Blockbuster Video, 4450 Rosewood Drive: Early January 2014 31 comments
Another day, another Blockbuster. I guess it's too late to change their pre-printed banners which continue to say This Location Only..
This particular storefront is on the tail-end of Rosewood, in a little strip which has now had the misfortune to have bet on two outlets for now defunct media formats.
UPDATE 26 November 2013 -- Here are some daylight pix:
UPDATE 14 January 2014:
Say Goodnight Gracie.
"Goodnight Gracie!"
UPDATE 15 May 2017 -- It appears this storefront now has a permanent occupant, Colonial Healthcare:
UPDATE 5 October 2020: Changing name in post title to "Blockbuster Video" from "Blockbuster". Updating tags. Adding map icon.
31 Responses to 'Blockbuster Video, 4450 Rosewood Drive: Early January 2014'
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Homer
23 Nov 13 at 3:39 am
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So sad to see some of the places I used to enjoy, closing, obviously due to the internet. At times I despise the internet for what it has done to destroy the way of life that was so enjoyable before, but then I wonder how I would be able to do what I do now without it. As you know Al Gore is to blame for the internet. Aliens are the ones that gave earth the technology, thus Al Gore is an alien, or associated with them. How could we do without cell phones now? I believe we have to much information, to quick, to make logical decisions on important matters. But then again instant information is a good thing. How and when, as alien offspring, will we learn to adapt to high technology. Just a thought. Maybe we should all go back to minning gold. I hope this was not so deep that many would think I'm a nut, but you never know, I may be one of them.
rick
23 Nov 13 at 1:13 pm
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From what I heard today, this will be last location in Columbia to close. Right now they are scheduled to close sometime after the 1st of the year and will absorb any stock remaining at the other local locations when they close.
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I went by the Irmo Store this afternoon. They still have quite a bit of inventory but it's the luck of the draw that they will have something you are interested in. Most of the films they have are older releases and obscure stuff that I had never heard of before. Used single discs are going for $5-$7 and what few new films they have are 30% off. They told me that they are planning on staying open until the 15th of Dec. and they confirmed that Rosewood is going to be the last store to close.
Homer
24 Nov 13 at 11:39 pm
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@rick - I agree with you. As I was watching all of the coverage surrounding the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination I started wondering what it would have been like if we would have had all of this technology back in '63.
Homer
24 Nov 13 at 11:46 pm
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Rick-
You'll make great pets.
Sincerely,
the head alien
26 Nov 13 at 7:43 am
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Following the removal of the signage off of the Irmo location, Homer referred to it as a "grey box with windows" and I can say that this Blockbuster has a comparable look to it now...
My inclination is that the revitalization the area within a mile radius has received in recent years with:
- Cross Hill Market (former Kroger)
- Rosewood Crossing (former Kmart)
- PDQ at site of former Brandi, Inc. Burger King
- Smashburger/Moe's (former BP station)In addition, Sammiches is also open where The Diner was
is likely to lend its hand to some interest, but only time will tell how it all pans out...
Andrew
26 Jan 14 at 10:36 pm
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@Andrew - there is one thing we are sorely lacking on the NW side of town. A store on the order of Fresh Market/Whole Food. I know there is a market for a store like this. I've often wondered about the feasbility of one going in one of the three vacant grocery stores we currently have in the Irmo/St. Andrews area:
Food Lion at 543 St. Andrews Rd.
Kroger at 817 St. Andrews Rd.
Piggly Wiggly at 800 Lake Murray Blvd.Homer
27 Jan 14 at 11:47 pm
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@Andrew - while I'm thinking about it, what would be the possibility of a Costco going into one of the three grocery stores or even the Kmart at 6169 St. Andrews Rd.? Are any of these stores of the right size to house a Costco or do they require more of a warehouse type layout along the lines of a Sam's Club?
Homer
27 Jan 14 at 11:51 pm
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Homer they could work as a Fresh Market/Whole Foods type of store but they are much too small for a Costco.
Costco seeks a space of approximately 16 acres from what I've read.
Food Lion at 543 St. Andrews Rd. (Richardson Plaza sits on approximately 11 acres) * this one makes the most sense from a size standpoint as far as the most likely location for a Fresh Market goes but I don't know if it'd be the best fit demographically.
Kroger at 817 St. Andrews Rd. (Gator Investments-owned St. Andrews Crossing sits on approximately 9 acres).
Piggly Wiggly at 800 Lake Murray Blvd. (High Pointe Centere is approximately 5 acres).
Seven Oaks Shopping Center (stretching down to where Big Lots #5123 is) is approximately 16 acres but it would mean buying all the stores (Zorba's, Big Lots, Curious Closet, etc.) that span between where Kmart closed and where Big Lots #5123 is. I also think Costco prefers something closer to the interstate than where Seven Oaks Shopping Center sits. I had envisioned the former Kmart becoming an Academy Sports + Outdoors but they have selected the 281 Park Terrace Drive spot instead. I've heard rumors that Trader Joe's is eying Seven Oaks Shopping Center.
The Fort Jackson Blvd. Kmart site was mentioned as a Costco possibility but it's only 10 acres and now it's being subdivided in a new development called Rosewood Crossing and I think something along those lines is likely to happen to the former Kmart at 6169 St. Andrews Road.
I've also recently read that one of the problems retailers have with Columbia (in general) is how spread out it is.
Andrew
28 Jan 14 at 1:24 am
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I remember there was a Fresh Market on this side of town way back in the day in that plaza on St Andrews across from Whitehall. Ted I love this sight it brings back so many memories. Andrew, Homer, IrmoJeff i enjoy reading your posts always so informing. Something should go in that old Kmart in Seven Oaks and bring some life back to that shopping center.
Steve
28 Jan 14 at 11:41 pm
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@Steve - I used to shop at the Fresh Market on St. Andrews quite regularly. It was in what used to be the old Winn-Dixie. I worked at the WD in high school when that little strip mall was packed on a regular basis!!
Homer
29 Jan 14 at 1:34 am
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@Andrew - I've been trying to post a response to you Jan 28th post my preferences for a location for a Fresh Market/Whole Foods in one of the referenced storefronts but WordPress is being a little b*tchy with me and won't accept my posts. I'll try again later.
Homer
29 Jan 14 at 1:38 am
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Homer, I thought that was just me. I had no idea WD was in Cloisters of Whitehall back in the day. First thing I remember there was the Giant Food World. I bought a bike from Bike Town! Learn something everyday, even in my backyard. I grew up in Whitehall, but the other side of Whitehall, not Tram-side.
jonathan
30 Jan 14 at 12:31 pm
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@jonathan - I don't even remember Bike Town! What years are you referring to? When I worked at WD is was the mid 70's. Can't really remember much about what else was in the Cloisters at that time. There was a drug store next to WD (but in those days, it seems like there was always a drug store next to a grocery store). There was an ice cream shop on the corner of the strip closest to St. Andrews. Rd. And there was a beauty salon somewhere in between that was run by the mother of a girl I went to school with. Heck, most of the part time employees were my classmates from Irmo. You must have grown up on the Piney Grove Rd. side of Whitehall.
Homer
31 Jan 14 at 2:47 am
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Yep, Piney Grove side. Bike Town was in two locations. I believe the first was on the front side, close to where the drug store was. The second location, about the time I bought the bike, was on the St. Andrews side. This would have been around 1980 or so. I remember the Pet Store. There were some comments regarding Cloisters on the site, but can't remember where they are located. By the time Giant Food World was there, the drug store was a Revco. I remember that ice cream store now. Never would have remembered that was there! Man, I miss the Fresh Market. Irmo could support that now. It was a foreign concept when it was located there.
jonathan
31 Jan 14 at 8:39 am
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I swear, The Irmo area sorely needs a Freshmart or a Trader-Joes or Whole Foods type grocery and would do well. I have actually traveled all the way to Forest drive to shop at Whole Foods and especially FreshMart. The Kmart site seems right. The Seven Oaks shopping center is a healthy, vibrant strip mall, but without an anchor???? I would hate to see it go down hill.
Becky
31 Jan 14 at 11:13 am
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Yeah - at the time the Fresh Market was there people balked at paying a little more for higher quality food. But today, what with organics taking over just about every grocery store, people are less hesitant.
Homer
1 Feb 14 at 12:49 am
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They showed the Blockbuster/The Shining episode of South Park last night. Again.
tonkatoy
4 Feb 14 at 7:45 am
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What's happening with this store? Looks like the other half of the shopping center was nicely redone.
D M
20 Dec 14 at 9:05 am
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I think the overhaul D M speaks to was brought on by The Children's Gym moving into the former Sounds Familar...Most likely once something is ready to move in it'll be overhauled...
Andrew
20 Dec 14 at 3:05 pm
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Makes sense. The old Sounds Familiar space did sit quite a while.
Any rumblings on what might be going in to the old BV side of the center?D M
20 Dec 14 at 6:34 pm
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I'm unaware of anyone in particular but I'm inclined to think that the way the general area is going (Cross Hill Market, Rosewood Crossing, PDQ, McDonald's rebuilding, Moe's, Smashburger) that something will work out soon enough for this spot as well...
Andrew
21 Dec 14 at 4:36 pm
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Next door to this is a Moe's Grapevine Italian restaurant that has closed up shop...
Andrew
23 Apr 16 at 12:14 pm
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in regards to moe's: http://www.free-times.com/blogs/city-councilman-closing-moes-grapevine-taking-job-at-usc123015
never liked eating there myself. food wasn't all that great.
JB
23 Apr 16 at 12:47 pm
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I never went there myself but read the article JB linked and it sounds like a classic case of a decently thriving business with an owner ready to make a lifestyle change...
I considered going but it never made it to the top of my list.
Andrew
23 Apr 16 at 5:06 pm
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I noticed some painting going on with this building leading me to believe it's being prepped for new occupant(s)...stay tuned
Andrew
17 Sep 16 at 12:13 am
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Signage has been installed indicating that Colonial Healthcare is about to set up shop here...
Andrew
12 Dec 16 at 8:46 pm
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Might want to double check an italics tag closing somewhere...
Andrew
20 May 17 at 8:12 pm
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Yep..
ted
21 May 17 at 12:56 am
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I meant to post this sooner but it was noted that Texas's last Blockbuster has closed up and goes on to say that Blockbuster is no longer except for several stores in Alaska and one in Oregon (though a second apparently is about to close up shop)...
Andrew
10 Feb 18 at 3:18 pm
The Irmo store is still open. I don't think they will make it to Dec. 12th. From what I could tell this evening, when driving by, they are almost down to the bare shelves. I am going to drop by there tonight and see what's left.