By: Landon Pertuset
Dec. 7, 2025
A longtime local grocery has expanded this quarter, with the Rosewood Mini Market opening its doors on Blossom Street and bringing fresh, organic, and specialty grocery options closer to one of Columbia’s busiest intersections.
The new storefront, an offshoot of the long-established Rosewood Market, opened Oct. 10 as store officials aim to meet rising demand for quick, convenient access to healthy groceries and prepared foods.
“Students especially are noticing that they’re sensitive to these over-processed convenience foods, and they’re cutting them out of their diet,” Bryan Tayara, co-owner of Rosewood Market, said in an interview with The Carolina Reporter. “Almost all of the food options on Main Street are overly processed and low in nutrients.”
Continuing a Columbia Tradition
Rosewood Market began as a vegetarian restaurant and transitioned into a natural foods market after founder Basil Grazia shifted the business in 1982. While the focus moved toward groceries, the market has always kept a restaurant and still offers freshly prepared meals to go. After serving the community for more than 30 years, Grazia named Tayara as owner in 2015. The State reported that Grazia believed Tayara to be the hardest worker he knew.
“I think they are in good hands now,” Grazia told The State. Tayara said that history still shapes the culture of the business, even as it expands.
The new mini market is located at 601 Main St., just minutes from the University of South Carolina, positioning it to serve students, residents, and downtown workers.
“Located right on Main Street, the Mini Market will sit in the middle of all the action. With plenty of foot traffic and a growing community of locals and visitors downtown, we’re excited to make it easier than ever to eat well on the go,” Rosewood Market said in a news release on its website.
A Smaller Space with a Big Goal
The mini market is designed for customers seeking a smaller, faster shopping experience, Tayara said. While compact compared to the flagship Rosewood Market, the Blossom Street location carries a curated selection of organic produce, prepared foods, grab-and-go meals, natural pantry staples, and locally sourced items. “We like to travel to Europe, we go to New York and L.A.,” Tayara said in an interview with The Daily Gamecock. “I think I just love the little small corner grocery stores that they have there. It always was attractive to me because it served such a good purpose, such a big purpose in these densely populated areas.”
Stephanie Tayara, Bryan’s wife and co-owner of Rosewood Market, said the biggest challenge in opening the new location was navigating requirements for small businesses.
"The biggest thing is navigating as a small business. The business license process and what goes into that," she told The Daily Gamecock. "What all do you need? And it varies depending upon your business and how you operate. So that's probably the biggest thing."
The search for a second location took more than two years, Tayara said, as the owners looked for a spot that balanced walkability, affordability, and visibility. Blossom Street offered the rare combination of steady student foot traffic and a growing population moving into nearby apartment complexes. The couple considered several other areas, including Devine Street and Five Points, but ultimately chose Main Street because of the surrounding mix of businesses and the opportunity to reach customers who rarely visited the original Rosewood location.
What the New Mini Market Offers
Unlike the flagship market, the new store will not offer a full hot bar. However, officials say it will stock more grab-and-go meals that are made fresh and delivered daily from the original location.
“Think of it as your neighborhood grab-and-go stop, perfect for busy days in the heart of the city. Whether you’re commuting to work, strolling through downtown, or heading to class, you’ll be able to pop in for healthy snacks, drinks, and essentials, all with the same Rosewood quality you trust,” the market said in a news release.
Store officials say the mini market draws a steady stream of university students, nearby residents, and local workers throughout the day.
“So anyone walking, and you see, it's anybody and everybody walking by,” Tayara told The Post and Courier. “It's not just students, but it's parents. It's people who live here, people who work at the IBM, people who are working at the Capitol building. So there's a lot of people.”
For Madison Kravitz, a sophomore at the University of South Carolina, the opening filled a gap left by The Corner Blend.
“I was super sad when Corner Blend said they were closing,” Kravitz said. “I’m an engineering student, and all my classes are a two-minute walk from here. I loved getting acai in between classes, but now that the market has opened, I can stop by for lunch or a snack after class.”
The Corner Blend, a smoothie and acai shop, previously occupied the space. Tayara took over the lease after the business closed at the end of August. “Corner Blend was nice, but I enjoy the variety and freshness of the mini market,” Kravitz said. “It was an arm and a leg for a smoothie too, so the cheaper prices at the new mini market are a lot better.”
Community Response and Early Feedback
Local vendors also stand to benefit, store officials say. The mini market carries many of the same South Carolina-made goods available at the main store, including breads, coffees, sauces, and produce from small regional farms.
“We're a community hub, so we are where people who really care about their health and wellbeing come and bump into each other," Bryan Tayara told The Daily Gamecock. "It's a place where you can come and interact with a community, and it just so happens that we promote a healthy lifestyle.”
While the community response has been very overwhelming, as Tayara said, there has been feedback on the limited supply the mini market offers.
“I had this chicken salad wrap when the store first opened, and I loved it, and every time I come in, I try to find it, but it’s been out of stock the last five times I have come in here,” Kravitz said. “Also, for a lot of things, there is only one selection. Like eggs, there are only brown eggs that are a couple of dollars more expensive than Food Lion, and other boxed or frozen foods only have one specific brand.”
As the store enters its second month of operation, Tayara said some items may rotate based on customer preferences.
“I would love to have input from people in the area on what they want to see,” he said. “It’s a whole new demographic and a new location. We’re going to put things on shelves that we think will sell or that are popular at our original location, and that may or may not be true here.”
Rosewood Mini Market operates seven days a week as a cashless business, with hours designed to serve both early-morning commuters and evening shoppers. Store officials say community events and promotions, including yoga and wine tastings, are planned for the spring as the shop settles into its new home.
About the Author
Landon Pertuset is a senior sports media major at the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications. He is a 2026 recipient of the David J. Morrow Scholarship for Business Journalism.