Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

It's not entirely clear to me if Farm Bureau occupied two suites in this building and remained for part of the time that the west side of the building was being outfitted for a restaurant, or if they left when that started, but at any rate they are gone entirely now, and their signage is off the building. (They are of course still in business and have other locations in the midlands).

I pulled a real estate flyer from a box at the location, and it seems that the restaurant (First Class Bar & Grill) which never opened was very far along, as the flyer mentions that all the hood work and venting is complete and that even televisions and a sound system are installed.

Other offices in this building remain in operation.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

UPDATE 14 May 2020 -- The Farm Bureau and doctor's office spaces are now Smart Laundry. The space that was setting up to be First Class ended up being the new location for Pho Viet:

I wasn't aware of this location of The Little Gym though my nieces have been happy to attend the one that is now on Rosewood over the years.

The papered over streetside sign makes it look as if Kristin's Cafe is in the spot now, but looking at the storefront itself, that does not seem to be the case.

I would say if you are going to try to get your Yeti engraved, you probably *should* have your guns & knives ready as well.

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

I was unaware of this Lexington establishment until commenter James R pointed out that it had closed. It's a ways out on the Western outskirts of Lexington where Pisgah Church Road hits US-1.

The State says they were there for four years, which really is not bad for a non-chain restaurant.

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

People kept saying that the Mr. Suds carwash at Clemson & Hardscrabble Roads was closing due to the road widening, and I kept driving up there and saying to myself "What are these guys talking about? The carwash is well behind the Circle-K and shouldn't be affected by the road issues at all. In fact it's open, and there's a car in there now.."

Of course, I was looking at the Mr. Suds associated with Magnolia Pointe, and I finally realized there was another one nearby when commenter Sidney gave clear directions ("kinda across from the Waffle House"). By the time I got there, everything but the fence, some support beams and a few incidentals was gone. Almost as if the lot had been washed clean..

(Hat tips to commenters cheryl, Sidney and probably some others)
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I noticed on Shakespeare Road the other week that two SCE&G properties are up for sale. First there is the Gas Measurement Operations Center at 5921, and second the Operations Center at 6011.

If you look closely at the real-estate signs, you can see something I was unaware of: Apparently SCE&G is its own real estate company. I'm not sure which way the incentives from that cut..

As reported by commenter James R, Republic Finance has left this little corner plaza at Fairlane & Sunset. Apparently they have moved to 1856 South Lake Drive in Lexington.

I really like the streetside signboard here.

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

Noticed this nice old-school brick warehouse on Shop Road the other week. They list in the Feb 2007-Fe2008 book, but not the Feb 2010 one, so I'm tagging it around 2009. This building has the stair-step facade that was very common on older businesses for some reason.

The real-estate listing says it was built in 1940, which I can believe and is 52,313 square-feet on 2 acres.

Sara's Produce was the follow-on operation in this spot to Wood Produce. It seems to have had a fairly short run, opening in May or June, and closing probably in August.

The main shed is now empty, but there is a new ice depot.

UPDATE 15 May 2018 -- Well it appears that commenter Carl is correct, and that this business is seasonal. They are now open again:

JP's 4 Corners was the followup operation to Arizona's and kept some of the same menu after the switchover. Since you could get a burger there, I would have been happy enough to try it out, but in the event never got around to it, especially as both Five Guys and Red Robin are also located at Sandhill.

I have to say that the reviews at Open Table are interesting to say the least, and almost prompt me to add a Sign #7 to the Signs Your Favorite Restaurant Is About to Close list:

7) Your restaurant is in Columbia South Carolina, and has no air conditioning during the month from Mid July to Mid August.

As far as I can tell, the Greenville location is still open, or at least no reviewers have noted it as closed yet. I believe that one also was once an Arizona's. The Web Site does appear to be down however as at least one review does note.

(Hat tip to commenter Steve)

UPDATE 4 May 2019 -- This place is refitting as Yummi Crab:

UPDATE 18 December 2019 -- Yummi Crab is now open:

As commenter Sidney noted, the Food Court at Columbia Mall is getting rather sparse, though I suppose you could consider Auntie Ann's Pretzels right around the corner to be part of it, which would bring the count up a little bit.

To the best of my memory I have never eaten at any of the restaurants now in the Food Court proper. If I had had to guess just by the name, I would have expected Maleo's to be Italian, but unless there is pizza in the & More, I guess not.

I threw in the current Mall directory, and a few random shots just for "FUN".

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)