Kroger / Chick-Fil-A, 817 Saint Andrews Road: 27 April 2012 46 comments
Well, we've been talking about it for weeks, but Friday was the day the Kroger (and associated Chick-Fil-A) on Saint Andrews Road at I-26 finally closed. I suspect these pictures show the last time that sign will be illuminated.
46 Responses to 'Kroger / Chick-Fil-A, 817 Saint Andrews Road: 27 April 2012'
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Saturday's child
28 Apr 12 at 11:40 am
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Gator investments has a large task on their hands replacing what is now this former Kroger #409...
hat tip to Alicia on this one
Andrew
28 Apr 12 at 11:57 am
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I never shopped at the store but I used to love to pop in to pick up a couple of Chick-Fil-A's on the way home from work so I wouldn't have to hassle with the Harbison traffic.
I'd love to see something like a Fresh Market or some kinds of organic grocery store open up in this location. I can't understand why the St. Andrew's area doesn't already have one.
Homer
28 Apr 12 at 10:21 pm
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More parking for IHOP!!
IrmoJeff
29 Apr 12 at 10:29 am
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Organic grocery store? Thats just what the hood needs!!
Kc
29 Apr 12 at 10:54 am
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Kind of sad. I used to live in a few different condos near that store, and it was always convenient. I'm guessing the nearby WalMart on Bush River put a cramp in their profits. Even in recent months the store seemed to have pretty good traffic, but apparently not enough to keep the doors open.
Heath
29 Apr 12 at 11:06 am
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Considering this store lasted a good 5 years after Walmart #4379 opened, I doubt Walmart put much a dent...I wonder if having two St. Andrews Road Krogers finally caught up to them...but then I doubt it's likely we'll understand fully what did Kroger #409 it's doubtful that we can ever understand what lead to this place's unprofitably but I do recall reading on the St. Andrews Patch last summer that there was a shoplifting incident here on my bday and that makes me wonder...
Andrew
29 Apr 12 at 12:11 pm
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I am a 45 yr old Caucasian male. From the majority of the clientele to the staff at this Kroger, I was never made comfortable. Everyone looked at you as to “what are you doing here”. I tried shopping here a few times, but could never get the staff to help me find things. I imagine the Check Cashing kept them open. The Time Warner office and Jewelry Warehouse first the two end caps to pull out.
This Kroger is 5 minutes from my house where as the Irmo one is much farther and out of the way. I gladly drive farther to the Irmo one. Cleaner store. Friendlier and helpful staff. My son loves Chick Fila, so we stopped here at times. That was itO'Reilly
29 Apr 12 at 2:58 pm
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Does anyone know when this one opened?
I always assumed it was newer than the Irmo location - which strikes me as kind of dumpy. Of course, everything is dumpy compared to Publix. If I ever make it to the "big time" I'll start shopping there instead of WalMart.
Heath
29 Apr 12 at 10:13 pm
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Jewelry Warehouse moved to Bower Parkway back in September 2010.
Andrew
29 Apr 12 at 10:40 pm
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I don't know when Kroger at 7467 Woodrow Street in Irmo opened but it was mentioned in the newspaper article announcing its closure that #409 (817 St. Andrews Road) opened up in 1994.
A part of me has darted around the idea at times that Piggly Wiggly is on the dumpy side...
Andrew
29 Apr 12 at 10:49 pm
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Well, there is still the Bi-lo on St. Andrews and the one in Friarsgate Plaza. Then there are the three Publix on Harbison, Hwy 6 from the lake toward Ballentine and the one at Broad River and Kennerly. These all seem to be doing pretty well.
Homer
29 Apr 12 at 10:52 pm
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St. Andrews Road has two Bi-Los...they have the one at Widewater Square (3315 Broad River Road) and then the Friarsgate Plaza one. February 27, 2002, Bi-Lo #442 opened up at 6021 St. Andrews Road (replacing the former Bi-Lo #84 at 275 Harbison Blvd). Bi-Lo has started to remodel several of their locations (mostly their West Columbia/Cayce ones as well as the Chapin location) and I seem to think that it's only a matter of time before those 3 get a new look. My mom thought Harbison's Bi-Lo was a 'third world store' and the new 6021 St. Andrews Road storewas an improvement for them.
Murray Landing's Construction took months to get underway before Publix finally opened in mid-late 2003. Kennerly Crossing followed late 2004/early 2005.
Andrew
29 Apr 12 at 11:18 pm
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Andrew - There used to be a big difference between the St. Andrews Rd. and Friarsgate stores, however, I haven't been in Friarsgate in quite a while so I have no idea how they may have changed.
It seems that the Friarsgate store used to cater more to the older, 'rural' residents of the area. They used to be lacking in the organic department and used to stock more food stuffs that you would have found in older grocery stores. Things such as more country meats like liver pudding, tripe, chitterlings and such. Things that would have been associated with a 'rural' lifestyle. Use everything but the oink!! My Grandmother used to send me to Friarsgate to get head cheese for her (look it up on Wiki).
