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Slade Scoops, Columbia, MO (2026)

02/28/2026

🍦 Custard & Concrete: Culver’s Claims Southside Corner🍦

📰 A third Culver’s is officially making its way to Columbia. ABC17’s Ryan Shiner first reported that recent building permits were submitted to the city, confirming the restaurant as the first announced tenant of the new development at State Farm Parkway and Grindstone.

🚗 The Culver’s will sit directly on the corner of the intersection (see second photo), giving it prime visibility and easy access for southside traffic.

🍔 This marks the third location for the Wisconsin-based fast-food chain in Columbia, joining the existing east and west side restaurants. Culver’s was founded in 1984 by Craig and Lea Culver in Sauk City, Wisconsin, and has since grown to more than 1,000 locations nationwide, according to the company’s website.

🏗️ Beyond Culver’s, we’ve learned more about the broader development. Documents obtained by our team show the project was originally referred to as Crown Center Plaza in early 2025, though it’s unclear if that name will stick. As of now, it appears all lots are either under contract or already purchased - meaning more announcements could be coming soon.

Plans indicate the development may include:
- Two additional restaurants (including another fast-food site)
- A large office center
- Apartments
- Additional mixed-use space

👀 While this is one of the larger developments currently underway, it’s far from the only one - stay tuned for a broader construction update coming soon.

🍦 Scooped by | Originally reported by 🍦

👇 Excited about a southside Culver’s? What else would you like to see in this development?

02/16/2026

🍦 Zaxby’s Comeback in CoMo? 🍦

🍗 It’s been a year since chicken chain Zaxby’s closed its doors at 1411 Cinnamon Hill Lane (now home to Champs Chicken). Since then, fans have wondered: was that the end of Zaxby’s in mid-Missouri?

‼️ That question may finally have an answer.

✉️ In a recent press release sent to St. Louis media outlets, Zaxby’s announced a new multi-store agreement that includes Columbia:

💬 “Zaxby’s […] is bringing its Southern Hospitality to St. Louis and Columbia, Missouri, through its latest signed agreement alongside Triple Z Holdings LLC, a group including multiple University of Missouri alumni. The group plans to open multiple Zaxby’s restaurants in the greater St. Louis and Columbia, MO regions in the coming years through this latest multi-store deal.”

📰The announcement was widely reported in the St. Louis metro by outlets like KMOV 4 and KSDK 5 - but it didn’t make much noise locally. We first caught wind of it after a follower tipped us off to a post on the r/COMO subreddit.

🧐 Not much is publicly known about Triple Z Holdings LLC beyond the announcement, and the entity appears to be newly formed for this franchise agreement. What we do know is that Columbia is officially part of the expansion plan.

📆 As for locations or timelines? Nothing confirmed yet. But based on the wording of the agreement, Zaxby’s appears poised to make a return to CoMo in the coming years.

🍦 Scooped by & u/Better_Depature918 on Reddit🍦

👇 Excited about a possible Zaxby’s comeback? Or are you loyal to another chicken spot? Let us know below!

02/11/2026

🍦 Sushi Swap Downtown: Geisha Transitions Into Sushi Fajita 🍦

🍣 Downtown Columbia is welcoming a new take on sushi - and now we have clarity on what’s happening at 804 E. Broadway.

🍽️ After 17 years, Geisha Sushi Bar announced it is closing at this location. In a Facebook post, the restaurant shared:

💬 “Geisha is closing at this location. We’ll see you again soon at a new location with a fresh start! […] Thank you all for your love and support over the past 17 years.”

👩🏼‍🍳 Geisha’s announcement also hinted that a new sushi restaurant would take its place. That concept has since been confirmed as Sushi Fajita, which has soft-opened in the same space.

🍱 Sushi Fajita is a new fusion concept that blends traditional sushi with creative rolls inspired by a fajita-style experience. As part of the concept, guests can build their own sushi rolls - choosing everything from ingredients to flavor combinations.

❓With Geisha stepping away, many longtime Geisha regulars have been wondering what’s next for the former brand. It turns out, the answer may have been right in front of their eyes. After reviewing public business records, we found a connection between Geisha and Sushi Fajita - and after reaching out directly, Sushi Fajita confirmed that this change represents a full rebrand rather than a traditional closure.

