Mortgage Broker in Forest Acres, SC

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - WIS News 10 rode along with state leaders, city officials, who joined together to assess both storm damage recovery and necessary road improvements in Forest Acres.

Rep. Heather Bauer, D-Richland, met with Forest Acres and officials with the South Carolina Department of Transportation in 2023 to discuss necessary road improvements.

As a result, nearly seven 4-way stops were implemented throughout the city in addition to other improvements.

Bauer said the best way to enact change is to meet with all parties involved and at all levels of local and state government. She said this year is no different.

“We have put in stop signs, we have put in sidewalks, we have fixed potholes and just getting everyone together at all levels of government, we are just able to get a lot of stuff done,” said Bauer.

SCDOT, Mayor Thomas Andrews, and Bauer met again Wednesday to tour the city in hopes of enacting additional improvements.

“Especially near our sidewalks that are near our schools, we have some crosswalks but a lot of them are old and need to be repainted or we need additional sidewalks,” Andrews said.

Andrews tells WIS that while some crosswalks need to be repaired, adding additional crosswalks would be beneficial. He says sidewalks are another big project for this upcoming year, specifically in areas with lots of foot traffic and near schools, like Trenholm Park leading to Satchelford Road. However, Andrews says these improvements are not cheap requests.

“We are a small city, we don’t have a ton of funds designated to just sidewalks, but we are exploring what it takes to get grants, and working with the DOT and the legislature to get those types of funds,” Andrews said.

During the ride along, storm damage was also assessed with SCDOT. Both Lakeshore Drive and Spring Lake Road were heavily impacted by fallen trees and damage to homes.

City officials said that over 30 trees fell on homes after Hurricane Helene.

One homeowner who had two fallen trees in her backyard, one that blocked off Bethel Church road for hours following the storm, said she’s thankful road improvements are being considered.

“We have so many areas, on my way to the gym, that I need to avoid,” said lyssa Fisher, a homeowner for Forest Acres. “It’s road stuff more than anything, there is so much work that’s needed on the roads to me, that’s the first thing that comes to mind.”

Bauer said safety is critical, so smaller road improvement projects that can make a significant difference to Forest Acres, like the ones mentioned today are of top priority.

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Don’t fret, Forest Acres. You’ll get your Formula 45 sauce fix again soon.

Groucho’s Deli, the long-running Columbia-area favorite that has spread to other parts of the region through the years, will reopen its location at 4717 Forest Drive in Forest Acres, according to a release from the company. That location has been closed since summer 2023. The company is aiming to reopen the location in January.

The return to Forest Acres will bring a “state of the art Groucho’s Deli prototype,” the release noted, which will include “the latest advancements in furniture, surfaces and equipment that enhance the customer experience.

Groucho’s CEO Bruce Miller said he’s been hearing from customers who wanted the deli to reopen in Forest Acres.

“We have deep roots in the Forest Acres community and appreciate the tremendous number of loyal customers asking Groucho’s to return to the area,” Miller said in a statement. “Re-opening with this new, corporate-owned prototype will allow us to gain hands-on insights from customers about their needs as we strive to create the highest quality customer experience possible.”

Miller is the grandson of the late deli founder Harold “Groucho” Miller, who opened the first Groucho’s in 1941. The company has been a mainstay in the Columbia area, with its main location in Five Points and other outposts across the region. In all, there are nearly three dozen Groucho’s locations across South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia.

Groucho’s is perhaps best-known for its Dipper sandwiches, including the iconic STP Dipper that has a warm sub roll filled with turkey, roast beef, bacon bits and melted Swiss cheese, with a cup of the signature, tangy Formula 45 sauce on the side.

The Forest Drive corridor where Groucho’s will once again be located is in the midst of a bustling commercial area, with grocery stores, ice cream shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars and more lining the roadway. About 28,000 cars per day travel down that thoroughfare, per state transportation statistics.

This story was originally published October 10, 2024, 11:13 AM.

The State

Chris Trainor is a retail reporter for The State and has been working for newspapers in South Carolina for more than 20 years, including previous stops at the (Greenwood) Index-Journal and the (Columbia) Free Times. He is the winner of numerous South Carolina Press Association awards, including honors in column writing, government beat reporting, profile writing, food writing, business beat reporting, election coverage, social media and more.