Have Your Say at Columbia Closings

Have Your Say 1,271 comments

Posted at 10:55 pm in

I always enjoy hearing from you (though I may not always respond, or implement your suggestion).

Ted

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Written by ted on January 21st, 2022

1,271 Responses to 'Have Your Say'

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In Cayce: Why does the Starbucks on Knox Abbott Drive often close for a few days? Or they are only open for half days? Earlier in the pandemic, there were a couple of Covid scares among the staff. But they still close or reduce hours more than other locations.

Robin

1 Jan 22 at 8:58 pm
Does anyone remember the China Express on Sumter Street in Columbia? It was across the street from the old YMCA. I enjoyed eating lunch there in the early 1990s but I think it closed soon thereafter. They had a buffet and the food was always piping hot and very spicy.

Charles

1 Jan 22 at 10:40 pm
Looks like the Hwy 55 on South Lake Drive in Red Bank has closed.

Zach

3 Jan 22 at 1:42 pm
First Horizon Bank was in the old SCN/Wachovia location at the corner of Sparkleberry and Two Notch in the shopping center where Publix is located. The building is now vacant and available for lease. The web site indicates that 2 locations remain, one on Main Street and the other on Trenholm. This bank is affiliated with First Tennessee which is the official bank of UT athletics.

thomas

10 Jan 22 at 9:13 am
Today's The State had an article (print edition only, couldn't find it online) stating that Capitol City Stadium is about to be demolished in favor of a mixed use facility...

Andrew

13 Jan 22 at 3:56 pm
Once again, Columbia tears down another historical site in favor of more apts. and other things that will over a period of time attract trouble makers. I'm surprised that USC didn't buy it all up to build more housing for the USC kids. Bets on how long this area will stay trouble free once it's all up and running. ?

DB

14 Jan 22 at 3:12 pm
Capitol City Stadium is nothing but an eyesore now. Historical or not, it needs to go. I ride by it everyday. I am very surprised USC didn't buy it. But isn't it in a flood zone? Isn't that why Kroger and Walmart not buy the land?

Sidney

14 Jan 22 at 4:52 pm
I'm not sure why the Kroger deal fell through. Be that as it may, I remember some community opposition & concerns arising when the Walmart was proposed for reasons I totally can understand as I've gotten so I don't really shop there.

Capitol City Stadium has undoubtedly hosted many years of baseball but the teams it hosed are no longer and so it's time for the property it sits on to turn the page...

Andrew

14 Jan 22 at 10:22 pm
Also I am pretty sure most of the structure that sits on the property was built in 1991 which isn’t really historical. I’m sure the ground level underneath the stadium may be historical but most of it is not. Like Sidney said it is a massive eye sore and that entire area really is, hopefully the new development is done correctly and can spur some more redevelopment in that area. Streetscaping is much needed on that corridor as well. The city may not have wanted USC to purchase the land but USC did recently purchase a lot of the property across Assembly St from Dominion. They will be moving their motor pool and other facilities that are located between Colonial Life arena and Huger to that area.

Larry

15 Jan 22 at 7:38 am
Historical or not, eyesore or not, flood zone or not...be that as it may, all I can say is good luck Columbia. I give it just a few months after it's all said and done to become an area of trouble for that side of town. But then again, not my circus, not my monkey's.

DB

15 Jan 22 at 4:20 pm
That area of town already has plenty of trouble. And yes, the stadium is an eye sore at this point, but the city should have never let it get to that point in the first damn place.
-------
I'm not sure if it's already been mentioned or not, but there is a For Sale sign on the property that was St. Andrews Animal Hospital on St. Andrews Rd.

Gypsie

15 Jan 22 at 5:03 pm
Several people are saying that this area is a bad already. The only news I ever hear coming out of that area is missing college students ending up dead at the bottom of the quarry. There's nothing really there except houses and apartments rented out to students and warehouses.

What crimes are we talking about here?

Sidney

16 Jan 22 at 5:31 am
I just read today that the huge Verizon Call Center on Spears Church Road had closed up. This may be considered Elgin, I am not sure.

Joe Shlabotnik

18 Jan 22 at 1:01 am
It looks like Crabby's Cajun at 1115 Assembly Street has closed up.

Justin

18 Jan 22 at 9:37 am
It appears to still be open right now, but the Ben's Dry Cleaners at 7183 St. Andrews Road has a For Sale sign on it.

Gypsie

20 Jan 22 at 12:08 pm
Bruno's Taqueria has closed. Sign on the door states their last day was December 24th. This is in the same place where Maddio's Pizza ( I thought you did a closing on this but I didn't see it in the alphabetical listing) and a hummus place (after Maddio's) was located a few years ago on Main St. behind the Capitol. It is right next to Blend on the corner of Main and Blossom.

Sidney

20 Jan 22 at 9:38 pm
You did do a closing on the hummus place. Here's a quote from the closing.

"About all I know is that it was the follow-on operation in this spot to Uncle Maddio's Pizza and was run by the Al Amir folks. "

Sidney

20 Jan 22 at 9:40 pm
@Sidney -- It's gotten to the point that I have no memory of doing certain posts at all!

ted

20 Jan 22 at 10:59 pm
Ted, that is not surprising. You have performed a yeoman's task building and re-building this thread. I do not know how long you have been on the air, but I began visiting your site several years ago and have always enjoyed it. Happy new year.

Joe Shlabotnik

21 Jan 22 at 5:54 pm
@Joe -- Thanks. December was the 14th Anniversary.

And speaking of thread, I forgot to turn over "Have Your Say" for the New Year. Hopefully I'll get that done this weekend.

ted

21 Jan 22 at 6:43 pm
Actually, it was worse than I thought -- I hadn't turned the thread around since 2020. I have switched over to a new thread for 2022 now.

You can find the 2020-2021 comments here.

ted

21 Jan 22 at 11:30 pm
Primal Gourmet in West Columbia has announced a temporary closure of their "food service operations" due to labor and supply issues.

Heath

26 Jan 22 at 10:53 am
The Post and Courrier is reporting that Jos. A. Bank in Trenholm Plaza has closed. Their web site still shows the location as open, so I'm not sure if they're in the process of liquidating, or actually closed. It has to be a tough time to sell dress clothing.

Heath

26 Jan 22 at 4:38 pm
I can confirm Jos A Bank is closed and cleaned out

Larry

26 Jan 22 at 7:51 pm
The brick and green building on Harbison Boulevard between Enterprise Rentals and the Sprint Store (I think it was 132 and maybe Keller Williams was in there last) was being torn down today.

Gypsie

26 Jan 22 at 10:17 pm
Green Dot Heating And Air at 1130 Broad River Rd. looks to be no more. Looks pretty empty inside and there's an Available sign out front. Loopnet has a listing for the property dated Dec 22, 2021 and updated yesterday.

Does anyone know what is going into the old Bank of America building on St. Andrews near the plant?

Gypsie

1 Feb 22 at 6:15 pm
It looks like the Knights of Columbus located at 1623 Marion St. has moved out of that location.

Justin

2 Feb 22 at 3:35 pm
Primal Gourmet (725 Meeting Street, West Columbia) bears watching as they're planning a temporary closure.

Andrew

2 Feb 22 at 3:51 pm
To answer my previous question, A-1 Transport has moved into the old Bank Of America building on St. Andrews. The sign went up today.

Gypsie

2 Feb 22 at 5:44 pm
The State newspaper has reported that Drip on Main is officially now permanently closed for good. Very sad as I remember going there a lot when I worked downtown at Baptist Hospital and remember their opening day back in 2013:

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article258006503.html

Dustin

4 Feb 22 at 4:56 pm
@Dustin -- I thought I had done a closing for Drip already, but it appears I have not..

ted

4 Feb 22 at 10:48 pm
My daughter got word from her ex manager that regal 7 at Richland fashion mall is closed effective today.

Jeannette

6 Feb 22 at 8:27 pm
Interesting, but not surprising. They used to apprently have a gentleman's agreement with the one by Golden Corrall not to compete too much by showing the same movies, but they had gone by the wayside, and it was definitely showing its age.

Still, saw a lot of good shows there over the years..

ted

6 Feb 22 at 8:30 pm
Hate to see it close but surprised they held on this long.
Regal should sue the mall owners for the condition of the roof area.

John

6 Feb 22 at 8:55 pm
There was an article in todays Post and Courier Columbia edition about Richland Mall being potentially sold and demolished to make way for another development. Wonder if that has anything to do with the closing or it finally just went the way of the rest of the mall other than Belk and B&N. The last time I went there was probably 6 years ago and the place was like walking back into the 90’s.

Larry

6 Feb 22 at 9:15 pm
The original Richland Mall should never have been torn down for this waste of space "Fashion" Mall. Columbia is not the place for such things...we're not Atlanta or Charlotte NC or Myrtle Beach for that matter. It was just a matter of time before this Mall went the way of the Dinosaurs..extinct. It just needs to be torn down and something else take it's place as long as USC doesn't buy it and build more Apts. or something else that will attract trouble makers. The old JB White's building is showing its age for sure, so time for something to happen with it too. I think the Mall would have done much better now if it had been left as it was originally until the late 80's when someone had the brilliant idea of building what's there now.

Db

7 Feb 22 at 1:16 pm
Numerous ideas came onto the scene to try to bring new life into Richland Mall that never came to fruition. Not only that, but commenters here over the years have had their own ideas over the years as well. Everything from demolishing half of the mall (leaving Belk to Dillard's) to an entertainment district, rebuilding it like it used to be to redeveloping it akin to how Sparkleberry Square is. Plus I know developers had condos and in mind at one point (and I'm sure countless other proposals that never progressed to the point of becoming public information).

A wider variety of tenants in that lacked staying power (everything from a waterproofing business, tennis tables and even a children's theater) also were part of the scene at different points in the journey.

It even got rebranded Midtown at Forest Acres at one point only to go through ownership changes that resulted in it getting renamed Richland Mall.

The redevelopment Db spoke to happened in the late 80s and from what I've read lead me to believe that it was an Australian company that pioneered it as part of a venture into the US market that didn't work out too well (from what I've read).

It has also been mentioned that the parking garage has been something that has dissuaded potential tenants from setting up shop.

Whatever the case, before any redevelopment can proceed, it'll require tenants to occupy the finished product. Woodhill's redevelopment (for example) didn't proceed until Pier 1 Imports, World Market & Bed Bath & Beyond had agreed to move in and something along those lines is what it'll take for a redevelopment to move forward.

I haven't been in Belk since COVID ramped up but I do remember setting foot in it several times in the 2017-19 timeframe and noting that about half of the upstairs was curtained off leading me to wonder what the future of said Belk was (especially since Belk has been through a bankruptcy filing). Plus it has Columbia's only Barnes & Noble left since the Harbison Court one closed a few years back (and has featured here).

I can only hope that as we rebuild from everything COVID has done that this can be the way to new life for the Forest Acres property.

Andrew

7 Feb 22 at 4:01 pm
I personally think that completely demolishing Richland Mall would be unnecessary. The only way I could justifying doing so would be if they rebuilt the old mall exactly as it was. They could even put B&N where Woolworth's was and have Starbucks at one of the lunch counters. Anyway, the current structure there needs some work, but could be repurposed as something else. I know these things have been brought up already over the years, but if no one can decide on anything, maybe they should just tear down the thing and put a park there.

Russell

8 Feb 22 at 1:27 am
Today's The State had this article stating it was under contract but the sale is undergoing a period of due diligence in the sales process as far as the parties involved. Forest Acres officials are hoping for a 'mixed use' type of facility but the details are far from certain at this point but several sales have fallen through in recent years.

Andrew

8 Feb 22 at 11:15 am
I just read on Facebook that Jason's Deli (located in downtown Columbia) has closed.

Ellen

8 Feb 22 at 1:08 pm
@Ellen, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! I love that place. Me and my son both work downtown and have lunch there every now and then.

Sidney

9 Feb 22 at 7:57 am
I have discovered this Coladaily article confirming the closure Ellen noted...

Andrew

9 Feb 22 at 8:16 am
I didn't see it mentioned and I keep forgetting to post it...
But White House Florist, on Old Cherokee Road... in Lexington. There was the florist, and an old white house that was the gift shop.
It closed... but also, they tore down all the buildings... seems like that happened fast.

Brian

9 Feb 22 at 8:46 am
Primal Gourmet has announced on Facebook that their market will be reopening on February 15th and they are rebranding to be simply "Primal".

Erick

9 Feb 22 at 10:24 am
Also, according to the Facebook post that Erick mentioned, Brickhouse Coffee & Tea will have a shop inside Primal.

Robin

9 Feb 22 at 12:11 pm
Both The State and Post and Courier confirming today that the Regal Theaters at Richland Mall are closed.

Bobby

9 Feb 22 at 4:42 pm
Columbia has done some stupid things over the years, and tearing down the original Richland Mall was one of them. Sure, it was in decline in the 80's and I'm surprised it was still open, but when they started to tear it down in the late 80's to I guess try and make that area or Columbia more of a "Charlotte NC" or "Atlanta"..it didn't work. It was too high end and never had the clientele to survive. Talk is cheap and that's all that's being done about what to do with the place now. Odds are the original blue prints of the original Mall are still around, and should be rebuilt minus a few places that have since long been gone, but it was fit the place and that area much better than what's there now. But then again...It's "Columbia". Only time will tell what happens with the place now.

Db

9 Feb 22 at 5:54 pm
https://images.app.goo.gl/FLFnPfsVkLuvpk1aA

John

9 Feb 22 at 7:36 pm
https://localhistory.richlandlibrary.com/digital/collection/p16817coll21/id/3496/rec/2

https://localhistory.richlandlibrary.com/digital/collection/p16817coll21/id/3495/rec/1

Here are some aerial pictures of the original mall under construction. They aren’t plans, but they do provide a basic framework of the site. If any of you are interested, there is a mall still (I think) in Forest City, NC called the Tri-City Mall that looks very similar to RM.

Russell

9 Feb 22 at 10:15 pm
@John, @Russell -- Great pictures, everybody should have a look!

ted

9 Feb 22 at 11:17 pm
Cola Concerts - the concert series/promoter that was operating out of the Columbia Speedway - is no more.

https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/cola-concerts-series-at-cayce-speedway-is-no-more,23226

I'm disappointed by this, but not at all surprised. I attend A LOT of concerts every year - many of which require traveling to NC or GA because SC continues to not get as many shows as I think we could or should so I was thrilled when another venue started having shows. That they set up shop during Covid and people going stir crazy from not being able to get out, but were presented in a method that allowed me and my group to feel safe in our socially distanced concert coves was especially nice.

