Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

This chocolate & pecan gift shop was on Sumter north of Elmwood, not too far from the former Citta del Coton pizzeria. I was not really aware of it, but looking at their web site there is some tasty looking stuff there.

Neither their facebook nor twitter has a post explaining why they closed the physical store, but given the 'conditions what prevail', I certainly suspect COVID-19 played a part.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

I tried to get a daytime shot of The Pita Pit, but ended up with no parking and someone on my bumper. Actually, there was still no parking even at night, but at least I could stop for these two shots.

Pita Pit on Main, and apparently another location in Five Points, closed on 16 March due to COVID-19. I'm not sure about the Five Points store, but this one is now up for sale, so it won't be coming back.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 9 June 2022: Changing the post title and text to remove "The" from in front of "Pita Pit".

I had not realized that Flo's Place in Murrells Inlet was closed until I drove by recently and saw a different sign. I never ate there myself, not being a big seafood fan, but an aunt did, and declared the place "fun". Last week I was able to google up a news article to the efect that the owners were retiring, but today I can't find that information. I do see a listing for an auction of the quirky decor, which took place in early 2019, leading me to put the closing date as late in 2018 (and there are reviews up through September 2018).

Here is a 2017 Sun News article on Flo's in operation.

The space is now American Steak & Oyster Bar.

LoopNet says this nice little building on the corner of Laurel & Sumter streets was built in 1950. Given its rather art-deco look, with rounded corners and inset glass blocks, I would have guessed earlier myself. These drive-by pictures, taken through the windshield, aren't great, and the color scheme in the LoopNet picture is better as well, so take a look there if you are curious.

The last tenant was Print House Plus who have moved to 1519 Taylor Street.

This one has been mooted about in Have Your Say for a couple of days now, but Circle K on Bethel Church Road closed today.

This store was once a Kangaroo Express and went to Circle K a few years ago when Kangaroo was bought out. The building is smaller than the new Circle K concept you see in recent construction like Forest Drive & Harbison, plus another convenience store recently opened across the street in the old Ravenwood Pharmacy, neither of which can have helped.

The gas prices were not particularly low here, but I enjoyed the fact that if I filled up here, I didn't have to go out on Forest Drive or elsewhere out of the neighboorhood. I also generally found the ladies at the counter here to be very friendly, and the new coffee machines (as at all CKs) made a quite decent cup.

(Hat tip to commenter Matthew)

UPDATE 12 November 2020: Adding The Pantry & Kangaroo Express to the post title.

UPDATE 18 November 2020 -- As mentioned in the comments, the gas tanks have been excavated as seen in these 17 November pix:

UPDATE 29 March 2023: Updating tags.

While I was getting hot doughnuts on Clemson Road, I noticed that Landy's Pharmacy in the Krispy Kreme plaza is building a new home on Sparkleberry Lane ajacent to Sparkleberry Crossing.

The lot with the new building used to have a stand-alone ATM with a horseshoe drive-through lane, but that was many years ago. Both the current location and this one are a bit odd as they are quite close to a CVS, but I think this site will have a little better access (and, of course, is bigger).

I tried the Philly Pretzel Factory on Rosewood shortly after it opened (it was fine), but was unaware of this location in the Publix plaza on Broad River Road. Judging from the Google reviews, this place opened in February 2020, possibly the worst time in the last 100 years to open a restaurant, and the door sign pegs the closing at 30 October.

(Hat tip to commenter Ellen)

UPDATE 15 March 2022: Updating tags.

UPDATE 23 January 2023: Updating tags.

Indian Wells Golf Club is on the Garden City Connector, a short cut-through that joins US-17 Business with US-17 Bypass just north of the former Pink Pony. As is usual for the Grand Strand, the area has developed quite a bit in the last decade, and there is now a Wal-Mart on the east end of the connector.

According to The Sun News, the plan is to replace the golf course with up to 520 houses and townhouses. This, understandably has upset the locals who already live by the course, who would see their green spaces replaced with houses and traffic, and there have been protests against the development plans.

The course was 36 holes, and opened in 1984 with Hole #9 named to the "Grand Strand's Dream 18". You can see some pictures of the course in manicured operation here. By the time I walked the course on 1 November 2020, I couldn't really tell where the holes had been (though I did find a sandtrap) as it had grown over very quickly during the year of closure.

It was a very pleasant outing though, as the cart paths are still there, and without golf, your "nice walk spoiled" is just a nice walk. There are a number of ducks and herons on the water, and I have seen folks out in canoes from time to time as well; the place is now an unofficial park, and I can see why the folks living behind it will miss it.

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This little storefront across from the former Yesterday's on Santee Avenue has been a number of things over the years. Most recently, it was Sunrise Artisan Bath and Body, until they moved into the old Portfolio Art Gallery space on Saluda back in early 2019.

Here is The State story on that move.

This little shaved ice emporium is in the parking lot of The Ole Timey Meat Market in Irmo, and I'm not really sure when it closed, but I can't recall ever seeing anybody there -- though I certainly don't drive that stretch of road more than once or twice a week, if that. At any rate, I'm sure Pelican opening in the old Tony's Party Shop, can't have helped, and as that was in 2017, I'll put that in the post title.