficiencies, will support Hickory Tavern’s long-term plan and strength as a brand.”
The Vista location is one of four Hickory Tavern that are shuttering, including three in North Carolina, as Artistry Restaurants plans to focus its investment, team resources and operational energy on the locations “best positioned for long-term success,” the press release said.
A gathering spot
Hickory Tavern has become a staple across the Carolinas since opening its first location in 1997 and is known for serving sandwiches, wings, appetizers and a wide range of beers. The fast-casual chain later expanded to 20 locations across North and South Carolina.
Since the brand was acquired by Artistry Restaurants in January 2025, the company said it has worked with each location’s team to “reinforce Hickory Tavern’s presence” in local communities through a menu refresh, location redesigns and other measures.
The acquisition marked the seventh brand for Artistry Restaurants since its founding in 2020 and brought the total number of restaurants in its portfolio to 50 across the South.
The proximity of the four selected restaurants to other Hickory Tavern locations was an important factor in the decision, the company said, and guests who frequent them can be served at its other restaurants just a few miles away. There is another Hickory Tavern restaurant at 141 Pelham Dr. in the Garners Ferry area that remains open.
The company’s goal is to retain its valuable talent, according to the press release, and it’ll work with affected team members to identify opportunities for transfer to other locations.
“Today, Hickory Tavern is in a much stronger market position than it was when we acquired it,” Artistry Restaurants said in the press release.
The goal of the decision is to position the brand for long-term profitability, growth and the best possible guest experience across its remaining locations, it added.
Hickory Tavern still has 16 total locations across North and South Carolina. Aside from the southeast Columbia location, there are other Palmetto State locations in Fort Mill, Myrtle Beach, Rock Hill and Spartanburg, according to the business’ online store locator.
Change in the Vista
The Vista has seen significant change in recent months as development booms across the city and leaders look to the entertainment district as a desirable opportunity for growth.
A new $80 million apartment project led Hickory Tavern’s previous next door neighbors Monterrey Mexican restaurant, Five Guys and Republic Biergarten to relocate, and plans are in motion for new upscale apartments, retail and office space to take over three historic buildings on Gervais and Lady streets as part of the Seaboard Vista project. A former firehouse was transformed into the Lantern Hotel Columbia, which opened earlier this year.
There are also several new restaurants that’ve claimed a spot throughout the Vista. Ladder 13, inside the aforementioned Lantern Hotel, is pioneered by an accomplished Charleston chef. Aura Kitchen and Bar brings an elevated Asian fusion menu to the district, while Manhattan Pie and QDOBA offer an affordable lunch for students and Statehouse-goers.
Dining and Cooking