But there were problems from the start. The restroom situation was a nightmare that actually got worse instead of better as time went on, getting food required a LONG walk to the far side of the speedway, and the ground was pretty uneven which made it difficult to walk on for anyone with ambulatory issues. They also made a lot of promises to their patrons and then never followed through on them.

And they tended to book artists that weren't very mainstream, and while those artists tended to have a very loyal following, they weren't really "big" enough to sell out the venue every time.

I think they also made a huge mistake when they did away with the seating coves and rebranded themselves as an "amphitheater" and tried to pack people in like sardines. The shows did pretty good, by their own admission, when they had the coves but they got greedy and wanted to sell more tickets and make more money. That's understandable to an extent, but their core patrons (myself included) who supported them from day one by attending almost every show they had didn't appreciate the greed over safety factor so we quit buying tickets.

Gypsie

10 Feb 22 at 5:23 pm
Regarding Richland Mall, the first time I ever visited was in the fall of 1992. It was not long after the rebuild and the place looked fresh, but I was astounded by how empty it was and wondered if it was on the verge of shutting down even then. Five years later when I was living in Columbia, the mall had a lot more tenants and more life. I didn't live far from there and when the frat boys downstairs from my apartment got too noisy, I would drive over and get a cup of coffee at Gloria Jean's and sit in the food court for a while, then browse the bookstores and buy something. The mall was busy, but not too busy, so it was a nice place to relax. I even saw a movie or two at the theater.

Over the years I've gone back to visit the mall and each time, it's been sad to see a little more life ebbing out of it, especially since I have some fond memories of time spent there back in the day. It's especially sad to see what's happened in places where decay has set in. If it's indeed going to be curtains for the place, my heart will break some, but seeing the place in its current unloved state is already sad. It's a good location, and maybe it's time to give something else a try.

Jodie Peeler

11 Feb 22 at 10:11 pm
Not sure if it has been mentioned here, I did not see either of the following two Lexington closings in the alphabetical listing. I looked through the Have Your Say for the new year and did not see either mentioned there.

Aamco Transmissions at 520 North Lake Drive (US 378 and SC 6 split) is now Tint World.

El Paso Mexican Restaurant at 1937 Augusta Highway (US 1) is now a San Jose.

JamesR

13 Feb 22 at 1:48 am
The U-Haul self storage place at 156 Jamil Rd looks to be closed. Most of the unit doors are up and debris is scattered all over.

Arthur P

13 Feb 22 at 12:33 pm
Someone mentioned that the UHaul storage place Arthur P referenced was being acquired by SCDOT for the Carolina Crossroads project and most of the businesses along that stretch of Jamil (as well as Fernadina Road on the other side of I-26) are going to experience some type of shift to accommodate the widened I-26.

Phase 1 is already underway (visualization at https://youtu.be/jlsvE1qU0JA) and widening is part of Phase 5 which is scheduled to start in 2027 and be complete in 2029.

Andrew

14 Feb 22 at 9:57 am
The U-Haul self storage on Jamil Road *should* be closed. It's not like whoever owned/owns it did much to keep it secure. At the rear of the complex, you can see where the fence has been run down to make an entrance.

An acquaintance had a unit there. When his unit was robbed, the police told him he there had been several incidents at this location recently. Management was oddly quiet about the situation.

That area continues to go downhill...

Lone Wolf

14 Feb 22 at 10:16 am
To be fair, the damaged fence at the U-Haul on Jamil Road is a relatively new thing. It was not damaged when we had to clear out our unit in August because SCDOT acquired the property as part of the Carolina Crossroads Project. The property also had a large fence that required an access code unique to each renter in order to gain access to the property. Additionally, someone in management used to live on site so there was always someone there, so I'm not sure what else one could reasonably expect from them in the way of security.

As I reported back in November of 2021, in July of 2021 renters received a letter stating that the property had been acquired by SCDOT and that all units had to be vacated by the end of August 2021. A company from NC sent adjusters down to meet with renters and look over the contents of their units in order to determine the associated moving costs that would be paid by SCDOT.

I will say though that once SCDOT did acquire the property, U-Haul seemed to shift everyone that had been working at the Jamil location over to the Zimalcrest location which had been understaffed due to Covid because at that point the Jamil office was no longer staffed.

Gypsie

14 Feb 22 at 8:46 pm
I just drove by the old comedy club on Berry Hill Road and the fire trucks are there doing what appears to be more training exercises so I'm guessing the building will be torn down soon.

Gypsie

18 Feb 22 at 12:11 pm
Ready to Play on Knox Abbott is closed.

Nobody

20 Feb 22 at 5:28 am
Does anyone know any details regarding the Waffle House on South Lake Drive in Lexington? I drove by it today, and it appears to be gutted. We enjoyed a few Valentines Day dinners with them over the years.

Payne

20 Feb 22 at 5:29 pm
Looks like my skepticism that the Lizard's Thicket on Beltline will reopen was justified. There's currently a "for rent or sale" sign in front of the building.

59 Ford Wheelman

21 Feb 22 at 7:19 am
You And Improved Esthetics on lady street abruptly shut down

Josh

24 Feb 22 at 7:52 pm
Payne

Some Waffles Houses throughout Colimbia are going through upgrades, being gutted and rebuilt

Josh

24 Feb 22 at 7:54 pm
I rode by the Waffle House Payne inquired about yesterday afternoon and I get the impression that it is undergoing an overhaul similar to the one that has recently been discussed at Two Notch & Trenholm Road Extension.

Andrew

24 Feb 22 at 9:32 pm
Thanks, Josh and Andrew!

Payne

25 Feb 22 at 7:54 pm
Looks like the BB&Ts have finally changed their signage to Truist. If I remember correctly, the merger was completed in 2019.

Gypsie

26 Feb 22 at 8:50 pm
The long ago closed Racetrac and whatever the station next to it was called at Broad River and I-20 have both been torn down. For the life of me I can't remember which day I drove by and saw the crew working, but it was sometime last week.

Gypsie

1 Mar 22 at 8:26 pm
The I-20 & Broad River Road interchange is due to be reworked as part of Phase 2 of the Carolina Crossroads project (which SCDOT is getting started on with phase 1 simultaneously)...the two stations Gypsie mentioned were vacant and this was the chance to raze them as part of the process. Garner Lane will be reworked to be shifted away from the interstate as part of this. Be that as it my, the original plan was for a SPUI there (akin to I-26 & 378) however a recent newsletter I got on the project showed an artist's rendering that leads me to believe it's going to be a DDI or diverging diamond interchange so I am not 100% sure what the gameplan is at this point.

Andrew

2 Mar 22 at 11:28 am
Are there still plans to build a Cook-Out on Knox Abbott Drive, near Krispy Kreme? People were protesting it last year.

Robin

3 Mar 22 at 2:17 pm
Looks like Chen's in SV Commons has closed.

Harry

3 Mar 22 at 3:03 pm
Bricks and Stones Pizza Company located at 3234 Augusta Road in West Columbia has announced that it will close on March 19th.

Heath

3 Mar 22 at 3:43 pm
Robin, Cookout changed their mind after the backlash from the neighborhood. I really hope they do open somewhere on Knox.

Mr. Bill

3 Mar 22 at 3:57 pm
Thank you, Bill. I agree that they would be nice addition to that road.

Robin

4 Mar 22 at 4:50 pm
I hate to hear about Bricks & Stones. Great food and service every time! On their Facebook page, one of their comments says: "Many reasons unfortunately cost of food, staff shortages, and the strain through Covid it was just to much and the business next store wants to expand so we decided it was time."

Robin

4 Mar 22 at 4:54 pm
Does anyone remember a pizza restaurant called Al's? I have vague memories of being there in the early '90s, as a small child. There might have been an owl on the sign.

Robin

7 Mar 22 at 12:04 am
@Robin - What part of town would Al's have been in?

Heath

7 Mar 22 at 10:39 am
Heath, my father says that Al’s was in Irmo area.

Robin

7 Mar 22 at 2:53 pm
I have found this article discussing the Bricks & Stones closing referenced earlier...

Andrew

7 Mar 22 at 3:20 pm
@Robin, that's interesting! I don't remember it, and I lived in the area then. Was it a sit-down restaurant, or a take out place? Any other info your father can remember would help. I feel like it's something I should remember that's just not clicking at the moment.

Hearh

8 Mar 22 at 1:01 am
Off the wall question, does anyone remember a restaurant named Cruisers? It was infront of Murray’s bar and grill. I believe it was a drive in. I remember as a kid I loved their corn dogs. Does anyone happen to have a picture? I can’t find anything at all online about it. Thanks.

Dylan

10 Mar 22 at 12:25 am
Today's The State has this article talking about proposals to expand the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center area...

Andrew

10 Mar 22 at 10:38 am
Heath - Thanks. I think the Al's place had tables, and I am quite sure that it was in a strip/plaza, not a stand-alone building.

Robin

10 Mar 22 at 1:12 pm
Are coffee shops with table service a thing of the past? I was re-watching episodes of “Frasier”, and the Cafe Nervosa scenes made me wonder. I don’t know of any cafe-type place (not a diner) where a server will take your order and bring your drinks in a regular mug/cup.

Robin

14 Mar 22 at 3:27 am
I believe Kaminski's still works that way.

ted

14 Mar 22 at 7:58 am
The Shoneys in Lugoff has been torn down and the site cleared. It kinda looks like they may be getting ready to build something else there.

Gypsie

14 Mar 22 at 4:02 pm
Adding to what Gypsie said, the old Holiday Inn in Lugoff appears to be closed.

Tom

15 Mar 22 at 1:32 pm
the old Holiday Inn in Lugoff appears to be closed.

Tom

15 Mar 22 at 1:33 pm
@Gypsie The old Shoney's in Lugoff has been torn down and a Cook-Out will take its place. Here is proof: https://cookout.com/location/lugoff-sc/

Russell

16 Mar 22 at 1:35 am
While in Five Points Saturday I noticed the Sub Station II on Devine St where Jimmy Johns use to be was now closed. The awning had been ripped down and the inside looked empty.

Larry

22 Mar 22 at 10:18 pm
It looks like Good Greens on Two Notch Rd has closed. It has looked dark for the past couple of weeks and over the weekend, I noticed that they've now covered up the windows with paper.

Mr.Hat

23 Mar 22 at 10:08 am
@ted - The Carousel Boutique at 4525 Forest Dr is closed.

Justin

24 Mar 22 at 10:55 am
It looks like the Tripps Dry Cleaners on Lake Murray Blvd. in the strip mall that Piggly Wiggly used to be in has closed.

Tom

24 Mar 22 at 5:00 pm
What is with all the new gas stations?

Robin

25 Mar 22 at 1:03 am
They're needed because you can only afford enough gas to get to the next one!

ted

25 Mar 22 at 1:13 am
Facebook chatter says that the Ballentine Hardee's at 1325 Dutch Fork Road in Irmo has closed. It's marked as "permanently closed" on Google and no longer appears on the Hardee's web site. I heard this location had greatly reduced hours during the pandemic. I have a love hate relationship with Hardee's, but my last several visits make me wonder how much longer the chain will survive. The cost seems way out of balance with value - but if I'm being honest that happens a lot for me these days.

Heath

25 Mar 22 at 1:01 pm
Columbia power sports on two notch has closed.

Not sure when they opened but seems like at least a
30+ year run.

John

26 Mar 22 at 9:24 pm
@John.... according to their website Columbia Powersports (not a typo - business name) Center was established in 1976.

Gypsie

27 Mar 22 at 8:16 pm
Those of us of a certain age will remember visiting Ghost Town In The Sky located in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. The link below is a window to the past of this nice amusement park from days gone by.

https://abandonedsoutheast.com/2019/07/19/ghost-town-in-the-sky/

Joe Shlabotnik

28 Mar 22 at 5:05 am
Those are some interesting pictures. I actually had not heard of this place growing up.

ted

28 Mar 22 at 11:12 pm
My Dad was obsessed with these old west theme parks. When I was a kid we visited not only Ghost Town but places like Frontierland and Tweetsie Railroad several times. It seems like every couple of years a report states that someone has purchased the park and will reopen it. So far, none have panned out. Here are some links for an article and a couple of YouTube videos if anyone is interested....

Homer

29 Mar 22 at 11:01 am
@Homer, your links weren't formatted correctly to show up, so I've given them below:

Ghost Town, Maggie Valley: Reopening?

The Abandoned History of Ghost Town In The Sky

Abandoned Theme Park on Top of a Mountain - Ghost Town in the Sky

ted

29 Mar 22 at 11:10 am
I figured I screwed them up...LOL... Thanks Ted!!

Homer

29 Mar 22 at 11:47 am
There was an Advance Auto Parts on Garner's Ferry that is now closed (or, at least, the signage is gone). It was beside the Enterprise Rent-A-Car at 7611-ish Garner's Ferry. Across from the Aldi.

Justin S.

29 Mar 22 at 10:05 pm
Carolina Eastern was on Shop Road and a source for fertilizer for years. It has been closed and the property is on the market.

https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/synovus-to-close-columbia-bank-branch-vista-street-improvements-move-forward/article_aafc608e-61e7-11ec-96d5-fb2bf18437e6.html

Thomas

30 Mar 22 at 7:17 am
With regard to the latest post concerning the Sub Station II closing, a new SSII is currently in the process of opening directly across from Moe's in the Village at Sandhill (in the old Cingular Wireless store).

Russell

1 Apr 22 at 1:23 am
@robin - I agree about all the new gas stations (and car washes) - they're the new drugstores, I guess. :/

Payne

5 Apr 22 at 10:03 pm
Seems like it. According to a couple of articles, some gas station brands are focusing more on the customer service and products inside the store.

Robin

7 Apr 22 at 12:45 pm
^^ part of it is the fact that (from what I understand) the profit margin on the inside items (food, snacks, beverages, etc.) is higher than the gasoline...QT bills itself as "more than a gas station" and they have a kitchen with pizza, subs, grilled cheese and frozen dairy items in addition to the typical inventory that gas stations carry.

The one dislike I have about these new gas stations (Murphy USA, QT, upgraded Circle K, etc.) is that they tend to shy away from car washes.

