The Hideout in WeCo

West Columbia is bridging the past, present and future with new opportunities, community relationships and business developments. Nestled beside the Saluda and Congaree rivers, the area along State and Meeting streets is undergoing massive growth and reconstruction, catching the attention of both proprietors and prospective homebuyers. The river district area has continued to flourish even during the pandemic with the addition of Savage Craft Ale Works, on Center Street, Holiday’s Barbershop, on Meeting Street, and the relocation of D’s Wings from Cayce to the corner of State and Center streets.

“I’ve always kept an eye on West Columbia because I love that area and I know that there are a lot of projects going on right now to revitalize the Riverwalk area,” remarks Laurent Prescelti, who has owned Crepes and Croissants, in Columbia, for the past 10 years and is now the proud owner of The Hideout in WeCo, a French-style café on State Street. The two-story building that was formerly Café Strudel and then Catitude Cat Café has been upgraded to provide a warm, eclectic atmosphere fit for fine dining or chilling with friends. Vibrant art displays; crawling tree roots and vines; exposed brick; rustic wooden tables; and soft, ambient lighting invite customers to relax. The tree theme is very significant, as the name of the establishment was inspired by a tree from Prescelti’s childhood around which friends would gather. His vision can be seen throughout the restaurant with cozy nooks and lofts for reading, studying, eating and just hanging out with friends. 

The Hideout in WeCo, which opened in January 2021, offers a huge selection of specialty coffees with thick, creamy toppings; espresso; delicious teas, smoothies and frozen lattes; overnight oats; juicy fruit; and pastries for breakfast. As for lunch (or brunch), bring your laptop and work while you dine on Mediterranean or margarita avocado toast, tartines, salads, quiche and croissant sandwiches. There are a variety of authentic French croissants available as well as fresh cinnamon buns and French macaroons, along with house-made sauces, fillings, toppings and dressings. For those that want to make more healthy choices, The Hideout’s smoothies have quite an extensive ingredient list, including spinach, almond and oat milk, fresh herbs, cottage cheese, blueberries, strawberries and chia seeds—and now matcha tea is on the menu.   

“Buy local” is the vibe for this restaurant, with chocolate made by Evolution Through Chocolate, local craft sodas, microgreens from City Roots, and art pieces created by local artists. Community is very important to Prescelti, and he gives back as much as possible, creating a strong foundation for future networks and relationships. The back patio is open, and the second floor of The Hideout in WeCo is in the process of being updated to host private meetings, family gatherings and party requests. Take advantage of the warm weather coming our way and bring your pup for outside dining; ordering is also available online with the convenience of curbside pickup or delivery. 

The Hideout in WeCo is located at 118 State St., in West Columbia. Hours: Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. For more information, call 803-881-1044 or send an email to [email protected]. Also visit HideoutInWeCo.com. See ad, page 23.