The Post and Courier Columbia reports that a second location of the Midlands restaurant I ♥ Mac & Cheese and More is coming to the corner of Emanuel Church and Platt Springs roads, pointing to a sign at the site announcing the eatery’s arrival. The first location is in Northeast Richland county.

“The restaurant works in a quick-service format that will be familiar to anyone who has ever dined in a Chipotle,” the paper reports. “Customers pick a series of toppings and sauces to go on their pick of mac and cheese or other bases such as grilled cheese or whole wheat pasta. No opening time for the Lexington County location has been announced.”

12 Days of Giving Continue Through Next Week

Taking Giving Tuesday a little further, the Central Carolina Community Foundation’s 12 Days of Giving fundraiser event started on Nov. 30 and continues through Dec. 11.

The effort encourages people to to donate to more than 500 Midlands nonprofits. A different category of nonprofits will be highlighted on each of the 12 days: animal, arts and culture, Black-led and Black-benefiting, community improvement, education & scholarships, environment, faith-based, health, human services, veterans and military, and youth development. Find out more and give at midlandsgives.org/nonprofits.

“Year-end gifts are crucial for local nonprofits, with more than one-third of annual gifts being made in December,” JoAnn Turnquist, president and CEO of Central Carolina Community Foundation, is quoted in a news release. “The Community Foundation is proud to provide an easy way for folks in the community to give back to local organizations during this season of generosity.”

15-Year-Old Opens Retail Store and Girls’ Salon

GaBBY Goodwin, CEO of Confidence By GaBBY Goodwin, has now has a headquarters for her business selling plant-based natural hair products — including her signature GaBBY Bows, which seek to solve the problem of constantly losing hair barrettes.

The retail store at 3525 Bush River Road (located in a portion of Columbia that rests in Lexington County) with help from her parents Mike Goodwin and Rozalynn Goodwin. There will be a ribbon cutting and drop-in celebrating the opening on Dec. 4 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“I am so grateful for my parents’ sacrifices, and I am honored to have a building with my family to build generational wealth. I hope to continue to inspire girls to follow their dreams and achieve their goals,” GaBBY Goodwin is quoted in a press release.

Major Changes Could Be Coming to Sunset Boulevard

An upcoming traffic project is set to split Sunset Boulevard into two one-way roadways, reports The Post and Courier Columbia. The Town of Lexington’s “Sunset Split” project has to be approved by the state Department of Transportation before it can proceed. Once that approval is procured, the project could take an additional year and half to complete, Town Administrator Britt Poole told the paper.

“We have to get their approval on the plans, and that can be a long process without a clear timeline for when those approvals will take place,” Poole is quoted.

The first phase of the project, set to cost $17 million, is getting $7 from the town’s hospitality tax revenue and another $10 million from a Tax Increment Financing district between the town, Lexington County and Lexington School District 1.