It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Robert Mills House and Gardens gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Columbia, SC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Nate and his team have helped multiple family members and the service and support was”
“I engaged Nate as a consultant to search for the right Assisted Living Facility for”
“Very professional and friendly office staff. They are also easy to communicate with. I recommend”
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work here at Always Best Care over”
“This is a great company and I would recommended to everyone. I have been with”
“I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident Always Best Care of the Midlands”
“This is a company that truly cares about its employees and the seniors they care”
“Nice people to work with”
“Gina Berry takes time explaining why home care and Always Best Care is the best”
“I am a current client of this provider From a caretakers/daughters point of view: This service”
“Always Best Care is a great company to work for and if you are looking”
“The Staff, the care teams and the owners are one of a kind! They take”
“Nate took the time to meet with me and my family and help make sense”
“Hello to all of my Always Best Care friends, I'd like to wish you and your”
“I am a current client of this provider It is essential to us, he really needs”
“This is one of the best companies I’ve worked for in a long time. The”
“I am a current client of this provider It depends on who they hire for the”
“I am a current client of this provider I would have had to quit my job”
“I am a current client of this provider They have made it positive by being friendly”
“I am a current client of this provider The agency would have to make it a”
“Nate and his team have helped multiple family members and the service and support was a great peace of mind. Care of those in need can be a heavy load on the family, and Always Best Care made everything run better in the household. Their care extended past those in need and helped the other family members provide better care. The experience was a breath of fresh air.”
“I engaged Nate as a consultant to search for the right Assisted Living Facility for my mom. This service is no cost to the family. He spent quite some time getting my mom's preferences clarified and then searching for matching AL facilities. All of this was done in less than two days. He and I talked through the options and I relayed the two I felt were best to mom. Nate personally picked mom up from rehab and took her on those tours, which was a godsend because I live in another state. During both tours, he texted me "play by plays" as to how it was going. He helped me and mom choose the right place for her budget and needs - and was very patient with us as my mom took longer than expected to make the final decision. She was talking about needing a new TV and Nate provided her/us with a link to some that were on sale that met her needs. Once the decision was made, Nate accompanied the AL staff member to mom's rehab and sat through the entire long paperwork process to ensure mom understood what she was signing. Again, he kept me in the loop by texting me regularly about how things were going during the meeting. He checked in a couple of times after that and prior to mom's move asking how our prep was going and if we needed anything. On one call, I did ask for a referral to a specific service we needed. He didn't have an established one, so he researched it and got one for me promptly. During and shortly after moving day, Nate checked in again to see how mom was settling in. I've been amazed at the personalized engagement that we received from Nate. Anytime he said he would do something, he did it and he did it promptly. If anything was delayed, he updated me immediately. This is in stark contrast to Tara at Senior Care Authority that provides this service as well. She promised me things during our initial call and didn't follow through on most of them. During our text exchanges, she never answered my specific question - always danced around it. Within a handful of days, I said "nope!", researched more, and came across Nate and this service. Ahhhh, what a breath of fresh air to receive what you asked for. I have no doubt it saved me countless hours glued to my computer, trying to compare facilities. I highly recommend Nate and his consulting service - it was an excellent experience and he was a lifesaver!”
“Very professional and friendly office staff. They are also easy to communicate with. I recommend Always Best Care Senior Services for any senior in need. Also, if you ever need a job, please go and apply. They are always hiring weekly and offer competitive rates.”
“I am truly grateful for the opportunity to work here at Always Best Care over the past six months. Melisa and Nate have been wonderful and thanks for molding me into becoming a great leader. Professionalism is the key to success ????✨⭐️ I am looking forward to many years to come.”
“This is a great company and I would recommended to everyone. I have been with them for 3years Their caregivers are insightful and have so much compassion especially Mariah and Sabrina they are some of there champs they both have great personality and are very Professional. The owners are great and they run a great company.thank you for all that you guys do ????”
“I am a friend or relative of a current/past resident Always Best Care of the Midlands Team ensured that I was well informed, and my loved one received the best care possible. The compassionate care was delivered not only by the care professionals, but by the support team. The owners even checked in with us to offer support and guidance. They exceeded our expectations!”
“This is a company that truly cares about its employees and the seniors they care for! Nate and Melisa offer regular training for caregivers so they they can provide the best care possible!”
