Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

My first thought at seeing this former First Citizens branch at the corner of the Charleston Highway and Platt Springs Road was that there must be some sort of sporting event in the area as the lot was packed full of cars taking advantage of the Sunday bank closure to park there.

A closer inspection revealed the actual facts, which are that the bank is gone, and the lot is being used as an impromptu (I could see no business sign at least..) used car lot. I've heard the old GM described as a bank that sold some cars, perhaps the concept is spreading...

UPDATE 20 October 2022: Adding map icon and updating tags.

I already did a closing on this building on Meeting Street in West Columbia near Triangle City for when it was Bell's Hamburger Drive-In, but I noticed a while ago that the follow on operation (which was not the immediate follow-on!) Chiva Auto Sales is now gone as well.

That gave me a chance to get some more shots of this place, without all the cars parked outside, and the guy wondering what the heck I was doing sitting inside. However, the place is tightly fenced off now, so I still can't get any close shots through the building windows. It will be a shame if the next owners tear down the building and marquee which absolutely scream of a certain era, but I can't imagine it being suited to much other than used-car office these days..

UPDATE 3 December 2014 -- This building has now been razed. See the pictures at the Bell's Hamburger Drive-In closing.

With a name like Senor O'Malley's this place sounds like Columbia's answer to Charleston's Jaunita Greenberg's. I have to admit though that I was completely unaware of it, despite having been in the area multiple times recently.

From the local blogger reviews here and here, it souunds as though I probably would have liked it, though perhaps not when the college crowd was out strong.

(Hat tip to commenter MB)

I've done so many closings on Blockbusters that it's hard to believe there are still some around. It's kind of like finding one of those prehistoric fish that get dredged up every now and then. This one is on Broad River Road near the old G-E-X, and is already having their final clearance sale. It's amazing how far and how quickly a company which once had naming rights to everything and thought they were the future of entertainment has fallen..

(Hat tip to commenter William)

UPDATE 8 April 2013 -- As reported by commenter Andrew below, this place closed on 24 March, and the signs are down:

UPDATE 9 April 2014 -- Now a Buddy's Home Furnishings:

UPDATE 5 October 2020: Updating post tags, changing name in post title from "Blockbuster" to "Blockbuster Video", adding map icon.

I remember going into Learning Express sometime last year while I was looking for something for my niece. Unfortunately, I can't recall what I was looking for or if I found it. I do recall that the place was upscale and had some toys that I would have been interested in back in the day.

OK, who am I kidding -- I'd still be interested in them!

(Hat tip to commenter Terry)

UPDATE 10 April 2013 -- Interesting. Now it's to reopen as Learning Express under new management:

UPDATE 22 April 2013 -- Open again:

UPDATE 27 April 2020 -- As commenter Jacob Pittman notes, this store is closed once more. According to the chain website, the only curren tMidlands location is at 5175 Sunset Blvd., Suite 12 Lexington, SC 29072.

Here is the press release for the reopening of this storefont, which apparently took place on 12 April 2013.

While their closing note is hopeful, the real estate sign in the window and their recent facebook traffic is not. It looks like this combination Bruster's Real Ice Cream and Nathan's Famous on Columbiana Drive is gone.

I don't think I've ever had a Nathan's frank, but the few times I've had Bruster's ice cream, it's been perfectly fine. I do rather question their no-dining-room concept. I think that hurt the one on Beltline and the one in Murrells Inlet. This one actually seems to have more in the way of picnic tables and outside benches than those did though. I wonder too if some of these Columbiana/Harbison places are a victim of the Yogi Berra Effect:

Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded.

It was not a particularly peak time when I took these pix, and it was still a bit of a wait to turn left into the complex -- and that's when I had made it that far. Another trip to look into the reports of Chick-Fil-A closing in the mall got aborted when I came down the hill from St. Andrews Road and saw the backup from Bowers Parkway on -- I just pulled a you-ie and 180-ed out of there..

(Hat tip to commenter Mike)

UPDATE 3 October 2018 -- As mentioned by commenter Tom, and as you can (barely) see in the picture below, this is now a Tony's Pizza:

UPDATE 30 August 2021: Updating tags.

Well, I thought I ought to get these pictures up before they acutally finish the remodeling and have the store open again!

Anyway, this is another Columbia area Burger King being upfitted, and the operation is fairly well along by now. This store is at the the intersection of Bush River Road with I-20, and sits next to Cracker Barrel and not far from Hamrick's. As you can see from the main sign, hiring for the reopening has already commenced.

(Noted by many folks, but I think the initial Hat Tip goes to commenter Homer)

Not sure what happened here, as the location doesn't seem too bad to me, and it has fairly easy access to the Wal-Mart stoplight, but the Raceway at Bush River Road and I-26 has closed. The only site negative I can see is the separate bathroom building, which I personally don't like because there's often a locking hassle and you end up splitting your time at three locations.

(Hat tips to commenters Tom & Frank)

UPDATE 22 June -- As mentioned in the comments, this place is open again:

UPDATE 27 January 2016 -- This place is closed again:

I get out to this part of the metro area very rarely as it's quite a pain to make it there from Forest Acres, or indeed from practically anywhere not in the neighboorhood. I did notice this little dessert cafe in the Publix shopping center some time ago when I was on Hardscrabble checking for another closing, and I recall thinking that it was a shame I had just had lunch. I think the little gazabo might have worked better on the rear of the shop, away from the heavy traffic in front, but still, it would have been nice to sit out in the Spring and watch the world go by.

(Hat tip to commenter Jason)

UPDATE 28 August 2020: Changing address in post title to "Hardscrabble" rather than "Hard Scrabble". Adding map icon, updating tags.

This spot at the corner of Main & Laurel Streets has been a number of things over the years, even over the recent years, perhaps most notably The Elite Epicurean.

I really wasn't aware of Chelsea's, having last written about the place in early 2011 when it had just quit being Club Dreams. Presumably, Chelsea's moved in sometime later in that year.

I'm going to take a flyer and guess it closed around Christmas..

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)