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WEST COLUMBIA — A new neighborhood-friendly dive bar set to open in West Columbia is hitting snags in its path to final approval from the city.

Rucker’s posted on social media March 1 that it had been denied zoning approval for a second time. The second rejection came after owners posted that they had changed the structure and model of the dive bar to comply with the city’s demands.

The bar, set to open on 735 Meeting Street, has received an outpouring of support and anticipation from residents of West Columbia and beyond. Its owners said in a Feb. 14 Facebook post that they are “waiting on a few final approvals” before setting a grand opening date.

But those final approvals are being withheld by the city, with no predictable timeline on when the bar will be discussed again. Meanwhile, its neon signs remain unlit and its many hand-painted murals go largely unseen.

The bar’s first zoning denial

Rucker’s was first denied zoning approval a few months ago. While the owners were upset, they decided to “comply completely” with the city’s demands, they posted on Facebook. They were told that if they “restructured to meet certain criteria,” the bar’s updated case would be reviewed, they said.

The board’s specific reasoning for initially denying Rucker’s was not made immediately clear. Winslow posted on March 2 that the owners were told, “Our words alone were the reason we couldn’t get zoning approval.”

But following the first denial, the owners said they formed a nonprofit, transformed the bar’s structure into a membership-based social club, built a food-forward model and created alcohol policies — essentially, they “changed the entire structure,” the March 1 post reads.

Rucker’s will operate as a private club with a yearly membership fee of $10, which is due to liquor-by-the-drink rules, Jason Cherry, Winslow’s business partner, previously told the Free Times. The bar also announced plans to host multiple events supporting charities as part of its new nonprofit status.

But then the bar was told that the first denial still stands, the post reads. Its new application was not reviewed, and the decision stayed tied to the original filing, they said.

“If local hospitality businesses are willing to adjust and comply with the guidance given,” a post reads from the bar’s Facebook page, “that effort should count. Our bartenders, servers, musicians, food vendors, and small business owners deserve a process that actually evaluates what is submitted.”

“We are not asking for a favor,” they added. “We are asking for a fair read of what we are now.”

Owner Shay Winslow could not be reached for additional comment.

What are city leaders saying?

When asked for specifics on what made Rucker’s unfit for approval, a city spokesperson said only, “They applied to do something that the City of West Columbia Zoning does not allow.”

West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles responded to the post, calling Rucker’s situation “a complex issue.” That zoning district does not allow “drinking establishments,” which are commonly referred to as bars, the mayor said.

The city was “working on a path forward to hopefully get approval” for Rucker’s following its rebrand as a social club, he said. But while that was going on, Miles said the owners “undertook a public media campaign” that he said highlighted plans to identify as a “dive bar.”

“It’s kinda hard to argue for approval as a different type of establishment when you are actively publicizing something else,” Miles commented on Facebook.

Rucker’s replied to the mayor’s comment in a lengthy statement affirming that their documentation, policies and membership structure all reflect a nonprofit social club model.

“At no point did we represent ourselves as operating outside of zoning rules,” owners commented on Facebook. “The term ‘dive bar’ was used conversationally to describe aesthetic and culture, not zoning classification or principal use. Words describing atmosphere do not redefine legal structure.”

“We have followed the process step by step and in good faith,” they added. “We remain committed to operating within the law and serving this community responsibly.”

What comes next?

If the bar’s updated documentation has to go back in front of West Columbia’s Board of Zoning Appeals for approval, the item will likely hit the board’s March 17 meeting agenda. That agenda has not yet been posted.

No discussion items concerning Rucker’s were placed on the board’s meeting agendas over the past six months. Christine Sharp, West Columbia’s director of zoning, could not immediately be reached for comment on whether the new application will be reviewed.

Rucker’s’ March 1 Facebook post called on the community to contact local leaders and ask them to review its updated application that establishes the bar as a membership-based social club.

Until then, the opening of the highly anticipated addition will remain stalled.

This is a developing story. Check back for more updates.

WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) — Hundreds of South Carolinians gathered Monday in Columbia and West Columbia to pay their final respects to the Rev. Jesse Jackson, honoring the civil rights leader with a downtown procession, a public visitation at the State House and an evening memorial service.