“Nice people to work with”
“Gina Berry takes time explaining why home care and Always Best Care is the best choice for your family’s needs. The Team at Always Best is thoughtful and supportive they go out of their way to make you feel heard and understood. They customize the care plan, care team and schedule. I recommend them to anyone considering aging in place.”
“I am a current client of this provider From a caretakers/daughters point of view: This service is a savior for me personally. It relieves me from having to miss a lot of work time to travel to my mothers appt, now I can meet her at the appt. and save this time. The care and service she is getting is TOP NOTCH! From how easy it is for my mother to schedule and the follow through is right on the money. From a person getting the services: Melissa is the best, she calls me weekly to remind me of my appointments coming up. I am very pleased with the services and absolutely pleased with the services provided. I know that this alone helps ease the mind of my daughter. Thank you to the team at Always Best Care!”
“Always Best Care is a great company to work for and if you are looking for care for a loved one, I highly recommend them. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable and supportive. I work in the senior industry and recommend Always Best Care to my clients that need extra support in their home or while family is away. Always Best Care will respond immediately and truly show compassion to others.”
“The Staff, the care teams and the owners are one of a kind! They take the time to ensure your care needs are met. Highly recommend giving them a call if you have senior care or senior living questions or concerns.”
“Nate took the time to meet with me and my family and help make sense of the questions we had when it came to the short and long term care of our loved one. When you have an elderly parent or a loved one with disabilities there are so many questions and so many emotions. It can be so confusing and it was hard for us to find one person or one company that has the knowledge and grasp of this industry that Nate has. We cannot thank him enough for guiding us through this process and his amazing bedside manner!”
“Hello to all of my Always Best Care friends, I'd like to wish you and your families a Merry, Blessed Christmas and a Happy, Prosperous New Year! My brother, my dad, and I really appreciate everything you did for us this year. You're amazing! All the best for the Christmas season and 2023,”
“I am a current client of this provider It is essential to us, he really needs assistance daily, and I work full time. I like their team approach.”
“This is one of the best companies I’ve worked for in a long time. The owners, Nate and Melisa, genuinely care about clients AND staff. They go above and beyond to support, encourage, and help everyone they work with. Their doors are always open, they’re generous with their time, and they truly want their staff to succeed. Donna in the billing department is fabulous, always available to answer questions or help in any way; Katrina in scheduling puts in so much time and effort to accommodate everyone’s needs and it’s amazing how well she handles everything; Angel works diligently on recruiting and training, making sure there’s plenty of staff to provide quality care; and Jackie is an incredible CHAMP, making sure clients are properly reassessed and care givers have the right tools and knowledge to do their job. ABC is a fantastic, compassionate, caring team I’m proud to be a part of, and I’m proud to serve our clients, too.”
“I am a current client of this provider It depends on who they hire for the job. The people they hire can improve.”
“I am a current client of this provider I would have had to quit my job if it wasn't for them and they go grocery shopping. They can have more guidance for the client and what to do for the client.”
“I am a current client of this provider They have made it positive by being friendly and courteous. I like that I do not have to worry about them; they are honest.”
“I am a current client of this provider The agency would have to make it a lot easier for me to find out about the caregiver coming out and having someone on backup. The agency could provide better scheduling and the caregivers would not come in on time.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Ruth's Chris Steak House or visit Historic Columbia, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Columbia, SC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Columbia, SC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Columbia, SC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Columbia will get more time to deal with a demand from the state Attorney General to repeal an ordinance banning conversion therapy for minors.In April, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson wrote to Columbia leaders ordering that they repeal a city law that prohibits conversion therapy, a controversial practice that is largely opposed by the medical community.The practice seeks to change a person’s sexuality or g...
Columbia will get more time to deal with a demand from the state Attorney General to repeal an ordinance banning conversion therapy for minors.
In April, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson wrote to Columbia leaders ordering that they repeal a city law that prohibits conversion therapy, a controversial practice that is largely opposed by the medical community.
The practice seeks to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity, and leading health and psychology organizations have deemed it ineffective and harmful.
Wilson’s office previously threatened legal action if the city did not walk back the ban, saying it violates state law and the First Amendment. The city responded to Wilson’s request by saying it would give it “proper attention.”
