Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I first wrote about this location doing a closing on the Ryan's that previously occupied the spot. That closed in early 2009, and by early 2010 (if not before) Hibachi Grill P&G Buffett was open in its old spot.

I don't know what the issues with the building are -- it's not that old, but apparently P&G are doing major work on it, and the restaurant is closed during the construction. (And this is not one of those hopeful "closed for remodeling" deals where you know it's never coming back -- the work has actually started and is ongoing).

(Hat tip to commenter badger)

UPDATE 16 July 2013 -- Took the "temporary" tag off the subject line as the location has opened as a new business, Ichiban Hibachi & Sushi Buffett:

UPDATE -- Ichiban has been doing some billboard advertising:

UPDATE 28 January 2020 -- As mentioned in the comments for the Ryan's incarnation of this building, the structure has now been razed. It's a bit of a shame because it wasn't a bad looking building:

UPDATE 21 March 2022 -- This place is setting up to be a Slim Chickens:

UPDATE 2 February 2023 -- Slim Chickens is now built and open, and Starbucks is built:

Platt Springs road has an improbable number of jewelry stores, but now there is one less, and Lonely Street is in fact a bit more lonely..

According to their ad, Jewelry Warehouse had been there since 1977. Now they have closed their flagship store, and are in the process (which seems a bit protracted) of moving to Parkland Plaza and into the old Parkland Pharmacy location.

UPDATE 7 May 2025: Add map icon, update tags.

I had noticed Lexington Arms a few years ago when I did a closing on the Piggly Wiggly / Ace Hardware across the parking lot.

At the time, just from the rather 1970s look of the place, I figured it was a local hole-in-the-wall and didn't take the effort to find out anything about it. From my web searches today, I was apparently totally wrong, and this was a well regarded European restaurant serving authentic French and German food -- some of which you can apparently make them an offer on..

(Hat tip to commenter Kc)

UPDATE 8 August 2017 -- Well something is happening here. I assume the adjacent church is taking over and upfitting this wing of the plaza, but if not them, then someone is:

Well, that didn't last long. I posted a closing for Carolina MoneySaver at this site back on 6 January 2012, and since then the followup operation, Carolina Title Loans has already moved in and then either folded or moved on.

I still kind of like the checker-board floor, which is unchanged from the MoneySaver days.

The pix are all, unfortunately, from yet another of our recent oversupply of grey days.

UPDATE 30 August 2016 -- Actually I think I was wrong about this place. They hadn't closed when the pictures above were taken, they just were taking an incredibly long time to open. They finally *did* open, but closed after a short time, and now the building is for sale:

UPDATE 19 August 2019 -- Now Fabric Bistro:

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This almost vacant site on Airport Boulevard at the south-west corner of the Airport Boulevard/I-26 interchange was definitely a restaurant, and not that long ago -- certainly into the late 1990s. As I recall it was bought up and razed for some sort of road construction.

I remember eating there a few times for late night fare, and was 100% positive that it was a Denny's. However, I can't verify that in either the 1997 phonebook, or the 2005 one, and I'm not getting any definite google hits for a Denny's on Airport Boulevard (except in other cities).

I'm not a big fan of Denny's -- somewhere there must be one with exceptional service and food that looks like the pictures, but I haven't found it yet. They have their uses though -- I'm reminded of this web comic (though it is for another late night institution). I remember working a project on Fort Benning and the only good part of my day being when we hung it up at midnight and being able to have a grilled cheese sandwich on the way back to the hotel..

Anyway, whatever they plan to do on this lot, it seems to be taking them a long time to do it.

UPDATE 24 April 2013: Added a street address, took the question mark off of Denny's? and added the Kettle Restaurant based on the comments.

Somehow I've never gotten around to trying Thai food, though I think I might like it. Thai Lotus on at the top of the hill on Saint Andrews Road is no longer an option for that though. The online reviews look mixed, but the place lasted for a good while. In fact, if you look through the foyer window, you can see *two* payphones, which tells you something about the vintage. Most places ripped them out a good while ago, leaving either odd little alcoves near the bathrooms or bereft cables on the wall..

I quite like the picnic terrace on the left side of the building. It has a nice tree growing up through it, and overlooks the activity farther down the hill.

(Hat tip to commenter Nobody.)

UPDATE 22 April 2013: Added Lowcountry Cafe and Yesterday's to the post title based on the comments and the 1985 phonebook (Yesterday's).

UPDATE 28 January 2020 -- Now Steve's Classic Burgers:

The Rolling Stone was the follow-on operation to End Zone Grill on Rosewood just up from the Fairgrounds.

It got some publicity last year for getting into a spat with representatives of the music magazine of the same name over trademark issues. I guess that was settled, as neither the bar nor the magazine changed its name. I never stopped by, but it looks to have had a nice setup, with an outdoor stage and movie screeen and a bonfire pit. I have to say though, that the tree by the front left of the building is by far my favorite feature.

The place has just reopened as a barbecue operation, The Southern Belle.

(Hat tip to commenter Dennis B.)

This Burger King, between Roper Pond and the defunct bank on Trenholm Road, is the latest Columbia BK to close down for remodeling. They seem to be cranking through these upfits pretty expeditiously, so I wouldn't expect it to be closed for more than a month or so.

(Hat tip to commenter Matt)

UPDATE 11 June 2013 -- Open again!

UDATE 22 April 2014: Changed the post title to add "open again".