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Family Dollar, 3979 Platt Springs Road: Summer 2014 (soon)   36 comments

Posted at 11:12 pm in Uncategorized

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I have been holding off doing a closing on the Family Dollar on Platt Springs Road because I wanted to get back out there and get some inside pictures before it closed, but for one reason or another, I never did, and it looks iffy at this point, if they are in fact still open.

This closing was announced before the recent big list of Family Dollar store shutterings. I was kind of surprised at that announcement because before that, they had seemed to be a chain on the move, and recently opened a new store on Two Notch. But the same thing happened to Fred's recently -- apparently the smaller discount store market is pretty cut-throat.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

Written by ted on July 17th, 2014

Tagged with , , , , ,

36 Responses to 'Family Dollar, 3979 Platt Springs Road: Summer 2014 (soon)'

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  1. They close one and open another. Looks like they are getting ready to start moving the fixtures into the new one on St. Andrews Rd. Stocking will be next....

    Homer

    18 Jul 14 at 1:44 am

  2. I have nothing against any of the dollar stores it's just that the few times I have been in Family Dollar or Dollar Tree, I did not see a lot that interested me. How many different Dollar Stores do we have in SC? Family Dollar, Dollar Tree maybe Big lots and Fred's could be considered, Woolworths. I go in Big Lots often enough but not the others.

    Rick

    18 Jul 14 at 10:06 am

  3. @Rick - Like I said in another post, the current dollar stores are the modern day equivalents of the dime stores we used to go to when we were growing up. I hesitate to try to count the number of 'dollar' stores that are around town. It seems like they will cram one in any 2x4 lot that they can find.

    Some, if not most, start out as neat little stores but end up as dirty, unorganized sh*tholes that you don't want to set foot in.

    Case in point, the Big Lots in St. Andrews is usually clean and pretty organized. On the other hand, the last time I went to the one on Two Notch it looked like a tornado went through it!!

    The old dime stores may have been in the same disarray, but I was just to young to notice.

    Homer

    19 Jul 14 at 2:41 am

  4. What I don't get is why Family Dollar and Dollar General are known as "dollar stores". I thought everything had to cost exactly $1 to make something a dollar store. Therefore Dollar Tree is but Family and General are not. Apparently the new system is if it has "dollar" in the name, it's a dollar store. Is this because folks of a certain age/income level don't really have to look at/worry about prices so they don't notice what things cost?

    Kenneth

    19 Jul 14 at 10:08 am

  5. Well, everything in an old dime store wasn't 10 cents.....

    Homer

    19 Jul 14 at 11:44 am

  6. I think Big Lots is better than most of the 'dollar' type stores but IMO Dollar General has a tendency to have stores that are dirty and/or cluttered. I got to where I refused to go in the Dollar General at Richardson Plaza (543 St. Andrews Road) because it gave off that vibe to me...

    I've gotten some good cards at these type of stores but I can also think of occasions where stuff they sell winds up being too cheap for my tastes...

    Andrew

    19 Jul 14 at 12:26 pm

  7. I got to thinking in Rick's "How many different Dollar Stores do we have in SC?" and here's my guesstimates on what we have:

    ≈25 Dollar General
    ≈10 Dollar Tree
    ≈15 Family Dollar
    4 Big Lots

    Woolworths exited the scene before I came along...the only one I've seen mentioned was at Dutch Square in the space that Burlington Coat Factory and Office Depot now occupy...Burlington Coat Factory moved out of Bush River Mall sometime in the 1997/98 timeframe and does have a mall entrance. It's one of several anchor tenants for Dutch Square that does draw people but it's possible to enter from the parking lot and shop there without going in the mall which is one of the things that I think is dragging Dutch Square down...

    Andrew

    21 Jul 14 at 12:39 pm

  8. I should have said that my aforementioned numbers are based in the Columbia MSA (not hte rest of the state)

    Andrew

    21 Jul 14 at 1:42 pm

  9. It has been a number of years ago, I think it was the summer sometime around 2001. We were in Charleston, one street over from Meeting Street. I believe it was on King Street. We went into the last Woolworths in SC with a lunch counter. They were only going to be open for about another week or so. We talked to all the waitresses and they were telling us stories about how long they had worked there and all the good times they had. I took pictures of my family with the employees, it was sort of a sad moment. We just happened in as they got the news the store would be closing. Does anyone remember the lunch counters at Woolworths?

