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A ribbon cutting takes place at Sunrise Cafe Nov. 21. The eatery has a focus on hiring homeless citizens in Columbia. Hannah Wade/staff.

Sunrise Cafe on Main Street cuts the ribbon

"I've been where you've been," is the message Johnny Davis had for Columbia's homeless population when he opened his early morning cafe in the quiet alley off Main Street. 

The 69-year-old Navy veteran opened his restaurant, Sunrise Cafe, at 1801 Main St. in early June with the goals of serving hot breakfast all day and employing those in the community who didn't have a home.

As cold rain drizzled from a gray sky, Davis stood inside the warm eatery next to his wife of over four decades, Yvette, and officials from the city of Columbia as he cut a bright red ribbon to celebrate his business' opening. He emphasized the importance of second chances and grace. 

"You got two choices: you can be bitter or better. Anybody can be bitter. But to be better, you got to think better, you got to do better. It starts up here," Davis motioned to his head as he spoke.

The restaurant serves classic breakfast options like pancakes, French Toast and omelets, along with Southern lunch options like a meat-and-two plate or a burger baskets. 

Davis has seven employees at the cafe, five of whom don't have anywhere to live, he said. 

"I don't care where you came from," Davis told a crowd of reporters and attendees at the ribbon cutting ceremony. "If you want a job and you want to work, I'll hire you." 

The mantra is inspired by Davis' own story — one of wrong choices, missteps and immense grace. Following what he said were a handful of years as a young person  experiencing homelessness in Columbia, Davis was sentenced to a life sentence. He spent over a decade in prison before then-President Barack Obama commuted his sentence, along with 79 other people. Davis was released in 2018. 

"The thing I want everyone to know is to give somebody a chance," Davis said, adding in how much the commutation from former President Obama impacted him. After he left prison, he turned his life around. 

Davis obtained a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Strayer University and set out to open a restaurant. He's been cooking for more than 50 years, even while incarcerated.

One of the people Davis gave a chance is Tiffany Turner, an employee at the cafe who started in July. Turner, who was good friends with Davis' wife, lost her job and was looking for something else. Sunrise Cafe offered just what she needed. 

"Having that second chance and that opportunity and being able to be apart of this is awesome," Turner told a Free Times reporter at the ribbon cutting. 

The cafe, which is open from 7:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. every day except Sunday and Monday, sits in the quaint part of downtown just north of Columbia City Hall on Main Street. The section of Main Street between Laurel and Calhoun Streets is a bit of a transitional strip between downtown and the growing North Main area that hosts popular eateries and coffee shops like Curiosity Coffee Bar, Vino Garage and A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen. 

"(Davis') timing is excellent as downtown and Main Street expands to the north," said Matt Kennell, who leads the Main Street District, pointing to the convergence of Columbia's retail districts like North Main and the BullStreet District. "We're all about connecting these districts to bring our city together."

Other Food News You Might've Missed:

On strike: Starbucks baristas in Lexington joined a nationwide strike Nov. 16 during the company's promotional Red Cup Day, when plastic red cups are given away with the purchase of a holiday-themed drink. Workers at the Saluda Pointe Starbucks picketed during the day. The coffee shop was closed. That location is the second in the Columbia-area to unionize, joining the Millwood Avenue Starbucks, where workers voted unanimously to unionize in summer 2022. 

Fall sips: Transmission Arcade, the Main Street arcade bar with quality eats and plenty of vintage arcade games, has unveiled its fall cocktail menu, the business announced on social media this week. One of the top offerings? The Boulevardier of Broken Dreams, which features Rittenhouse Rye, Amaro Nonino, Campari and Amaro di Angostura topped with brandied cherry. 

Scott Hall speaks: Over three years after the well-known local chef and restaurateur closed his eatery in the BullStreet District, Bone-In Barbecue's Scott Hall spoke to Free Times about his career and the future of his business this week. You can find that online here, from Free Times' Managing Editor Zoe Nicholson. 

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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