South Carolina Business Review

Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia receives accolades

By Mike Switzer

Published August 8, 2025 at 6:30 AM EDT

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Tommy Stringfellow, president and CEO of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, SC

Our next guest’s popular Midlands destination scored a double victory recently by placing in the top ten in two categories from USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Mike Switzer interviews Tommy Stringfellow, president and CEO of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, which finished in ninth and seventh place, respectively, in the categories of "Best Zoo" and "Best Zoo Membership."

Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens in Columbia, South Carolina

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Mike Switzer

After almost 20 years, Mike Switzer retired from Wells Fargo Securities in 2001 as Senior Vice President/Investment Officer and Certified Portfolio Manager. In 1999, he and his wife, Maggie, purchased and operated for eight years the Baskin Robbins ice cream store on Forest Drive in Columbia. They grew the store from a bottom-tier operation in the Baskin Robbins franchise system to one in the top 5% nationwide within three years, tripling sales along the way. While operating the ice cream store, Mike and Maggie received patents for a portable ice cream sink and fold-down sneezeguard they invented and in 2002 started Magnolia Carts, an ice cream cart manufacturing company, which they sold in 2013.

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