Andrew

8 Apr 22 at 9:08 am
I can confirm. My grandparents ran a gas station and made all their money from selling items in the store. I would assume that very little (if any) of the profits made from selling gasoline actually went to the store owners/managers. Granted, this was a number of years ago, so things could’ve changed.

Russell

8 Apr 22 at 9:32 pm
The Firestone at Parklane and O'Neil has gone dark, as has the Cod & Tail restaurant on Decker (site of the old Rush's).

Haley

9 Apr 22 at 9:48 am
If I am not mistaken, movie theaters were similar to gas in that way: most of the money was made selling the drinks and snacks, not tickets. Now I feel guilty for all the times that I snuck candy and bottled water inside my purse!

Robin

10 Apr 22 at 6:34 pm
[…] alley between Liberty Tap Room and Hampton Inn, there is a ghost sign for Lincoln Street Cafe. The only mention we were able to track down was that it was a short-lived restaurant located there in the […]

A look at a Gervais Street ghost sign | COLAtoday

12 Apr 22 at 8:19 am
I was in the Three Fountains area of West Columbia today. Someone was doing repairs on the former building for Belle's Tavern, across from the Sonic. The name is gone from the building now. I never went there, but I think it has been closed for at least one year. The most recent Google review is from four years ago.

Robin

15 Apr 22 at 9:37 pm
Chick-Fil-A on Augusta Road (West Columbia) now has one lane for regular drive-through and one for mobile orders only. So the line for drive-through is now even longer. Two lanes were already causing that plaza to be crowded. I don't eat there much anymore, but I went the other day. Exactly one car used the mobile lane while the drive-through wait was ridiculous.

Robin

16 Apr 22 at 4:45 am
The old Wells Fargo building at 165 Columbiana Drive has been torn down.

Gypsie

17 Apr 22 at 10:54 pm
There are a couple of Checkers restaurants making their way through the bidding process.
1. 901 Bush River Rd - This is the site of the H Rubin eye center on Bush River @ Malfunction Junction. I'm sure the developers know that this whole intersection is about to resemble a war zone when the construction on the interstate starts, right?
2. 7373 Two Notch Rd - This is the old bank next to the Harbor Inn seafood.

Matt

19 Apr 22 at 11:18 am
The old automotive place (I think that’s what the awning says) at the intersection of Forest,Taylor, Millwood, Two Notch is currently being demolished.

Larry

21 Apr 22 at 10:32 am
Rick Woodley, owner of Woodley's Garden Center, was looking to retire and that means both a name & ownership change for both Garden Centers per this Coladaily article.

Andrew

21 Apr 22 at 11:34 am
The building at Taylor & Millwood which Larry mentions was the old Kar Kare. There were some postings here in 2014 when it closed.

Thomas

22 Apr 22 at 8:10 am
Hate to see Woodlley’s close but will definitely visit the new guys

John

22 Apr 22 at 9:23 pm
The Lexington Chronicle website has an article about restaurants that were recently given "C" grades during inspection by DHEC.

- La Estrella (1921 Airport Blvd. in West Columbia)
- Mi Tierra (4944 Highway 321 in Gaston)
- Nick’s Gyro and Seafood at (780 St Andrews Blvd)
- Rivera’s Supermercado (1618 Airport Blvd. in West Columbia) - Wings and More (100 Columbiana Circle #1272)
- Domino’s (621 St. Andrews Rd)
- Fatz (942 E Main St. in Lexington)
- Lexington County Detention Center (521 Gibson Rd. in Lexington)
- Taqueria Chile Caliente (5343 Highway 321 in Gaston)
- US Wings and Deli (275 Harbison Blvd)

La Estrella has since improved their grade to "A".

The article has details about some of the things that were found during inspections.

Robin

23 Apr 22 at 10:47 am
The Harvey’s on decker is finally having a new tenant, also the BP on Alpine is turning into a shell.

That Guy

24 Apr 22 at 9:59 pm
Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Lexington closed for good last night.

Mr.Hat

25 Apr 22 at 8:26 am
Wow! I was there Saturday night. I always thought cutting their hours so much coming out of the pandemic was a bad idea.

ted

25 Apr 22 at 8:37 am
Yesterday's The State had this article talking about the future of Two Notch Road and talking about plans for the former Midland shopping Center to include a FRESH Communities Market groceries store...part of it is that is now Palmetto Place...home to the Edgewood Post Office (which has to be the most hidden PO I've ever seen in my life)...

Andrew

25 Apr 22 at 10:13 am
Looks like JCPenney is buying Kohl's for $8.6 Billion. This reminds me of when Kmart bought Sears. I assume this will cause some sort of effect with local Midlands stores.

Here is an article: https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/jcpenney-owners-offer-buy-archrival-kohls-8-6b?fbclid=IwAR1egO77r2WS-9LyOkkX2gQ-fZdC4BNT30rOi5JFYRZp7caBfmaYjcVBDSY

Russell

28 Apr 22 at 1:21 am
I wondered if someone would buy Kohl's. They already let you return Amazon purchases at their stores. Maybe that was an attempt at making more people go there?

Robin

30 Apr 22 at 11:12 am
RIP Benji Norton

Longtime Columbia DJ for Fox 102

John

1 May 22 at 8:43 pm
Per a letter I received today, the Wells Fargo branch at 6119 St. Andrews Rd. will permanently close on August 3, 2022.

I must say, I'm not real happy about having to either go to Dutch Square or Harbison to do my banking now. The St. Andrews Rd. location was less than a mile for me.

Gypsie

2 May 22 at 11:35 am
@Gypsie - I got that letter as well. I'm not happy about it, but this branch appears to have been losing business volume since before the Kung Flu hit. I've watched a number of employees "get transferred" and desks sit unused.

Regrettably, Harbison is likely the best alternative. Getting in and out of there is challenging, and traffic is ghastly. But, at least you avoid "the Broad River corridor", which has been deteriorating for years.

Lone Wolf

3 May 22 at 9:26 am
I have this Coladaily report announcing plans to close an artists' gallery in the Village at Sandhill...

Andrew

3 May 22 at 3:45 pm
The La Fiesta restaurant in West Columbia, on Charleston Highway, is closed except for to-go orders. And they were closed for a few days before Easter.

Robin

3 May 22 at 4:00 pm
Bordon has announced that it closing it's North Charleston plant by the end of May. Consequently, Bordon products will no longer be available in SC

Tom

5 May 22 at 12:26 pm
Borden Dairy?

Robin

5 May 22 at 1:46 pm
Looks like the Lawyer Lisa branch on Fernandina Road has moved. Their website and Google still list it as being there, but when you ride by all the signage is gone and there's writing on the windows that indicates it is no longer there.

Gypsie

13 May 22 at 11:34 am
Believe the Lawyer Lisa office is another victim of Carolina Crossroads. Recently on WLTX they highlighted the jewelry store in front of Roses on St.Andrews will also be purchased for that project. I’m assuming that will either be for the on ramp to 26 or they are rerouting Fernandina to come out in that area since it’s a good way from 26 itself. Wonder if IHOP will survive.

Larry

13 May 22 at 6:34 pm
I have found the WLTX article Larry mentioned concerning Jarrett & Hart...it is unclear to me why they need that property and like Larry I wonder about IHOP.

I do know they're planning on a SPUI for St. Andrews & I-26 and supposedly the Motel 6 property will be acquired as a part of this I recall reading...I have no doubt that most of the others in the vicinity will be impacted in some form or fashion though it is a chapter that is yet to be written)...

Andrew

14 May 22 at 10:57 am
La Fiesta in West Columbia is now completely open again.

Robin

16 May 22 at 9:47 pm
Today's The State print edition had a blurb indicating that the Bojangle's at 4301 Fort Jackson Blvd. will be getting demolished and rebuilt before much longer (much like the Chick-fil-A at 294 Harbison Blvd is getting ready to have done)...

Andrew

16 May 22 at 11:16 pm
Today's The State print edition had a blurb indicating that the Bojangle's at 4301 Fort Jackson Blvd. will be getting demolished and rebuilt before much longer (much like the Chick-fil-A at 294 Harbison Blvd is getting ready to have done)...

** EDIT: corrected italics tag

Andrew

16 May 22 at 11:16 pm
A few five points closings:
It appears Sushi Yoshi and Pita Pit are closed according to Google. Pita pit website shows the location but all the hours say closed. The one on Main Street didn’t even show up so that one could very well be closed permanently as well.

Also five points salon has closed, I know this one to be true.

Deanna

19 May 22 at 11:46 am
Has anyone heard of controversy over a possible new neighborhood development on/near F Avenue, in West Columbia? I overheard something about it, but I can't find any articles.

Robin

20 May 22 at 12:55 am
Robin, here is a WLTX news article on the development

https://www.wltx.com/amp/article/news/local/f-avenue-development-deferred/101-3ff37952-22ed-42b2-883a-0d184873e71b

Larry

20 May 22 at 7:16 am
Thank you, Larry

Robin

20 May 22 at 7:57 am
Heads up. The old Quality/Travelodge in Horseshoe Dr is back up and running under Hotel Columbia Inn and Suites. The hotel went through a multimillion dollar renovation in hopes of opening as the Red Lion Inn and Suites after changing multiple hands someone finally opened the hotel.

Also, across the street the old La Quinta that had a fire is undergoing significant renovation. It looks like its going to reopen as a newer style La Quinta.

HotelEnthusiast

22 May 22 at 11:23 am
While driving past Lizards Thicket on South Beltline? Noticed the building is for sale now..or so it looks like. I guess with no one wanting to work anymore, they had no choice but to sell. Anybody else see this? or know anything about it?

Del

24 May 22 at 4:21 pm
The Lizard's Thicket on Beltline has already featured here.

Andrew

24 May 22 at 4:35 pm
This story showed up on my Google news feed and has 3 old pictures of Columbia from 1974. Can anyone figure out where these are?

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/2022/05/23/columbia-south-carolina-1974-2?_gl=1%2a1muyls7%2a_ga%2aSy14dk1temJ6YjJjN3c0U1V5UUNVSTFvaTFUNmw5MlNQcDd3NFUxYVR3SC1HeV9ZdFBlMVFCNXh3M2o0WVI2WQ..#&gid=1&pid=2

Matt

24 May 22 at 6:06 pm
These are all in the Devine/Fort Jackson Boulevard intersection area. Pictures one and two are fairly easy to visualize as being taken looking down Devine towards the intersection (the first one perhaps about at Crowson). You can easily see the IHOP and the (sign for) the old Hardee's that became Eggroll Station. In the second one, you can see the old Martin's Coffee House past the IHOP.

I have more trouble visualizing where the third one would have been taken that McDonalds would be straight ahead. It almost looks like it could have been taken looking down Devine Street towards Woodhill, but in that case the old Kmart and Hardees would have been on the left.

ted

24 May 22 at 6:34 pm
The gas station in front of the old I-Hop used to be a Texaco back in the late 60's. I guess the old A&W Rootbeer Drive-In had been torn down by then? I remember it right well though since it was right across the street from the Drive-In where Family Mart/ Kroger was built. McDonalds on Wildcat rd. has been there as long as I can remember, but don't see a picture of what it looked like then. I dont remember when Texaco changed over or was bought out by Exxon/Esso though. I thought it was up the street a bit towards the back side of Midlands Tech.

Del

24 May 22 at 10:21 pm
Chick Fil A on Harbison is now closed for remodeling, etc. Their parking lot has traffic cones blocking off the entrance.

Lone Wolf

25 May 22 at 7:45 am
@Ted You are right about the 3rd picture, it is looking down towards Woodhill Mall. The Kmart and Hardee's is on the left. You know Devine curves around to the right putting the signs on the left. You can actually see the top of McDonald right past the signs. Applebee's is where Wallay's Tires sit in the picture. And in front of Wally's tires in the end of Jackson Blvd.

Sidney

25 May 22 at 2:02 pm
The CVS in the shopping center behind the Firestone store at the corner of Two Notch and Sparkleberry is closing at the end of June. This was an original Revco and is near the original location of the Wal Mart in this area. The closest CVS is at Sparkleberry and Clemson.

Thomas

28 May 22 at 6:36 pm
Correction: Two Notch and Polo, not Sparkleberry

Thomas

28 May 22 at 6:37 pm
If you went to HS in the '70s: I am trying to help a family member recall the name of a female classmate at Spring Valley High. She died in a car accident on Hardscrabble Road, on the way to school, in 1977/8/9. Sorry for asking here. I've searched FindAGrave.com a few times and can't find any listings.

Robin

28 May 22 at 8:21 pm
Firey Crab in Northeast Columbia may be closing soon. Someone who appears to be associated with the restaurant posted in a FB restaurant group that their last day will be May 30th. This wasn't their official page, so I'd classify this as a "possible closing" - but in my experience, usually sad rumors are true.

Heath

29 May 22 at 1:02 pm
Folks I have discovered this Coladaily article confirming Heath's indication that the Fiery Crab location at the corner of Sparkleberry Lane & Graces Way is history (after lasting around 3 years)...

Andrew

31 May 22 at 8:49 am
Reliable Auto Care Experts on Barnwell Rd in West Cola appears to have closed. I work nearby, and for years this building was overrun with weeds but it looked sturdy and solidly built. 2 or 3 years ago they cleaned it up and it appeared to be very busy. This is near the old Bi-Lo on Emmanuel Church Road and it kinda sits in the Airport's outer parcels.

Andy

1 Jun 22 at 2:08 pm
My favorite time of year now and as a child is Christmas! I absolutely loved when mama took us to Dutch Square to see the exciting Christmas decorations and if we were good, talk to Santa. I know the decorations would now be so considered out of style but I adored them! Does anyone know whatever happened to all of the decorations from the late 70’s? You could peek inside the North Pole workshops and see the little squirrels and bears hard at work making toys! Such beautiful memories for a young child of 4 or 5! Thank you

Sonia

5 Jun 22 at 2:46 am
I sometimes wonder what happened to Leonard Bearstein and his all bear Christmas orchestra at Richland Mall. One year they just stopped setting it up and I don't know if that was deliberate or it was just that the only guy who knew how to do it left.

ted

6 Jun 22 at 8:28 am
Speaking of Christmas Decorations I remember about 20-25 years ago (late 90s/early 2000s) Rosewood used to have some nice Christmas figurines that would align the power poles along that stretch of roadway and I used to think so fondly on them that I used to enjoy but they aren't a thing anymore (replaced with generic snowflakes last I knew) and I've dealt with similar feelings towards those.