💬“[The owner] wanted to challenge himself creatively and build something entirely new. He felt inspired to create a more distinctive and interactive sushi experience, which ultimately led to a full rebrand and the launch of Sushi Fajita.”

📆 Sushi Fajita is currently in a soft opening phase, which began this week and is expected to last about a month. During that time, customers can expect opening discounts, though a grand opening date has not yet been announced. We’ll be sure to share more once it’s confirmed!

🍦 Scooped by & .kell🍦

👇 What do you think of the rebrand? Excited to try Sushi Fajita, or feeling nostalgic for Geisha? Let us know below!

01/12/2026

🍦From Rumor to Retail: Nordstrom Rack Is Coming to CoMo🍦

🌵Scoops have been a little dry lately. It’s winter, and even though our ears have been listening to the streets - news has been hard to come by. Still, one rumor kept popping up: Nordstrom Rack might be coming to Columbia.

🔥 For a while, we couldn’t confirm it. But as they say - where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

🛍️ Today, we were tipped off that a listing brochure on Maly Realty’s website for The Shoppes at Stadium had Nordstrom Rack as a tenant. Retailers don’t typically appear on official leasing materials by coincidence, so while we weren’t able to get direct confirmation just yet, this strongly suggests the long-rumored store is happening. Given the chatter we’ve heard over the past few months, we wanted you to be the first to know.

👚 For those unfamiliar, Nordstrom Rack is the off-price retail arm of Nordstrom. The concept launched in 1973 on the lower level of Nordstrom’s downtown Seattle store, before opening its first standalone location in 1983. Today, Nordstrom Rack offers discounts of up to 70% off many of the same brands found at Nordstrom. There are currently just under 400 locations nationwide, including four in Missouri.

📍The new store will be located at The Shoppes at Stadium, next to the newly opened Trader Joe’s, joining retailers like Lululemon and Dick’s Sporting Goods.
While no opening date has been announced, based on typical buildout timelines, we’d expect shopping to begin sometime from mid to late 2026. As always, we’ll keep you updated as soon as we learn more.

🍦Scooped by 🍦

👇Excited for Nordstrom Rack? What else would you like to see come to Columbia? Let us know below!

11/05/2025

🍦Cold Front in CoMo: Clementine’s Ice Cream Coming Downtown🍦

❄️ You may have noticed it’s gotten a little colder lately - and while it might feel like winter’s creeping in, this chill actually comes courtesy of a sweet new arrival: Clementine’s Ice Cream. For the second time this week, we’ve got another downtown scoop for East Broadway.

💼 Earlier this week, we were tipped off by one of our followers (shoutout Emily 👏🏻) that a hiring sign had been posted at 914 East Broadway for Clementine’s. Upon checking, we found multiple job listings on the company’s website for the Columbia location - including Parlor Manager and “Purveyor of Yum” (a.k.a. ice cream scooper).

🍨 Founded in 2014 by Tamara Keefe, Clementine’s started in St. Louis after Keefe decided to leave the corporate world for something sweeter. Since then, the brand has grown to more than 10 locations across Missouri and Illinois. According to their site, they specialize in “unique small-batch ice cream flavors, including Naughty (alcohol-infused) and Non-Dairy options.”

🏢 The new shop will sit in a prime downtown spot next to Wingin’ Out, in the building that previously housed Obsessed, a sports retail store. With Sparky’s already nearby, downtown ice cream lovers will soon have another reason to celebrate.

📆 While there’s no official opening date yet, hiring has already begun - so we’d expect ice cream to be scooped sooner rather than later. We’ll be sure to keep you updated once we hear more.

🍦Scooped by 🍦

👇Excited for the new STL-based ice cream shop? Let us know below!

11/03/2025

🍦Birdie’s Deli Swoops In and Lands Downtown🍦

🐦‍⬛ For months, the space formerly home to Seoul Taco has sat empty - a prime spot on Broadway by Wynnsome Tea & Cakes and Günter Hans that’s had many wondering what might come next. The wait is over: Birdie’s COMO, a new deli shop, is officially set to take flight downtown.

