Taco Bell, 4716 Devine Street: 2000s 29 comments
I had noticed for a couple of years that this Taco Bell was gone, and kind of wondered what happened. The location seems pretty good, with easy access from both Garners Ferry and Rosewood, and the chain is in no trouble, so it piqued my curiosity a bit, though never until recently at a time when I both had my camera and could stop.
In the event, my question actually was answered by a sign that explained exactly what had transpired. It still seems a little curious in that I think there is enough distance between this and the new location that the market could have supported both stores.
Obviously no name-brand restaurant is going to take up residence in a building that is clearly a former Taco Bell, but I think the site would be nice for a local restaurant. It doesn't fit into the concept of a fast-food chain like TB, but Gills Creek runs along the edge of the property, and I think you could build a very nice creekside deck there for spring and fall al-fresco dining.
UPDATE 20 December 2009: Changed the address from "Garners Ferry Road" to "4716 Devine Street".
UPDATE 9 May 2012 -- After a prolonged zoning battle with the city (or it *seemed* long anyway) this place is finally open again, as an "Adult Superstore":
(Also resized all pictures to 600 pixels wide, which I guess I wasn't doing consistently back when this was first posted).
29 Responses to 'Taco Bell, 4716 Devine Street: 2000s'
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Kc
30 Aug 08 at 9:27 am
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I can envision a deck and "creekside dining," but to clean it up and do it right would cost a mountain of money. And when you were through, you'd still have the traffic noise.
What is up with the folks who park here, and at K Mart across the street, and fish? Anyone can see that Gill Creek is just a drainage ditch full of trash. What on earth do they catch there? If there are fish they've been spawned and marinated in toxic petroleum-based runoff from parking lots, and fertilizer, pesticide and weed killer from the lawns around Lake Katherine. And do they tote 'em home and EAT them? Crazy.
Dennis
30 Aug 08 at 9:45 am
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Actually, the noise is not as bad as I expected. If you'll look at the third to the last picture, you can see an area of indented parking spaces. At that point, the vegetation cuts out a lot of tne traffic sounds from GF. There is a bit of trash in the creek, but it is not unmanageable at that point. I think a bit of daily policing by staff could handle it easily. I'm sure you're right about the water itself, but nobody would actually be in contact with it..
Of course a moving truck could clank into the self-storage place at any time and ruin any ambience..
ted
30 Aug 08 at 11:09 pm
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Yeah, people have mentioned Columbia Underground before. The problem is I never went there, so I have no anecdotes or pictures.
ted
30 Aug 08 at 11:22 pm
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I always loved the fact that the drive-through window was on the wrong side. So you would order regularly, but then pull around and a carhop would walk out the door of the restaurant and around your car to the driver's side window. Inefficient and charming.
Eva
1 Sep 08 at 10:36 am
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they had the same drive thru setup on Decker Blvd. I met the owner once and that was the first thing I asked him. He said they didn't have enough land to build a proper drive thru so that was the best they could do.
MR Bill
2 Sep 08 at 8:31 am
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I miss the taco bell at the food court in Columbiana centre, anyone know why it closed?
MR Bill
2 Sep 08 at 8:33 am
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Mentioning Underground Columbia - I never went there when it was opened but it was/is below 1332 Main Street. I've been down there and you can see where all of the bars and whatnot were and it looks like it would have been quite the cool place to go. From what I've been told the space was originally stables for the carriages and horses of people coming to the Arcade Mall (which is the building above it.) Unfortunately, Underground Columbia looks a bit more like the catacombs these days having been closed up for 30 years except for some people storing stuff there, utility workers, and the occasional homeless (or not?) person that would break in before they strengthened the doors that close it off.
Larry
5 Sep 08 at 2:37 pm
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I took a date to a steak place in underground once in high school. Don't remember much about it except it was dark. Everyone in Columbia was afraid to go there because they all thought you'd get mugged if you went downtown after dark.
Dennis
5 Sep 08 at 6:47 pm
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Well, it's not like there's no truth to that. My father was mugged downtown in the daytime when I was in college, and I have to say it's colored my perceptions whenever I walk down there.
And this is silly, but since I never went to Underground Columbia, I always think about that underground mall they set up in the basement of the Russell House whenever anyone mentions it..
ted
5 Sep 08 at 7:13 pm
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I miss the underground mall at chez Russell.
MR Bill
8 Sep 08 at 1:16 pm
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I have a lot of memories of late night runs to the border at this TB.
natalie
15 Oct 08 at 3:41 pm
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folks, an adult bookstore is coming soon to this site...
Andrew
16 Dec 11 at 12:21 am
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Huh. Pretty small for a "Superstore". Interestingly, not too far from the old Devine Street Book Mart.
ted
16 Dec 11 at 1:43 am
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With the Old Taco Bell being transformed (as we speak) into an Adult Bookstore, I wonder who in their right mind thinks that something like this is gonna last?. I personally think if you wanna "bookstore" as such, put it on two notch or somewhere else..NOT a main drag street in an area such as this. I give it a year or less before it goes under once it opens.
Del
16 Dec 11 at 10:16 am
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Taboo is closing soon
http://www.thestate.com/2013/12/05/3140620/after-losing-bid-to-extend-its.html
tonkatoy
6 Dec 13 at 10:32 am
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Good.. it wont be missed. GF Road isn't the place for trash book stores like this. Let this guy open a place out on Beltline near North Main Street, or near where BI-LO used to be or still is, or near "The Colony"/Washington Carver Village is. It's better suited out there anyhow.
DelB/Caycekid
7 Dec 13 at 1:00 am
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Or better yet..put it out towards Benedict and Allen Universities.. bet they'd be crowded all the time...
DelB/Caycekid
7 Dec 13 at 1:01 am
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Got to ask is the Taboo any worse for the community than the multiple loan places in the nearby vicinity. I believe it is four
chris
8 Dec 13 at 12:12 pm
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@chris - I agree with you. Title loan offices are nothing but predators that do nothing but make people in financial strife even worse off that they were to start with. They have damaged many more lives than and adult store ever has.
The cities, counties and state need to crack down on the unfair practices that these establishments enact on their customers and get away from such puritan ideals and come into the 21st century. Pornography is not going anywhere no matter how much you attempt to regulate or abolish it.
How much do you want to bet that this building will soon be another title loan office??
Homer
8 Dec 13 at 11:16 pm
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I have had no use for a title loan place and intend for it to remain that way.
I know they utilize many failed fast food restraunt buildings but I wonder if they are the best thing to have around.
I'm hoping this will become something besides a title loan place but I worry about the size of the lot inhibiting many prospectie tenants.
Andrew
9 Dec 13 at 1:34 am
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I'd say Taboo is far better than the vacant building was, and will be after Taboo leaves.
Unless you knew it was there, you'd miss it driving by. I DID know it was there and missed it every time I drove by. I think people were getting upset disproportionately to any 'threat' caused by Taboo.
tonkatoy
9 Dec 13 at 7:44 am
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Ted..., taboo has closed.
Jackson
5 Jan 14 at 6:56 pm
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Huh. I thought they'd decided to fight..
ted
5 Jan 14 at 10:53 pm
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Taboo is definitely still open.
ted
6 Jan 14 at 11:51 pm
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^What did you buy?
tonkatoy
7 Jan 14 at 7:47 am
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I don't know, but it sure made a hole in Juan.
Oh, wait, wrong joke..
ted
7 Jan 14 at 8:21 am
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See ya later Jenny. Pop.
OHHHHHH!!!!!
tonkatoy
7 Jan 14 at 10:36 am
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? Oh... Right. That's where I live tabbo.
Jackson
7 Jan 14 at 7:00 pm
Looks like someone had to run for the border -- Lol
It would be nice to see you do a piece on Underground Columbia that was on main St -- It was a group of rest and bars that were below street level!