I have noticed in recent years that Five Points has stuff simliar to what I remember Rosewood having.

Andrew

6 Jun 22 at 10:19 am
Heard tonight that the CVS in West Columbia next to JoAnn's is closing July 12

Tom

7 Jun 22 at 10:20 pm
I wondered if that CVS would close eventually. Another one was built so close. The one across from Guignard Park.

Robin

9 Jun 22 at 12:18 am
The Guingard Park CVS location Robin referenced was built in 2009 as they moved out of Parkland Plaza to have a store with a drive thru on the site of a hotel that had sat abandoned for a while (and did feature here).

US 321 between Knoxx Abott and I-26 has had 2 CVS locations for quite a while...the one that Tom says will be closing on July 12 (1210 Charleston Highway) and andother one at 2410 Charleston Highway (near Edenwood)...I wonder if the close proximity is a factor here (I remember an Eckerd at Broad River & St. Andrews that closed years ago and someone noted that there were 3 other Eckerds within a 5-10 mile radius that were a squeeze on profit margins so perhaps that is a factor as well).

Another thing, this is the 3rd CVS closure we've had in the last year. The 2571 one closed around this time last year (and featured here)...Thomas noted earlier in the thread that the Polo Plaza CVS (9712 Two Notch Road) is imminent...I think lack of a drive through is a factor there and plus I got some type of lonely vibe from that store last time I was there.

Andrew

9 Jun 22 at 8:33 am
@Andrew, my understanding is that CVS is looking at stores that are physically old (the maintenance cost of the JoAnne store was a factor in its closing) or underperforming.

Right now there is a lot speculation that the Broad River & St. Andrews location will close.

Tom

9 Jun 22 at 11:11 am
Andrew, I also feel the "lonely vibe" at some of these locations.

I worked at a different drugstore chain in the past, and it was my experience that people hate being cashiers/store associates at these places. Customers are often grumpy because of health issues and prices of their medication. Many of the groceries/snacks and household items are overpriced. A lot of merchandise sits and gathers dust. And if the store sells lottery tickets (I think CVS does), you deal with those addicts.

Robin

9 Jun 22 at 3:30 pm
A few places on St. Andrews Rd. to report...

City Mattress at 4512 has gone out of business. Google shows it as temporarily closed, but the building has an Available sign out front.

The former Coldwell Banker building at 459 is for sale.

1030 is also for sale. I believe there was a bail bondsman and some kind of counseling service in there at one point if memory serves correctly.

A-1 Equipment Rental at 912 appears to have gone bye-bye as their sign is gone and the building is now for sale.

Gypsie

11 Jun 22 at 9:14 am
@ Robin- CVS has never sold lottery tickets.

Tom

13 Jun 22 at 2:03 pm
I've been to a CVS in North Charleston that sold lottery tickets. The one on University Boulevard.

Robin

14 Jun 22 at 8:09 pm
No mention in the listings of "Mauro's" (also known as MLJ Mauro's Pizza. Was on Main St. 1970s to mid - 1980s, near Varsity Billiards.

Jim Little

14 Jun 22 at 11:08 pm
I think I remember eating at Mauro's once or twice while I was living in The Towers. Maybe I'll find an old ad or phonebook entry for it someday to hang a post on.

ted

15 Jun 22 at 12:03 am
Mauro’s had great calzones!
They came in a brown paper bag

John

15 Jun 22 at 1:50 pm
@Jim Little,

Mauro's lived on in to the early to mid 90s under a different owner named Joe. I wrote a bit about it in the comments on The Big Bird closing, as it ended up there for a short time as "Mauro's Big Bird" before closing for good.

Heath

16 Jun 22 at 1:08 am
A bad sign at Rush's. The Rush's on Sunset Blvd. in front of Target posted reduced hours of service. They now open at 11am. I for one liked being able to get a 'burger basket brunch' at 10:30 in the am. Now I'm sad & worried what may happen next.

JohnR

16 Jun 22 at 8:04 am
That is Warning Sign #1...

ted

16 Jun 22 at 9:54 am
Another thing I noticed. That Rush's was using generic drinking cups without their trademark logo. Supply issues? Or cost cutting?

JohnR

18 Jun 22 at 7:33 am
I have seen that several places recently. Pretty sure that's how Moe's is right now.

ted

18 Jun 22 at 2:14 pm
What is/was the name of the old school on the other side of the old Midlands Shopping Center? Not sure what's in there now, but I can't remember seeing the name of the school and I don't remember now.

Del B

18 Jun 22 at 2:44 pm
Does anyone know what is going on at the hotel on the frontage road at the Airport Export? The hotel is just down from Kenworth. The main signage on the hotel has been gone for sometime now and the hotel does not appear to be in business, but there are clearly people staying in at least a few of the bottom floor rooms as there are cars, outdoor furniture, plants, etc. outside the rooms.

Gypsie

19 Jun 22 at 1:26 pm
You need to check E L Wright again, unfortunately the new school will be delayed until early 2023 or so.

That Guy

20 Jun 22 at 2:12 am
Does anyone know if longtime radio voice and traffic reporter Tumbleweed was laid off with iHeart radio’s latest cuts? I remember he use to be Jonathan Rush’s sidekick on WNOK before moving over to WVOC and then doing traffic reports while Mr. Rush moved to WCOS. If anything that imbecile Kelly Nash along with Jonothan Rush should have been let go, pure offensive trash.

Logan

21 Jun 22 at 9:11 am
Fusco's Market on Dreher Shoals Road in the Irmo / Ballentine area abruptly announced that they're closed "until further notice" yesterday. No explanation, so maybe it's temporary?

Heath

22 Jun 22 at 10:55 am
I have this Coladaily article discussing the Fusco's closure Heath mentioned...notice he apparently has had to close several other places he owned...

Andrew

22 Jun 22 at 12:55 pm
It looks like Fusco's Market reopened today.

Heath

23 Jun 22 at 1:57 pm
The old Burnetts Dry Cleaners building at 5213 Trenholm (next to Forest Acres City Hall) is currently being demolished.

Larry

23 Jun 22 at 9:26 pm
After a couple of years of employees working from home I am surprised more dry cleaners are not closing down.

Joe Shlabotnik

24 Jun 22 at 11:28 am
@Logan - Tumbleweed was indeed laid off during iHeart's most recent "reorganizing".

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but folks like Jonathon Rush, Kelly Nash, etc. have loyal followings and proven industry track records. As much as iHeart may want, Ryan Seacrest can't be the voice of every station, everywhere all the time.

At this rate, I can't believe there's anyone left to let go. Last person out, turn off the lights.

Lone Wolf

24 Jun 22 at 12:16 pm
L A Shoe Repair & Alterations - 7715 St. Andrews Rd. Their online listing shows as "temporarily closed" but there is an available sign on the building.

Amora Sports Bar and Grill on Bush River Rd. does not appear to be reopening. There have been no signs of activity in over a year (I live around the corner). Their last activity on Facebook was in April 2021 so I'd guess they closed soon after that.

Gypsie

24 Jun 22 at 1:40 pm
@Lone Wolf

Thanks for the update, that’s really unfortunate. I assume Gary Mills was also laid off.

I actually like Gary David and Christopher Thompson still to do this day but I can’t Rush and Nash anymore but that’s my personal opinion.

Logan

24 Jun 22 at 3:55 pm
@Logan - happy to help, where I can. I do not have any information about Mills, I'm sorry to say. It's sad to hear when someone loses a job, especially if they've been around a good while.

Any position in corporate radio is like riding rodeo. It's an exciting ride, but it's a cruel mistress. Since deregulation, it's all corporate, at some level. I could be wrong, but I believe iHeart and Cumulus are/were working their way out of bankruptcy. iHeart has been especially tough with laying people off over the years...

Lone Wolf

25 Jun 22 at 10:01 am
Have you added chic fila on Harbison (remodel) and Hardee's in Ballentine?

Sean

1 Jul 22 at 2:23 pm
It appears the Comedy House on Decker has closed. The phone has an ancient message and the twitter feed no longer has any info on the Columbia Comedy house. I asked if they were still open? The reply was that they no longer paid their bills therefore they get no promotion.

Earl

3 Jul 22 at 7:30 pm
Hmm. Comedyhouse.us lists events there this month..

ted

4 Jul 22 at 2:34 am
Does anyone else remember that Comedy House location closing multiple times in the past? I vividly recall at least two instances where I heard that it closed and then I would ride by there some time later and the place would be open.

Russell

5 Jul 22 at 1:34 am
I noticed the Marlboro Inn on Forest Drive is all boarded up. Wonder if it was acquired by Lexington Medical like the old Steak and Ale next door

Larry

7 Jul 22 at 7:47 pm
The Subway at 509 Meeting St in West Columbia is closed.

Mr.Hat

9 Jul 22 at 8:12 pm
Yes, pretty sure I updated that post a few weeks ago.

ted

9 Jul 22 at 10:54 pm
Vampire Penguin which opened last fall in the strip at Percival and Forest Dr where Wing Stop and Panera are located, announced it will be closing permanently on 7/17/2022.

Larry

10 Jul 22 at 10:30 am
We went there right when it opened in Oct 2021 and we were put off that during the middle of a covid wave neither staff member was wearing a mask. It was also expensive and took forever to get our order.

Matt

13 Jul 22 at 2:59 pm
Bohemian on Devine street is going out of business. They are still open but doing liquidation sales.

Deanna

15 Jul 22 at 5:22 pm
There are several new bakery businesses recently. Five just in West Columbia. Not criticizing, just curious about the new trend.

Robin

17 Jul 22 at 7:19 am
I don't see Koon's Nursery on the list. It was located at 1513 Shady Grove Road in Irmo and closed somewhere around 2018/2019 if I remember correctly. The owners were really nice people.

Gypsie

17 Jul 22 at 8:01 am
The O'Charley's in Lexington is closed for remodeling. Death nail? Last couple of times we've been there it's been a small crowd. They removed my favorite item from their menu, Prime Rib Sandwich, so we mainly go there for convenience at this point. They do have yummy rolls.

Beth

18 Jul 22 at 8:30 am
Ok here's a Myrtle Beach closing I'm curious about. Growing up in Augusta, we used to always hear about the Rice Planters in Myrtle Beach. Folks would say it was greatest seafood restaurant on the Grand Strand. We vacationed at Myrtle Beach in '86 and it was still around then - I remember seeing it on Highway 17, but instead we went to Oliver's Lodge in Murrell's Inlet. Then, nothing. At some point in the mid-90's I went to Myrtle Beach with college buds. While there, I asked about it, and the hotel owners acted kinda sad that it had closed.

Andy

18 Jul 22 at 2:05 pm
Studio 221 Interiors is closing, according to West Metro News website. West Columbia.

Robin

18 Jul 22 at 2:39 pm
Anybody know anything about the Que Bueno opening in the Publix shopping center in Irmo at Kennerly Crossing? This State paper article has a little info but I'm curious when it is expected to open. I'm hoping it will be a Moes/Salsarita/Qdoba type of place.

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article262816863.html

Brian

18 Jul 22 at 3:54 pm
Don’t have an additional info on that, but went to El Charro last night. Was very good. Atmosphere more like Don Tequilas than a San Jose type place. Pastor tacos were very good.

Jonathan

20 Jul 22 at 8:27 am
Good to hear, thanks for sharing. I've been wondering about that place as well. Kind of amazing that within a few square miles in that area we have a San Jose, Pedros, La Fogata, and now this El Charro.

Brian

20 Jul 22 at 9:03 am
@andy - update on Reliable Auto Care Experts - there is now a real estate sign out front, so looks like you made the right call.

Payne

20 Jul 22 at 1:23 pm
Greedy Rascals had a location in Rosewood at the old Pelican's snowballs. The mural that was behind the building on the ajoining business has been painted over. Their website (https://greedyrascalscolum.wixsite.com) shows this mural and appears that they now have a location in St Andrews.

I've noticed that the Rosewood location hasn't been open for weeks if not months.

Matt

20 Jul 22 at 10:03 pm
I haven't been yet but I do the Greedy Rascals Matt mentioned on St. Andrews Road to be located in front of the CHEF'STORE in a former Tripp's Fine cleaners.

Andrew

21 Jul 22 at 1:25 pm
@ted - Studio 221 Interiors at 536 Meeting St has a store closing sign up.

Justin

22 Jul 22 at 11:22 am
Based on the website for Studio 221, maybe it was not quite right for West Columbia during a pandemic. Their Facebook page has "Mood Board" images that include a pair of side tables for $638 and a pair of stools for $738. West Columbia is not like downtown Columbia or Charleston yet.

Robin

23 Jul 22 at 2:12 am
Wild Wing Cafe in Sandhills has closed. It was bound to happen.

Sidney

23 Jul 22 at 11:26 am
Noticed today that the Eric’s San Jose on rosewood is closed with a for sale sign in front of it. I wonder what happened? They always seemed busy.

MB

23 Jul 22 at 3:39 pm
@MB I drove by the San Jose a few weeks ago and they had a sign that said “closed until further notice due to staffing shortage”. Don’t know how long they were closed before shutting down permanently

Deanna

25 Jul 22 at 11:41 am
Today's The State print edition had an article talking about plans to close Bohemian Home at 2720 Devine Street...

Andrew

25 Jul 22 at 12:47 pm
Looks like the Spirit Halloween store will be in the old Save-A-lot on Saint Andrews Road. Maybe there will be more to come. I feel like there were at least three in Columbia last year.

https://stores.spirithalloween.com/search.m.html?q=29209

Rogue Helicopter Pilot

25 Jul 22 at 7:38 pm
The State has an article about ten industries that are projected to grow a lot in SC by 2030.
#1 is "motion picture and sound recording" - business expected to grow 85.5%
#2 is "other information services" - expected to grow 60.9%

#7 does not surprise me: "warehousing and storage" - 26.1%
#8 is "couriers and messengers" - 24.1% expected

Robin

25 Jul 22 at 9:23 pm
The old Mattress Firm building on Harbison Blvd near the railroad tracks is being torn down. Looks like they have cleared some of the land behind it as well.

Gypsie

28 Jul 22 at 9:50 pm
The Chick-Fil-A on Decker has moved to their new location on 2 Notch. I noticed last night that the signs were down and they were working on clearing out the building.

