FLORENCE, South Carolina — Raines, a South Carolina-based hospitality and hotel management company, recently opened The Lantern Columbia, located in the heart of Columbia, South Carolina’s Vista neighborhood. The 59-key upscale boutique hotel breathes new life into the historic Columbia Central Fire Station while pioneering a groundbreaking model of inclusive employment.
The boutique property caters to board meetings or brainstorming sessions with its private boardroom and the lobby’s cozy lounge spaces designed to feel like Columbia’s living room. Groups can also reserve private dining at Ladder 13, the on-site restaurant.
A signature property in Raines’ Woven portfolio of unique lifestyle hotels, The Lantern Columbia is an upscale, purpose-driven accommodation. Through a strategic partnership with the University of South Carolina’s College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management and the CarolinaLIFE program, the hotel provides meaningful career pathways and gainful employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“The Lantern Columbia represents the future of what we call ‘intentional hospitality,’” said David Tart, Raines managing partner. “We’ve taken a cherished local landmark and transformed it into a space that serves both guests and the community in truly remarkable ways. The collaboration between seasoned hospitality veterans, future hospitality leaders and the students from CarolinaLIFE creates an atmosphere of genuine warmth that is unlike anything else in the market.”
Steps from the State Capitol, the University of South Carolina and the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, the property’s design honors the building’s legacy as a firehouse while introducing modern, boutique luxury. Across three historic buildings, mid-century modern interiors feature a hearty dose of local inspiration.
At the heart of the property is Ladder 13, a signature restaurant serving cocktails and Mediterranean-inspired fare with bold Lowcountry spirit. The F&B program is crafted by Kevin Johnson, a James Beard Award nominee with strong ties to the University of South Carolina and known for his celebrated restaurants: The Grocery in downtown Charleston and Lola Rose in Mount Pleasant.
Leading the team at The Lantern is general manager Rick Hayduk, a 35-year hospitality veteran with a specialized background in mission-driven leadership. Hayduk previously served as the opening GM for The Shepherd Hotel in Clemson, South Carolina, where he worked with the ClemsonLIFE program to create an innovative employment model in which just about 30% of the staff were individuals with disabilities. Under his leadership, the hotel achieved a top 1% guest satisfaction ranking among 100,000 Expedia hotels, proving that purposeful employment and exceptional hospitality can coexist and elevate one another.
“The Lantern Columbia’s guest experience is defined by the unique culture we are building within these historic walls,” Hayduk said. “Having our team made up of local hospitality professionals, local individuals with disabilities, USC’s Hotel, Retail and Sports Management students, and CarolinaLIFE students is a first, anywhere. We think it will portray the best of Columbia. Our ambition is to have guests of The Lantern and the patrons of Ladder 13 leave inspired, aside from having an incredible stay or dining experience.”
The Lantern offers walkable access to USC, the State Capitol, and the best of Columbia’s dining, arts, and entertainment in the Vista District.
The Woven by Raines portfolio is currently expanding; The Lantern Rockhill is scheduled to open later this year in Rockhill, South Carolina. Another development project was announced in December for Aiken, South Carolina. Co-developers and majority owners Raines and Vantage Realty Partners are restoring and reimagining Aiken’s historic Rose Hill Estate. The iconic downtown property, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, will be rehabilitated into a boutique hotel complete with a standout food and beverage program, private event spaces and restored public gardens.
For more information, visit lanterncolumbia.com.
