Kathy and I enjoy meeting in Columbia to spend an occasional one-on-one day together. We live three hours apart, and Columbia is the halfway point–about 90 minutes of driving each way for both of us. There are enough shops, restaurants, and points of interest in the city to let us do something while we talk.
Yesterday, we met in Columbia for the first time since February. (It’s been a busy year!) We did most of our favorite things, beginning with a long lunch. When we were tired of sitting in the restaurant, we went downtown and browsed in the shopping area.
The only place we spent money downtown was at the chocolate store on Cherry Street. The owners melt and make their own chocolate, and it’s delicious. We each selected a few pieces of our favorite varieties and then headed for the Columbia Mall for a sit-down break. A frosty beverage, a table in the food court beside the calliope, and our chocolate, and we were set until dinner time. When we finally felt hungry enough to eat dinner, we decided to try the “new” Shakespeare’s Pizza.
About a year ago, Shakespeare’s tore down their entire building across the street from the MU campus and re-built a newer version of it. Most of the main floor is the restaurant; the remainder is rental space for small shops or offices. The upper four floors of what used to be a one-story building are dedicated to “deluxe” student apartments. The restaurant expanded into its previous parking lots, so the kitchen is larger and there’s more seating, as well as a new full-service bar. A (literally) yellow brick path on the floor leads patrons from the seating areas to the rest rooms.
Shakespeare’s is family-owned and is always very busy, attracting people of all ages. It’s also very user-friendly, and you’re welcome to sit at your table as long as you like. Kathy and I had cheese garlic bread, pizza, and a beer plus two more hours of talking before we decided it was about 90 minutes from when we wanted to be home. We went back to our starting point to pick up her car and, after hugs and good wishes, we headed home, looking forward to our next Columbia Day.
The “new” Shakespeare’s Pizza, all the way across the first floor, including two more sets of windows on the right that didn’t fit in my picture.
Still the same plentiful supply of t.p. in the new rest rooms, but now it’s on a new varnished wooden rod instead of hanging from a long heavy chain.
This sign is at the rest room doors. Kathy and I don’t know if the lights and buzzer really flash and ring, but we always wash our hands, just in case.