Matt

29 Jul 22 at 7:56 am
@MB I saw that too. Eric's San Jose was one of my favorites when they were on Garner's Ferry in front of Target, but after they moved it was downfall from there as well.

@Sidney been waiting for that place to close for years. How many times did that Wild Wing Cafe get downgraded to a C by DHEC or have nasty plumbing issues due to poor construction/design? Yikes. Wild Wing as an overall company has really gone downhill over the years. The now closed location on Bower Parkway and the downtown Cola were great years ago but done in by terrible service and food. Last time I went to one in Anderson after a Clemson game it was lousy as well.

Dustin

29 Jul 22 at 11:11 am
Beltline Grill has announced on Facebook that it's closing. It had some good looking food, and I had planned on trying it "someday" but never made it.

Heath

29 Jul 22 at 5:17 pm
There is a store beside Tropical Smoothie that has closed at Columbiana Station. The store is called Handpicked.

Ellen

30 Jul 22 at 10:36 am
Update: Handpicked had this posting on their website: "Our Harbison Store is moving and the New Store location will be announced soon."

Ellen

30 Jul 22 at 6:33 pm
Yesterday afternoon I confirmed that the closure of the Wells Fargo branch located at 6119 St. Andrews Road that Gypsie said was in the works has indeed come to pass and the property is for sale...

Andrew

5 Aug 22 at 10:29 am
Seems like "the Harbison area" has lost a good bit of luster over the years. Harbison used to have Barnes & Nobel, Pier One and (obviously) Handpicked, to name a few. Now, you have PopShelf (owned by Dollar General), Five Below and Dollar Tree all on the same strip. And, you can choose from three (or is it four) different-but-essentially-the-same crab restaurants. There's also the growing "homeless" population that wasn't an issue even 6-8 years ago.

Handpicked was in that location since 2001, if I'm remembering correctly. Y'all ever heard the canary in a coal mine metaphor?

Lone Wolf

7 Aug 22 at 9:43 am
There isn't a canary in the coal mine. We just went through one of the worst pandemics that has affected retail nationwide. Harbison continues to be the entry point for new retailers. PopShelf is opening in Lexington and other areas. If Harbison didn't have Five Below and PopShelf, then the reference of the canary in the coal mine would be telling.

Rashaad

7 Aug 22 at 1:34 pm
I think the trend of having more discount stores is a national occurrence and not solely unique to Columbia or Harbison. Nearly every company that has exited that corridor has faced financial distress( or extinction in Pier1’s case.) Handpicked also closed their Devine St location in recent years. The Harbison area is still the most viable retail corridor in Columbia and there doesn’t really seem to be an heir apparent to take its place after over 30 years in existence. Sure some of the residential areas around it have fallen into decay but that’s going to happen as apartment complexes get older and there are newer and nicer options. Homelessness seems to be increasing in suburban areas around downtown. It seems to me more and more are congregating in areas like Harbison and Forest Dr instead of remaining downtown like in the past.

As for the Crab restaurants, I don’t really get it. I know one on Lake Murray Blvd and one in North East Cola have closed. I can’t see that restaurant model surviving for long with that kind of saturation in such a small area.

Larry

7 Aug 22 at 3:55 pm
Harbison is getting bad. I think Popshelf and Five Below are fine there because these "discount retailers" are doing well everywhere. Same with Dollar General (who owns Popshelf, as was mentioned) and Dollar Tree. Items at Popshelf are supposed to cost an average of $5.

As I understand, there is a trend of people leaving the crowded city areas and moving to smaller cities/towns. They buy cheaper stuff from places like Dollar General, Dollar Tree, thrift shops, and flea markets. They don't care about getting name-brand clothes and makeup from the mall anymore. Heck, more people are even keeping their own vegetable and fruit gardens.

Robin

7 Aug 22 at 4:00 pm
Some of the closures Lone Wolf eludes to stem from issues the companies were having at the corporate level. Pier One wound up closing companywide (as did Hancock Fabrics (where Tuesday Morning is now) and Anna's Linens (where Five Below is now)). Plus Lifeway, Circuity City, hhgregg, Phar Mor, Dressbarn, Bi-Lo, JB White, Parisian, Toys R Us, AC Moore Arts & Crafts, Goody's and Stein Mart are all examples of stores that the Harbison/Bower Parkway area used to have that have now closed companywide.

Most areas go through certain 'ebb and flow' or 'rise & fall' cycles over a period of time...what this will wind up looking like for Harbison is a story that is yet to be written...

Andrew

7 Aug 22 at 5:20 pm
Fire and Spice in Irmo abruptly announced that they're closing today on their Facebook page. Apparently they're just burnt out and done with it. They were located at 7971 N. Woodrow Street in the small strip mall outparcel across from Friarsgate Plaza where Bi-Lo used to be. It appears that an outfit called Roy's Grille will be taking over in their spot, and keeping a few favorite menu items. This was a place I always wanted to try, but their very limited hours didn't mesh well with my schedule, and I never got around to it.

Heath

8 Aug 22 at 12:30 am
Well, I guess trying to run a restaurant without ever having any actual food to sell *would* take it out of you.

Kenneth

8 Aug 22 at 6:25 pm
New "business watch program" in Cayce and West Columbia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o82UvVn_Ftg

Robin L.

8 Aug 22 at 11:27 pm
A Freddy's Custard & Steakburgers is going to be built at 1309 Charleston Highway in West Columbia. This is next to the McDonald's.

Matt

9 Aug 22 at 9:44 am
Rush's has announced a temporary closure of their Lexington location at 5101 Sunset Blvd. beginning August 13th. Apparently they're short staffed, and are using the staff that they have there to backfill other locations.

Heath

9 Aug 22 at 3:42 pm
Huh. I think I would have idled the Broad River location first. Although I guess that's their flagship store.

ted

9 Aug 22 at 11:36 pm
The City of Forest Acres announced that Zoe’s on Forest Drive will be converted into a CAVA. CAVA bought Zoe’s recently and has been converting existing Zoe’s to CAVAs.

Larry

10 Aug 22 at 3:38 pm
Heard from extremely reputable source that Casa Linda on Beltline last day is August 31st. New restaurant moving in. Casa Linda will be dearly missed in this neighborhood. Loved the staff and the food.

William

11 Aug 22 at 7:59 am
@William -- Oh man, that's one of my go-tos!

ted

11 Aug 22 at 8:05 am
This one was kind of hard to believe. My wife went to Kitty's Hallmark the other day and it was closed! Emptied out. Not sure the reason behind this, maybe Hallmark stores are not needed as much any more? Honestly I can't think of something similar nearby. But here is the listing for the space, available as of 7/14/2022. https://www.commercialsearch.com/commercial-property/us/sc/lexington/kitty-s-korner-shopping-center/ It's been there forever so not sure why it closed.

Brian

11 Aug 22 at 12:35 pm
According to their social media and an article in the State, the Whig at the corner of Main and Gervais will be closing later this year due to the purchase and redevelopment of the building they’re housed under.

Larry

11 Aug 22 at 1:07 pm
Yeppers as Larry said both The Whig’s Facebook page and WLTX and reporting as well the Whig will be closing by year’s end, maybe sooner.

In the meantime the Post & Courrier reports the Finlay Park disaster will continue indefinitely:

https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/news/whitewater-center-plans-for-finlay-park-on-pause/article_a63a77f0-18b4-11ed-a653-ef7c98dd5d75.html

Dustin

11 Aug 22 at 3:26 pm
I have This Coladaily article explaining the plans...

Andrew

11 Aug 22 at 4:49 pm
Does anyone remember a restaurant/bar that was under the Sheraton on Main St. in Columbia years ago? It was here Starbucks is now and was below ground level like the above-mentioned Whig. I think it was called Sherlock Pub or something like that.

Very sad to see the Whig is closing btw. Best burgers in Cola in my opinion.

Justin

12 Aug 22 at 5:36 pm
Sherlock Holmes Pub?
https://www.wistv.com/story/2759654/columbias-sherlock-holmes-pub-still-in-the-dark/

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/sc-court-of-appeals/1526582.html

https://colatoday.6amcity.com/tbt-columbia-restaurants-2/

Brian

12 Aug 22 at 10:44 pm
@Brian... it doesn't surprise me at all. Over the last 15 years or so at various points there have been "going out of business" and/or "building available" signs on Kitty's. It's been awhile since I was last in there, but at the time the inventory was low and the overall suggestion was to purchase online. The prices were also much higher than was necessary for what you were getting, but that's fairly typical for anything with a Hallmark logo on it.

Gypsie

13 Aug 22 at 6:16 pm
Not sure if it has been mentioned here already. I did not see it in the alphabetical listings or in the last few "Have Your Say" comments. Sherwood Furniture Warehouse at 4211 Augusta Warehouse is either closed or in the process of closing. They claimed to be Columbia's best kept furniture secret. I stopped in once. The space was very limited for a furniture store. It seems like the may have done more in special order because the limited space meant they did not have a wide selection of floor model displays.

JamesR

14 Aug 22 at 7:10 pm
The Main's Best convenience store has been deemed a "public nuisance" and is now shut down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zjp1S_URpIk

Robin

17 Aug 22 at 6:36 am
@Brian, yes, that's the Sherlock I was thinking of, thanks for sharing!

Justin

17 Aug 22 at 8:28 am
As One Bridal on Elmwood has moved to a new location. There is a pink sign on the door that I believe states where they moved to, but I couldn't make out the writing as I drove past and didn't have time to stop by.

Gypsie

17 Aug 22 at 4:50 pm
Waffle House coming to Gaston, will be built next to Wendy's.

Jimmy Freeman

17 Aug 22 at 7:41 pm
The Grand, located at 1621 Main Street in Columbia, has announced a temporary closing due to a fire in their building.

Heath

17 Aug 22 at 9:24 pm
This video mentions new businesses coming to Forest Acres: Crumbl Cookies, Home Goods, and Poogan's Southern Kitchen. Also, the city of Forest Acres wants to buy Richland Mall.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgHX6TGrwHA

Robin

19 Aug 22 at 6:15 am
I have a couple scanned photographs of a former disco on Knox Abbott in Cayce that was called "Daddy's Saloon". It was an older house and later a church. I scanned them because the photos were prints. I can send them to the admin if you'll contact me. Daddy's was a wildly popular place for a short time in the late 70s. I used to go as a student at USC. The problem was, you had to cross KA to get to additional parking. I recall 2 guys were hit crossing the road, and perhaps died after the wreck. My recall is the Cayce PD used the incident to close the place down, which had become a nuisance due to the crowds.

JH

20 Aug 22 at 7:35 am
I think Mrs. B's Soul Food at 676 St. Andrews Rd. may have closed. According to Google it is open right now, but repeated calls to their number only yield a short busy signal and then an automatic hang up and the sign in front of the building directs people to visit their other location at 511 Bush River Rd (the old Ruby Tuesday building at Dutch Square).

Gypsie

20 Aug 22 at 3:48 pm
According to Google, harambe Ethiopian is permanently closed

Deanna

21 Aug 22 at 6:49 pm
According to a post in the Facebook group Columbia Eats, Wing Cafe at Village at Sandhill has closed.

Gypsie

23 Aug 22 at 3:43 am
The AMC Movie Theater in Dutch Square is now closed.

Mr.Hat

23 Aug 22 at 7:13 am
@Mr. Hat. From what I've heard/read, that was long overdue.

Beth

23 Aug 22 at 8:35 am
Will the last tenant in Dutch Square please turn the lights off.

Tom

23 Aug 22 at 10:57 am
Driving down I 20 eastbound between Broad River Road and the Broad River there are a couple of old billboards that have been exposed due to the clear cutting of trees

Tom

23 Aug 22 at 9:39 pm
@Tom -- That would be Garner Lane, I think.

I noticed that clear cutting across from the Par 3. Somehow it even turned up an old house trailer though it seems to have been hauled off now. Anyone know what is going on there? They can't be building there I wouldn't think.

ted

23 Aug 22 at 9:59 pm
Hey, everyone: three years ago, this month, my husband and I were robbed and shot, in Lexington County. This happened in a calm, average neighborhood; not a "bad" area. Someone approached asking for help, and I didn't want to "judge" them. If someone ever makes you uncomfortable, please RUN and GET AWAY from them. Surviving is more important than being "open-minded" and "not judging" someone who approaches you. Don't feel bad - just get yourself out of there! I want to post this in case it ever helps any of you.

Anonymous

24 Aug 22 at 1:37 am
In response to the questions about Tumbleweed at WVOC he is returning our station tomorrow 8/24/2022 as he has been rehired for now.

Christopher Thompson

24 Aug 22 at 1:47 am
@ted, Garner Ln and the entire I-20/ Broad River Rd exit are being reconfigured so Garner will no longer share the two lane on ramp to I-20. You will now enter Garner Ln down at the road between Taco Bell and KFC.

Larry

24 Aug 22 at 6:49 am
I-20 and Broad River Road is getting redone as part of phase 2 of the Carolina Crossroads project. Originally they were going to put in a SPUI but they've decided on something called an offset diverging diamond interchange. Traffic (coming from the side where you'd turn to go to the Dutch Fork Post Office) will cross over to the left side, cross I-20 and then revert back to the right side once across I-20 (with the ramps positioned so either side can get to them at the same point). Here is a rendering.

Another key point is to shift Garner Lane where you no longer access it at the interchange as part of a trend to shift frontage roads so they're spread out a little better and distanced from the interstate (one of the first steps in overhauling I-26 and US 378 into the SPUI it is today was to shift the frontage roads where they were distanced from the interstate).

They're having a public meeting on this at Dutch Square on August 30, 2022 from 5-7 PM.

Andrew

24 Aug 22 at 8:22 am
@Larry -- That sounds good. I've always hated the way you have to watch out for Garner Lane traffic while ramping onto I-20 there. The I-26 westbound on-ramp at Airport Boulevard is the same way.

@Andrew -- If I understand the dimand thing, it is like the new I-95/A1A interchange in Yulee FL, and I really hate that. It's just counter intuitive and odd.

ted

24 Aug 22 at 8:40 am
Just read that Dutch Square AMC theater is closed! I just saw "Nope" there like a couple weeks ago!!

Steve

24 Aug 22 at 12:33 pm
The CVS at 1210 Knox Abbott Blvd has closed permanently. Probably due to there being 2 other CVS locations within a mile of either direction.

