Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I have seen a number of shows at this comedy venue in a decaying old Winn-Dixie building on Decker over they years, and quite enjoyed them. For a while I was on their email list, but that stopped at some point, probably because of an ownership change of which this place has seen several. In particular I recall that the first website for the club became inaccessible some years ago, and you had to note the new site the (then) current owners had set up from the corner sign or something like that. At any rate, it was not a smooth transition. Reviews of the place suggest another ownership change took place sometime in 2024, and the new regime never really found its footing (commenter badger suggests there were reasons for that), with a number of complaints about cancelled shows and charges for food that never made it to tables. It's not entirely clear when the last shows were, but I'm going to guess sometime early in 2025.

Currently the place's web site goes to a very sketchy looking WordPress blog that seems to date to years ago, and the interior seems to be undergoing some sort of demolition.

(Hat tip to commenter anonymous)

I meant to get back and take a better picture than this drive-by, but apparently that's not going to happen.

TakoSushi closed their original downtown location in 2019, and their Forest Acres location in 2025. They returned to downtown in 2022, occuping two suites in the Arcade Mall. Apparently there is still a location in Lexington, though I can't recall ever seeing it.

You can read about it on WIS, in The State or at The Post & Courier.

(Hat tip to commenter Heath)

When I went by this location on 11 July 2026, they still had the World Cup promotional signs up as if the closing caught them by surprise. I don't believe I ever ate here, so I don't have much to say about it, though I will note that the Post & Courier story on the closing namechecks Columbia Closings.

(Hat tip to commenter Tom)

You can also read about in The State.

I was unaware of Chayz Lounge on Meeting Street until commenter Gypsie mentioned that it is closing after nine years. Judging by the webpage, it looks like a very interesting place: A small venue with fine dining and the musicians right in front of the diners.

The WIS story is here, and from that, and looking at the schedule, you still have until late this year to pick up a show.

(Hat tip to commenter Gypsie)

I noticed going down Decker the other day that longtime Korean restaurant O-Bok was gone, and a new place called Sura was operating in the building. As far as I can tell, the new place does not have a web site, but you can get the menu on google.

I would see this place often over the years driving down I-20, but I never knew quite what it was all about. In the event it appears it was a Harley dealership, yes, but also a gathering place for the Harley community with a restaurant and concert space as well as the sales & maintanence floors. I don't see a news article anywhere online, but Google AI says the owner retired and elected to close the place down in February, which agrees in general with what I see on their Facebook page.

Like the adjacent Quaker Stake & Lube property (which is vacant again), it is a bit hard to figure out how to get to this lot. In particular, you cannot head down the frontage road the the Clemson Road exit. You have to take Spears Creek Church Road and then go behind the Starbucks. Anyway, it's a distinctive looking building, and it will be interesting to see what happens to it.

(Hat tip to commenter Gypsie)

Here's another longtime downtown spot I was unaware of. Apparently Hampton Place Cafe had been serving up sandwiches for 35 years, closing in late July.

You can read about it in The Post & Courier or The State.

(Hat tip to commenter Mr. Hat)

As mentioned in this WIS story the Harbison Jimmy John's was rammed by a care on 31 July, causing a good bit of damage. This WLTX story amplifies a bit, and implies a cause for the crash. When I drove by on Sunday 9 August, it appeared that the restaurant was back in operaiton with temporary plywood up to cover the damage.

This is the second Columbia Jimmy John's to be rammed in recent years, with the Garners Ferry location undergoing something similar in 2022.

(Hat tip to commenter Gypsie)

Burger Tavern 77 replaced Yo Burrito in this spot, opening in early 2012. To my memory, I went there twice, was not impressed the first time, and did not care for it at all the last time in December 2024. Since then it had a number of DHEC grading issues as mentioned in this Post & Courier article, and amplified on in this Reddit thread.

They temporarily closed for renovations on 1 July, but as longtime readers here know, "temporarily closed for renovations" is more often a pious hope than a realistic plan.

At any rate, the closure is now permanent, and a new, unspecified, concept will be coming to the location. Commenter Larry says it will be called "Seared".

(Hat tip to commenter MB)

Getting down to Melbourne this summer, I found a number of places gone, but the Barnes & Noble surprised me. I had been to this store numerous times over the years, and it always reminded me strongly of the old Harbison store in its feel and layout. As it turns out, not to worry, much. Googling once I got home establishes that the store has moved up the road a little ways to take over an old Party City. Reaction from locals on Reddit is a little mixed with some dislike for the new, shared, parking lot compared to this store's dedicated lot, and a layout which makes the cafe less central.

The new store opened on 11 March 2026 as you can read here and in a press release here.

As is mandatory for such cases, the old building is becoming a Spirit Halloween.