Cheerleader Pub & Grill: Looking for somewhere to watch the next big game? Cheerleader Pub & Grill Inc. is the place to visit. Located at 1400 Cinnamon Hill Lane, CPGI was founded to provide a unique combination of sports fun and gourmet food. With a Southeastern Conference theme, the menu is filled with southern city favorites. Razorback pork belly sliders and Gamecock barbecue chicken and ribs are just a few options. The restaurant features 20 beers on tap, 20 widescreen TVs, two 100-inch projection TVs and an SEC Team Shop, all to make your next game-day experience the best.
Contact: Ron Dentry, 573-442-6066
Freebirds World Burrito: It is all about choices at Freebirds World Burrito. Founded in Santa Barbra, Calif., in 1987, Freebirds has more than 100 locations across the South, West and now Midwest. Located at 1020 E. Broadway, the Columbia location is the farthest east location and the third in Missouri. Customers have more than 35 trillion variations to try. To help with the choices, each customer is paired with a “roller,” or employee. There are four sizes of burritos, four flavors of tortilla and more than 40 fresh toppings. The restaurant also serves tacos, nachos and other southwestern foods.
Contact: Sandra Bigsby, 573-474-1060
Yellow Dog Bookshop: Joe Chevalier and Kelsey Hammond always dreamed of owning a bookshop, so when the couple learned that Get Lost Bookshop was closing, they decided to take fate into their hands. The couple opened Yellow Dog Bookshop at 8 S. Ninth St. in downtown Columbia. The window display also features local artists. The store is named after the couple’s dog, Scout. It focuses on being part of the Columbia community by hosting readings and children’s story time. Chevalier and Hammond bring a combined 14 years of book retail experience to the business. The couple spruced up the store, added a children’s nook and expanded the collection to accommodate all of Columbia.
Contact: Joe Chevalier, 573-442-3330
Numotion: Formed by the merger of United Seating & Mobility and ATG Rehab, Numotion offers custom wheelchairs. Numotion is the largest and most advanced complex mobility provider in the country. The business has locations across the United States, and Columbia is its newest addition at 313 E. Ash. Numotion provides complex power wheelchairs, manual wheelchairs and standard power wheelchairs as well as other custom chairs. Staff is trained to work with customers to create products to fit their needs and make their lives easier. Numotion strives to be a company that is the most responsive innovator and provider of custom wheelchairs in the area.
Contact: Bill Foust, 573-443-2212
International Tap House: With more than 59 beers on tap, International Tap House (iTap) is the newest addition to this college town. With prime location right across from the university at 308 S. Ninth St., Suite 111, iTAP is the perfect spot for college students to visit. In 2009, two alumni of MU decided to open a bar. Sean Conroy and Brad Lobdell decided to focus on the philosophy of serving the best beers in an even better atmosphere. Columbia is the fourth location for the bar, with three others in the St. Louis area. ITAP offers close to 500 beers, weekly specials and a casual atmosphere to hang out and relax.
Contact: Jon Whitaker, 573-443-1401
Aspen Heights: The next wave of student living has taken off with luxury housing. Aspen Heights was founded in 2006, with its first property in Waco, Texas. In 2012, Aspen Heights made Columbia its 12th location. Aspen Heights conducted focus groups with college students to continually change and evolve its cottage-style product based on feedback. Focused on customer service, Aspen Heights Columbia offers two-, three- and four-bedroom cottages along with a new row home with various floor plans. They are located at 3600 Aspen Heights Parkway. Residents at Aspen Heights enjoy amenities including a 12,000-square-foot club house with a 24-hour workout facility, study rooms, movie theater, tanning salon, volleyball court and resort-style pool.
Contact: Tyler Yates, 573-443-1778
