Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I noticed the other day that Dick Dyer Body Shop on Two Notch (which is also the former location of Dick Dyer Toyota) was for sale. Checking the web site reveals that it is already closed, and that they are referring customers to Caliber Collision on Newland Road.

I guess this is the final end of an era for Dick Dyer on Two Notch. I and my parents bought cars from the dealership, and I had my car in the body shop after taking out Bambi on I-26. I liked when the dealership was here, as I could take my car in and walk home. I can't do that from Blythewood, which has cut way down on my usage of their repair operation.

I guess this train-stationesque building just was not meant to house a fast casual Mexican chain. If you will recall, this was the location of Qdoba until May of 2015, meaning that Salsarita's lasted about three years. The State's report is here.

Despite some stumbles locally in recent years, I have always been a Moe's partisan in the burritto wars. I hate the ambience at Chipolte, Qdoba burrittos always fell apart on me, and Barbaritos, at least locally, is Moe's lite, without the availability of ground beef. I had not really had an opinion on Salsarita's, not having been to one until recently. Finally having done that (though not at this location), I was a little weirded out when the staff took over my tray and brought it out to a table which was not the one I had been planning on. I honestly can't recall much about the food itself.

(Hat tip to commenter MB)

UPDATE 12 March 2019 -- Now a TD bank:

I noticed this former self-serve car wash coming out of East Pointe Plaza on Garners Ferry the other day. I'm not sure how long it's been vacant as I didn't have time to get out and take a closer look, but I'm guessing a few years. I note that there was a Better Car Wash on Augusta Road, but I don't know if they were related. (And I don't know why they weren't just named Best Car Wash...)

LoopNet says you can have all five bays and the equipment room for 165K.

As predicted before, this Garners Ferry Rite Aid has closed due to its closeness to the Walgreens at 7801 Garners Ferry. For a big square building, I think it looks rather nice because of all the brick. There is growth in the area, but I'm not sure I can think of anything that might go into the building. Perhaps a medical office or Family Dollar type store as I have seen both in old pharmacy locations.

UPDATE 30 January 2019 -- As reported in the comments, this is now a Family Dollar:

I was on this section of the Charleston Highway today, and noticed that the Thrift Store in the Mr. Bingo plaza was closed. There appeared to be some work going on inside, but whether it is to re-open, or they are setting up for something else, I don't know.

I know this H. Rubin location was open as late as November 2017, because the closing of the one on Forest Drive referred people to this site. Now this one refers them Knox Abbott.

Anyone know what Fley is?

UPDATE 11 July 2019 -- Now the new location for Elite Pawn & Gun:

Jimmy John's is pretty much my goto sub chain(*). I have walked into Jersey Mike's several times, never seen anything I wanted to eat and walked out, Sub Station II doesn't have unsweet tea, Subway is OK, but the one I had most access to for several years kept the thermostat on sub-zero and I had to stop going. The only issue I have with Jimmy John's is the way they core out the bread for your sandwich. If they are going to do that, you ought to get the bread core too -- you paid for it.

That said, I have never eaten at this one as Forest Drive is closer and has parking. At any rate, as reported by commenter MB, it is now closed. I find it curious how completely it is stripped as they were still doing Facebook postings as late as 19 May.

The only other things I will note about this location is that my cousin worked there at one time, and that it was robbed at gun (or maybe finger) point in 2016.

(*) Here: At the beach, Dagwoods in Surfside is the holy grail.

(Hat tip to commenter MB)

UPDATE 12 March 2019 -- Now a Sub Station II:

UPDATE 28 September 2022: Updating tags.

I noticed this former church driving down Greenlawn Drive the other day (and you don't see that very often!). Unfortunately, it was basically at or just after sunset, so the pictures did not come out very well.

I'm not quite sure who the tenant was. Google suggests, Good Shepherd's Faith Assembly which is currently on Garner Lane, but their web site doesn't mention any move. The sign out front points to Word Of Truth, but the website on the sign does not mention this location. Perhaps they are about to move there as the place has been sold.

At any rate LoopNet has a much better picture.

UPDATE 20 May 2018 -- Adding Jackson Camera to the post title based on the comments.

As mentioned by commenter ED a while back, this Bi-Lo in Spring Valley Commons is the only one in Columbia currently slated to close and re-open as a Food Lion.

The process has now started, and while the shelves are getting rather bare, there are definitely some good deals to be had, as everything seems to be at least 40% off. I do find it rather curious that they have eschewed the normal Closing signs here. I was not in fact sure the clearance had begun because there is no indication in any of the windows. The closest thing is a small paper sign posting reduced hours, but not saying why.

It will be interesting to see how much work Food Lion does on the interior here.

(Hat tip to commener ED)

I happened to turn down Boston Avenue behind Lizard's Thicket in Springdale today, and noticed this closed diner that I had not been aware of. I'm guessing it was built in the 1960s for some fast food chain, but the last tenant was Marion's Diner (listed in the phonebook simply as Diner). They have a number of very good reviews online, and appear to have combined Southern Meat & Three with standard fast-food offerings.

You can see some pictures of the place in operation here.