Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Here's a heart-themed post for Valentines..

I don't know a lot about Heart 2 Heart (or "♥ 2 ♥" as the sign would have it) other than it was apparently a gift shop, sat in the old Piggly Wiggly Plaza on Lake Murray Boulevard and closed in 2010. The local news site has this and other locations up for comments on what should go there...

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.

I thought for a few minutes about this place the first time I saw it, and decided that I hoped it meant meatball sandwiches, and not actual meatballs. Either way, it seemed like somewhat of an off-the-wall concept and I was saddened but not surprised to see it done up with butcher paper over the windows recently.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

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.

I rather like Schlotsky's and used to go to the Parklane location fairly often when I worked at home, and when it was still open. To my mind, the sourdough buns differentiate their sandwiches from all the sub places in a pleasing way, if that's what I'm in the mood for. And Cinnabon, of course, is pure sticky goodness, one of the few things I used to look forward to in going to airports.

I believe the closing of this store leaves the Dutch Square location on Bush River Road as the last one in the metro area, and I'm afraid it was looking a bit down-at-the-heels last time I dropped by.

(I note that the roadside marquee still lists Jamestown Coffee. And what's up with that balcony?).

(Hat tip to commenter Susie)

UPDATE 16 October 2013 -- This place is now well underway to becoming a Zoe's Kitchen:

Well, sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't. It certainly appears to be the latter case here. This Monterrey is in the strip mall associated with the Sunset Boulevard Wal-Mart in Lexington, and, given the manger scene still not taken down, appears to have closed sometime around Christmas.

(Hat tip to commenter Beth)

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:

With the closing of the State Farmers' Market (seen in the first picture), Case Plants relocated from there to North Main Street on the former site of Jacob's Automotive Group, and next to the old Varsity Restaurant. It's certainly a good drive from their old location, and that may have made a difference.

(Hat tips to commenters Justin & Matt)

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.