Popular downtown Columbia eatery to reopen at new location

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Fans of an iconic downtown Columbia eatery will once again be able to enjoy the eatery’s popular chicken sandwiches and other dishes.

Drake’s Duck-in, a Columbia fixture since 1907, will reopen at its temporary location at 1840 Hampton St. on Friday, April 21.

The restaurant had to close its location in a historic building at 1544 Main St. on March 1 because of ongoing renovations there.

The upstairs space of that building is being converted to hotel rooms as part of Hotel Trundle’s Flutter Wing expansion. The Drake’s space is getting a new kitchen and dining area as well as a new sprinkler system.

Drake’s Duck-in on Hampton will be open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, with most of the items on the traditional menu available.

The restaurant’s owners have said they likely will be in the new location until the fall.

Drake’s started in 1907 at a location on Elmwood Avenue delivering meals to mill workers. The eatery has occupied a variety of spaces on Main Street for the past 50 years.