Jackson returned to his home state Monday, escorted by the South Carolina Highway Patrol to the State House. Inside, family members held a private remembrance before welcoming the public. For hours, mourners filed through the State House, reflecting on a legacy that spanned decades of work for equal rights.

“This is somebody who was a history maker. He is an individual who made it a reality for people like me to even consider running for the highest office in the land,” said state Rep. Jermaine Johnson of Richland County.

Monday evening, mourners continued celebrating Jackson’s life at Brookland Baptist Church, where the service included music, memories and prayer.

As much as he sacrificed, and as much as we sacrificed, we were not sacrificed,

said Santita Jackson, Jackson’s daughter.

Priscilla Williams Till, a justice advocate and cousin of Emmett Till, said Jackson’s impact on her family’s fight for justice has been lasting. Emmett Till was a 14-year-old boy who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after teasing a young white store clerk.

We need leaders like Jesse Jackson, those that will stand up and call out injustice,

Williams Till said.

“He was that anchor to keep this story out here and have people listen to what actually happened to Emmett before everything that happened with the reopening of the case, the exhuming of the body, if you didn’t have Jesse Jackson supporting Mamie, none of these things would’ve happened,” she said.

Santita Jackson also spoke about her father’s resilience, saying, “Although his health failed, his spirit did not.”

Celebration of life services for Jackson will continue later this week in Chicago, including a public service at House of Hope and a private homecoming at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

WEST COLUMBIA — Shay Winslow has worked as a scrub nurse for years, a job that seems like a far cry from her other gig and passion — bartending.

​But Winslow said they’re a lot more similar than you might think, especially when it comes to being personable and caring for people, which she considers her strengths in both jobs.

​They’re strengths she hopes to embrace and amplify as she opens Ruckers, a new bar heading to Meeting Street in West Columbia.

​What’s Ruckers

Winslow said she first thought of opening Ruckers at 735 Meeting Street last year when she was bartending for the previous tenant, Elevate Social Club. She learned that the business was dissolving and decided, “Hey, why not?”

Soon, Ruckers was born. The new membership-based bar is preceded by a couple of bars and businesses in the Meeting Street space, including an LGBTQ-friendly bar, a comedy venue and a yoga studio.

The bar will operate as a private club with a yearly membership fee of $10, which Chary said is due to liquor-by-the-drink rules. Ruckers will also be a nonprofit, hosting multiple events benefitting causes like animals in need, battered and sexually assaulted women, homeless and at-risk children and wounded warriors.

​It will serve all the basic drinks plus Elwood Prison Wine, a wine made by a Columbia resident and fellow healthcare worker. Ruckers also plans to offer a variety of classic bar foods, such as hot dogs, pizza, nachos and pretzels.

​Jason Cherry, Winslow’s partner and the self-described “paperwork guy” for Ruckers, said he saw the building not only as an opportunity to support a lifelong dream for Winslow, but to build a new gathering space.

​“(We) thought it was a great place for the community,” Cherry said. “And looking along the stretch you've got WECO over there, which is great for craft beer, Savage is great for local craft beer and really good food, but almost envisioning a dive bar, right? A neighborhood friendly dive bar.”

Ruckers looks to open along Meeting Street as change is on the horizon. New businesses such as Savage, Ruckers’ coffeeshop neighbor Brickhouse, and the hot dog spot Greedy Rascals have filled in gaps along the central West Columbia thoroughfare in the last half-decade, and West Columbia plans to cut down the road to two lanes in an effort to beautify the area and increase walkability.

For Ruckers’ décor and ambiance, Winslow said she was inspired by dive bars, but mostly “it’s always been about music.”

A small stand in the corner will be fixed with a new screen and turned into a performance space for live bands booked by local musician Jeff Pitts.

​The bar’s walls are covered in music posters ranging from Wu-Tang Clan to Bloodhound Gang. Many are from Winslow’s house, while others are taken or gifted from other bars or service industry workers around town. ​

​“She's very artistic and sees a much bigger picture. Like I when we first walked in here, I looked at it, and was like, ‘Eh,’ but she definitely had a vision,” Cherry said. “She knew what this place could be. And so it's been really awesome to watch it come together.”

