Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

The State calls Mardel a "faith-based bookstore and gift shop", and a little googling reveals the fact that it is sort of affiliated with Hobby Lobby, currently being owned by the same family. Beyond that, I know very little, and the article is not particularly informative, other than yielding the information that the store had been here since 2019.

You can read the article here.

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

This little pizza storefront was in the Food Lion plaza in Red Bank. Apparently they are hoping to move, but that does't seem to be planned out at current (or as of a few weeks ago, anyway). Their Facebook was last updated in February, and the chain's Locations page doesn't have them listed.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

Local Soul Food and Chicken & Waffles chain, Kiki's Chicken and Waffles closed their Harbison location on 28 June. The closing letter was rather interesting in that it acknowledged that the location hadn't lived up to their standards lately, and responded by closing the store rather than addressing those issues. On the other hand, the chain's ownership has had some recent legal woes that might make it difficult to put resources into a marginal operation.

This location opened in 2019, and the chain maintains several other locations in the area and one in Charleston. You can read about the closing at The State or on WIS or at the Post & Courier.

(Hat tip to commenter Tom)

Curiously, I was at this restaurant on, I think, 23 June. I used to drive to the Devine Street Ruby Tuesday once a week for the salad bar to give my 1980 some highway time. After that closed, this one was just a little too far to get to often, and I believe that before my june visit, the last time I was here was during the tail-end of the Pandemic in 2020. At the time, they were doing a bit of innovative entrepreneurship. If you will recall, the retail channel for many items, most famously toliet-paper had become dysfunctional while the janitorial supply-chain was still working, and in fact under-stressed with so many people working from home instead of offices. Anyway, this location (and I believe a number of others nationwide) was selling toilet-paper and a number of other items along with their regular menu. I don't know how long that lasted, probably no more than a few months I guess, but it was good hustle.

But, getting back to the main thread, it had been quite a while since that visit, and out of the blue I had a hankering for the salad bar, so I drove out for lunch that day.

Immediately as I stepped inside, I had the feeling of a restaurant on its last legs. The floor was dingy and sticky, and the staff was apathetic. It took me several minutes to get recognized and greeted, and I was finally seated at a dirty table and had to request a table wipe. It took quite a while for the waitress to get back, and when I put in my order for the salad bar, I went over and found it rather disheveled with wilted and spotted lettuce and number of other items that needed tending to. Then when my tea came, it tasted very odd. I picked through my plate, and decided that this place was off the list. As it turned out, a week or two later it was off everyone's list.

Here's the story in the Post & Courier.

(Hat tip to commenter Trevin)

Koru Group Fitness moved into this old Steak Mart location at the corner of Rosewood & Maple in 2020. Now it appears that the owner has decided it is time to retire and spend some time with the grandchildren, winding down the operation on 30 June. You can read the closing announcement on their Facebook.

(Hat tip to commenter Travis, who was a happy client of the place)

Il Focolare Pizzeria suffered some unwanted fireworks the night of the Fourth as a kitchen fire did enough damage to shut them down for an unknown period of time while repairs are made. When I drove by, it looked like the damage did not extend to the exterior walls or roof of the building, but as you can see from the pictures in the various links below, the cooking area is rather frazzled.

Il Focolare Pizzeria started in 2019, and replaced another pizza spot Citta del Cotone.

You can read about the fire at the restaurant's Facebook, in The State or on WIS.

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

Slim Chickens replaced (after a hiatus) another chicken operation Golden Chick which closed in 2019. Slim Chickens opened here in March of 2024 giving them somewhat over two years in operation.

I'm not a chicken fan, but my sister & niece tried it once, were not impressed, and I don't believe went back.

None of the news stories give any reason for the closing though commenter John indicated that he witnessed staffing issues there. Personally, I think that being on the same block as Zaxby's can't have helped.

You can read about the closing at The State or at The Post & Courier.

(Hat tip to commenter John)

Somehow.

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I never got a picture of Club 1509 after it replaced Kandy Shop in this building, but I did notice that it was gone some time ago, judging by the last posts on their Facebook, probably in 2024.

There is now a church, True Word Church setting up in the building.