    Rick

    21 Jul 14 at 4:10 pm

  10. I remember, Rick. To the right past the candy section as you entered from the Dutch Square corridor. I also remember the one in the old Eckerd's in Dutch Square and the one in the Kmart on Bush River Road.

    59 Ford Wheelman

    21 Jul 14 at 5:02 pm

  11. 59, I most remember the Woolworths at the old Richland Mall.
    If you were to enter the store from the interior of the mall, for lack of a better way to say it, the lunch counter was to the right as you went in. That lunch counter was a little different from the one I saw in Charleston. The one at Richland mall was more of a multi 'U' shape in relation to the one in Charleston that was long and straight going down almost the entire length of the store.
    I was only around ten years old, give or take a year or two, and I remember enjoying going into Woolworths, probably because of the toys, fish and birds they sold.
    It seems like I always wanted to get something to eat at the lunch counter, but Mom and Dad would not allow it, except for one or two times, if memory serves me, when they were hungry. When I was a kid, I was always hungry, not because my Mom didn't feed us, it's just that I was always hungry.

    My 230 pounds today will attest to that.

    Rick

    21 Jul 14 at 5:44 pm

  12. Because we lived in Saint Andrews when I was a kid, and I pretty much grew up in Dutch Square Mall (1970s and 1980s) my memories of Richland Mall are unfortunately hazy. I do recall the store in the Bush/Broad River Road area pretty vividly. The Dutch Square Woolworth was similar. The lunch counter was very small, and as you passed it from the store corridor towards the glass doors leading to the parking lot at Bush River Road you passed a clothing section, then the toys and pet sections to your right. I recall the Dutch Square store having a decent selection of fish and noisy birds. It's amazing what you remember from your childhood when you stop to think about it.

    59 Ford Wheelman

    21 Jul 14 at 5:55 pm

  13. The Kmart in Lexington still has a lunch counter that I've had serval lunches at in my day. It has undergone a few changes in recent years but the last time I was there it had a Nathan's Hot Dog theme to it.

    I also enjoy Targets at Lexington Pavilion and Shoppes at Woodhill for their respective Pizza Hut Express lunch counters (they do have other food items for sale as well)...I was disappointed to see that Columbiana Station's Target (as well as 10204 Two Notch Road) were remodeled but didn't see a new Pizza Hut Express (but they have a Target Café)...

    Andrew

    21 Jul 14 at 7:06 pm

  14. I remember the lunch counters and the Dutch Square Eckerd's and Woolworth's very well. I don't recall ever eating at either but you couldn't miss them when going through the stores. When I worked at the K-Mart on Arrowood & Bush River, I lived off of the lunch counter in there. The food was nothing to write home about but it was filling and cheap, especially when you were only making about $2.00/hr.

    @59 Ford - I had forgotten about the pet section in Woolworth's!

    @Andrew - Woolworth's was about half way down the mall at Dutch Square. What used to be in the Burlington Coat Factory was a Woolco.

    I vaguely remember the lunch counters at the various drug stores/dime stores along Main Street back when I was a kid. I know that I ate at them during one of the Saturday shopping trips with my Mom and Grandmother but, as to the food, I recall nothing except for the machines that had the hot redskin peanuts for sale by the bag. You could get sack for 5 or 10 cents and I thought they were the best thing since sliced bread.

    We used to eat at The Fountain Room restaurant that was in the basement of the Tapp's building. I found a snippet from one of their menus (probably from the 60's) and here is what it has on it:

    Broiled Rib Eye Steak on a Hot Bun
    French Fries
    Onion Rings
    Tossed Salad
    $.69

    Seafood Platter
    Breaded Haddock Fillet
    Deviled Crab
    Scallops
    Jumbo Shrimp
    Tartar Sauce
    French Fries
    Tossed Salad
    Hot Bread
    Coffee or Tea
    $.90

    Chopped BBQ on a Hot Bun
    French Fries
    Tossed Salad
    Coffee or Tea
    $.60

    and something called.....

    Mr. Guy Malone's Special
    Sliced Spiced Ham on a Hot Bun with Special Sauce
    French Fries
    Tossed Salad
    Coffee or Tea
    $.60

    Homer

    22 Jul 14 at 1:33 am

  15. When Homer says, "halfway down the mall" about Dutch Square it has me wondering where it'd be placed in the current site plan.

