Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Uncle Louie's in The Vista has closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. They have been closed on a temporary basis since 17 March, but today made it permanent. Commenter Lone Wolf provides the news, and this Coladaily link:

Representatives from Uncle Louie's, a popular bar in Columbia's Vista, announced Wednesday that the business will be closing permanently, effective immediately. The bar had already closed March 17, at the time as a temporary closure, due to COVID-19.

Management posted on the business Facebook page:

"We are sad to say that March 17th was our LAST last call. When we opened 20 yrs ago we never imagined the time we would have. Without a great staff and the best regulars in town it never would have been possible. Thanks for letting us serve you and for the friendships we made along the way. Please continue to eat and drink local, tip your bartenders, and be good to each other. Cheers!"

I took these pictures some years ago when I got an incorrect report that the place had closed at that time.

As a general note, I echo Lone Wolf's sentiments that something has got to give. Every death is tragic, but at some point the harm being done by destroying people's livelihoods just becomes too overwhelming for this to go on.

(Hat tip to commenter Lone Wolf)

At one time, in a vanished building, this address hosted Mammy's Shanty restaurant.

The current building has been a number of car related businesses. Brooks Automotive and The Auto Club, Inc. were follow-ons in this spot to Prestige Hitech Autowerks. From this Facebook post, I think I can say that Brooks opened early in 2015. The inflatable Carfox caught my eye in May of 2015, which is when that set of pictures dates from. I assume, since they appear to have been co-located and presumably related, that The Auto Club dates from the same period.

I noticed on 1 March of 2020 (a rather dreary day) that they were gone as well.

I would expect another car operation to move in at some point, but not, I'm sure, until the current mess is sorted out.

UPDATE 10 October 2022 -- I'm not sure what Nutall has to do with this property as they are up the hill a bit, but the door sign suggests maybe they are working on this site. Anyway, I took some more pictures:

Also adding a mpap icon.

Carolina Wings & Rib House has shed a number of locations over the last few years. According to the chain web site, they currently have five operating inasmuch as any restaurants are operating right now.

I was not aware of this Washington Street location at all until commenter Gary noted its closing. This one would have not have been too far from the Gervais Street location which is now Twin Peaks, though I guess it would have been too far for downtown office lunchers to hoof.

(Hat tip to commenter Gary)

As reported by commenter Andrew, the Food Lion in Polo Plaza has upped shop and moved to the old Bi-Lo in Spring Valley Commons.

This move leaves not a lot in Polo Plaza, which Domino's having moved last year.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 2 May 2020: Changed the move date from March 2020 to June 2019 based on the comments.

And so it begins..

When my parents were still living, we ate at Yesterday's fairly often. In recent years, I have only gone a few times, but never worried about it, as I figured it would always be there. Hopefully they will come back.

Read the rest of this entry »

Mostly you should not expect many "new" closings during this odd hiatus, and this is no exception:

This GNC was in the Walmart center on Bush River Road. I'm not sure when it closed. I have looked back several years in phonebooks, but don't see it listed. Unfortunately, I did not get a book last year or this, so it could be very recent. I will just say 2019-ish for now.

Well, I had to go out to mail something the other day, and decided I might as well check out the Steak n' Shake in Blythewood.

There has already been some discussion of this in various comments, with commenter Sidney putting this down to the classic real-estate trifecta: Location, location, location!. I'm sure that has something to do with it, but I believe the chain is having trouble in general. In particular, I know they exited Myrtle Beach last year and were having lots of problems even before the current mess.

The linked article says they closed 107 restaurants that "could not deliver excellent customer service" in 2019, so something is going on. Wikipedia says they adopted a new franchaise model in 2018, so perhaps that is not working out for them. Apparently some restaurants will re-open as counter-service only operations -- I do not know if this one will be among that group.

I have never eaten at a Steak n' Shake -- Columbia's only other one closed years ago, and has been razed -- but it has always been on my list to try someday. Oh well.

(Hat tip to commenter Shut it Down)

Aladdin occupied the spot formerly allocated to the Saint Andrews branch of Capitol Newsstand, and was apparently more of a grocery than a restaurant, at least according to both their name and their Yelp reviews.

I had thought they had closed several years ago, but I see they listed in the 2018 phonebook, so I will say "2018" for the closing date. They have been replaced by one of the inexplicable raft of new crab restaurants in town.

UPDATE 21 November 2020: Updated tags

I noticed recently that Frank's Discount Tire on Fairlane Drive is now Mavis Discount Tire. I don't have any experience with either business, but I have to say Frank's had the nicer sign. Of course I'm a sucker for neon.

UPDATE 18 March 2021: Edited the tags.

As mentioned by commenter Andrew, Tripp's Fine Cleaners have closed their Saint Andrews Road location. Looking at their sign, I think the closest next location to here is probably the old Piggly Wiggly location on Lake Murray Boulevard.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 21 November 2020: Updated tags.

UPDATE 25 January 2022 -- Now Greedy Rascals, a hot dog arcade(?):

UPDATE 1 February 2024: Updating tags.