Are you Soda City Certified®?

The Soda City Certified® app is Columbia, South Carolina’s ONLY mobile application to connect residents and visitors with events, restaurants, retail, attractions, and other businesses. Columbia, better known as the “Soda City,” is famously known for great food, warm weather, smiling faces, and burgeoning downtown districts. But there is so much more to explore! We have partnered with some of Columbia’s most intriguing attractions, arts and historical sites, local businesses, and restaurants. Coupled with a few notable events, being Soda City Certified® has its perks.

Being Soda City Certified® Means Being Rewarded

Some establishments have generously offered discounts and rewards for Soda City Certified® app users. You may receive incentives to use at that establishment or event. Be sure to visit as many places as possible to take advantage of those rewards. As a small business, we understand and support small businesses.

Our Story

The Soda City Certified® app launched in 2020 by local champion and Columbia native Khali Gallman. Khali is a Realtor and owner of Epitome. LLC, a boutique public relations firm where she helps individuals and small businesses with communications and marketing needs.

While living in Raleigh, whenever she would visit Columbia, she noticed the slow but steady changes. Upon moving back home, she realized the city she once arguably “knew everything about,” had new adventures, attractions, restaurants, and ultimately, new experiences. That’s when she created the Soda City Certified® app as a navigation tool to help people explore the city. Soda City Certified® is Khali’s second app, and she is in the process of launching two more.

Khali has also spearheaded the Black Eats Week 803, FYPColumbia, SC HBCU 5K, and (soon to come) 803 Day initiatives in Columbia. She is a graduate of Spring Valley High School, Florida A&M University and the University of South Carolina, where she received a BS and MBA in Marketing and Management, respectively. She has lived all over the southeast, but is naturally partial to her hometown. Khali currently resides in the Midlands and serves as a Richland County Commissioner, representing District 9 of the Historic Preservation Commission. She is past Vice-Chair of Strategic Initiatives for Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR), and is a member of several organizations, including: Historic Columbia’s Palladium, The Girlfriends, The MOLES, and Alianza Latina.

POLICIES

The Soda City Certified® (SCC) app mission and vision is to encourage exploration and support economic empowerment in Columbia, South Carolina by promoting local businesses, events, restaurants, historical sites, monuments, and other entertainment attractions. As a premier liaison, the mobile application aims to flourish local businesses and foster personal and professional relationships.  SCC provides comprehensive information about local events, services, and businesses.  The credibility of SCC is imperative, and in order to maintain the integrity of the business, please adhere to the criteria below.

Resturant Inclusion Policy

Each business must include the following information:

  • Legal Company Name

  • Contact Information & Title of Company Representative

  • Street and Mailing Address

  • Website

  • Hours of Operation

  • Photos, Logos, and/or Graphics

Restaurant Exclusion Policy

  • Businesses without an established website, address, and phone number.

  • Businesses without legal business licenses.

  • Businesses currently under the investigation of Better Business Bureau or any municipal office or consumer affairs.

  • Illegally operating businesses.

Event Inclusion Policy

Each event must include the following information:

  • Event Name

  • Event Date/Time

  • Contact Information & Title of Representative

  • Brief Description of Event

  • Event Address

  • Website

  • Link to Purchase Tickets (if applicable)

  • Photos, Logos, and/or Graphics

Event Exclusion Policy

  • Events that discriminate based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, creed, age and/or disability.

  • Events without clear and concise descriptions.

Disclaimer: The Soda City Certified (SCC) app is not responsible for ticket refunds due to cancellations, non-entry to events due to unknown age requirements, or any unforeseen circumstances. SCC is a liaison service only. All ticket refund concerns should be addressed with the appropriate event coordinator.

Deals Inclusion Policy

Each deal must include the following information:

  • Legal Company Name

  • Contact Information & Title of Company Representative

  • Brief Description of Deal

  • Length of Time Deal Should Be Active

  • Street and Mailing Address

  • Website

  • Hours of Operation

  • Photos, Logos, and/or Graphics

Deals Exclusion Policy

  • Deals that discriminate based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, creed, age and/or disability.

  • Deals without clear and concise descriptions.

