COLUMBIA – A Midlands real estate firm is investing $1.5 million in renovating a former auto repair shop on Sumter Street into a new Columbia headquarters.
Yip Premier Real Estate, a prominent Columbia and Midlands realtor, plans to move into a new headquarters at 2200 Sumter Street in the Cottontown neighborhood in Spring 2026, according to a Dec. 4 press release from the company.
The $1.5 million renovation represents the largest investment in the company’s history, Principal Broker Karen Yip said in the release.
“For years, we dreamed of expanding our business and creating a space that reflects who we are,” Yip said in the release. “This office will be modern, technologically equipped, and designed to provide clients and colleagues with a collaborative, open, and welcoming environment. It’s a central location in my hometown and celebrates the growth and excitement in Columbia.”
Yip has been headquartered at 1608 Taylor St. in Columbia, across from the historic Robert Mills house. The firm is leaving after a decade in the location to find more space, Karen Yip told The Post and Courier.
The office will take the place of a former Freeze Automotive repair shop that operated in the building until September 2020, Yip said. Another Freeze location is still open at 5582 North Main St.
The 3,200-square-foot building on the site was originally built in 1964, according to online county records. The real estate firm bought the building in 2016 and renovated the exterior in 2021, but is now beginning to rehab the interior for the move, Yip said.
The real estate office will share a block with Indah Coffee, Cottontown Crossfit and a Circa Barbershop location.
The Cottontown neighborhood’s historic homes, extensive tree canopy and immediate access to downtown have made it a popular spot for homeowners and renters alike for many years.
Sandwiched between the growing North Main corridor and the massive BullStreet District redevelopment, the neighborhood has seen several new businesses come and go in the past few years.
Residents and neighborhood leaders have organized to oppose controversial apartment complexes and the proliferation of short-term rentals in the city.
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