Russ

25 Aug 22 at 9:41 am
AMC theater at Dutch Square closed. I remember in the 90's it was the first to have theater seating I think. But it waa obviously in the death spiral... The roof was missing tiles and had major leaks. And the guy that had always workee there was no longer there.

Jj

25 Aug 22 at 9:52 am
WLTX's website has where the Dutch Square Theater is having it's Grand Re-opening Saturday Sept. 3rd. We'll see how long last this time before something happens. Not the best area of town any more for sure.

Db

25 Aug 22 at 3:55 pm
Simply Mac, an Apple authorized dealer that was open in Trenholm Plaza has closed. They originally had a sign on the door that said due to supply chain issues they would be temporarily closed. But that ended up being permanent. I’m guessing it was only fully operational for less than 6 months.

Larry

26 Aug 22 at 8:14 pm
Folks, SCDOT has come out with a Phase 2 visualization at https://youtu.be/DJ96h4IGWCc showcasing phase 2 of the Carolina Crossroads project and showcasing what I-20 and Broad River Road is to ultimately look like...

Andrew

30 Aug 22 at 1:16 pm
Civil Engineers don't get as much credit as they deserve. That's some beautiful design and I can't wait to drive on it.

Erick

31 Aug 22 at 8:18 am
August 31st has passed and Casa Linda on Beltline is still open. Hopefully things changed or it was a bad rumor.

Larry

3 Sep 22 at 11:32 am
The Post and Courrier is reporting that the KJ's Market grocery store at 4360 Augusta Road in Lexington is closing in September. From the picture, I believe this was once a Piggly Wiggly.

Heath

3 Sep 22 at 12:36 pm
Nothing about that Broad River Rd Phase 2 thing looks even remotely driver friendly. I understand how it might work in theory and even how it may work in other places, but people around here don't even seem to be able to follow BASIC road patterns without wrecking so my hopes of them being triumphant over something so complex is nada.

I don't see these on the alphabetical list of closings, but the dental offices of Nancy M. Mandish and John L Edwards that used to be at 1380 Lake Murray Blvd. are gone. Signs have been taken down and the space seems to be completely empty. I'm not sure when it happened as I don't go that way much anymore since I no longer work in that vicinity.

If you Google her name, there's a mention of her being retired and something about contacting an office on Broad River. I never went to her as a dentist but I did have a few dealings with her in another business capacity and she was very nice. John Edwards on the other hand... I went to him as a teenager and the experience was so traumatic that it would be nearly 20 years before I dared step foot in another dental office. I ran into him a few times over the years and he was always an ass so I hope he's hung up his hat for good.

Gypsie

3 Sep 22 at 6:02 pm
You're correct about KJ's, Heath. I drove by this evening, and there are "store closing" banners and mention of 25% off most items.

Payne

3 Sep 22 at 8:29 pm
@ted - The Toasty Hot Spot at 1305 Lady Street is temporarily closing until further notice. This was the former location of The Lunch Box.

Justin

4 Sep 22 at 9:58 am
I wish the newer KJ's in West Columbia, also on Augusta Road, would close. The place looks and feels dirty. Prices are ridiculous. Produce is subpar.

Robin

4 Sep 22 at 11:13 am
The Del Taco at 145 Harbison Blvd may have closed. It has been marked as "permanently closed" on Google, and I'm seeing some chatter about it closing. it still shows on Del Taco's locator, but it won't let you place an online order.

Heath

4 Sep 22 at 1:57 pm
@Heath - interesting on Del Taco. I saw a construction bid to renovate a spot to become a Taco Bell on Harbison. Wonder if Del Taco could become Taco Bell.

Larry

4 Sep 22 at 2:57 pm
The KJ’s Market grocery store on U.S. 1 in Lexington is set to close, with a liquidation sale already underway. The store, at 4360 Augusta Road, will close on Sept. 17, according to an employee. The store is holding a sale with 25 percent off most items that are in stock.

Jimmy Freeman

4 Sep 22 at 6:47 pm
Bed Bath and Beyond may soon be history. It announced this week that it will lay off 20% of its workers and close 150 stores.
And if that was not enough, they ousted their CEO in June and this past week their CFO jumped to his death from the 18th floor of the high rise he lived in. Last month he was named as a defendant in a class action suit accusing him and others of manipulating the BB&B's stock price.
Speaking of that stock, it went from $4.34 a share in July to $30 in August to $8.63 this past Friday. Part of the reason for the yo-yo price is an investor who dumped 7.7 million shares causing the stock's value to drop 41%.
I tell you it would be hard to a script writer to come up with a more convoluted tale.

Tom

4 Sep 22 at 7:31 pm
Convoluted tale is right, Tom. With 40 years of market experience I have never seen the craziness of MEME social media trades. A lot of unsuspecting speculators have lost their shirts recently.

Joe Shlabotnik

6 Sep 22 at 4:51 am
I don't understand the apprehension toward intersection remodeling. Columbia traffic follows three simple rules: Go when light turns green. Go faster when light turns yellow. Continue going when light turns red.

Erick

6 Sep 22 at 8:21 am
It doesn't matter what they do to "Malfunction Junction What's your Function"...it still won't help. Columbia is full of idiot drivers and has always been that way. Everything was better before they ever though of redoing the hiway. It was some company/people from up North not even familiar with Columbia and the area that designed this mess you have now. The more they try to fix it, the worse it's gonna get. There's always gonna be those that don't know how to drive, or drive too fast or too slow that causes nothing but trouble. Columbia is Columbia...so that alone should tell you why things are they way they are.

Del Bazemore

6 Sep 22 at 8:58 am
As far as those that think everyone in Fast Food Services should be paid 115.00 or more an hour, that's fine..but places like McDonalds, Burger King, Hardees and others were never meant to be a high paying job or career..unless you were a manager. Just remember, the more these people get paid or want to be paid, that cost is passed onto you the customer and the cost of your hamburgers and things are gonna go up. So if you're willing to pay 15.00 for a Hamburger, that's fine...more power to ya. But people are expendable and can be replaced by machines..so that way, the Company or Manager of any particular store won't have to worry about it. There's nothing wrong with gettin' paid more money to live off of, but Fast Food places were never meant to be that kind of business or high paying job. Here's a thought, don't like what you're being paid or treated? then find a job outside of Fast Food that will pay you more. Sure, there are rude and a** hole managers, and there always will be. So if you don't like your manager or supervisor, or the conditions you're working in, better yourself if you can and find something that pays better. But you're always gonna have jerk off managers..they've been around for many years. If you don't have the education or smartness or customn service skills it takes to do retail or some other job, then you have to live with how things are. Life's a bitch, then you die. I worked retail from 1982 through 2009 and had to live with how things were. People back then were paid on how much experience they had...and those that had more retail experience got paid more. I didn't complain because I needed a job. So don't like your current situation at FF? then do something about it...get off your ass and find something that pays better.

Del Bazemore

6 Sep 22 at 9:10 am
meant to say 15.00 an hour..not 115.00 and hr.

Del Bazemore

6 Sep 22 at 9:11 am
Just got an email from AMC that the theater on Forest Drive has now closed. They are referring everybody to visit the theater at Harbison as I guess that is the last AMC location in Columbia.

Thomas

7 Sep 22 at 2:03 am
Not too surprising. I went by there on a recent Saturday evening (without checking online beforehand) to see what was playing, and at 9pm they were already done with showtimes.

If you don't have any shows after 8 something on a Summer Saturday, you're in trouble.

ted

7 Sep 22 at 9:22 am
Fact: I know the owner (Don) of Rush's, use to work for him.. He raised the price of a cheeseburger to $10ea - when covid started he ran off and purchased a home in Amstedam to go with him owning the whole top floor of senate plaze, and a home in Columbia. There is a reason why he is having to shutter stores presently, paying his employees pennys so he can have extra money to run back and forth between Amsterdam and Columbia, SC

Jeffrey

7 Sep 22 at 2:21 pm
The P&C has confirmed Taco Bell will be renovating and taking over the Del Taco location at Harbison.

Larry

7 Sep 22 at 2:21 pm
Ted, you are right. Your post made me recall when the theaters were all on Main Street and they had dueling Midnite Movies. People lined up down the street to get in. And I do not think anyone got shot.

Joe Shlabotnik

7 Sep 22 at 4:53 pm
To Rush's or not to Rush's. We gave that place up in the late 90s when Sonic appeared. Rush's seemed to want to beat Sonic to the race to the bottom. I hope Rush's finds it first. To Rush's Harbison, you should be ashamed what you do.

Mitch

8 Sep 22 at 2:44 am
Interesting that the Del Taco is changing. That is the only one in Columbia, am I correct? I guess people here did not like it. I've never been to one, so I don't know why that might be.

Robin

9 Sep 22 at 3:22 am
Del Taco Harbison is being fixed up. I drove by it this afternoon. There's a sign out front saying "Taco Bell coming soon". Del Taco was expensive for what it was and the "side" for a lot of meals was fries. Small portions. None of it really any good. At least it didn't cost me severe stomach upset for 3 days like my last visit to Rush's Harbison in 1998. :)

Mitch

9 Sep 22 at 9:33 pm
The blue and yellow building (roofing or sod business - I can never remember) on Jamil just down from Carmax has a "We are relocating" sign on it now. I'm sure it's due to the interstate changes which I still can't visualize given what they claimed and what has recently been built.

Re: Del Taco... their fries were better than their tacos. I'm happy to have a Taco Bell on Harbison but I'll be happier when they bring back the caramel apple empanadas. Whoever made the call to take those off the menu is on my mortal enemies list.

Gypsie

10 Sep 22 at 2:30 pm
When downtown Columbia WAS downtown, and there you had all the theaters around at that time, there was The Ritz/Plaza, Fox, The Miracle, The Palmetto, The Carolina and later on Jefferson Square Theater. Back in the early even mid 70's on back, downtown had some of the best places to shop and see movies and things, and no one worried about being shot. But times and people change...and sometimes not for the better. Columbia was somewhat hip actually at that time..plus we had the "Carolina Queen" tram that you could ride up and down main street to where you needed to go. I remember too when they built the Golden Eagle Hotel..but that shows my age somewhat. But that's OK. Nothing is meant to last forever. Downtown is nothing like it was, and I feel sorry for those that never got to experience what it was like back then. When Dutch Square and Columbia Malls were built, that's when things changed. I remember the Drive In theater across from the Fairground..but don't remember the name of it now, or when it closed and was torn down.

Db

11 Sep 22 at 12:52 am
Anyone remember The UFO hangout on North Main. ? What year did it close or was forced to close? late 60's? or early 70's? Didn't Carl Singmaster open up Manifest Records in the same building?

Db

11 Sep 22 at 12:55 am
Talking about when Columbia was hip, we had some of the big and famous celebs. of that time come through. For the Christmas Parade downtown, there were "Parade Marshalls" like James Drury of the Virginian, Lorne Greene ( Bonanza), Ed Aames (Daniel Boone TV series), Bill Mummy from Lost in Space and William Shatner from Star Trek. Bob Hope came through at the old Coliseum, The Beach Boys, Al Hirt, Flip Wilson, The Boston Pops with Arthur Fiedler , The Four Seasons who opened for Bob Hope..even Paul Revere and The Raiders in 1967 played at the original Dreher High School Auditorium. So Columbia was right with it for that time.

Db

11 Sep 22 at 1:05 am
The roofing company Gypsie mentioned is called Grier Roofing.

Here's the thing: Phase 4 of the Carolina Crossroads project will involve widening that stretch of I-26 which will inevitably mean shifting Jamil & Fernadina Road to accommodate the wider interstate (I get the impression that SCDOT is still working on some of the kinks of it though). I also understand that SCDOT has an engineer that will be focused on the Carolina Crossroads project until the completion thereof (currently scheduled for 2029). Part of this phase will mean overhauling I-26 and Harbison to a 'traditional diamond' interchange (eliminating the loop on the Lowe's side of it)...however the Applebee's and Hooter's will likely be history as part of this...and plus I-26 and St. Andrews will be overhauled (in phase 3) into a SPUI.

I am happy that as the QT at Piney Grove Road & Jamil takes shape that the intersection of Piney Grove Road/Jamil Road/Bower Parkway is getting some improvements (looks like 3 right turn lanes are going in).

I only ate Del Taco once...it was fine I just never made it back...I have never eaten at Taco Bell nor do I particularly care of it (I've also never been a Sonic fan, either)...but I've always liked Rush's (though I'll admit they're high).

Andrew

11 Sep 22 at 12:54 pm
AMC on Forest Drive is closed.

Sidney

11 Sep 22 at 7:22 pm
I'm not sure if it's already been mentioned or not, but the Overstock store at 932 North Lake Drive has a going out of business sign on it.

I like Sonic for their tater tots, burgers, and slushes. I like Rush's fries, but I'm not a fan of anything else they have.

@Andrew... I think what trips me up about the Jamil area is that I just can't visualize what the end game is supposed to look like now that they have built the two QT stations. It just seems like what DOT took (landwise) and left is very patchwork so everyone I've talked to about it is just as lost as I am.

Also, I hate change and I'm more than just a little worried about the ability of all the "I'm too busy talking on my phone or messing with my makeup" drivers to learn new traffic patterns without rearending or sideswiping me more than they already have in the last few years.

Gypsie

12 Sep 22 at 6:33 pm
Bad drivers is argument for change, not against it. These new designs enforce greater safety by way of physical separation, so headaches like merge-before-diverge and collisions on left turns can't happen any more because the cloverleafs and regular intersections are transforming into segmented ramps and diverging diamond interchanges. People will still be dumb, but the new infrastructure will give them fewer opportunities.

Erick

13 Sep 22 at 10:25 am
@mitch and @robin The first Columbia Del Taco opened in Columbia Mall in the late '80s across from Schiano's Pizza's original upstairs location by JC Penney's. I manned the register and took the very first order when they opened. Holler...

palmettopanic

13 Sep 22 at 12:34 pm
^^ part of the rationale that SCDOT has used to justify these interchange overhauls is that they'll reduce the number of 'conflict points' in terms of drivers turning, facing oncoming traffic, etc.

Andrew

13 Sep 22 at 12:35 pm
@Ted didn't you post some old Columbia Mall store listings from the '80s at one time on here, or was that from other area malls?

palmettopanic

13 Sep 22 at 12:48 pm
I know listings on Dutch Square and Richland Mall have been listed here over the years but I am unaware of anything of that nature on Columbia Place Mall...

Andrew

13 Sep 22 at 4:26 pm
I have a complete list of stores within Columbia Mall from 1979 that I obtained from the Richland Library on Assembly. Each store on the list has its own number that corresponds to its location within the mall. CM faced a series of minor renovations here and there in the 90s and early 2000s to accommodate larger sized stores. This means that the store numbers on the current directory don't always match the originals. I'll have to look for my '79 list, but if you want, I can post it here when I find it.

Russell

13 Sep 22 at 4:33 pm
@russell that would be great if it's not too much trouble.

palmettopanic

13 Sep 22 at 9:35 pm
As I recall, I did some of that for Dutch Square, Trenholm Plaza & Richland Mall. For some reason I don't think I hit Columbia Mall though. I haven't been to the local history room at the library in a while -- I should probably get back there sometime.

@Russell -- that would be very welcome.

ted

13 Sep 22 at 9:53 pm
“COLA MALL SHOP CENTER
LOCATED AT 7201 TWO NOTCH RD ZIP CODE 29206

1. 104 - Whaley Opticians 788-8204
104a Columbia Mall Shopping Center
788-4676
Meri's Records & Tapes
Levy Joel S optometrist 788-3642
2. 108 - The South Carolina National Bank
765-3659
3. 112 - Bresler's 33 Flavors ice cream 788-3320
4. 116 - Radio Shack 788-7972
5. 120 - Vacant
6. 124 - Morrison's Cafeteria 788-9370
7. 128 - Chick-Fil-A 788-6732
8. 132 - Carousel Snack Bar 788-2080
9. 136 - Litwin Diamond Center 788-4754
10. 140 - Just Pants 788-0868
11. 142 - Vacant
12. 144 - Vacant
13. 148 - Vacant
14. 150 - The Siamese Cat gifts 788-1123
15. 152 - Merle Norman Cosmetics 788-4376
16. 154 - Jackson Camera Center 788-1415
17. 156 - Cookie Factory 788-0849
18. 158 - Jean's West 788-9868
19. 162 - Butler Shoes 788-4090
20. 164 - Merry-Go-Round 788-9974
21. 168 - Vacant
22. 172 - Osterman Jewelers 788-8540
23. 176 - The Round Robin clothing 788-5901
24. 180 - The Shoe String shoes 788-3434
25. 204 - Flowerama Of Columbia 788-9353
26. 208 - Fancy That Kitchens & Baths 788-6333
27. 212 - Stride Rite Bootery 788-9452
28. 216 - Bill's London Transit men's clothing 788-6634
29. 220 - The Lion's Den Men's Store 788-9080
30. 224 - Thom McAn Shoe Store 788-9240
31. 228 - Chess King clothing 788-9869
32. 232 - Brooks Fashions 788-9847
33. 236 - Spencer Gifts 788-5290
34. 240 - Murdick's Fudge 788-5444
35. 244 - Things Remembered gift shop 788-3999
36. 248 - Friedman's Jewelers 788-4833
37. 252 - Burger King 788-9270
38. 268 - Bankers Trust 771-2300
39. 270 - Vacant
40. 272 - Tuesday's restaurant 788-4092
41. 276 - Vacant
42. 304 - Todd & Moore sporting goods 788-9000
43. 308 - Musicland 788-9037
44. 312 - Stuart's 788-2044
45. 320 - Richman Bros Co clo 788-9670
46. 324 - WaldenBook Store 788-6963
47. 326 - Harris Paul Ladies Wear 788-1363
48. 328 - Britton's clothing men's &
women’s 788-5170
49. 332 - Vacant
50. 340 - Bakers Shoes 788-9453
51. 344 - Foxmoor Casuals 788-9999
52. 352 - Cards N Such 788-8273
53. 356 - Rings N Things 788-6613
54. 400 - Vacant
55. 404 - Father & Son Shoes 788-9506
56. 408 - Susie's Casuals 788-9069
57. 412 - Size 5-7-9 Shope 788-9660
58. 416 - Jean Nicole 788-9190
59. 420 - The Limited women's co 788-9260
60. 424 - Fines Men's Shope 788-9476
61. 428 - Kinney Shoes 788-2967
62. 440 - Vacant
63. 444 - Vacant
64. 448 - Vacant
65. 500 - Record Bar 788-9293
66. 504 - Vacant
67. 508 - Ormond Shop Inc women's clothing 788-7477
68. 514 - Curious Cargo 788-5445
69. 518 - Mister Dunkerbak's Bavarian Pantry 788-9094
70. 520 - Leisure Time gift shop 788-3631
71. 524 - B. Dalton Bookseller 788-8730
72. 528 - The Shop Of John Simmons gift shop 788-5439
73. 532 - Vacant
74. 536 - Body Shop ladies apparel 788-6895
75. 544 - Vacant
76. 548 - Motherhood Maternity Shope Inc 788-9752
77. 552 - The Keepsake Diamond Center 788-9640
78. 556 - Vacant
79. 560 - Vacant
80. 600 - Vacant
81. 604 - Sharpe' Formal Specialists Inc
788-9230
82. 606 - I Natural Cosmetics 788-1222
83. 608 - Vacant
84. 612 - The Tinder Box pipe & tobacco 788-9010
85. 616 - Silverman's jewelry 788-9351
86. 620 - Cricket Shop ladies wear 788-6119
87. 624 - George's Bootery 788-5241
88. 628 - Sharon Luggage 788-4701
89. 632 - The Ranch Clothing 788-7730
90. 636 - Casual Corner 788-7633
91. 640 - Ford's Shoes 788-9066
92. 644 - Vacant
93. 648 - John B. Lee Magnavox Home 788-9333
94. 650 - Columbia Mall Management Office 788-4676
95. 700 - Vacant
96. 704 - Vacant
97. 708 - Bresler's 33 Flavors 788-3369
98. 712 - Zondervan Family Bookstore 788-4743
99. 716 - Vacant (4 Bldgs 716-28)
100. 732 - Orange Julius fast food service 788-8617
101. 736 - Morrow's Nut House 788-9451
102. 738 - Vacant
103. 740 - The Earring Tree 788-9450
104. 742 - Vacant
105. 744 - Pat's Place Inc ladies apparrel 788-8199
106. 748 - Riggings J clothing 788-8667
107. 752 - Vacant
108. 756 - Hickory Farms Of Ohio deli 788-6183
109. 760 - Indian Summer mens & ladies apparel 788-9290
110. 764 - Hanover Shoes 788-9045
111. 768 - Vacant
112. 772 - Jarman Shoe Shop 788-0997
113. 800 - Paul D.P. Jewelers 788-9390
114. 802 - The Columbia Mall Cinema
115. 804 - Red Cross Shoes 788-9503
116. 808 - Vacant
117. 812 - Toppe & Trowsers clos 788-2197
118. 816 - Endicott Johnson Shoes 788-9276
119. 820 - B. Berry's clo 788-8080
120. 824 - County Seat clo 788-9651
121. 828 - The Craft Showcase arts & crafts retail 788-6567
122. 832 - Pet-Go-Round 788-9661
123. 836 - General Nutrition Center 788-9935
124. 840 - Tiffany's Bakery 788-9638
125. 844 - Vacant
126. 846 - Karmelkorn Shoppe 788-6217
127. 848 - The Sausage Biscuit 788-0310
128. 852 - Great Expectations Precision Haircutters beauty shop 788-9538
129. 856 - Vacant
130. 864 - Vacant
131. 868 - Schiano's Pizzas & Subs 788-7009
132. 872 - Lowry Organ Center 788-9340
133. 876 - Athletic Attic sporting goods 788-2915
134. 1525 - Sears Roebuck & Co 788-9121
135. Rich's Dept Store 788-0940
136. Belk Of Columbia dept store 788-7830
137. First National Bank Of S C 771-3760
138. Penney's J C Co 788-8150
139. Sears Self Service Station 771-3760”

Russell

13 Sep 22 at 11:36 pm
@russell thank you. that is an early list. I could follow how this matched the stores starting with Morrison's and moving along that side on the lower level around to the Sears end and back around the other side, then moving to the second level. Never knew there were so many bank branches in the mall, unless those were out parcels. Would love to see lists from the early '80s when I was a Mallrat. Spent many hours on Saturdays at Aladdin's Castle Arcade.

palmettopanic

14 Sep 22 at 2:56 pm
It appears that the BP Station at the intersection of Alpine and Two Notch is being re-branded as Shell. That would place a Shell on both sides of Alpine on that side of Two Notch. The other Shell was a Gulf station in the early 1990s before it became BP.

Thomas

15 Sep 22 at 12:15 pm
I read on Facebook that the Willie Sue's restaurant in Harbison is closing.

Ellen

15 Sep 22 at 7:08 pm
@Ellen,

I've seen that several places too! Sad, because I've heard so many good things about Willie Sue's, but never got around to trying it. I don't see anything official on their Facebook page, so maybe we'll luck out and it's just a rumor. At one point they were supposedly going to expand to more locations in the area.

Heath

15 Sep 22 at 10:20 pm
Willie Sues last day is supposed to be this coming Sunday. One of the reasons that has been cited for their closing is "problems with the building" whatever that means.

Tom

16 Sep 22 at 11:42 am
"Problems with the building" probably refers to the apparent curse on that location as no business has managed to stay there for any substantial amount of time for as long as I can remember.

We went to Willie Sue's a couple of times, but never saw what all the hype was about. The food was just okay and the service wasn't great.

Gypsie

18 Sep 22 at 8:21 am
How come you don't like chicken?

Matthew benjamin

19 Sep 22 at 3:40 pm
Who can say? The fact that it smells bad to me certainly doesn't help.

ted

19 Sep 22 at 10:45 pm
For those of us that enjoyed Myrtle Beach trips during the 1970s and 80s, it is with a heavy heart that I report several of the iconic motels are being demolished.

The Sept. 9th edition of the Myrtle Beach Herald states The Oasis, Sea Palms, Sea Nymph and the Fountainbleau Inn properties have been purchased by the city for future development.

It was so much fun cruising the strip with the radio blasting and enjoying the bright lights of all the signs. Another era slips away.

Joe Shlabotnik

20 Sep 22 at 2:05 am
I haven't liked chicken as much since I saw an episode of X-Files, in which the agents visit a chicken plant.

Robin

20 Sep 22 at 8:18 pm
It doesn't seem to happen as much as it used to, but how about being trapped behind a live chicken 18-wheeler on a two lane road?

Of course for nostalgia about that, you can drive by the place on Sunset.

ted

20 Sep 22 at 10:51 pm
Something is happening at the IHOP on Two Notch. I drove past on Tuesday after going to Home Depot and it was closed and had a container out front. There is a note on the door but I didn't turn in to read it. Consequently, it had a huge "We're Hiring" sign in the window.

Remodel maybe?

Sidney

21 Sep 22 at 10:29 pm
That one has always been kind of an outlier with very non-IHOP hours.

ted

21 Sep 22 at 10:34 pm
A deceased woman was in a bathroom at Belk in Columbiana Mall, for four days: https://www.wltx.com/article/news/crime/woman-found-dead-bathroom-at-belk-columbiana-centre-south-carolina/101-0704fba4-c2c9-4f9a-94dc-d1ed97195617

Robin

22 Sep 22 at 6:07 am
I do hate that Willie Sue's closed. We ate there once and it was good.

Ellen

22 Sep 22 at 5:34 pm
I think the Red Lobster in Cayce might be in trouble. Went there ast night and the menus we were given were torn. When we tried to place an order, we were told they were out of salads. Then the waiter left to "check" something, at which point we got up and left without placing an order.

Tom

26 Sep 22 at 9:42 am
Does anyone know what is being built in front of the Publix at Lake Crossing plaza, in Lexington?

Robin L.

26 Sep 22 at 2:27 pm
Along the same lines, does anyone know what's happening in front of Rooms To Go on Harbison?

ted

26 Sep 22 at 11:08 pm
@ted ColaDaily had an article yesterday that the construction at 275 Harbison by Rooms To Go is a free-standing Panera Bread location.

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article266222246.html

Mitch

27 Sep 22 at 9:03 am
I mistyped by original source. It was the ColaToday newsletter.

Mitch

27 Sep 22 at 9:05 am
I just noticed that the Swamp Fox Armory on Garners Ferry has closed. From their facebook page, it appears since March of last year--odd, since I travel that road a lot and only now have seen it.

badger

28 Sep 22 at 1:26 pm
The skating rink in Three Fountains is for sale. If we all pitch in maybe we can come up with the 3 million asking price. ;)

Gypsie

4 Oct 22 at 9:41 am
Google still shows it as having opening hours, but I'm pretty sure Jackie's Child Care at 3521 Edmund Highway has closed. I haven't seen any signs of life there in months and calling the number listed online gets a disconnected number message.

Gypsie

6 Oct 22 at 4:47 pm
Yep, Jackie's is definitely gone (see above post). Yesterday there were crews on site preparing to do some sort of "deconstruction" - it looks like maybe the site is being prepared for a different business to come in.

Gypsie

14 Oct 22 at 10:38 am
I wasn't able to make out where the new location will be, but there is now a sign on TurnKey Realty at 1921 Lake Murray Blvd that the business is moving.

Gypsie

18 Oct 22 at 12:40 pm
I heard that Scotty's in Blythewood is closing.

Ellen

19 Oct 22 at 9:54 pm
Nevermind. I just saw on Facebook that Scottie's in Blythewood is staying open. This is good news.

Ellen

19 Oct 22 at 9:56 pm
There have been several media reports in the last several days regarding the future of Richland Mall. Apparently, the county is prepared to give a developer some $20 million to redevelop the site. According to the Post & Courier, the site may be torn down and a new complex built on its site.

Tom

21 Oct 22 at 1:38 pm
$23 million tax break if they redevelop the property at a minimum investment of $101 million. They also have 20 years to complete the project. The City of Forest Acres also has agreed to buy the Forest Dr/ Sunnyside portion of the property for a park/outdoor event space.

Larry

21 Oct 22 at 2:46 pm
Do any of the commenters on this board drive an EV? And if so would you mind sharing where you charge up and how often? Is a majority of your driving around town?

Joe Shlabotnik

21 Oct 22 at 5:59 pm
The Fast Point convenience store at 5318 Fairfield Road is closed due to what appears to have been a pretty big fire. There's an article on WLTX.com from 10/14 about a fire that morning at a Fast Point though it lists it as being on Farrow Rd. That's either a mistake or a very big coincidence.