Family and community values

Since she started posting about Ruckers on social media, Winslow said she’s been moved by the support she’s received and is most excited about getting closer to customers.

“I found this sign that says, come as you are, and that's kind of been the staple,” Winslow said. “I keep putting on Facebook like, we can't wait to meet our regulars type thing, because we want it to be a homey feel more like, where all of our friends are.”

This philosophy reflects how she sees the bar as a family affair. The name Ruckers comes from her brother’s last name, and to her, it's not just fun for a slogan (for which Winslow has thought of many play on words for) but a legacy.

“He's my hero. He's always been my big brother. So why not choose a name that you already love, that it already means something to you?” Winslow said. “Because I want this place to be nice, and I'm not going to put his name on anything that I feel like it's not.”

Cherry and Winslow know it has been a hard time in the industry, but Cherry said Winslow’s experience makes him feel more confident that they are “where we need to be.”

Cherry said transitioning to owning a bar has meant a lot of “learning on the fly,” but they’re looking forward to what’s next.

“Luckily, I'm good at paperwork, so that helps from at least my aspect,” he said. "And Shay's got just a ton of friends in the community, in the service industry, so she's been able to get a ton of support from the people around here that work at other bars, that know other people, and they've really kind of rallied around her to kind of help support this dream.”

Ruckers aims to open in the coming months, with plans to be open from 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Monday through Sunday. More information can be found on the bar’s social media.

Photo courtesy of Security 101

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Commercial security solutions provider Security 101, a portfolio company of Gemspring Capital, has announced the acquisition of West Columbia, S.C.-based integrator Secure Lock Solutions.

Secure Lock Solutions is known for door-, lock- and opening-focused integration services supporting commercial and government customers, according to the joint announcement.

The acquisition of Secure Lock Solutions “expands Security 101’s presence in the Southeast and strengthens service continuity across the Carolinas corridor, positioned between the company’s existing branch operations in Charlotte, N.C. and Charleston, S.C,” the announcement says.

The addition “supports improved responsiveness, tighter field coverage and greater capacity to scale delivery for customers operating across multiple sites.”

Why Did Security 101 Acquire Secure Lock Services?

“Secure Lock Solutions is a strong fit for our growth strategy in the Southeast, and their location in West Columbia strengthens our coverage between Charlotte and Charleston,” says Greg Daly, CEO of Security 101, in the joint announcement. “They have built a respected business around fundamentals that matter: doors, locks, and technologies that perform reliably at scale.

“With Security 101’s national network behind them, we can help extend that capability for multi-site customers while continuing the disciplined execution required for complex, mission-critical deployments,” he says.

Secure Lock Solutions “adds a door-focused integration capability that is foundational to physical security performance,” according to the joint announcement. Their work “complements Security 101’s broader portfolio across access control, video surveillance and intrusion by addressing a critical reality of facility security: technology is only as effective as the physical openings it depends on.”

SLS’ expertise “helps customers strengthen door hardware performance, align locking solutions with access requirements and improve reliability across distributed environments,” according to the joint announcement.

Secure Lock Solutions “has developed strong relationships with select national level customers.” Security 101 will “leverage its nationwide infrastructure, engineering depth and service standards to support expanded delivery, more consistent programs across geographies and long-term scalability for those accounts.”

“Customers with multi location footprints need consistency, accountability, and standards they can repeat,” says Craig Shulman, chief financial officer of Security 101, in the joint announcement. “This acquisition strengthens a core integration discipline and supports a more complete service model for customers who expect reliable execution across every facility and every opening.”

SLS also brings experience in government environments, including completion of large projects supporting multiple U.S. armed forces divisions. Security 101 “will build on that foundation with added resources, expanded operational capacity and a national platform designed to support complex security and infrastructure requirements,” according to the joint announcement.

Leadership Continuity

Lucas Bunch and Wyman Bowers, co-owners of Secure Lock Solutions, will continue to lead the SLS team and manage the West Columbia office as the integration moves forward. Working alongside Security 101, they will “help ensure operational continuity, maintain service standards, and support a seamless experience for customers and employees,” according to the joint announcement.