🔨 Speculation began when Birdie’s teased a photo on Instagram showing construction inside a building with the caption, “We’ve been keeping a secret.” That post caught the attention of many of our followers.

🪏 After some digging, we confirmed through public records that the new Birdie’s location will indeed move into the old Seoul Taco space. When reached for comment, Birdie’s told us:

💬 “We will be open this winter and are looking forward to being active business owners in the community.”

🥪 Birdie’s first launched earlier this year as a pop-up sandwich shop at spots around town, including Logboat. According to their website, their mission is to “bring a neighborhood deli vibe to downtown Columbia, offering house-made sandwiches, salads, and a variety of smoked and roasted meats sliced to order by the pound.” They note their concept draws inspiration from St. Louis - specifically, The Hill.

🏠 Locals we spoke with are excited about the addition, many praising Birdie’s from their pop-up days and eager to see the concept find a permanent home.

👀 Be on the lookout for more scoops this week - we’ve got some exciting downtown and southside updates coming soon!

🍦Scooped by and 🍦

👇Are you excited about Birdie’s opening downtown? Let us know your thoughts below

09/26/2025

🍦Delayed to Underway: Big Whiskey’s & Port 131 Plans Back on Track🍦

⏰ It’s been two years since Big Whiskey’s announced plans to come to Columbia as part of the Port 131 development. Since then? Crickets. People knew it was coming, but as time dragged on, skepticism grew. Even when our team reached out earlier this year, we got nothing back. But that’s changed - thanks to recent reporting from Carlos Dunlap at the Columbia Tribune.

📰 According to the Tribune, the Columbia project was delayed because another Big Whiskey’s in Neosho, MO, took longer than expected to finish. With that complete, Columbia is now back on the company’s radar.

🍔 Big Whiskey’s is an American restaurant chain founded in 2006 in Springfield, MO, with over 20 locations across the Midwest. They are primarily known for their burgers, wings, and drinks. The closest current location to Columbia is in Jefferson City.

🚧 The chain was the first announced member of the planned Port 131 development, a major project by EquipmentShare HQ off Bull Run Drive on Columbia’s east side. Port 131 is slated to feature Big Whiskey’s, a convention center (see picture 2), and a mix of other restaurants and businesses (picture 4).

🪏Groundbreaking for Big Whiskey’s is expected soon, with an opening planned for late 2026. The broader Port 131 timeline is still unclear.

🍦Originally reported by the | Further scooped by 🍦

👇Excited for Big Whiskey’s and the Port 131 project? What else would you like to see go there?

09/24/2025

🍦JoJo’s Biscuit Company is Heading South🍦

👀 Some weeks the scoops are dry… but not this one. First up: big breakfast news. Columbia’s own JoJo’s Biscuit Company is expanding with a second location coming soon to the south side of town.

👂Rumors had been “swirling” for weeks, that our team started to catch wind of. For awhile, we were unable to confirm anything, but after some digging and a direct reply from JoJo’s themselves - we can now confirm the big news.

⁉️ When asked about the whispers, JoJo’s responded to us:

💬 “We are excited for our new location on Nifong. We can’t wait to serve the south side of Columbia!”

🌮 The new spot will open in the old Fuzzy’s location at the Nifong Shopping Center, right next to CoMo Rocks, Panera, and Hallmark. The space is managed by the same group that rents out JoJo’s original location, so the move makes sense.

🧑‍🍳 Behind JoJo’s is owner Jason Paetzold, who’s also the force behind Bud’s BBQ. And while it’s not confirmed, we’ve heard rumblings that more restaurant ventures could be in his future. Given his track record, Columbia would surely welcome it.

📈 Be on the lookout for more exciting scoops in the coming days.

🍦Scooped by 🍦

👇Excited for JoJo’s to head south? What other concepts would you love to see Paetzold bring to town?

