Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Based on the available evidence, it appears to me that Monday 6 January was the last day of operation for the Lexington Wild Hare, on US-1 north of I-20. This closing leaves the chain with two restaurants: one in the Vista and one on the Western segment of Bush River Road near the former Irmo Kmart.

(Hat tip to commenter badger)

UPDATE 25 September 2016 -- This is now The Kingsman Cue & Brew:

I've always enjoyed the food at the various Al-Amir locations over the years, though they have sometimes seemed to operate on rather an amateur basis, where you might not get the side-items the menu said came with your meal, or get your glass refilled in a timely manner. Still, I'm sad to see this one (in the old Shane's Rib Shack location, and which was, I believe basically a replacement for the Sparkleberry Crossing one), or indeed any one close.

I think that at current, the one in the old Stuffy's location at University Corner on Main is the only one open.

(Hat tip to commenter Mr. Hat)

UPDATE 14 July 2017 -- Now Blaze Pizza:

After the Forest Acres location closed in the fall of 2012, this Sunset Boulevard location was the chain's only remaining Midlands (or indeed South Carolina) location. In fact, looking at the Yumilicious website, it appears that all the remaining locations are in Texas.

I'm afraid I never stopped at either location, having more or less given up on anything yogurt related years ago since it all seems to be non-fat, or low-fat today. If I'm going to have a frozen treat, it's going to be full-fat..

(Hat tip to commenter mike)

UPDATE 6 March 2014 -- Some daylight pix:

UPDATE 19 February 2022: Adding map icon and updating tags.

"Some Pig!"

This years' was the warmest Nights of 1000 Candles I've ever been to. In past years, there have been times when I have been so cold that I couldn't feel the buttons on the camera, but this year was not just mild: We're talking bikini weather here (though even so attired, you would still have on more clothes than most of the statuary..).

In years past, I have either taken a tripod (now disallowed) or set the camera on something for long time exposures. This year, I just cranked the ISO up to 16000, 32000 and sometimes 64000 to see how things would come out. Obviously the results aren't as pristine as some in the past, but despite all the high-ISO noise, I think you get the general spirit. If you've never gone, well, it's too late for this year, but you should make some plans for next.

UPDATE 5 December 2023: Update post title & tags, add map icon.

LoopNet says this building at the corner of North Main & Summerville Avenue was a grocery and dates from the early 1940s. I'm pretty sure it hasn't been a grocery in my memory, but I can't bring to mind anything that it *was* either.

I have to say it's kind of a grim looking building. Perhaps it would look more cheerful with fresh paint, but I don't think so.

UPDATE 9 June 2016 -- Now Royal Priesthood Ministry Center:

Well, just to continue our ongoing list of Pig closings, the store in Litchfield Beach is now gone.

This was a fairly new store, and quite nice. It also seemed to always do quite a good business as far as I could tell.

The store is located in a plaza just across US-17 from the main Litchfield resort area (with the old Tara Theater) and has a number of restaurants and a few retail operations. There has been some churn during the financial crisis, and Blockbuster, a computer store and a couple of others have gone, but Massey's Pizza and Eggs Up have moved in, so on the whole it is doing OK. Physically the site is quite nice, with moss draped live-oaks and stop-light access.

The Pig will be re-opening as a Bi-Lo, and I have to think that this will mean moving the Bi-Lo from a few blocks north into this spot. Currently the Bi-Lo (originally built as a Harris Teeter) is in an older, failing plaza, which has recently seen the only other decent store (Litchfield Books) decamp to the new Fresh Market complex.

All of this movement takes place in the total revamping of the local grocery environment. Along with the newly opened and afore-mentioned Fresh Market, the Grand Strand's first Publix will be opening in the currently dowdy Pawleys Island Plaza, and a Lowe's Foods will be opening in a new plaza at the Island's South Causeway. This has to be putting a good deal of pressure on Food Lion which has been running a rather up-scale location also at the South Causeway.

(*) All the online google hits list this location as Pawleys Island. In my mind that is clearly wrong. This is Litchfield Beach, plain and simple. Somehow the area covered by the Pawleys Island moniker has tended to spread as "Arrogantly Shabby" has become "upscale" and gained a bit of cachet.

As if all the street work in the area weren't enough, the USC Wendy's on Assembly Street next to the CVS is being partially torn down for renovation.

In these pix from 3 December, you can see that they have totally opened the building to the air, though the walls are still standing. Apparently they have a rush order on the worlk as the crew was still on the job despite it being night, and raining.

Commenter Andrew spotted the work, and commenter Terry found this explanatory story from WIS.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

Update 28 March 2014 -- Here is The State story on the re-opening of this store (and the closing of the Beltline store).

UPDATE 30 April 2014 -- Here's the remodelled restaurant open again for business:

This Payless shoe store was at the corner of Devine & Rosewood, not far from the old Taco Bell and the Rosewood Blockbuster.

One sign says that the store is relocating, but while I hope the employees were able to move, I think this is really just a call-out to an already existing other store.

I believe I still have a pair of shoes from Payless, though I'm not sure it was this store, that have lasted quite a few years. Of course, I only wear them to weddings and funerals, so there has not been a lot of wear & tear.

(Hat tip to commenter john)

UPDATE 27 February 2019: Add tags and map icon.

Another day, another Blockbuster. I guess it's too late to change their pre-printed banners which continue to say This Location Only..

This particular storefront is on the tail-end of Rosewood, in a little strip which has now had the misfortune to have bet on two outlets for now defunct media formats.

UPDATE 26 November 2013 -- Here are some daylight pix:

UPDATE 14 January 2014:

Say Goodnight Gracie.

"Goodnight Gracie!"

UPDATE 15 May 2017 -- It appears this storefront now has a permanent occupant, Colonial Healthcare:

UPDATE 5 October 2020: Changing name in post title to "Blockbuster Video" from "Blockbuster". Updating tags. Adding map icon.

Well, as we've discussed recently, Blockbuster, at least as a physical store, is on the way out. The parent company, Dish Network is shuttering the chain, basically, due to the rise of Internet video. The last Blockbuster movie rental, 'This Is The End', was on Saturday in Hawaii.

I'm not sure how long the clearance at the remaining stores will go on. It's possible this Irmo store is already closed, as these pictures were taken a week ago now, and I haven't been back by. This location joins a long list of Columbia area Blockbusters which have featured here. And Rosewood will be up as soon as I get the chance to get some pictures there.

UPDATE 26 January 2014 -- Well, that's it, as seen in this pix from 12 Jan:

UPDATE 12 February 2016 - As mentioned in the comments, this whole store has now been subdivided and re-purposed:

UPDATE 5 October 2020: Change name in post title from "Blockbuster" to "Blockbuster Video". Update tags, add map icon. Changing closing date from "Real Soon Now" to December 2013.