Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

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)

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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.

Oh for the halcyon days when I could nonchalantly mount the trampolines at King's Funland at the beach! Nowdays just thinking about trampolines makes my bones hurt...

Flight Adventure Park at Sandhill was trampolines and more -- You can see a shot of the floor at The Post & Courier. What impressed itself on me immediately was the size of the parking lot, and the fact that they apparently bussed kids in.

The timing of this closure seems rather odd: It's summer, and all the kids are out of school. You would think this would be the busiest season, and the time to catch up if business had been lagging. It's certainly a turn of events that can't help the beleaguered shopping complex.

We'll have to see what develops here -- It's a huge building so it's hard to imagine what could go in there, though something has before: I can see a label scar from its previous existence, but I can't quite bring to mind what it was.

You can read stories about the closing at The State and WIS

(Hat tip to commenter Gypsie)

Seven people shot over 65 days is a bit much, and the RCSD shut down this Broad River Road area club after a killing on 14 June. Today the RCSD announced they have arrested the alleged killer, who frankly, should already have been in jail.

It's a fairly small club for all the trouble it has caused, and I was not tempted to get out and get any closer pictures.

You can read more stories on WACH and The Post & Courier.

(Hat tip to commenter Lavender)

In general, I'm more a fan of Jimmy John than Subway, though I used to eat semi-regularly at the one on Garners Ferry back when I worked on Bluff Road. This one I never did eat at, and the Google reviews suggest that was good planning on my part. I had noticed some months ago that it was closed and took these pictures one evening later than I should have. I was planning to go back sometime and get some in actual daylight, but apparently that's not going to happen if it hasn't so far, so it is what it is.

I have noticed a number of Subway closings recently, for instance one longtime shop in Murrells Inlet is gone. They have apparently had some hard times in recent years and were sold in 2020, about the worst year to do anything involving restaurants. Ironically, given my comment above, the new(ish) owners actually own Jimmy Johns as well, though I stand by my preference.