(Columbia Metropolitan Magazine) – Every Saturday morning, Columbia’s Main Street transforms into four blocks bursting with color, culture, and community.
Soda City Market is not just a place where people shop; it is where the city comes alive. The smells of sizzling street food, the chatter of neighbors reconnecting, the vibrant colors of fresh produce and artisan wares all blend into something more than a place to buy and sell; it is the heartbeat of Columbia. And now, the rest of the country is taking notice. Soda City Market has been named the No. 1 farmers market in the United States by USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
This prestigious honor, awarded after a nationwide nomination and public voting process, represents more than just bragging rights. It’s a testament to the spirit, resilience, and community that have fueled Soda City Market’s journey from humble beginnings to national recognition. At the heart of that journey is its founder, Emile DeFelice, a man whose own story is woven into the very fabric of Columbia’s revival.
From Humble Beginnings to the Heart of Columbia
Emile grew up in Decatur, Georgia, and his early years were anything but typical. He worked for the French consulate in Atlanta, served at the Carter Center under President Jimmy Carter, and played in a rock band. But when he came to Columbia in 1991 with a suitcase and a box of belongings, it was for something quieter: to be near his girlfriend, who would later become his wife, and to have the chance to begin again. Emile wasn’t chasing a polished plan; he was chasing possibility.
Emile’s early days were shaped by hustle. His first gigs were triple shifts: brewing espresso at Adriana’s Coffee in the morning, working the lunch shift at The Gourmet Shop, and closing out the evening at Garibaldi’s. It was exhausting, but it grounded him in Columbia’s community and eventually gave him a new calling….continue reading