Columbia Farm Supply Suffers Heavy Damage in Early Morning Fire

Issue #739

May 29, 2026

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌦️ Columbia’s Saturday Weather - Morning clouds, scattered showers & thunderstorms in afternoon w/ high of 84, low of 65

🚒 Columbia Farm Supply Suffers Heavy Damage in Early Morning Fire

📰 Needle & Grain Receives $20K Grant For Major Expansion

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Columbia Farm Supply Suffers Heavy Damage in Early Morning Fire

From Columbia Fire & Rescue’s post…

Columbia Fire & Rescue responded to a reported commercial structure fire shortly after 12:40 a.m. on Friday, at Columbia Farm Supply, located at 170 Bear Creek Pike.

Heavy fire conditions were throughout the building and within minutes, the fire had intensified.  

Columbia Fire & Rescue immediately initiated a defensive fire attack due to the advanced fire conditions. 

Crews worked throughout the night extinguishing heavy fire conditions, protecting exposures, and addressing numerous hotspots within the structure.

No civilian or firefighter injuries were reported during the incident.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Columbia Fire Marshal's Office. Fire officials will remain on the scene throughout the day as part of the investigation process.

Columbia Fire & Rescue would like to thank the Columbia Police Department, Maury County Sheriff's Office, Maury County Fire, Spring Hill Fire, Mt. Pleasant Fire, Maury Regional EMS, Columbia Power and Water Systems, and all assisting agencies for their support and cooperation during this incident.

From Columbia Farm Supply’s post…

Today we suffered the unimaginable. At 12:40am our beloved store caught fire. Our fire departments rushed to the seen to try and put the fire out. Firefighters worked tireless through out the night and we are so thankful for them. As of right now we do not know the cause of the fire. It is now under investigation and when we have more information we will share. 

No one was in the store at the time. We are so thankful that our employees and management are safe. We are devastated, heartbroken and still in shock of what has happened.  

Now to answer the burning question about the cats. As many know we had 4 store cats who were like family to us. They were thought of as our mascots. As of right now we have not located any of the cats. We do know Firefighters and neighbors spotted cats running for the store. We have searched for them but not yet found them. We have also put out food where they were last seen. We know that our babies are probably terrified from what they’ve experienced. If you do see any of them please contact us through Facebook messenger. 

To our customers, vendors and neighbors, we want you to know that appreciate all of the prayers, texts, and visits to the scene today. We felt your love and prayers. This has been the hardest day that Columbia Farm supply has endured in its 25 years of serving Columbia. Please continue to pray for our employees, management, cats, and the store. We have a long road ahead and we hope to recover from this.

Needle & Grain Receives $20K Grant For Major Expansion

Needle & Grain, a downtown Columbia general store, has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 Amex Shop Small® Grants Program, a joint initiative of American Express and Main Street America. The $20,000 grant will fund a major expansion of the store’s zero-waste refillery station, tripling its size and broadening the range of bulk household products available to Maury County shoppers.

Opened on Columbia’s downtown square in 2016, Needle & Grain has built a reputation for purposefully crafted and curated goods. In 2020, owners Bryson and Susan Leach introduced a refilling station where customers can refill containers with soaps, cleaning supplies, and other household staples — skipping single-use packaging and reducing costs by buying in bulk. The grant will allow the Leaches to significantly expand that program, adding new product categories and serving more of the community.

“We started the refillery because we genuinely believed our customers wanted a smarter way to shop — one that was easier on their wallets and easier on the environment,” said Susan Leach, co-owner of Needle & Grain. “This grant lets us go from a proof of concept to something that can really serve this community at scale. We’re excited to bring in more product categories and make bulk buying accessible to more Columbia families.”

The Amex Shop Small Grants Program awarded more than $10 million to over 500 small businesses across the country in 2026, with each recipient receiving a $20,000 grant. Selection was based on demonstrated community impact, growth potential, and alignment with the program’s mission to strengthen local economies. The program was launched in honor of America’s 250th anniversary and expanded through American Express’s Small Business Saturday giving pledge.

Needle & Grain is located at 802 S Main Street in Columbia and is open to the public. The refillery expansion is slated to open June 5th. Customers can follow updates through the store’s social media channels.

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Friday, May 29th 

Saturday, May 30th

Sunday, May 31st

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 This Week’s Live Music

Friday, May 29

James Gregory - Whiskey Alley Saloon, 7:30–9 PM
Peedy Chavis - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Six String Revolver - The Boondox, 8 PM
Brandon Bartley - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Saturday, May 30

The Vineyard Sessions - Natchez Hills Vineyard, 12–6 PM
Carson-Phillips - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 3–7 PM
Mt Pleasant Music on the Porch Series - 206 Pleasant St, 6–9 PM
The Alderson Jazz Collective - McCreary’s Irish Pub & Eatery
Patrick McCormick - Twisted Copper, 7–10 PM
Curated Writers Round - The Bourbon Gospel, 7:30 PM
Herrick Duo - Puckett’s, 7:30–9 PM
Scotty Morton Band - The Rebel Bar & Grill, 7:30–10 PM
Copper & Lead - The Boondox, 8 PM
MFT - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 8–11 PM

Sunday, May 31

Maddie Rose - Amber Falls Winery & Cellars, 1–5 PM
Brett Stocstill - Fozzy’s Bar & Grill - Spring Hill, 2–5 PM

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