Columbus’s Oldest Businesses Still Open: 10 That Have Lasted 75+ Years

October 20, 2026

Columbus, Georgia is home to ten commercial institutions with documented operating histories stretching back at least 75 years, with the oldest dating to 1828. These businesses span diverse sectors including media, insurance, entertainment, retail, manufacturing, banking, healthcare, funeral services, and broadcasting, reflecting the industries that drove the city's evolution from a cotton-centered river trading hub to a regional economic center. While some operations remain family-owned and relatively unchanged, others have survived through mergers, ownership transfers, and significant operational transformations that preserved their names but altered their fundamental structures.

Who is affected

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer readers and staff (following 2026 ownership change to Georgia Trust for Local News)
Synovus customers and employees (affected by January 2026 merger with Pinnacle Financial Partners)
Descendants of founding families at Schomburg's Jewelers, Goldens' Foundry & Machine Co., and W.C. Bradley Co.
Patrons of Springer Opera House, Dinglewood Pharmacy, and Striffler-Hamby Mortuary
WRCG Radio listeners
Columbus residents who maintain relationships with these longstanding institutions

What action is being taken

The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer continues operating under Georgia Trust for Local News ownership (following July 2026 purchase)
Synovus continues serving Columbus customers under the Synovus name during transition to Pinnacle branding
Pinnacle is expanding its downtown Columbus workspace (announced June)
All ten businesses continue operating in their respective sectors

Why it matters

These ten institutions provide tangible connections to Columbus's economic and cultural evolution over nearly two centuries, demonstrating how the city transformed from a cotton mill-powered riverfront trading town into a diversified regional center. Their survival through major historical disruptions—including the Great Depression, two world wars, and fundamental economic shifts—illustrates successful business adaptation strategies and the importance of community relationships spanning multiple generations. The businesses also reveal that institutional longevity often requires significant transformation rather than resistance to change, as evidenced by mergers, ownership changes, and operational pivots that preserved recognizable names while fundamentally altering business structures.

What's next

Synovus customers will transition to Pinnacle branding, scheduled for 2027
Pinnacle will expand its downtown Columbus workspace (timeline not specified beyond June announcement)

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint