Archive for January, 2025
Brooklyn Express Pizza & Pasta, 7949 Broad River Road: Fall 2024 (Moved) no comments
I mentioned this was happening earlier, but Brooklyn Express Pizza & Pasta has now completed their move from Friarsgate Plaza to this (now upfitted) freestanding Ed Robinson building.
Jeremiah's Italian Ice, 10378 Ocean Highway (Pawleys Island): 28 December 2024 no comments
This building was built as a smallish KFC. After that closed in 2015, Jimmyz Hibachi moved in, closing in 2022. Jerimiah's opened, I believe in the spring of 2024 and did not quite last out the year. I did not get around to trying it, but while I was taking these pictures somebody pulled into the (just) closed drive-through and expressed disappointment as in their opinion, it was quite good.
BTW, Three Dog Night are coming to the Township in April.
Orangetheory Fitness, 7467 Saint Andrews Road Suite 7B: 29 December 2024 no comments
Google suggests this Orange Theory Fitness opened about six years ago. This Reddit post suggests they closed on 29 December and you can (sort of) still see some of the equipment in there.
I'm not sure what the theory of orange is...
(Hat tip to commenter Jason)
SC Blue 1260 Bower Parkway: December 2024 (Moved) 1 comment
I'm not really familiar with SC Blue but it looks to be a health insurance operation affiliated with Blue Cross / Blue Shield. According to commenter Gypsie, they have moved from this Columbiana Station storefront to the Kroger center in Irmo, and as of yet there is no new tenant for the spot.
(Hat tip to commenter Gypsie)
Big Lots, 421 Columbia Avenue: February 2025 no comments
As I believe we have discussed, Big Lots went Chapter 11 back in October, and will be closing down the whole chain, something now in progress.
This building, which featured here previously as a Bi-Lo is the anchor for this little plaza, which also has another upcoming vacancy. It's unclear exactly when they will close, but at this point I suspect they will not last another month, as they are already down to 40% off.
Fatz Cafe, 179 East Corporate Center Drive (Clinton): August 2023 no comments
Here's a Fatz I missed back during the chain closing as it's in a place I rarely drive by at the first I-26 exit for Clinton. I noticed it a few times while it was empty, but was always past the exit by the time I saw it, and now it has been repurposed as a Mexican restaurant, El Poblano.
The approach is a bit odd in that you basically have to go through a gas/convenience store's parking lot to get back to the restaurant and hotel. I did not try the restaurant, but it has generally good reviews (as always with a few one-star ones thrown in).
2.50 Cleaners, 1637 Main Street: 2024 no comments
I noticed this place, in the Mast block, driving down Main Street the other day while I was looking for something else.
The latest google reviews are just dated "a year ago", so I can't say more than they probably closed in 2024.
Snow Day! no comments
The Strudel Shop, 1237 Washington Street: 19 January 2025 1 comment
Here's another of Columbia's many restaurants, this one under a downtown parking garage, of which I was sadly unaware. The Strudel Shop opened in 2022 according to The State, and closed his past weekend.
Their Facebook, referenced in The State story seems already to be gone, but their web site is still up for now, and has some tasty looking pictures.
(Hat tip to commenter Mr. Hat)
Hero Korean Steak House, 6634 Two Notch Road: February 2024 2 comments
For some reason, the only Korean restaurant I've ever been too was in Korea. Given that I liked it well enough, I don't know why I haven't tried one again. That said, this building will always be Lizard's Thicket to me, as it was our go-to outlet for that chain for many years.
Googling doesn't turn up any media hits, but Reddit group ColumbiYEAH suggests the owners went back to Korea on vacation, and just decided to stay.
There's a bit of confusion as to the exact name of this place: I have gone with what the main google hit says.
(Hat tip to commenter Russell)