They used to have less ethnic foods (outside of Mexican and Oriental) and I'd dare you to find something like hearts of palm, jicama or taro. If memory serves me correctly they used to sell local produce like the old Piggly Wiggly on Lake Murray Blvd. did.
Not sure what the store is like now.
Homer
29 Apr 12 at 11:51 pm
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The times I've been in the Friarsgate store after 6021 St. Andrews opened, the aesthics of the store reminded me of Harbison but I don't notice the details of the store's selection the way you described, Homer.
The Friarsgate Plaza location how has a Contract Postal Unit in the BiLo.
Andrew
30 Apr 12 at 12:33 am
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@Andrew
Interesting that it opened in 1994. I would have thought a little earlier... perhaps this was a direct replacement for the location that became Burlington Coat Factory in Bush River Mall (now WalMart)? Maybe not though... I worked in that BCF in the summer of 1991. I know the location in Irmo was there in 1988 when I first moved to Columbia, but I really don't remember much about the St. Andrews location prior to some of my friends working at that Chic-fil-a in around 1996.
Heath
30 Apr 12 at 8:51 pm
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Do any other Krogers have Chick-Fil-A or other chain restaurants? That is new to me.
There's a supermarket chain here in Michigan called Spartan Stores. One of their nameplates, Glen's, has both Dairy Queen and Starbucks in its flagship store, which always struck me as odd for such a small town.
Bobby P.
30 Apr 12 at 9:49 pm
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I've never seen one in another Kroger, but that's not to say there's not one somewhere. It really did a nice little lunch business on the times I went there.
Heath
30 Apr 12 at 9:57 pm
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The Sparkleberry Kroger has a Starbucks.
ted
30 Apr 12 at 10:17 pm
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I don't know when Kroger left Bush River Mall but I do remember Burlington Coat Factory being at Bush River Mall before moving to Dutch Square sometime around the 1996-8 timeframe.
Andrew
30 Apr 12 at 10:22 pm
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Thanks for the hat tip Andrew! Yes and BCF was at Dutch Square around 1995 becasue I got some school clothes from there my junior year in high school.
Alicia
1 May 12 at 1:45 pm
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The Irmo Kroger opened in 1983 I am pretty sure possibly 82. The only other Chick-f-ila I know of in a Kroger was in Martinez GA a few others were slated but it didn't work out due to stand alone stores going in close by. 409 was a very nice store when it first opened however the apartments that were built nearby became Section 8 hot spots. Also a grocery store wants houses near by not apartments. Apartments dweller shoppers are convenience shoppers while house dwellers are loyal shoppers. An average convenience shopper spends $20 on a grocery trip while a loyal shopper spends $150. 409 average transaction was $8 the irmo store average transaction is $25. I was in 409 getting product and a couple of fixtures for Irmo and I meant to take some pictures of it emptied out. It is a very strange feeling to be in an emptied out grocery store
chris
4 May 12 at 12:00 pm
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ted the Irmo Kroger also has a Starbucks.
chris
4 May 12 at 12:13 pm
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Sad, but far from surprising. That area is not a business owner's dream.
columbia native
5 May 12 at 1:44 am
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That entire area of St. Andrews is an "Am-was" place. It's heyday was in the 80's maybe, and went downhill afterwards. It isnt the best place to be at night..especially around the Broad River Rd. area up to the corner of Broad River and Bush River road.. Jerry Sims seems to be doing right well actually on St. Andrews Rd, but he's the only exeption to that rule.
Saturday's child
5 May 12 at 8:48 am
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I totally agree Saturday. I used to live in St. Andrews Commons in the early 90's. Bowled at Brunswick. Shot pool at Opening Break. Hung out at Bubba N Bucks laughing at the cowboy wanna-be's. Shopped the Bi-Lo every week. It was getting sketchy in that area at that time. I drove down Broad River Rd to catch I-20 going to work on Friday (for a change of pace) and shook my head to see how much worse it looked than the last time I drove through there (about six months ago). I wonder how long it will take for the blight to make it to Irmo?
Homer
6 May 12 at 2:11 am
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There is also a Food Lion on St. Andrews next to the dollar movie theatre.
I oftened shopped in this Kroger and it always struck me as being very busy.
Tom
6 May 12 at 12:22 pm
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The Food Lion Tom referenced at Richardson Plaza was one of the ones Food Lion remodeled during the spring/summer 2009 when they remodeled all the area locations as part of a corporate re-branding effort.
There was another Food Lion at Seven Oaks Shopping Center (6169 St. Andrews Road) that didn't get touched during the spring/summer '09 remodels that closed the following February.
chris has offered some interesting insight as to why this Kroger closed (and opened my eyes with regard to the grocery business in general). Between Jan. 2011 and Dec. 2012, it was operating at a projected loss of close to $3M and so I can see where it was wise for Kroger to cut their losses and explore other opportunities.
Andrew
6 May 12 at 7:54 pm
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Regarding the Food Lion at Seven Oaks. I never shopped there. It had existed under several other names over the years and it seemed like no one ever took the time to totally bring it up to date. Correct me if I'm wrong but I think it started out as a Colonial Stores then something else that I can't recall before becoming Food Town then morphing into Food Lion. I've been in the Big Lots more times that when it was a grocery store.
I do, however, shop at the K-Mart in Seven Oaks just because hardly anyone else does. Seems that the only people that shop there are like me. They do not want to fight the traffic and crowds just so they may save a few cents at Wal-Mart.
Homer
6 May 12 at 9:17 pm
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Homer, I always knew it as Food Lion but there was some discussion on the closing page that it had a few names prior to it being Food Lion. I do recall, however, that when Eckerd moved out to 6118 St. Andrews Road back in Aug. 1998 that Food Lion wound up expanding into their old space and around that time, the remainder of Seven Oaks Shopping center got a makeover in which the metal siding was painted green. The weird thing is that when Big Lots took the place over, they left a vacant space on the opposite side that is about the size of what Eckerd was before they moved out.
* Eckerd became Rite Aid in mid-late 2007
Andrew
6 May 12 at 10:05 pm
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Andrew - I checked the Food Lion closing page and it said that it was once a Big Star. That was the name I couldn't recall. My Mom is the one that remembers it originally being a Colonial Store when the mall first opened. I had forgotten about Food Lion taking over the drug store space when they expanded.
Homer
6 May 12 at 10:44 pm
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Andrew - do you remember the German restaurant that used to be in that area? The one that burned.
Homer
6 May 12 at 10:45 pm
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Homer, I don't recall the name of it, but I do remember seeing the charcoaled roof when it burned back in the late 1997/early 1998 timeframe (I was in 4th grade at the time). It was finally demolished and a car wash now sits on the site.
Andrew
6 May 12 at 10:48 pm
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@ Homer, Andrew. The name of the restaurant was Golden Crown.
Jonathan
7 May 12 at 1:06 pm
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The Golden Crown was awesome. Loved that place when I was a little kid in the mid to late 80s
chris
7 May 12 at 3:33 pm
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Thanks Jonathan! That place had some great food. I haven't tried the new German place over on Harbison. If they are half as good as The Golden Crown was I would be impressed. Funny how few German establishments we have around town.
Homer
7 May 12 at 6:36 pm
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Homer, the German restaurant you are referencing is called Huller's, and it's located at the former Sticky Fingers (380 Columbiana Drive)
Andrew
9 May 12 at 7:05 pm
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Andrew - I haven't tried Huller's yet. One of the guys at work tried it and was disappointed with the food. He said that everything was very bland and unappealing. I love German food and would love to hear if anyone else has tried it.
Homer
10 May 12 at 10:03 pm
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Homer - I have been to Hullers several times and enjoyed it every time, as has my whole family. Now, there is a certain blandness to every German meal that I have ever had. It's not a bad thing, just I've never thought of German food as spicy as much as hearty. They have a buffet with a really good selection of dishes (mostly different meat dishes, which is a real plus) and very good desserts. I would definitely give it a try.
Larry
11 May 12 at 1:41 pm
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Homer, make sure you have a Groupon. Food was very bland, which could be the style, as I'm not as familiar with German food. I was not looking for "spiciness" so much as flavor. I thought that there would be more sausage based dishes. I did not eat on the buffet, as I tend to avoid those. It's not that it was bad, but we probably will not return. It took an hour to get our food on a Saturday night at around 6:00. That is from ordering to food on the table. There were four of us. They did have Aventinus on tap, at a fair price, Liter for $9. Definitely the best part of the dining experience.
jonathan
14 May 12 at 8:03 am
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I talked to a Kroger employee who told me that in 2011 this store lost $1.5 million due to theft and food going out of date, the latter being a sign of poor management. According to her, this is why it was closed. She also said that business at the Irmo Kroger has picked up dramatically since this one closed.
Tom
21 Jun 12 at 1:34 pm
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I've seen a couple of help wanted posters at this location (not sure what for)
Andrew
29 Jun 12 at 10:57 am
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Within walking distance of this, towards Kay Street is an Japanese restraunt called Ichiaro that didn't last long...
This means that Gator Investments has 3 spots here at St. Andrews Crossing to try to fill...
Andrew
9 Mar 13 at 11:51 am
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My father retired from Kroger. I remember going to the grand opening preview of this store as a kid in '93. Times have definitely changed.
Tyler
22 Mar 13 at 3:12 pm
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My father retired from Kroger. I remember going to the grand opening preview of this store as a kid in '93. Times ahve definitely changed.
Tyler
22 Mar 13 at 3:12 pm
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I sit here on the first anniversary of the closing of this Kroger with news that the Fred's just across the interstate at St. Andrews Shopping Center at 736-C St. Andrews Road will be closing soon.
I found an ad for when it opened on February 29, 2008 and it listed 5 locations and of those 5, the only one still standing is at 2702 Emmanuel Church Road in West Columbia.
It has me wondering: If I'm a commercial real estate broker and I'm looking to lease to Fred's, will they serve their 5 year lease and close up shop...
Andrew
27 Apr 13 at 1:54 pm
I wonder what (if anything) will take the place of this? That means Bi-Lo is the only one left in that area..and that place is really falling apart.