    Andrew

    22 Jul 14 at 1:53 am

  16. It was somewhere close to center court but I'm not sure what occupies the space now.

    Homer

    22 Jul 14 at 2:13 am

  17. Eckerd's was at 150. I want to say that Woolworth's was around 273 but that part of the mall has been carved up since the old days.

    Maybe 57 Ford can help out.......

    Homer

    22 Jul 14 at 2:16 am

  18. Woolworth's did have an exterior entrance.

    Homer

    22 Jul 14 at 2:18 am

  19. That floorplan is taxing my memory. As I recall, Woolworth's was in 98 and the Hallmark store was in 99. I remember Eckerd's being in the sections numbered 275-278 (the lunch counter was in section 275, just inside the corridor entrance). Next time I get out that way (which is rare) I will do a walkthrough to confirm.

    59 Ford Wheelman

    22 Jul 14 at 6:13 am

  20. I think Woolworth would've encompassed what is now 110,112, 99, and part of 98 because as Homer stated it did have an exterior entrance. I remember Woolworth had a cafeteria in it that was located right where you go down the little ramp in the mall toward Belk. There was a wall of windows that looked out into the mall from the cafeteria. Hallmark was right next to Woolworth on the left if you were facing toward Woolworth. Cromers was part of what is now 124, There was a tee shirt store in what is now part of 124 or around 122, I seem to remember a Hickory Farms being there at some point around the mid-80s as well. Then Kay Bee Toys was around that area in the early 90s. I don't know why I remember all this...LOL

    TahoeChic

    22 Jul 14 at 10:16 am

  21. Here are some recent departures I remember:

    108 is the site of a former Hallmark Store*

    Planet Fitness (124) is a former Maxway

    122 is a former Dollar Tree

    150 is a former Dressbarn

    132 is where Radio Shack* moved out

    168 I believe to be the former Burger Time*

    270 is a former Chick-Fil-A*

    275 had Merrit's Jewlery liquidate before a computer store took over

    194 has seen A Slice of Itlay*, D'Avino's Pizza*, Gabby's Pizza* and Stuft-Stuff* come and go

    * denotes ones that have featured here (and can be found via the Alphabetical Closings link at the top).

    Andrew

    22 Jul 14 at 1:24 pm

  22. This current floorplan is so carved up it's tough to say with any real accuracy. Here's my summary as I recall and based on the information here: http://columbiaclosings.com/wordpress/?p=3892: Woolworth's was in what is now 112 and half of 98. The Hallmark store was in what is now 110 and most of 99. I remember Eckerd Drugs being in what is now the 100-108 bundle. Any other recollections?

    59 Ford Wheelman

    22 Jul 14 at 4:00 pm

  23. 152 was an accessories store called Afterthoughts. 162, 163 was a clothing store called The Closet owned by Maurice's which later became just Maurice's and moved down to 154 or 158. 160 was Waldenbooks, but before that it was in 180, 182, and 184. 180 later became Claire's. 272 which is now Rainbow was a clothing store called Stuarts. 176 was Record Bar. Either 200 or 204 was a clothing store - I think it was NY & Co. I think 204 or 208 was a store called The Briar Patch that was like Kirklands.

    TahoeChic

    22 Jul 14 at 5:15 pm

  24. I forgot to mention that Piccadilly was in 138...

    Anyone remember Brendle's? I remember coming across that name on a tag after they folded up but am not sure where they were...

    Just since 2008 the following have left (in addition to what I've already mentioned):

    - Kidz Fashions (268)
    - Natural Remedies (264)
    - Women of Distinction (208)
    - Charley's (112)
    - John Miranda SC Artist (116)
    - Trendz (154) moved out to Widewater Square but A+ Hats & More is now in their former spot...

    Claire's also looks as if they are on the way out...

    I also see Jo-Ann Fabric and wonder what folks remember about that one...

    Andrew

    22 Jul 14 at 5:43 pm

  25. Yep, Brendle's was where Burlington Coat Factory is today. I think it went in immediately behind Woolco, somewhere around 1983.

    59 Ford Wheelman

    22 Jul 14 at 6:03 pm

  26. Yep I remember Brendles...they were in what is now Burlington I think. I remember in the 80s Piccadilly was Morrison's Cafeteria. Not sure when it changed, but I remember my grandparents used to drag me to Morrison's a lot as a child. I didn't like it because it reminded me of the school cafeteria. LOL

    TahoeChic

    22 Jul 14 at 6:05 pm

  27. Boy, I had totally forgotten about Brendle's...wow!! Personally, I liked Morrison's. My Dad hated it, however. He said he felt like a hog waiting in line for the trough.

