The Soda City Market Is Open!!
Stay Informed Through Our NewsletterThe Dream Team
Hey, we’re people too
Erin Curtis
Operations & Special Projects Director
Emile DeFelice
CEO & Founder
Olivia Pope
Business & Finance Manager
Karley Ruxton
Assistant Market Manager
Stephen Ruxton
Market Manager
Erin Curtis
At Soda City I…
am mostly behind the scenes, overseeing company ops, business development, and managing our non-profit arm, Soda City Friends — plus HR and IT needs. Essentially, my job is to take care of the things that allow my colleagues to focus on the real work, like running our markets, special events, marketing, and building strong community relations. Because we’re a small company, almost all of us run some events throughout the year. My annual “super bowl” is the Gervais Street Bridge Dinner, which I co-organize with Heather Curtis.
If you run into me around Columbia, it’s mostly likely…
grabbing a beer with friends at a local brewery or biking around the North Main and Main Street District.
Favorite Fact
On August 6, 2014, the Rosetta space probe reached a Comet 67P after a 10 year journey through space. In order to reach the velocity needed to catch up with 67P, Rosetta performed 3 gravity assisted flybys (like a slingshot), 2 by Earth and 1 by Mars. Rosetta travelled a total of 4 billion miles to reach Comet 67P, which at that time was travelling 34,000 mph — but she was not done. Slowing down to a relative velocity of 2.2 mph (by completing 3 arc maneuvers), Rosetta began orbiting 67P and on November 12th dropped the Philae lander ON THE COMET from an approximate distance of 20 miles. Science is wild, y’all.
Emile DeFelice
At Soda City I…
steer the vision and come up with some of the big ideas. Day to day, I weigh in on events and initiatives, and support co-workers in whatever way possible, such as meeting Erin on the Gervais St Bridge to figure out progressively ambitious logistics for that annual dinner, being Jordan’s and Stephen’s eyes and ears at the market, trimming down Olivia’s inbox by sorting out junk mail and handling the more rote responses, and plain ole’ being a good boy
If you run into me around Columbia, it’s mostly likely…
zipping around on my bike, sometimes with my little pup, Dobby, onboard. I am pretty domestic and stay mostly near home or grill out with Kristian (who co-founded the market with me back in November 2005) and friends at his place. When going out, you might catch me at Bourbon, Motor Supply, Baan Sawan, or Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen. Kayaking down the Saluda and an end of the summer day cool down swim at West Columbia Riverfront Park with my friend, Tom, are my favorite in-town things to do.
Favorite Fact
Columbia is one of only TWO southern cities with Class 4-5 rapids running through it. High-five Richmond, VA!
Olivia Pope
At Soda City I…
Ensure vending at the Soda City Market is simple and streamlined process. Whether I am bookkeeping, onboarding new vendors, event planning, explaining market protocol, sending invoices, running to the bank, or trying to determine which office snacks to order, it is all for the betterment of the company and each small business we have the pleasure in supporting.
If you run into me around Columbia, it’s mostly likely…
Grabbing fresh sushi at Camon, sipping a drink at Bourbon, cosplaying at a local convention, picking up coffee at Cool Beans, reading at Barnes & Noble, painting in the Horseshoe, lounging at the Saluda river, or just hanging out with my friends.
Favorite Fact
During a study in 2009, a team of biologists discovered a species of slime-mold that proved itself to be more efficient at planning quick transportation routes for the Tokyo metro system which had historically challenged subway designers for decades.
Karley Ruxton
At Soda City I…
Wake up early on Saturdays as an excuse to spend quality time with Stephen (my husband). I help him chalk off vendor spaces and assist wherever needed. Once the market begins, I become a purveyor of all the Soda City swag. I can be found at the Soda City tent smiling at cute pups and selling the softest of T-shirts.
If you run into me around Columbia, it’s mostly likely…
Close to home. Even pre-pandemic, I love that I can walk to coffee shops, restaurants, a brewery, and Segra Park from my house in Elmwood. If we’re not with our neighbor pod, you might find my husband and me at antique stores rummaging for hidden gems, scouring records at Papa Jazz, throwing discs in Earlewood park, or grabbing ingredients at Earth Fare as Stephen cooks his way through The Food Lab.
Favorite Fact
You can sneeze faster than a cheetah can run. A sneeze clocks in at 100 mph and blasts about 100,000 germs. Please cover your sneezes, wash your hands, and mask up!
Stephen Ruxton
At Soda City I…
do whatever I can to help out. Most of the time that means helping Jordan ensure the market runs smoothly, but it also includes cutting paper for the Gervais Street Bridge Dinner, pouring beers, and driving around a big white van.
If you run into me around Columbia, it’s mostly likely…
drinking a cold brew at my favorite neighborhood coffee shop with my wife and our giant fur-child.
Favorite Fact
Your face is older than your feet. Einstein’s theory of relativity tells us that the closer you are to the center of the Earth, the slower time goes. Therefore, time is actually passing faster at your head, than it is at your feet. If you were to stand at the top of Mount Everest, a year would be 15 microseconds shorter than someone who is standing on the beach. All of this may be a moot point, however, as some physicists have proposed that time itself could be slowing, and in a few billion years everything as we know it today will be just like a picture – frozen in time.
Market Hours
Every Saturday Morning
Rain or Shine
9:00am – 1:00pm
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