“As you are probably aware, any action taken to repeal or amend our ordinances requires two public readings. Council is fully prepared to provide proper attention to your request. However, we request 30-60 days in order to provide the required public notice and calendar the item,” the city’s letter to the Attorney General’s office, dated May 5, reads.
The Attorney General’s Office is granting the city the extension, but expects to hear an update from Columbia leaders by July 7, according to a letter from the office sent to the city.
It is not immediately clear how Columbia leaders plan to respond when the conversation therapy ban comes before the city council. Mayor Daniel Rickenmann was not available for an interview Wednesday because he was in Washington D.C., according to an aid. He previously voted against the ordinance, saying he believed it was a family decision.
But when the Attorney General’s letter hit the city’s desk in late April, Rickenmann raised an eyebrow, saying, “This hasn’t been an issue for four years. … Is it just a reminder or ... is it political season?”
Attorney General Wilson is a likely candidate for governor in 2026.
April 23, 2025 11:10 AM
Just a few days after the city sent its letter to the Attorney General’s Office, the city council heard testimony from over half a dozen people, and received a letter signed by hundreds more urging the city to stand behind the ordinance passed in 2021, at Tuesday night’s regularly scheduled council meeting.
“Conversion/reparative practices are not only ineffective, but cause severe trauma to individuals and their families. These are practices that every major medical and mental health organization opposes,” that letter reads. “Repealing this ordinance tells our youth, and subsequently our adults, that Columbia knows the harm ‘conversion therapy’ causes, and is bending to specific ideology regardless of the extreme risk it poses to the lives of those in our community who are forced to endure it.”
The ACLU of South Carolina, Reformation Lutheran Church and over half a dozen other organizations signed that letter, along with 429 members of the public.
Matthew Butler, a representative for the ACLU who spoke before the city council Tuesday, reiterated that message, saying he is proud that Columbia was the first city in South Carolina to have a law against conversion therapy for minors.
“Do not retreat,” he said, “Do not abandon the children in the community your ordinance was written to sheath.”
Others who spoke included members of Reformation Lutheran Church, mental health clinicians and members of the LGBTQ community who said they have have witnessed or experienced first-hand the fallout of conversion therapy practices.
Actress and member of Reformation Lutheran Church RaéVen Kelly Dinwoodie gave a passionate plea to council, saying, “Please, Mr. Mayor and council members, make the kind, the loving and the Christ-like decision to send a message to the world. Back here in Columbia, we protect all of our residents.”
The ordinance first passed in a 4-3 council vote in June 2021, with Rickenmann and former Mayor Steve Benjamin both voting against it at the time. The other no vote was Councilman Rev. Ed McDowell, who along with Rickenmann has remained on the council since that vote.
Of the four council members who voted in favor of the conversion therapy ban in 2021, just Will Brennan is still on the council.
Brennan declined to comment when reached by The State Wednesday.
The ordinance restricts any licensed healthcare or mental health provider in Columbia from providing conversion therapy, and promises a fine of up to $500 per violation.
Rickenmann previously said no fines have been issued since the ordinance was passed. The policy came from conversations with LGBTQ members of the public and therapy practitioners who specifically asked for it.
“We believe that it’s protecting people who are most marginalized, who need the protection,” said Dylan Gunnells, President of SC Pride, adding that even if the ordinance has not yet been used by the city, it is still an important guardrail.
This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 1:33 PM.
Someone who recently bought a Powerball ticket at a gas station in Columbia didn’t win Saturday’s regular drawing, but they were just one number shy of capturing the grand prize in the night’s Double Play drawing, South Carolina Education Lottery officials said Monday in a news release.For coming so close in the Double Play event, the ticket buyer will be rewarded with ...
Someone who recently bought a Powerball ticket at a gas station in Columbia didn’t win Saturday’s regular drawing, but they were just one number shy of capturing the grand prize in the night’s Double Play drawing, South Carolina Education Lottery officials said Monday in a news release.
For coming so close in the Double Play event, the ticket buyer will be rewarded with a $50,000 Powerball prize, according to the release.
Now the search is underway for the winner.
The five-figure winning Powerball game was sold at the Simba Express gas station/convenience store at 2932 Alpine Road, officials said. That’s in Columbia, near the Cardinal Newman School and the junction of Interstate 77 and Interstate 20.
