An anticipated Lexington restaurant is close to opening.

Ronald Pereira, CEO of the local hospitality company Happy Fork, posted to Facebook July 31 that Southern Smoked Tavern, the steakhouse concept his company is bringing to the spot at 924 E Main St. that was formerly occupied by Griffin Chophouse, hopes to open in the next two-three weeks.

The post to the group Happenings in Lexington SC teased several menu items, which line up with the ambition Pererira previously expressed to the Chronicle for the restaurant to set itself apart by balancing its selection of high-quality steaks with barbecue and a selection of trendy options.

The items mentioned include Burnt End Machos, Mexican Street Corn Dip, Smoked Wings, a Southern Smash Burger, and Beer Cheese N Mac.

Happy Fork also owns the Chapin Commons shopping center, which houses its existing restaurants, Chophouse of Chapin and Bakon. 

Another anticipated restaurant is open in the Harbison area. 

Burnin 99, a chain that started in North Charleston and serves Chinese hot pot and Korean barbecue, is now open in the Columbiana Station complex along Bower Parkway, taking the spot once occupied by Wild Wing Cafe.

The restaurant held its grand opening July 28.

A similar concept, KPot, also recently opened nearby at 280 Harbison Blvd.

Burnin 99 is open 1-11 p.m. Monday-Sunday. — JL

West Columbia completes art project to decorate garbage trucks

West Columbia has finished a project to beautify its streets by decorating the vehicles that help keep them clean.

The city recently announced that its Public Works of Art project to celebrate “local artists by featuring their artwork on sanitation trucks” is complete, with the final piece of the project now added to West Columbia’s fleet.

“The most recent addition, a packer truck, now displays the artwork created by artist Autumn Lily Leaphart,” a release states. “The newly decorated packer truck joins the lineup of other recently acquired equipment, including a street sweeper, a one-armed bandit, an additional packer, and a leaf truck, all of which enhance the efficiency of the city's Public Works Department.”

The release notes that five other local artists — Trahern Cook, Laura Day, Ija Charles, Christine Lutfy Crawford and Michael Cassidy — left their “mark on the city's sanitation fleet.”

More info on the artists and pictures of the works they lent to the sides of West Columbia garbage trucks can be found at westcolumbiasc.gov/public-works-of-art.

Leaphart’s contribution features the city slogan “Head West” emblazoned in lavender amid a colorful assembly of flowers and peaches. — JL

Lexington coroner identifies human remains found in creek 

The Lexington County Coroner's Office has identified human remains found in a creek near Harbison Boulevard. 

The remains were identified as Dylan Frances Hughes, 30, of New York. The cause of death is still undetermined. 

The remains were reported on May 25 around 6:37 a.m. according to a social media post from June 1. The coroner's office released information on the remains in hopes of getting aid from the public. 

The body was found in Kinley Creek behind residences on the 900 block of Lockner Road.

Authorities were able to recover about 90% of the remains. 

The remains had an indication of past healed injuries such as a broken nose, a past fractured right clavicle and past rib fractures. 

These injuries are not believed to be recent but to have been healed prior to death. The remains showed no sign of trauma and the cause of death is still undetermined. 

Since the cause of death is still under investigation, the coroner's office invites anyone with information to contact their office at (803) 359-8439. — EO