New restaurant coming to Cardinal Crossing

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Poogan’s Southern Kitchen is the newest addition to Cardinal Crossing, a $60 million mixed-use development in Forest Acres. 

Poogan’s Southern Kitchen features traditional Lowcountry favorites such as shrimp and grits and bone-in fried chicken. Poogan’s Hospitality Group plans to hire 100 workers in advance of the restaurant’s spring 2022 opening, according to a news release from Colliers | South Carolina, which represented landlord The Beach Co. in the transaction.   

The group has operated Poogan’s Porch in downtown Charleston since 1976 and also operates Charleston locations Poogan’s Smokehouse and Poogan’s Courtyard, as well as a Poogan’s Southern Kitchen in Summerville.   

“As somebody who was born and raised in the Lowcountry, it brings me great pride to expand into our sister market, Columbia, which has provided me with so many wonderful memories over the years,” Brad Ball, president of Poogan’s Hospitality Group, said in the release. “The Forest Acres community has already been incredibly supportive, and we are excited to bring our brand of Southern hospitality to the area.” 

Rox Pollard and Danny Bonds of Colliers represented The Beach Co., while George Wilson of Adams & Wilson Development represented Poogan’s Hospitality Group. 

Cardinal Crossing, located at the former Cardinal Newman School site at 4605 Forest Drive, includes 256 luxury apartments and more than 42,000 square feet of commercial space. Poogan’s Southern Kitchen will be located in the southwest corner of the development, adjacent to Forest Drive and across the parking lot from Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar.  

The 6,000-square-foot restaurant will include indoor dining, bar seating and a 1,000-square-foot outdoor dining area. The indoor seating area will seat up to 136 people, including 14 in a private dining area, while the outdoor patio will seat 60 and be pet-friendly. 

“Poogan’s friendly hospitality, delicious food and comfortable atmosphere will be a fantastic addition to Cardinal Crossing and a real asset to Forest Acres,” said Pollard, vice president and director of the retail services team in Colliers’ Columbia office. “We are very excited that this respected Charleston brand has chosen to come to the Columbia region.” 

The project architect is Jerome Elder of Savannah-based J. Elder Studio. 

“In Charleston, S.C., the name Poogan’s is synonymous with Southern hospitality,” said Tom Stockdale, The Beach Co.’s director of commercial asset management. “Poogan’s Southern Kitchen at Cardinal Crossing will bring scratch-made comfort food, Charleston style, to the Forest Acres community in a hometown diner atmosphere.” 

Cardinal Crossing has six remaining spaces for lease, ranging from 1,414 to 6,589 square feet, according to Colliers.