For an additional dollar, players can add Double Play to their Powerball ticket for another chance to match their Powerball numbers in a separate drawing, with a $10 million grand prize at stake, according to the release. Double Play drawings are held after the Powerball drawings on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, officials said.
The winning numbers in Saturday’s Double Play drawing were 14, 23, 33, 38, 60 and Powerball: 3.
The odds of matching four white numbers and the red Powerball number are 1-in-913,129, officials said.
The winner has 180 days to claim the prize, according to lottery officials.
The winner will be allowed to retain some privacy, as South Carolina is one of 11 states — along with Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Kansas, Maryland, New Jersey, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas and Virginia — that allow lottery winners to remain anonymous.
“Sign the back of your ticket and put it in a safe location until you’re ready to come forward to claim the prize,” lottery officials said.
For complete information on claiming prizes, go to sceducationlottery.com.
When the ticket is claimed, the Simba Express is expected to receive a commission for selling the winning game.
With no grand prize winner, the jackpot for Monday night’s Powerball drawing has increased to $54 million, officials said.
Anyone looking to buy a ticket must make a purchase by 9:59 p.m. Monday for the 10:59 p.m. drawing. Tickets are $2, and could cost more with additional options.
The odds of winning Powerball’s grand prize are 1-in-293 million.
COLUMBIA — As summer approaches in the Midlands and the weather heats up, it’s the perfect time to celebrate and support Columbia’s vibrant AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community. Whether you’re exploring new flavors, discovering local artisans or uplifting AAPI-owned businesses, there are countless ways to engage with the culture and creativity that help make our city shine.Bollywood Beats + BalanceW...
COLUMBIA — As summer approaches in the Midlands and the weather heats up, it’s the perfect time to celebrate and support Columbia’s vibrant AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) community. Whether you’re exploring new flavors, discovering local artisans or uplifting AAPI-owned businesses, there are countless ways to engage with the culture and creativity that help make our city shine.
What: In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, FIT Columbia owner Angela Yong Sellers is hosting a free, soul-soothing evening celebrating Indian culture through mindful movement and music. Join for Bollywood Balance + Beats — a beginner-friendly outdoor yoga session blending gentle flow with vibrant Bollywood-inspired beats. Bring your own mat and settle in for a 45-minute beginner class with time to mingle before and after.
Where: 24 Hour Pickleball Club, 2401 Sumter St.
When: 5:30-7 p.m., May 22
Price: Free
More info: tinyurl.com/58nsj57j
What: Enjoy Asian American Pacific Islander Month through Open Mic performances while tasting Asian cuisine. This family-friendly event combines food with live performances, which will feature DJ Maya Wang, Ethan Sosa, traditional Filipino dancers and more.
Where: Richland Library Northeast, Northeast Large Meeting Room, 7490 Parklane Road, Columbia
When: 6-7:45 p.m., May 29
Price: Free
More info: tinyurl.com/59j8stvw
What: Celebrate AAPI Business Day Proclamation — a day dedicated to acknowledging the profound impact of the Asian and Asian-American community on S.C.'s economy, culture and society. The ceremony will honor the achievements of AAPI businesses and individuals who are driving economic growth.
There are many facts of life in Columbia and the Midlands.Columbia serves as the seat of state government, is home to South Carolina’s flagship university and hosts the nation’s leading Army training installation in Fort Jackson. The Midlands, in general, has a steadily growing population, an accelerating business climate, and an abundance of natural resources, highlighted by Lake Murray and numerous scenic rivers and streams.And, by God, we love some chicken tenders.In the last several years, a number of est...
There are many facts of life in Columbia and the Midlands.
Columbia serves as the seat of state government, is home to South Carolina’s flagship university and hosts the nation’s leading Army training installation in Fort Jackson. The Midlands, in general, has a steadily growing population, an accelerating business climate, and an abundance of natural resources, highlighted by Lake Murray and numerous scenic rivers and streams.
And, by God, we love some chicken tenders.
In the last several years, a number of established or burgeoning chicken tender chains have proliferated in the area, as I’m sure you’ve likely noted. Zaxby’s, of course, has long been a player in the area, but the last few years have seen the opening of other spots, including Slim Chickens, Dave’s Hot Chicken, Cash’s Chicken, Cocky Rooster and, most recently, Guthrie’s Chicken in Lexington.