    I used to love going in the old Magnavox store and Jerry Webber's Tobacco Shop that was right next door, I think. Then there was Cromer's, Browz-A-Bit, Hicory Farms and the Barrel of Monkeys arcade. All favorites of mine!!

    Homer

    23 Jul 14 at 12:25 am

  28. I remember Brendles too growing up. There was on in HWY 501 coming into Myrtle Beach. I'm fairly certain the building is still there.

    Justin

    23 Jul 14 at 8:38 am

  29. @Homer-
    I am pretty sure the arcade was called Barrel of Fun. I spent a lot of time and money there as a kid. Wish arcades where still around like that today.

    William

    23 Jul 14 at 1:08 pm

  30. @Homer, Andrew, 59 Ford, TC, Justin, William, You guys are all talking Greek to me. Dutch Square and St. Andrews were on the other side of the world for me back then.

    I will say I remember my Mom taking us to Dutch Square Mall way back, Before Columbia Mall opened on Two Notch Road, must have been late 60's early 70's.

    I must say, I remember it was amazing going to that mall when the only shopping centers I had been to at the time were Sears in Five Points, the old Richland Mall, Tremholm Plaza and K-Mart off Garners Ferry Road. Heck I thought it was cool just going to my local 7-11 convenience store for an ICEE, but Dutch Square.... WOW! Took us 45 minutes to get there, long ride for a 10 - 12 year old, especially with Mom driving. Why? Here is one reason.

    Mom was speeding one day, we had a Ford Custom 500 with a big V-8 in it. She was stomping the gas a stop lights and stop signs and just going really fast. I asked her why she was driving so fast. Her answer...
    "I'm about out of gas and I'm trying to get to the gas station before we run out". Whole lot she knew Huh?

    Rick

    23 Jul 14 at 3:40 pm

  31. Yes, William, the arcade was Barrel of Fun. I spent way too much time and money there from 1983 to about 1988. Rick, I remember all those places. I remember when Richland Mall was open air. Mom and dad would take me into downtown and the south Columbia/Forest Acres areas on shopping excursions frequently. Though we lived and spent most of our time in Saint Andrews/Irmo, we got our share of downtown and southeast Columbia too. Man, do I miss a lot of it, too.

    59 Ford Wheelman

    23 Jul 14 at 3:56 pm

  32. Where the heck did I get monkeys from? Must have been that last adult beverage I had!!

    Since I grew up in Irmo back in the 60's I thought that the Sears Town in Five Points and the old open-air Richland Mall were amazing. When Dutch Square opened I was floored. I spend a good deal of my high school years either in or cruising around the mall. Then Columbia Mall opened and blew everyone away. A two story mall, who'd have thought Columbia would ever have something like that. Now look at them.

    I don't know how the occupancy at Columbiana Centre is but I can imagine it's still going strong from the amount of traffic still flooding the Harbison area. I can't remember the last time I set foot in that mall.

    Homer

    23 Jul 14 at 5:46 pm

  33. As one of the younger 'regulars' to this blog, many of these places were before my time and the only way I know about them are from you folks...especially the ones that were pre-Columbiana as I was a toddler when said mall opened...

    Andrew

    23 Jul 14 at 6:00 pm

  34. Oh and Homer, about Columbiana, they have been very fortunate that as vacancies arise, they get filled fairly quickly...the only long standing vacancy is the former Spinnaker's (which I never ate at). I've had thoughts that the roof could be raised on said mall and they'd likely bring folks in to fill it but then again I also contemplate the though that such a construction project would be almost too costly...

    Andrew

    24 Jul 14 at 1:26 pm

  35. @Andrew-
    I am younger as well and do not recall a lot of what is said here also. I do enjoy hearing about the stuff that was around before I was.

    William

    24 Jul 14 at 7:04 pm

  36. I expect technically we'll see all the Family Dollars "closing" before long, since Dollar Tree announced today they're buying the entire chain and would presumably re-brand them all and, one assumes, close a number of them that are too close to one another. Dollar Tree paid $8.5 bn, to cut off the joke you're all about to make.

    Jason

    28 Jul 14 at 5:53 pm

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