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New bar in Carolina Western Pub space will be largely the same — except for the dance floor

  • SCCLR Newsletter
  • Aug 11
  • 3 min read

Management of the new bar, Bailey’s, blamed the dance floor’s removal on liquor liability insurance costs.


By Sydney Dunlap [email protected]



COLUMBIA — A new bar is taking over the former Carolina Western Pub space this month after the popular western-themed bar closed its doors in April. The new business, Bailey’s, plans to keep things generally the same with the same American flag, large cow skull, canned drinks and other aesthetic elements typical of a standard country western establishment.


But there is one crucial difference — no dance floor.


CWP first opened at 920 Lady Street in 2018, and over its seven years in the Vista, the bar became well-known for its country aesthetic, live music and its line dancing. People would flock to the bar to take line dancing lessons on the building’s central wooden dance floor, and it was largely considered one of the only options to participate in the style of dance in downtown Columbia.


Jonathan Lemond, the general manager of Vista Union, Republic Biergarten & Kitchen and now Bailey’s, said the bar plans to have tables set up where the dance floor used to be for the foreseeable future largely because of concerns over insurance costs.


In April, CWP forewarned of a future closing due to rising liquor liability premiums and limited insurance options, and Lemond said he heard from the previous owner that the dance floor was part of the problem.


Lemond said he hasn’t talked about specific insurance costs with Bailey’s owner Matthew Shmanske, who owns the bars Lemond manages along with Devine Street restaurant Burger Tavern 77, but said Bailey’s is doing its best to keep costs low as concerns over liquor liability continue.


“With the way insurance is in South Carolina unfortunately, we’ve got to play the game,” Lemond said.


Skyrocketing liquor liability insurance premiums have burdened the state's hospitality industry for years now, causing dozens of restaurants to shutter. Bars that cater to younger or late-night crowds — like many in the university-adjacent Vista district — are considered higher risk than bars catering to older or quieter crowds, thus driving up insurance costs.

In May, a “tort reform” bill became law. It’s been touted as a balm on the industry's liability insurance woes, but restaurant owners, bartenders, lawyers, lobbyists and insurance brokers all agree it isn't anywhere close to a solution to bringing costs down.


When asked about opening a bar while others are closing, Lemond said Vista Union and Republic Biergarten have been fortunate not to struggle as much as some other establishments, generally because of their strong track record and ability to lean on profits from multiple businesses.


"I guess we've got some of the lucky ones that own multiple places where income is coming in a lot more than with, you know, if you're a single owner of one establishment,” Lemond said. “So we're able to take a little bit less profits, obviously, even though we have high insurances, but because multiple places are owned, it's survival.”

Lemond said he is hopeful recent law changes will help relieve some pressure on restaurants and bring more insurance companies into South Carolina, but for now, the dance floor tables “are going to be staying where they are.”


While Bailey’s won’t have a dance floor, Lemond said the bar will be pretty similar to CWP. The manager describes the change as largely a turnkey operation, with Bailey’s keeping almost every piece of furniture or decor that doesn’t have CWP branding.

He’s hoping to add a screen to the stage area so people can watch football games or other events, as well as replace the CWP sign out front, though Lemond is unsure if the sign will be completed in time for the bar’s estimated opening of August 12....



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