09/16/2025

🍦Greek-Based Pizza Chain Closing After 18 Years in Columbia🍦

😢 Usually we get to share exciting news about new businesses opening - but today, it’s one of our least favorite topics: a closing. After 18 years, Jefferson City-based Arris’ Pizza is leaving Columbia.

🪧 KOMU 8’s Cooper Ten Bruin originally found the closing sign posted on the door that reads:

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the closing of our Columbia Arris Pizza. It has been a great 18-year run! We appreciate all the support Columbia has shown us over those years! Our last day of service is September 21st.”

🍕 Arris’ Pizza has a long history. In 1961, Arris Pardalos moved from Greece to Jefferson City, where he saw an opportunity to introduce his Greek-inspired pizza. Since then, the brand has expanded to Springfield, Republic, and Columbia.

⏰ For fans, there’s still a little time left - Columbia’s location will serve through September 21st, and of course, you can still make the short trip to Jefferson City for a slice of the original anytime.

🍦Originally reported by | Further scooped by 🍦

👇Will you miss grabbing Arris’ Pizza in Columbia? Share your memories below.

09/07/2025

🍦From Florence to Columbia: New Italian Restaurant Coming Downtown🍦

🇮🇹 For a city of 130,000+, Columbia has long craved more variety when it comes to Italian food. We have some great spots - but not many. That’s about to change.

🕵️‍♂️ Earlier this year, Savor Columbia teased a new venture called Italian Scratch Kitchen. At first, details were scarce. But recently, signs of life have started to appear.

🪧 At 120 South Ninth Street, between Tiger Barber Shop and Silverball, a hiring sign went up, noting that the restaurant is set to open this fall. City filings confirm the address, though the business license is currently marked “on hold,” which often means final approvals or renovations are still in progress (see photo two).

⁉️ So who’s behind it? While there’s no official social media yet, our team believes we’ve identified the owner. Records show they earned a bachelor’s in fine arts in Florence, Italy - a detail that makes us think this restaurant’s vision could lean heavily into authentic, regional Italian roots.

🍝Out of respect for privacy, we won’t name the individual just yet, but we’re excited to see what their experience brings to CoMo’s dining scene.

👀 We’ll keep watching this one closely and update you as more info (and hopefully an opening date) is confirmed.

🍦Originally reported by | Further scooped & photo by 🍦

👇Are you excited for a new Italian spot downtown? Let us know below!

08/25/2025

🍦Eight Months. No Nuggets. No Answers🍦

🕵️‍♂️ It’s been eight months since Columbians were tipped off about a possible second Chick-fil-A in south Columbia. Many were excited about having the chicken chain in their side of town. Since then? Crickets. People keep asking: what happened? We dug into the details and are telling you what we know.

🐔 Back in Dec. 2024, multiple outlets reported the project was in its early stages. The Columbia Missourian quoted city planner Patrick Zenner: “The proposal must go through multiple rounds of approval... contingent on whether Chick-fil-A decides to move forward with the process.”

✉️ A memo obtained by SladeScoops added more detail. HR Green, Chick-fil-A’s engineering firm, told former Community Development Director Tim Teddy that CFA was negotiating to buy land at Green Meadows Rd. and Nifong Blvd. for a drive-thru restaurant. But the deal never closed - the property is still listed for lease on Maly Realty’s website, and a similar sign remains on-site.

💰The memo also hints that Chick-fil-A wanted to purchase the land outright. Rumor has it that Chick-Fil-A prefers to own its restaurant sites. Since Maly is only offering the property for lease, could that have been the sticking point? We may never know for sure, but it makes an agreement seem unlikely.

⁉️So what now? While that location may be off the table, fresh development from Plaza Realty is underway at State Farm Pkwy & Grindstone, right across from the original site. While we will share more about this development later this week, one drive-thru pad there is already under contract (see second photo above) - could it be CFA? It’s only just speculation for now. We reached out to Plaza Realty for comment not his site, but haven’t received a response at this time.

🔦 So we’re sending out the “Scoop Signal” - if you know anything about the second Chick-fil-A, please send us a direct message.

🍦Scooped by 🍦

👇Still hoping for a second Chick-fil-A? Or has the hype cooled off? Please let us know below.

08/06/2025

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