LINDA SAuLS & ChuCk MCCurry

Lexington County diners want the best of both worlds.

The lines between full service, casual, and fast food dining are blurring into a trend called fast casual dining.

Due to a faster pace of living, fewer diners are interested in long 4-to-6-course meals. Though the high quality of full-service restaurants is still appealing.

Fast casual dining offers fast service through counter ordering with a higher quality of food than traditional fast food venues.

Often, fresh, local ingredients are used in dishes when in season so the menu options remain fresh and choices are customized throughout the year.

Places like Poke Bros, Chipotle and Panera Bread offer such customizations.

In addition, many menus offer low-carb, vegan, gluten-free or superfood options.

The counter-style restaurant reduces the need for wait staff and instead uses a process-driven model where each counter employee only needs to learn how to operate a section of the counter line in order to assist every customer.

These trendy restaurants are able to squeeze into a smaller footprint and still remain highly successful.

Traditional fast food restaurants such as McDonalds and Wendys are spending money to upgrade their chains to become in line with the fast casual trend by upgrading interior finishes, offering free wifi, displaying fresh plants, using quality ingredients and installing self-ordering kiosks.

Construction numbers

Statewide construction starts are 0.63% higher than starts in the third quarter of 2017. Across the state, 25,305 project starts occurred during 2018, valued at $12.54 billion. In the third quarter, 8,306 construction project starts were recorded.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of September 2018, there were 98,400 construction employees in South Carolina, representing 4.66% of the total non-farm employment.

Construction employment decreased by 100 jobs over the last 12 months; however, employment in the major markets is largely increasing.

Total year-to-date construction starts in the Columbia are up 12.99% from this time last year. Starts have been strong in the multifamily and manufacturing sectors.

Education starts will be up over the next three years, as significant public education bond referendums have been approved by voters.

Healthcare starts appear to be lower due to Lexington Medical Center’s expansion, which was reported as a start in 2016. It will be under construction until mid-2019.

The Columbia construction workforce has 18,400 workers, a 4.50% increase year-over-year. From September 2017 to present, 800 workers were added.

Upcoming Museum

events

• Dec. 6 - World War I History Presentation, 6:30 pm, Museum Tour Office/ Hazelius House, 231 Fox Street, Lexington. Free to the public. Local author Jerred Metz will speak.

• Dec. 9 - Lexington County Museum Christmas Open House, 1 - 4 pm, Lexington County Museum Complex, Free to the Public. Refreshments will be served.

• Feb. 9 “Murders and Mysteries” Walking Tour, 8 pm, begins at the Icehouse Amphitheater, 107 West Main Street, Lexington. Free to the public.

• Feb. 16 - “Love Letters from the Past: Honoring our Veterans” Friends of the Museum Annual Fundraiser Gala, 6 - 10 pm, Lexington Municipal Complex, 111 Maiden Lane, Lexington.

Call the museum at 803-359-8369 or email museum@lex-co.com to find out more about these events.

Marriage center opening

The Marriage Maintenance Center of Lexington will open January 2.

The Center will focus on “maintaining healthy and mutually supportive relationships” between couples. Their motto is, “Marriages might be made in heaven, but you have to do your own maintenance.”

The Center will be located at 226 Corley Mill Rd., Lexington in the Family Life Center at Zion Lutheran Church.

Marriage Center Director/Consultant Dr. William Mitcham is a clinical member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy, an approved supervisor with AAMFT, and a NC licensed marriage and family therapist.

For an appointment, call or text Mitcham at 803-210-9197 or email bmitcham3@gmail.com .

7-Eleven opening

7-Eleven, Inc. is coming back to Lexington County.

Their new location at 2374 Augusta Hwy. opens today. The grand opening event is between 2-7 pm with special promotions, giveaways and food/drink samples.

7-Eleven, Inc. plans to open 3 additional stores in Lexington in 2019.