Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Another Irmo area note from commenter Homer today:

It's not every day that I need a vehicle serviced so I had no idea that
this business had closed. Tony, the owner, passed away in October and
the family decided not to keep going. I didn't realize it but they had
been in business for 40 years. These guys were top notch when it came to
auto repair. I used to take my old Corvette in there for service and
Tony, Woody and all the guys there always did me right. A lot of people
are going to miss this place!!

I remember a shop in Fayetteville that clearly hadn't even looked at the reason I brought the car in when they called me to pick it up. Always nice to find someone who knows what they are doing!

(Hat tip to commenter Homer, of course)

When I was taking the pictures of Dooley's, I happened to notice this empty building on the other side of the street. After doing a little googling, I found that it was a former Aaron's, and that, um, I had already done a closing for it, something I honestly have no memory of!

However, I find I can legitimately feature the building again as it has more recently been a Halloween Express holiday store. These tend to pop up in exactly these sorts of buildings: Large, and apparently un-rentable, under the theory that a few months of money coming in is better than zilch. For now at least, you can see the building kitted out for Halloween here.

Here's another set of pictures from commenter Homer, who says:

Here are some pictures of the old location of Chickadee's Diner, 7949
Broad River Rd in Irmo (Bi-Lo Shopping Center). I'm not sure when they
closed but they moved to the location that corresponds to the closings
entry for BJ's Cafe at 1729 Marshall St.

You can see the setting up for the Marshall Street location here at the Sunset Grill & Pizza closing. Since I took those shots, Chickadees has opened for business there.

This old-time fisherman's stop is apparently a Lexington institution, having been there according to The State for 67 years.

The development of the area, and the many changes in retail have persuaded the owning family that it's time to close:

“You just can’t make it on bait and tackle alone any more,” the elder Dooley said.

His son, 51, decided taking over the store isn’t worthwhile. “The only way it would is if I work seven days a week, be the only employee and probably live here,” he said.

And so goes another little piece of Americana...

UPDATE 26 March 2018 -- Now closed:

UPDATE 6 March 2021 -- Now open as Twisted Roots Bar & Grill:

Also adding map icon.

This little fabric shop at the triple corner of Fontaine, Two Notch & Shakespeare has been in business for 11 years according to The State although only 3 of them have been in this location.

Co-located New Coverings will remain in the spot.

(Hat tip to commenter Rick)

UPDATE 13 August 2020: Add map icon.

I wasn't really aware of this little women's apparel store on Corley Mill Road, though I have driven past it at least twice that I can think of. The area seems to be rapidly building up, but this place was still an older house on a good sized lot. Their Facebook page has a nice little shout-out to their local suppliers.

(Hat tip to commenter Brian)

Well, I have to say I am not too surprised about this. I ate at this Carabba's with some regularity, and twice in recent months I arrived well before the posted closing time to find the place with the doors locked. During one period, they even changed the Friday/Saturday closing hours back from 11:00 to 10:00 or maybe 10:30, I forget, but the point is that changing the hours either officialy or by fiat is Sign #1. The last few times I was there, they had started an annoying laser light show in the parking lot as if to say We are still here, and we are fun!

I can't put it on this store, but the chain as a whole has done some things I don't like in recent years, such as doing away with the olive oil bottles at the tables, and eliminating my favorite goto dish, the Tagliarini Picchi Pacchiu.

Still, I liked it well enough that it continued to be on my list. I agree with commenter Sidney about Location, Location, Location!. The last time I ate here (probably only about a week ago) I had actually been heading for the Olive Garden around the corner fronting Two Notch, but it was too packed to deal with, so I drove around and found that.. not to be the case here.

If anyone is curious about the Pizza Buffet called out on the big sign, that has nothing to do with Carrabba's, but was for this operation. In fact, I think that sign is mostly for a Graces Way development that never developed. The places that *are* down there don't bother to list on the sign.

(Hat tip to commenter Steve)

Commenter Bobby reports this location closed as of today (16 February 2017). It's not a surprise as it's been in the offing for several months. As to what's next, as The State reported in December:

In the spring, the location will become home to the second area Charleston-based East Bay Deli. East Bay opened its first area location at 1426 Main St. in Columbia’s The Hub apartment complex downton on Nov. 14.

I used to eat at this location every few months. I liked to get the Pumpkin soup in the winter. Along with a bread bowl, it was a very nice meal. I enjoyed the white chocolate macadamia nut cookies as well; something they don't have at Panera. They used to have a pepper grinder at the condiment station that was nice as well.

(Hat tip to commenter Bobby)

UPDATE 18 February 2017 -- Well, they certainly started into the remodeling quickly:

I took these pix a few weeks ago; Google says this store is now closed.

I don't know a lot about Stein Mart, but apparently it has been struggling along with many other clothing retailers:

A beleaguered Jacksonville retail has brought on a high-level executive to handle its merchandising and marketing, among other responsibilities.

Stein Mart Inc. has hired MaryAnne Morin as president, putting her in charge of merchandising, planning, marketing and advertising and e-commerce.
....
....

The holiday season was particularly dismal for the retailer, which saw comparable store sales slide nearly 5 percent year over year.

This is a pretty good sized storefront, it will be interesting to see what goes in next, and when. As I recall, it sat vacant for a long time after closing as Goody's and then again after being Giant Book Sale.

(Hat tip to commenter Blaner)

17 August 2020: Update tags, add map icon.

The Southern Belly (whose sign I originally misread as "The Southern Belle") was the follow-on operation to The Rolling Stone at this Rosewood lot near the Fairgrounds which has been home to many bars and restaurants. I see, in fact, that they never got around to completely removing the Rolling Stone signage, which wasn't essential as I understand the ownership was the same.

At some point around 2015, they moved shop to 819 Harden Street, the former site of Mucho Maragaritas, San Jose, Sizzle and many others over the years:

Personally, I believe I like the Rosewood spot better, at least for parking.

UPDATE 15 February 2017 -- According to commenter Justin, this was not a move as I indicate above, but they ran the Harden Street location (and a Colonial Life location) in parallel with this one and only recently closed this branch. I've taken "moved" off the post title and put a better guess at the timeframe.

UPDATE 11 July 2018 -- Now Peebles Wing Shack: