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The Mast General Store is open for business. The owners transformed the former Lourie’s building that dates to the 1870s into an old-fashioned general store.

According to the store over the last several months, old wooden floors were discovered under layers of tile and a pressed-tin ceiling was uncovered behind a modern drop ceiling. The floors and ceiling have been restored along with the facade to its 1920s grandeur, a thriving period for Downtown Columbia. Inside the shelves and cabinets are stocked with traditional clothing, outdoor and travel gear, cast iron cookware, handmade furniture, comfortable footwear, and 500 old-fashioned favorite candies.

Wednesday's grand opening is part of an ongoing effort among local and state governments, businesses, and residents to revitalize the downtown area.

“We have sort of been encouraging developers and brokers to go after businesses that you can't find out in the suburbs or in the surrounding communities,” according to Matt Kennell, CEO of City Center Partnership, which is helping to develop Main Street.

Stores established by the Valle Crucis, N.C., firm have been catalysts for growth in Greenville and Knoxville, Tenn.

Life long Columbia resident Lila Gantt has seen the downtown area through its ups and downs. She was excited for the store to open its doors.

“It's like it brought the city back to life again I used to shop here when it was Lourie’s when things were lively back then so it's really great, I think it is going to be really good for the city,” she said about the grand opening.

City leaders hope the packed store Wednesday is a sign of a bigger boom in business for Columbia.

“This is a regional effort recognizing that we have to have a vibrant urban core a strong downtown in order to try and anchor this region,” said Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin.

City Council member Brian DeQuincey Newman added, “The opening of the Mast General Store is going to be a huge attraction as you can tell from the crowd that has gathered this morning we have significant interest from people who are going to shop downtown so I believe this will be the catalyst for a lot of new retail endeavors.”

One of the store’s owners said the grand opening in Columbia Wednesday was the busiest they’ve seen for one of their new shops.

Owner John Cooper said, “We think Columbia is an exciting place to be there's so much happening on this Main Street revitalization and we like to be a part of it.”

Other businesses are set to open on the corridor soon. The Cowboy Brazilian Steakhouse will start serving downtown this summer. The Nickelodeon Theatre is moving into its newly renovated space at the former Fox Theatre by the end of the year.

Do you think these developments are the start of Main Street's long-awaited revitalization?  Leave us a comment about the new additions and vote in our poll.