Columbia, SC (WLTX) -- Life on the town is getting a little busier off Forest Drive. Trenholm Plaza is bursting with new businesses and customers say they are pleased with the area.
"We love it here, I'm down here almost every day," said shopper Sarah Smith.
Trenholm Plaza shoppers say they love their neighborhood shopping center and they're thrilled about the new businesses putting down roots in the area.
"I haven't been here in a few months I guess, and I knew that there was some growth going on but I had no idea to what extent and how nice the new stores are," said Carole Webb, another shopper.
LOFT, the newest store to open its doors, welcomed its very first customers Friday, saying the Trenholm location allows them to reach another area of Columbia.
"This just gives us an opportunity to offer more convenience to those who maybe had to travel farther to go to our Harbison location or our location at Sandhill," said Lindsey Page with LOFT.
While new retail shops work to make a new homes at Trenholm Plaza, it also offers a new dinning location in Café Caturra.
"I haven't been able to get in, we came by a couple of times, but couldn't get in. It's so, so busy," said Smith.
Herbert Ames, with the shopping center's developer, Edens, says they have worked to create a strong, fresh mix of local and national businesses for the community.
"We believe that being reflective of that community and creating ownership and loyalty in that community is what it's all about and I think that's what you're seeing here today at Trenholm Plaza," he said.
As for the customers, they are glad to have something that offers so much in their community.
"It's like a park, we really are thrilled with everything that's happening," said Smith.
"Seeing the growth down here, kinda makes me sorry that I'm not down here," said Webb.
Ames says the company is working to fill one vacancy in the shopping center, so shopper can look forward to a new business in the future.