Recently, as a service to our readers and to the detriment of my arteries, I set out to try a half-dozen of these palaces of poultry and report back on my findings. I’m calling it the 2025 Chicken Tender Tour.
First, before anyone hollers at me, some ground rules:
This tour didn’t include your places like Bernie’s or Zesto and others that are famed for their bone-in chicken. Or any of the sandwich-focused spots like Chick-fil-A. Rather, I focused on that very specific lane of places that, for the most part, are often known for offering some variation of chicken tenders, seasoned curly fries, Texas toast and an orange “special sauce.”
The establishments are presented below in the order in which I visited them. And yes, as part of this project, I ate chicken tenders and fries for lunch for six consecutive days. My blood is now 38% special sauce.
This is the new kid on the block, at least in the Midlands. On April 22, Guthrie’s, which was founded in Haleyville, Alabama, opened its first South Carolina location at 2404 Mineral Springs Road in Lexington, just off Sunset Boulevard in one of the busiest retail corridors in the region. While Guthrie’s may be new to the area, it is not new to the chicken finger game. In fact, the company claims in a release that, in 1982, it opened the “first-ever chicken finger-only restaurant.”
As you might imagine, Guthrie’s has been busy since it hit town. There’s nothing people love more than a new restaurant. The traffic flow around the place during my recent visit would have made a New York cabbie blush.
Lunch, however, was quite good. The menu at Guthrie’s is pretty stripped down. They’ve got chicken fingers, fries, toast, slaw and, of course, the requisite “signature sauce.” The chicken was plump, flavorful and perfectly breaded, and the sauce has a nice little zing. The star for me at Guthrie’s was the Texas toast, which was buttered and cut thicker than most other chicken tender places.
So there’s a great little scene in the fifth episode of the second season of FX’s acclaimed show “Atlanta” — the episode is titled “Barbershop” — in which Paper Boi and the eccentric barber known as Bibby are riding in a car together after a long day in which Bibby has dragged Paper Boi through a host of frustrating schemes and scenarios. As a mea culpa, Bibby tells Paper Boi he’s going to get him something to eat.
“Hey, you like Zaxby’s?” Bibby asks.
“Don’t be rude,” Paper Boi replies. “Of course I love Zaxby’s”
I’m on the same wavelength as Paper Boi on this one. Zaxby’s, long a presence with multiple locations in the Midlands and across South Carolina, is a reliable purveyor of flavorful fingers and the omnipresent Zax Sauce. For this roundup I visited the location at 2320 Augusta Road in West Columbia and got the four-piece chicken finger plate.
While Zaxby’s is known for its fingers and other items — they’ve recently started offering quesadillas, oddly — their fries have always been the highlight for me. It’s that special fry seasoning that does it. Even my wife, a notorious crinkled fry hater — don’t get her started on Rush’s new fries — likes Zaxby’s seasoned delights.
Here’s an Arkansas traveler that has emerged on the Midlands scene in the last three years, with locations on Garners Ferry Road, in Forest Acres and on Killian Road in northeast Columbia.
Founded in Arkansas in 2003, Slim Chickens has expanded to more than 200 restaurants across the U.S. through the years. While it certainly fits in the chicken tenders/fries/toast/sauce genre that we’re exploring here, Slim Chickens also branches out a bit more with its menu, offering everything from chicken & waffles to mac & cheese bowls to chocolate brownie pudding jars and more.
Staying with the assignment, I recently popped into the Slim Chickens at 2089 N. Beltline Blvd. and got the Classic Meal — four tenders, fries and toast. Slim’s diverges from some of the others in that it has straight-cut fries, rather than crinkled. It all made for a good meal, but what I perhaps liked best about it was that the signature orange Slim Sauce runs a little sweeter than some of the competitors. Also, calling it “Slim Sauce” is seemingly a bit of a misnomer, something I took into account when having chicken fingers and fries for lunch for the third consecutive day.
It’s hard to think of a restaurant franchise name more on the nose for Columbia, home of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks, than “Cocky Rooster.”
(No, seriously, one of the catchphrases on its website is “Time to get cocky!”)
The nascent chain, which was founded in Virginia, opened a location in March at 2019 Devine St. in the heart of Five Points. The Columbia location has tenders, sandwiches and wings, all of which can be dressed out in various sauces. It also has the phrase “Cluck around and find out” emblazoned across one of its walls. I took that as more of an invitation than a dare. I’m always ready to cluck around.
