COLUMBIA — Popular Forest Acres restaurant Pasta Fresca is entering a new era after being acquired by The Foundry Group, a Columbia-based restaurant development and management company.
Steve Cook, an executive vice president at Foundry Group, said the sale happened in February and was something the group has been working on for a while as it looks to acquire iconic Columbia brands.
In October, The Foundry Group took over West Columbia’s Cafe Strudel. Cook, most known for Five Points fine dining establishment Saluda’s, said Pasta Fresca plans to have a similar transition as Cafe Strudel, with the group making minimal changes to customers’ experience.
“We bought it because we love it, and we think it’s a great place, and so we won’t change anything fundamentally,” Cook said.
Any initial changes will be “minor tweaks that customers are not going to notice,” Cook told Free Times.
He expects some maintenance updates and new equipment as well as some new specials from Pasta Fresca’s chef as he’s given more creative freedom.
Overall, Cook said the Foundry Group hopes to make the experience better for staff and customers — and make some updates that are now possible with the group’s wide range of experience and resources.
“I think it’s that depth of experience,” Cook said. “We identified in Columbia that every other city our size has multiple restaurant groups, and nobody here does, and we thought that was a missing thing in the market, and we’re happy to hopefully be filling that, and we look forward to continue to grow.”
The Foundry Group currently covers 10 brands in the Columbia area including popular spots like The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli, Saluda’s and the newly re-branded State Pizza.
The interior of Arroyo Tacos + Tequila, a Mexican restaurant previously located in Columbia’s Five Points.
Jane Godiner/File
Cook’s Arroyo leaves the scene
Independently a prominent Columbia restaurateur before joining The Foundry Group, Cook helps run multiple of the restaurants now under the group’s ownership including Saluda’s, State Pizza, Ember and Slip 53 — a new oyster bar and seafood restaurant that is set to open in the former Pecknel Music Company location in Five Points.
And while never an official restaurant under The Foundry Group, Cook also ran Arroyo Tacos and Tequila, which has since closed after it struggled to “fit” into Cook’s work with the new restaurant group.
“Just thought it was better to move on from that and focus on all the other stuff we’ve got going on,” Cook said.
The restaurant closed its doors in September with little fanfare from the restaurant or customers. Its latest post on Facebook advertises a Bacon-Burger-Dilla and has no likes or comments as of March 19.
Cook said the space is currently up for sale and will likely transition to a new concept.
Arroyo Tacos and Tequila opened at 819 Harden Street in 2024 and served up a variety of à la carte tacos and house-infused tequilas.
Dining and Cooking