Stacked Tomato Salad at Al’s Upstairs (copy)

Al's Upstairs. File photo/Mike Dojc

WEST COLUMBIA — After over four decades in business, West Columbia eatery Al's Upstairs Italian Restaurant will close in mid-December, owners announced in a Nov. 13 Facebook post. 

"With mixed emotions and a heart full of gratitude, I announce my retirement from the restaurant business and the closure of Al's Upstairs Italian Restaurant after a remarkable 44-year run," owner Al Loftis said through the post. 

The announcement was met with hundreds of comments, praising the owner of the West Columbia restaurant and wishing him well. 

The restaurant sits at 300 Meeting Street, across from a host of new development and well-loved local businesses like Cafe Strudel and Terra. It opened in March 1979, according to its website. 

The area of West Columbia where it's located has grown exponentially in recent years — longtime restaurant D's Wings moved from Cayce to Meeting Street in 2021, new apartment complexes have sprung up just across the river and Another Broken Egg, a brunch chain, opened its doors recently. 

"A heartfelt thank you goes out to our current, talented, and dedicated staff, who consistently put our customers first, enabling Al's to enjoy continued growth year after year. The year 2023 has been a record year of growth, and this achievement is a testament to each team member's hard work and commitment," the post read. 

Al's Upstairs last day of service will be Dec. 19. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. until 8:15 p.m.

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Growth and development reporter

Hannah Wade covers growth, development and new business at the Post and Courier Columbia. She previously worked as the food writer for the Free Times. Before joining Post and Courier Columbia/Free Times, Hannah worked as a reporting and photojournalism intern with The Greenville News. She graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2021. 

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