Upon my recent first visit to Cocky Rooster, I found that it is not exactly a 1:1 competitor with the other tenders/crinkle fries/toast/orange-hued special sauce places. They’re doing chicken and fries, certainly, but in a slightly different lane with a variety of dips and sauces and such. I got four tenders and fries, and got some honey mustard BBQ sauce and some garlic Parmesan sauce for the dipping.
There are a couple things I can say about the chicken during my Cocky Rooster stop. One, it was freshly cooked, and I do mean freshly. I think there was about five seconds between it coming out of the fryer and onto my tray. It was slightly hotter than the surface of the sun. And secondly, these were massive, absolutely hulking tenders. I ordered four, but could easily have just gotten two. I imagine this place will do well in the heart of Five Points, particularly with to-go business.
And then there’s the hot one.
Dave’s Hot Chicken has been making its mark in the last several years, expanding from a pop-up in East Los Angeles in 2017 to more than 250 stores across the nation as of 2025. Columbia got its first spicy taste in 2023, when Dave’s opened a location at 4601-A Devine St.
As the name suggests, the centerpiece of the menu at Dave’s is hot chicken, with tenders and sliders that are available in seven escalating heat levels, ranging from no spice on the low end to Carolina Reaper at the hottest. They make you sign a waiver when get the Carolina Reaper, to give you an idea of what you’re getting into there.
Maybe it’s because I’m soft, or maybe it’s because I don’t like signing waivers when I eat lunch, but upon a recent visit, I chose to just go with the second-hottest level of heat — extra hot — when I got my meal. I got the two tenders with crinkled fries, which comes with two pieces of white bread, pickles and Dave’s Sauce.
I’m going to keep it real with you, because that’s all I can do if you’ve stuck with me this far: This was probably my favorite stop on this chicken finger tour. I took the tenders and folded the white bread around them and made little sandwiches, which perfectly offset the extra hot spice level. To be clear, my sinuses were fully opened upon exiting the building, but still. The Dave’s Sauce also was a flavorful way to cut the heat a bit.
My last stop on the 2025 Chicken Tender Tour was at Cash’s Chicken at 145 Chapin Road in Chapin. This restaurant is a local spin on the chicken finger craze — the same group owns the J.R. Cash’s casual dining restaurants in the area — and the space is decorated in a red, white and blue, patriotic theme. Few things are as American as a tender combo and some special sauce.
Cash’s has some juicy, flavorful chicken, and the breading is not overly heavy. They have the requisite crinkled fries, and the special sauce has a zing and a nice consistency.
But the highlight of the show, for me, was the bread. Rather than Texas toast, the chicken tender meal at Cash’s comes with a honey butter croissant. Hot, fluffy, sticky and, frankly, delicious, it was a nice variant to the industry standard. It almost serves as a quasi-dessert, and I mean that in the best possible way.
This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
May 7, 2025 6:00 AM
May 6, 2025 12:48 PM
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 a host of 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.
Type at least three characters to start auto complete. Recently searched locations will be displayed if there is no search query. The first option will be automatically selected. Use up and down arrows to change selection. Use escape to clear.Search City or Zip CodeColumbia, SC62°RainDay 83° • Night 59°Watc...
Type at least three characters to start auto complete. Recently searched locations will be displayed if there is no search query. The first option will be automatically selected. Use up and down arrows to change selection. Use escape to clear.Search City or Zip Code
62°
Rain
Day 83° • Night 59°
Watch: Are Fireflies Facing Extinction?
Feels Like62°
6:26 am
8:14 pm
High / Low
83°/59°
Wind
6 mph
Humidity
95%
Dew Point
61°
Pressure
29.91 in
UV Index
0 of 11
Visibility
5 mi
Moon Phase
Waxing Gibbous
Record Sargassum Seaweed Bloom Could Hit Florida Beaches
Record Sargassum Seaweed Bloom Could Hit Florida Beaches
USC Team Creates Biodegradable ‘Plastic’ From Seashells
Earth’s First Oceans Weren’t Blue: They Were Green
Why Seasonal Allergies Are Called ‘Hay Fever’
Not Just Ah-Choo: Spring Allergies Can Mess With Your Skin
Which Houseplants Are Best For Allergies Or Asthma?
803-403-1895
