Columbia Antique Mall / Chic Antiques & Co., 602 Huger Street: Years End 2016 19 comments
I never went to this place often, but at one time it was on my regular rounds, and I probably stopped by two or three times a year. I realized though when commenter Justin mentioned the place was closing that it had probably been twenty years since my last visit.
In the event, I found it pretty much as I remembered it. The place is divided into two buildings, the one on the north side of the property has an "ice house" look, while the one on the south side may have been a small warehouse. Each building is divided into individually curated stalls, thus the fairly common "antique mall" format. I hadn't recalled a stall with what looked to be pretty much every issue of Playboy ever published, but there was one, as well as a 40's era Rockola jukebox I would dearly love to have had I the space and the cash, along with several old kitchen ranges about which I could say the same.
Walking through, I was also given a few instances to reflect on how much life, or at least my life, has changed. At one time, I would probably have examined every 33 & 45 in the stacks, and probably would have found some to take home. Now: a) Who has the time? & b) What would I do with them? I do have a turntable, but realistically it's easier to find the song online and pay $0.99 for it rather than spend 20 minutes futzing with the turntable and CD recorder. The same largely goes for old books.
I didn't see any notice posted to the effect of "We lost our lease", or "We're retiring" to explain the upcoming closure, but I would guess that this lot, which for years was out of the way, and down-at-the-heels, is now a pretty valuable property with the recent opening of apartments in the Palmetto Compress Warehouse and the Carolina Collegiate FCU location.
(Hat tip to commenter Justin)
UPDATE 6 April 2017 -- As reported in the comments, this place has been razed. At the time of these pictures, it was the South building only. They are reportedly both gone now:
19 Responses to 'Columbia Antique Mall / Chic Antiques & Co., 602 Huger Street: Years End 2016'
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Justin
16 Nov 16 at 7:40 am
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If those folks are lucky enough to own the land, they (and their progeny) will very likely be zillionaires when it sells. God bless them if they do.
Seriously, what gives with all this "student housing" nonsense?? What's wrong with either a.) Live in a dorm on campus OR b.) Go sign a lease at an apartment complex like a normal human? Why set aside more and more and MORE places around the city specially designated for "student housing"?? Is this more of Generation Special Snowflake, who need 'safe spaces'? Or am I missing something?
Lone Wolf
16 Nov 16 at 10:14 am
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The housing will be needed when USC caves in to become a sanctuary for all non-citizens that get their deportation notices under the new Trumptopia.
palmettoconnection
16 Nov 16 at 12:08 pm
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I used to sell baseball cards here all of the time growing up. Made some good money selling cards like my handful of Dale Murphy rookie cards.
palmettoconnection
16 Nov 16 at 12:10 pm
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I think the student growth USC is experiencing stems from the fact that the need for student housing exceeds the capacity of student dorms and plus the needs of this generation is different...
Andrew
16 Nov 16 at 9:28 pm
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Dear Santa,
I've been a good boy this year. For Christmas I'd like the Lionel Train Set, the Coca-Cola sign, that rocking TV turntable combo and a London phone booth. Oh, and the mannequin and Playboy collection to get me through the cold, lonely winter nights.
Your best friend,
HomerHomer
17 Nov 16 at 12:11 am
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No official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock?
ted
17 Nov 16 at 1:09 am
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I understand the University is growing and good for them. I just notice a lot of upscale "apartments" being built in some great locations. All seem to be earmarked as student housing. WHY? Wouldn't it be better to let the apartments be leased to whomever has the requisite scratch to live there?
Does it truly make sense to have some most advantageous areas of the city restricted to student occupancy?
Lone Wolf
17 Nov 16 at 11:02 am
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@ted - can't risk putting my eye out, but if they have one of the awesome leg lamps, I'm all for that!!
Homer
17 Nov 16 at 5:34 pm
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I recall asking about one of the phone booths several years back and the price was about 8k, as is (or was, the condition looks to have deteriorated some).
joe
17 Nov 16 at 7:36 pm
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@Homer, I wouldn't worry about it, if you get what you asked for, you'll go blind anyway..
ted
18 Nov 16 at 12:26 am
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Heh heh
Rick
18 Nov 16 at 5:22 am
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The antique malls were forced out because the Compass building owners wanted an entrance from Huger street.
Jack
18 Nov 16 at 4:29 pm
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I worked for Mr. Leonard Powell, the proprietor of Chic Antiques, back in my USC days. He was quite a character, he chain smoked and had a prosthetic leg. He drove an old Ford station wagon and would wedge his fake leg against the accelerator and would control his speed by riding the brake. He told the best stories whenever I rode with him. His son Conrad was the backbone of the operation and specialized in restaurant decor and baseball cards. Last time I went in there Conrad was there and it was like nothing had changed in 30 years. Sad to see it go and I agree about the dadgum student housing......kids today cannot live in the dump that Preston was or the Towers, where all of us ne'er-do-wells lived!
scott johnson
21 Nov 16 at 2:11 am
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Those English phone booths have been there for decades. The prices they wanted for them was a we don't want to sell them price. Might go over and see if they are sane with the prices now.
Dan R
24 Nov 16 at 6:36 am
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USC keeps bringing in more students, to make up for state funding. Enrollment is about twice what it was 20 years ago, and In my opinion the quality, and value have plummeted. Also they only have enough room for Freshman, after that you pretty much have to be to get to stay on campus. I'm sure if anyone wants to live in "student housing" they can, but I think they can expect it to be like living in a dorm.
MrBill
19 Dec 16 at 2:57 pm
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Folks this building has had its date with the excavator...not sure what is next in store for it though...
Andrew
30 Mar 17 at 1:29 pm
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What a shame.
My wife spent a great deal of my beer money here.
They probably made enough to close, sell the property and retire.
I could have done that if I did not drink up all the profits.Rick
30 Mar 17 at 5:17 pm
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As of the day I'm composing this, both buildings on this site have had their date with the excavator...no word yet what it is to become...
Andrew
3 Apr 17 at 7:45 pm
I'm thinking it's a retirement based on the brief conversation I had with a lady working in the North building. I would bet that the property will be quickly snatched up. I wonder if they can rehab the buildings for something or if they'll just tear them down to put up student housing.