Ruby Tuesday, 4600 Devine Street : 3 December 2018 12 comments
In retrospect, perhaps it was a bad idea to name a restaurant something that makes it tempting to write "Goodbye" headlines.
I never had any problem with Ruby Tuesday, but in recent years, it was clearly a place looking for its own identity in a flailing market sector. I used to visit this store weekly, as I liked the salad bar, and it was about the right distance that I could get my old Corolla wagon out on the interstate for a few miles and keep it viable. During that period I think they revamped the salad bar about four times, changes that did not always make it better, at least in my opinion. They also started and stopped serving complementary biscuits during that time as well. (They were OK, some sort of cheese drop biscuit, not as good as a real breakfast biscuit, but acceptable).
I'm not surprised this location closed, as there is another just up Garners Ferry Road, and I suspected when the chain started being in the news that one location or the other would have to go. The State has the story, but not really any more details.
With the recent retail openings in the Cross Hill area and the Old Kmart this is something of an up and coming area now, so perhaps the building will not be vacant for too long.
(Hat tip to Mr. Hat)
UPDATE 3 October 2019 -- New construction is going up on the old Ruby Tuesday lot:
UPDATE 12 May 2020: Update tags.
UPDATE 11 September 2020 -- The new buldings are complete. Kairos is now open and Another Broken Egg Cafe is about to:
12 Responses to 'Ruby Tuesday, 4600 Devine Street : 3 December 2018'
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Jodie Peeler
11 Dec 18 at 4:08 pm
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I was at the Devine St. location the day before it closed. Didn't notice anything unusual. Even the salad bar was well-stocked.
Midnight Rambler
15 Dec 18 at 9:23 pm
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I have read several articles that refer to the financial problems of so-called fast-casual restaurants (Ruby Tuesday, Applebee's, O'Charlie's, etc.) as being related to the millennial generation and their take on dining out. Not sure if this is true or just 'fake news'. Sorry, I couldn't resist that last comment.....:^)
Homer
16 Dec 18 at 11:27 pm
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@ Homer. Bill Mahr on Real Time did an excellent commentary about restaurants and retail chains that catered to middle America who were struggling (like Ruby Tuesdays and JC Penny's). He blamed it on the economy and the fact that the middle class was shrinking, thanks in part to stagnant wages. While a lot of these companies have a ton of self-inflicted wounds, I think Mahr hit the nail on the head on this one.
Tom
19 Dec 18 at 10:00 am
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The restaurant will be torn down and space made available for three tenants. None have been announced, but the intent is a dentist office, fast casual restaurant and one more space to be determined.
MallGuy
20 Dec 18 at 8:26 pm
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Why doesnt Dairy Queen put a place back in Columbia? and not one of these Combo gas station things? It would be the perfect spot for one. There hasnt been a "real" Dairy Queen here in Columbia since the 80's that I can remember. We dont need any old Dentist office or a clothing store, or another Cell Phone store because there's plenty of those things up the road towards and past Target and Woodhill Mall.
Del
21 Dec 18 at 11:28 pm
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@Del, I'm sure you remember the old Dairy Queen that was at the corner of Ashland and St. Andrews.
Homer
22 Dec 18 at 10:24 am
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I remember it very well..went there from the first year it opened through the late 70's or so before they closed for good. I remember the one on Beltline too..but I dont remember and never went to the one over on Rosewood, or the one near the old Marion Burnside Dealership..
Del
22 Dec 18 at 2:25 pm
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There is a list of the DQs in town as of 1970 here.
ted
22 Dec 18 at 2:43 pm
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I used to go there quite often, especially after a round or two of Putt-Putt.
Homer
22 Dec 18 at 4:10 pm
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Me too...Living in Whitehall was convenient for sure..right up the road from where we lived. I cant remember what year it opened though..1969 or 1970? And the one on Beltline may have opened before then.
Del
22 Dec 18 at 7:19 pm
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FYI went by there today and the building is g-o-n-e gone!
Dennis
31 Jul 19 at 10:12 pm
Ruby Tuesday used to be my go-to among this type of restaurant, mostly on the strength of the best veggie burger I've ever found at any restaurant, truly an exceptional thing to eat. About 2003 or 2004 I started to notice some goofy things going on, such as trying that Red Robin thing of only bringing you a few fries with your sandwich but offering you more if you wanted them. The menu tinkering became an issue. The veggie burger I loved so much got changed, then disappeared. That 2007-2008 restyle into bistro-land, with new decor and square plates and cheese biscuits, put the fork in it for me and it became the kind of place I went only if we went somewhere with family.
Ruby Tuesday has done a remarkable job of refining itself into nothing that special any more. I ate at one near Charlotte last month while on a business trip, and I'm having trouble remembering much about the experience....