New Steve Taneyhill Gamecock bar set to open in Columbia

30 years after leading South Carolina to a legendary win in Clemson, former Gamecock quarterback Steve Taneyhill is leading the way once again. Only this time it involves bringing a new Gamecock bar to Columbia.

Taneyhill, along with a team that includes Jeff O’Hara, who is better known on social media as ‘Cocks By 90,’ have purchased Breakers Bar & Grill and Breakers Live in Five Points. Breakers Live will receive a facelift but the name will remain the same. Breakers Bar & Gill however will be be converting into CB18 Bar and Grill.

“This came together about three weeks ago,” said Taneyhill. “What really stood out to me was what we might be able to do with Breakers Bar & Grill. Being outside on the corner, what a location it is. That’s what really got the ball rolling.”

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A drawing of Taneyhill’s iconic 1992 photo of him taking a bow towards Clemson fans after leading the Gamecocks to a 24-13 win will serve as the bar’s logo. Along with the letters CB, short for ‘Cocks By’ and the number 18, Tanneyhill’s college number, will bring some more garnet and black to Five Points.

“We’re gonna have a huge outdoor patio and do a lot of fun stuff out there… It also has a great indoor area,” said O’Hara, who graduated from South Carolina in 2010. “When Gamecock fans and students have their families or their friends in town this is gonna be a place that they’re gonna want to come together. We want this to be their Welcome Home spot.”

Brining some new food options to Harden Street has also been a priority since the purchase.

“Down here we know what good food looks like. And I can tell you that kitchen at CB18 is dang good,” said O’Hara. “I’ve been up late these past few months typing out menus. We have ideas of bringing back iconic food that so many of us alum who grew up going to Five Points remember while also adding some new apps and ideas in there as well.”

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But it doesn’t sound like menu will be limited to just lunch and dinner.

“When I was in school in the early 90’s that spot was a trailer that Frank’s sold hot dogs out of. I wanna get back to doing late night there,” said Taneyhill. “Maybe 2 (a.m.) or 3:30 (a.m.) selling hot dogs. For 20 years that’s where people would go when the bars would shut down. You’d walk over there with your friends. I know that’s where I used to go. Now 30 years later it’s funny how I’m owning that same spot and looking to bring that back to Five Points.”

By owning CB18 and Breakers Live, Taneyhill will now be the owner of four bars and restaurants. Since 2016, he’s owned Taneyhill’s Group Therapy, which is also located in Five Points. Just last August he opened Prime Restaurant & Whiskey Lounge in Spartanburg. The restaurant combines casual dining with a throwback lounge to create a relaxing environment for guests.

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While it’s not clear what all of the facelifts will be to Breakers Live, Tanneyhill was passionate when speaking about his plans for music.

“Breakers Live has its own following. It’s the Tuesday night spot and it’s a big place,” said Tanneyhill. “We don’t want to necessarily change it but I would like to maybe get some local bands in there. I think that’s important. Maybe not every night on the weekends but I’d like to see how that would go.”

Giving Back

When Taneyhill and O’Hara spoke about the idea about going into business together one thing that they agreed on was their desire to find ways to help the Gamecocks. That involves creating events to not only support the Garnet Trust through NIL but former Gamecocks as well.

“I want to help to the University in anyway that I can,” said Taneyhill. “My relationship with coach (Shane) Beamer, it helps because if I wasn’t welcomed around I wouldn’t be so into helping. Coach Beamer and his staff have reached out many times and have opened the door for me to come by any time. With Jeff’s help maybe I can help more with the Garnet Trust and help these student-athletes. In 1992 I was one of those student-athletes and I’m fortunate now to own a few places where maybe I can help in some way.”

Opening Night with the Hayden Hurst Foundation

CB18 Bar and Grill is scheduled to open on Saturday, July 29. The bar will be holding a charity event through the Garnet Trust Foundation that will benefit the Hayden Hurst Foundation.

“This is gonna be unlike any event that people have seen before,” said O’Hara. “All the money we raise that night is gonna go directly to the Hayden Hurst Foundation through Garnet Trust.”

Hurst, who is entering his first season with the Carolina Panthers, created his foundation shortly after his career at South Carolina. The money that’s raised will be used to help the youth, military, and others in need regarding their mental health, education, and wellness.

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Tickets for the event will be just $25. With each purchase, guests will receive free draft beer, Coke products, and food. Some of the prizes that attendees will have a chance to win include pre-game sideline passes to any football game in 2023, a round of golf with Spencer Rattler and Steve Taneyhill, Halls gift card, an autograph football by Shane Beamer, and floor seats to a 2023-24 men’s basketball game.

“We’ve been speaking a lot with the Garnet Trust and finding ways to partner with them with a lot of events CB18,” said O’Hara. “The students won’t be getting back until August so this will be a tremendous opportunity for Gamecock fans who haven’t been down in Five Points in a long, long time to come back down there to relieve their glory days. It’ll be a special night to help giveback to a tremendous foundation while also kicking off a new era with CB18.”

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“We are so excited that Steve Taneyhill and Jeff O’Hara are opening their new bar for us to raise money,” said Jeremy Smith, Director of Operations for the Garnet Trust. “A big part of what we do is raising money and giving back to charities. We do the NIL a bit different here at Garnet Trust as we focus on help both current and former student-athletes.”

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