Disclaimer: The Soda City Certified (SCC) app is not responsible for deals not adhered by the company. In the case of any establishment refusing to honor an agreed upon deal, contact will be made with the establishment to determine if the relationship with SCC is still relevant.

Who’s Who Inclusion Policy

Each record must include the following information:

  • Name

  • Title

  • Description

  • Contact (Phone, Email, Website, Social Media optional)

  • High Res Photo

Who’s Who Exclusion Policy

  • People who do not work, live, or play in the Columbia metropolitan area.

  • People who want to solicit illegal goods and services.

Disclaimer: The Soda City Certified (SCC) app is not responsible for inaccurate or out-of-date information given. In the case of any receiving complaints of inaccurate information, we will contact the representative to update the record within 3-5 business days.

SCC Votes Inclusion Policy

Each record must include the following information:

  • Name

  • Prospective Elected Position

  • Platform information

  • Contact (Phone, Email, Website, Social Media optional)

  • High Res Photo

SCC Votes Exclusion Policy

  • Entries and commentary that discriminates based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, creed, age and/or disability.

Disclaimer: The Soda City Certified (SCC) app does not personally endorse any candidate. We simply want to inform the public about the future prospective leaders of office.

SCC Job Posting Inclusion Policy

Each job announcement must include the following information:

  • Hiring Position

  • Company

  • Position Description

  • Position Requirements

  • Contact (Phone, Email, Website, Social Media optional)

  • High Res Photo

SCC Job Posting Exclusion Policy

  • Job announcements that discriminate based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, creed, age and/or disability.

Disclaimer: The Soda City Certified (SCC) app does not personally endorse any job announcement. We simply want to inform the public about any opportunities available to enhance the lives of residents and increase economic development in the city.

Retail Inclusion Policy

Each retail entry must include the following information:

  • Name of Establishment

  • Special deals & announcements (optional)

  • Contact (Phone, Email, Website, Social Media optional)

  • High Res Photo

Retail Exclusion Policy

  • Retail establishments that discriminate based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, creed, age and/or disability.

Disclaimer: The Soda City Certified (SCC) app does not personally endorse any retail establishment. We simply want to inform the public about any opportunities available to enhance the lives of residents and increase economic development in the city.

Local Products Inclusion Policy

Each product entry must include the following information:

  • Name of Product

  • Product Description

  • Product Price

  • Contact (Phone, Email, Website, Social Media optional)

  • High Res Photo

Local Products Exclusion Policy

  • Local products that discriminate based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, creed, age and/or disability.

Disclaimer: The Soda City Certified (SCC) app does not personally endorse any product. We simply want to inform the public about any opportunities available to enhance the lives of residents and increase economic development in the city. We are not responsible for products that turn out to be defective or potentially hazardous. As a conduit, we serve as a liaison for the owner/distributor of the product. Therefore all discrepancies and grievances should be communicated with the product owner/distributor.

Health & Wellness Inclusion Policy

Each Health & Wellness entry must include the following information:

  • Name of Business

  • Description of Services

  • Contact (Phone, Address, Email, Website, Social Media optional)

  • High Res Photo

Health & Wellness Exclusion Policy

  • Health & wellness businesses that discriminate based on race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, nationality, creed, age and/or disability.

Disclaimer: The Soda City Certified (SCC) app does not personally endorse any health/wellness business. We simply want to inform the public about any opportunities available to enhance the lives of residents and increase economic development in the city.

Disclaimer:  The Soda City Certified® (SCC) staff reserve the right to delete, omit, and/or dismiss any restaurant, event, deal, business, job announcement, SCC Votes, or Who’s Who submissions that do not adhere to policies. Inclusion in the app does not imply personal endorsement and omission does not indicate disapproval.  SCC upholds the right to edit any and all information to meet format, inclusion guidelines, and space requirements. Representatives will be notified of any changes to directory submissions prior to removal.

SCC is also not responsible for any accidents or mishaps while traveling to/from or frequenting the establishments and events on the app. Users are to patronize at their own risk.

SCC is also not responsible for public commentary under the any profile. App users may comment at their leisure and engage in dialogue with other users.