“We built SLS by treating doors and locks as mission critical infrastructure, because that’s exactly what they are,” says Bunch in the announcement. “I’m excited about what it means to bring that specialty into a larger platform that can standardize execution, support bigger programs, and still do the work the right way.”

“Customers rely on consistent performance at every opening, every day, and that requires both precision and accountability,” says Bowers in the announcement. “With Security 101, we can preserve the responsiveness and attention to detail our customers know us for and pair it with a national team that helps them scale with confidence across more facilities, more locations and more complexity.”

WEST COLUMBIA — The highly anticipated Ikie Lu Record Club is set to open in West Columbia on Feb. 19 with plans to combine a champagne and cocktail bar, a restaurant and a jazz kissa to create a unique new dining experience in the River District.

The restaurant’s opening comes after years of planning by owner Matt Catchpole, who first announced the restaurant would be coming to the former Spanish-language church off of Sunset Boulevard in March 2025.

Since then, Catchpole has hosted an occasional event at the space, including a dinner for the 2025 Columbia Food and Wine Festival and a New Year’s event, but he’s mostly focused on creating a food and drink menu and completely reimagining the building with a mid-century modern vibe.

When a Free Times reporter visited the space in late 2025, vintage records filled a shelf against the wall, sleek furniture featuring plenty of natural wood was spread across the seating area and a unique monkey light hung from the ceiling.

Catchpole said he was partially inspired by a Japanese jazz kissa, a café or bar focused on listening to recorded jazz music, and hopes Ikie Lu can be a space where people enjoy listening to vinyl records and be immersed in the restaurant experience.

“As you're listening to music, as you're eating food, as you're drinking wine, as you're having a cocktail, we wanted to help you in that immersion by having this sort of vaguely mid-century design and furniture. And we wanted it to feel almost coastal, but definitely not this coast,” Catchpole said. “And the question is, is it West Coast, or is it East Coast Asia, or is it British West Indies or whatever?”

Catchpole said he wants Ikie Lu to be a place where people leave the rest of the world behind.

“Forget about all the headaches that they've got,” Catchpole said. “Relax and let the worries leave. That's one of the major reasons for restaurants existing in the first place.”

Catchpole’s dedication to creating an immersive environment is reflected in much of Ikie Lu, with the vintage-style speakers incorporated into the décor, the hand-curated vinyl collection, the mid-century modern furniture and wine — which Catchpole said he took care to select based on what companies were working to “showcase their artistry.”

In addition to selling wine by the bottle and the glass, Ikie Lu will open with a limited cocktail menu featuring “really well executed, fresh, well made, very precise versions of classic cocktails.” Catchpole said guests can look forward to drinks like an old fashioned, a Negroni Bianco, a Black Manhattan and a Jack Rudy Tonic Syrup Lime Gin (which is shaken and served like a lime daiquiri).

There will also be a few drinks inspired by his grandmother, the namesake of the restaurant, like a simple Tom Collins and a Miller High Life, which his grandmother would drink just the top layer of when Catchpole’s grandfather opened a new bottle.

And while Catchpole said he wants to create a unique environment, he’s also put a lot of time into ensuring it is approachable and affordable.

“I'm excited about it, because it's the thing that we really enjoy when we travel, is finding a space like this that you feel comfortable and feel relaxed and feel like you can enjoy yourself and appreciate some of the nicer things, without having to spend thousands of dollars to do that,” Catchpole said.

Ikie Lu will look to creatively combine upscale tastes in laid-back styles, particularly with its food menu, which will feature items like specialty hot dogs served with caviar, shrimp rolls and crab dip.

The food options, served on everything from boards to buns, also make it easy to eat throughout the restaurant, which has minimal tables, instead opting for chairs and couches for lounging and conversation.

Catchpole’s hope is that the restaurant will become will become a dinner spot, or a stop for pre- or post-dinner drinks, and an opportunity to enjoy music and relaxed time with friends new and old.

The goal is to “make these things super fun and approachable for everybody,” Catchpole said. “To also take the thing that you really enjoy and love and sort of make that accessible and share it with people.”

Ikie Lu Record Club is located at 601 N Lucas St. in West Columbia and will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 3:30 to 9 p.m. and Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.