Gypsie

25 Oct 22 at 3:46 pm
anyone hear that Constan Car Wash has closed? Trying to find out more.

Mr. Bill

28 Oct 22 at 11:05 am
@Mr. Bill, Would kind of make sense with the new auto wash going next door

Larry

28 Oct 22 at 2:26 pm
I can confirm that Constan is history. The site will be taken over by the city and used in some fashion to prevent Five Points Flooding. On a personal note, I will miss that big blue, red and yellow neon sign. It has been there as long as I can remember.

Tom

28 Oct 22 at 4:20 pm
Constan's website and a sign on site thanks everyone for 72 years. Hate to see them go.

Thomas

28 Oct 22 at 5:37 pm
I hate to see Constan go...I have memories of going there during my Elementary School years when my grandmother and get her car washed there.

BTW someone asked about a month ago about what was being built in front of the Lake Crossing Publix in Red Bank...today I realized it was to be an Express Lube Oil Change place...

Andrew

28 Oct 22 at 9:26 pm
Sorry, Andrew. I just left a comment about the Express Lube Oil on another page. Didn't see your comment here.

Seems like the car-related businesses are trendy: gas stations, car washes, and maintenance.

Robin

30 Oct 22 at 4:07 pm
Does anyone remember a little hole-in-the wall bar/restaurant called "The Other Place" in a small building 1309 Bush River Road? It shared a parking lot with Auto Zone, which was a call center back then.

It was an absolute dump (although the beer was cold) and had video poker machines everywhere. Everyone smoked liked crazy inside. It was such a small place it often felt like it would collapse when you had a big crowd.

My girlfriend at the time (1995) worked at the IHOP on St Andrews Road, and they would go there after work. They raved about it but I never saw the appeal. We broke up early 1996 and I completely forgot about it until recently.

Andy

31 Oct 22 at 2:02 pm
There is a building undergoing renovation at the corner of Brickyard and North Springs Road. The prior business sold among other things coatings for hardwood floors and has been closed for a number of years. There is a sign outside indicating that it will open as a Chiropractic office.

Thomas

1 Nov 22 at 8:01 am
Sad to see Constan go. I spent a lot of time at the Forest Drive Location, seemed like my dad washed his car about once a week.

Mr. Bill

2 Nov 22 at 4:10 pm
The State just came out with an article on Constan’s closing:

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article268181492.html

Maybe they were good back in the day but I for one won’t miss them—taking up to an hour to wash cars, missing spots, and had at least 3 instances of a poor vacuuming job that I finally quit going.

Nate

2 Nov 22 at 6:20 pm
I agree with what Nate was saying about Constan.

Such a rip-off place only reason I had any business going there was because Constan had some lovely contact to get state government vehicles and law enforcement vehicles allegedly “washed and cleaned up”. But when all you have is ex-cons and homeless people working and moving slow as molasses and being so rude & disrespectful, let’s just say we will not miss them.

Aaron

4 Nov 22 at 12:55 am
@Aaron and Nate. Back when Constan was owned by their original owners, it was the place to go to get your car wash. They had great service and friendly people as late as the 1980s. Since it has been decades since I used their service, I cannot attest to what they became, but it sounds like I did not miss much.

Tom

4 Nov 22 at 1:28 pm
Folks WIS has this article announcing plans to demolish and rebuild Richland Mall…

Andrew

9 Nov 22 at 2:48 pm
trying a better link

Andrew

9 Nov 22 at 2:50 pm
https://www.instagram.com/p/CkwB4oYPEKK/

John

9 Nov 22 at 2:52 pm
The City of Forest Acres has posted on their Facebook page that the deal is official. They have illustrations of the proposed project and say it will be finished in five years

Tom

9 Nov 22 at 3:13 pm
Wow! Interesting. I've put up a Richland Mall post so we can discuss it there.

ted

9 Nov 22 at 3:31 pm
According to signage at Trenholm Plaza, Ivy & Leo will be moving from their current locations next to Publix to the former (briefly) Simply Mac location. I’ve heard rumors that Publix will expand into the current Ivy & Leo and former J Crew locations but haven’t seen it confirmed anywhere.

Larry

10 Nov 22 at 3:14 pm
I noticed yesterday that 3711 Seawright Road (29210) is for sale. From what I can find it used to be Fuse Massage Therapy. The listing for it went up on Crexi 2/14/22.

In looking that up, I also found that their location at 3145 Carlisle Street (29205) is also closed. I'm not sure when exactly that happened, but their most recent Google Review was a year ago.

From what I can tell, their location on Millwood Ave is still in business.

Gypsie

13 Nov 22 at 10:55 am
Pedro's Mexican Restaurant located at 10708 Broad River Road in Irmo has announced on it's Facebook page that it will be closing after 2 years in business at this location.

Heath

18 Nov 22 at 1:25 am
P&C confirms Publix in Trenholm Plaza will expand into the current Ivy and Leo and former J Crew in 2023.

Larry

18 Nov 22 at 5:56 pm
They needed to do that last time that space was vacant. I like Publix, but this store has always been too small from trying to cram it into an A&P slot.

ted

19 Nov 22 at 10:36 pm
Does anyone know what is being built beside the Applebee's on Highway 1/Augusta Road? In front of Lowes. West Columbia.

Robin

20 Nov 22 at 6:51 am
@Robin - I just saw that this morning! Something is really coming along there.

Payne

20 Nov 22 at 6:22 pm
Party City near the mall is closing soon. I saw some signs saying closing.

That Guy

20 Nov 22 at 6:48 pm
@That Guy, I’m assuming you’re referring to the one at Columbia Mall? I could see that coming when the Woodhill location opened. Surprised that place has made it this long.

I’m going to assume the same will happen with the Bath & Body Works in Columbia Mall as well once the Trenholm Plaza location opens.

Larry

20 Nov 22 at 7:03 pm
El Jimador on Fashion Drive in Sandhills was displaying handwritten closure signage both times I tried to visit this weekend. No official word on their Facebook or website. Anyone know what's up?

Erick

21 Nov 22 at 4:26 pm
All Burnettes dry cleaners will be closing soon. I tried to stop by the Forest Dr location over the weekend and there was a sign saying they were only open 9-1 now. I checked their Facebook to see what was going on and they announced they’d be closing all locations soon.

Larry

21 Nov 22 at 6:57 pm
Pet Lovers Warehouse on Garner's Ferry Road (in the plaza with Ross and Big Lots) is closed until further notice.

Robin

23 Nov 22 at 7:16 am
@Erick -- I don't know what the issue was, but they appeared to be back in full operation when I drove by on Saturday.

ted

28 Nov 22 at 10:59 pm
Baskin Robbins in Forest Park Shopping Center (Lowes Foods) announced they will be closing on December 18th. The City of Forest acres social media mentioned a new restaurant concept would be coming in to take the place of BR and the former Pizza Hut next door.

Larry

30 Nov 22 at 1:57 pm
Poogan's Kitchen on Forest has stopped serving lunch.
We went there right after the grand opening for brunch. The food was tasty but was very heavy. Also their space plan inside is odd because they went with big booths and really wide walkways. This might be there way to always guarantee there is a wait.

Matt

30 Nov 22 at 3:21 pm
Is anyone else being bothered by salespeople knocking on the door, trying to sell solar energy or pest control? I don't care if the companies are "real" or not. These people are annoying and refuse to take no for an answer. My husband was almost shouting at one guy before he would finally leave our property.

If you try to tell them that you already said no to another representative, they will ask if that person "went over the numbers" with you.

Robin

3 Dec 22 at 12:55 pm
@Robin. Best case, you check your camera before opening the door and just ignore them. If you get stuck talking to these people, the answer is always "I'm renting." They won't spend time with someone who can't authorize work being done to the house.

Heath

3 Dec 22 at 1:52 pm
@Robin, I put a "No Soliciting" sign on a my door about two years ago. The sign states that it applies to politics, religion, and sales of any kind. I haven't had any unwanted visitors since.

Gypsie

4 Dec 22 at 1:16 am
I once encountered a 'no soliciting' sign similar to what Gypsie has that had bullet points of We Found the Lord, We love our vacuum and Our Kids are trying to sell the same junk as yours...

Andrew

4 Dec 22 at 2:41 pm
La Fiesta Mexican Restaurant at 1220 Charleston Highway in West Columbia has announced their closing, effective December 5th. The owners are retiring, although they gave some indication that their retirement may not be permanent in their social media announcement. I'm not sure how long they were open, but I think it dates back to at least the late 1990s.

Heath

5 Dec 22 at 10:57 am
Cupcake DownSouth just announced that they will be closing on December 7th.

Mr.Hat

5 Dec 22 at 11:29 am
They are finally bulldozing 14 Berryhill Road. When I drove past about 15 minutes ago they already had about half of it down.

Gypsie

6 Dec 22 at 10:25 am
About the next month or so, E.L. Wright (not CFK) will have its students and staff move to the new building. After that, they will demolish the old existing school to make room for the new CFK. The completed work will end on around 2024.

Guy

6 Dec 22 at 9:02 pm
Thank you all for the suggestions.

Robin

6 Dec 22 at 9:08 pm
La Fiesta was great. I've eaten some of the best restaurant food at places like that, where the decor/appearance is unassuming, a little shabby. Some "fancier" places have surprisingly bad food.

Robin

10 Dec 22 at 8:31 am
In West Columbia, the new building next to Applebee's (in front of Lowe's) is a Precision Tune Auto Care location.

Robin

10 Dec 22 at 9:20 am
A new "upscale apartment complex" will be built near Sunset Boulevard, in the area of Henbet Drive and Ephrata Drive. It will be called Langley Pointe. Expected to open in autumn of 2023.

https://westmetronews.com/60-million-upscale-apartment-complex-to-be-built-off-of-sunset-boulevard-in-west-columbia-according-to-newspaper-report/

Robin

10 Dec 22 at 9:25 am
Chen's Chinese Restaurant in Lexington (next to Publix at 378 and Old Cherokee) has changed or is in the process of changing. The new signage says "Friends House Chinese and Seafood"

James R

12 Dec 22 at 7:25 pm
Didn't know until I saw it on WLTX Website, that the old George I. Pear Elementary School on Platt Springs Rd. is being torn down. I guess it's outlived its usefulness and can't be upgraded anymore. I didn't go there, but I remember a few people who did back in the early 1960's.

Db

14 Dec 22 at 1:50 pm
Within the last 5-10 years several Elemtary Schools in the West Columbia/Cayce area have undergone overhauls…Claude A Taylor Elementary in the Edenwood neighborhood as well as Pineview Elementary on Leaphart Road have been torn down and are now green spaces (neither of which featured here).

They built Cayce Elementary down the street from Claude A Taylor while Riverbank Elementary would be (IMO) the best replacement for Pineview Elementary.

The George I Pair demolition Db indicated to be imminent is part of a plan that I think many of the Elementary schools in that area are undergoing as they get overhauled as the facilities get up there in years and need to be overhauled…Springdale Elementary was overhauled already as well as part of this process…I also have a gut feeling that something similar has gone on with Davis Elementary on Frink Street as well as BC # 1 on Jarvis Klapman Blvd. but I’m not as clear with the details in those 2 cases…also RH Fulmer Middle has been overhauled i think as well.

Another notable example: I remember after Keenan HS moved to their current location on Pisgah Church and US 21 that their Pine Belt Road campus was renovated to house WG Sanders MS…after someone here indicated that WG sanders used to be on Alida Street I looked it up and determined that the Alida Road campus building is history as well (it’s green space).

Andrew

16 Dec 22 at 12:30 pm
A friend of mine just told me that the Arby's on Broad River Rd. is about to have a date with a bulldozer. Anyone else hear anything?

Homer

16 Dec 22 at 1:09 pm
The Philly Pretzel Factory on Rosewood in the Publix shopping center announced they will be closing at the end of the year. We loved their pretzels but the unpredictable hours made it difficult to get them!

MB

16 Dec 22 at 5:46 pm
@Larry, The Baskin Robbins in the Lowes now has a thanks for all your business sign. It also has a sign stating that they will be reopening in the spring at a new location.
5460 Forest Drive, Unit 112
My kids and I drove around and cannot find the address. Our best guess is that it is one of the 3 strip malls in front of WalMart on Forest Drive. The address comes up on Google search as about where the San Jose’s is next to Wendy’s.

Matt

18 Dec 22 at 7:15 pm
The State reports that Swamp Cabbage brewery closed its doors yesterday.

MB

19 Dec 22 at 4:35 pm
I believe Baskin Robbins is moving directly across the street in the old jimmy John’s building.

John

19 Dec 22 at 10:01 pm
BR is not moving to the old Jimmy John’s. There was a for lease sign added to that spot after BR said they were closing and the City of FA shot that rumor down. My guess is they’re going to one of those Wal-Mart outposts that Matt mentioned. They probably put the wrong address on the sign. I was wondering if perhaps they could move into the former Vampire Penguin spot but that has a Percival Rd address.

Larry

19 Dec 22 at 10:22 pm
I hope they don't move into the Wal-Mart strip: The flow in there is awful.

ted

19 Dec 22 at 11:24 pm
I've just received an email from 1801 Grille (700 Lincoln Street) saying that they have closed after six years in business. I was there for lunch Dec. 16 and business was brisk. Their Facebook and Instagram confirm the closing.

Midnight Rambler

21 Dec 22 at 7:46 pm
Casa Linda has indeed been sold - that place and staff were like family for me. They are open through Christmas Eve if you want to stop there and say goodbye

mamarose

22 Dec 22 at 8:13 am
The shopping center on Airport Boulevard where Lizards Thicket was located is being demolished. It looks like they will have everything torn down by tomorrow.

Matt

22 Dec 22 at 9:32 am
The P&C says 1801 will be reopened by the group that also owns J Peters restaurants around the state (not sure if that’s who owns JR Cash in the midlands) in late January or early February.

Larry

22 Dec 22 at 1:38 pm
With Casa Linda now gone, and the CVS that was beside it, imagine if the JoAnn closed. I almost wonder if someone would cram apartments in that space.

Robin

23 Dec 22 at 6:11 pm
Welcome back, Ted! I was starting to think one of us might have to do a closing on "Columbia Closings." :O

badger

7 Jan 23 at 8:27 pm
Thanks Badger!

ted

7 Jan 23 at 10:18 pm
I heard that there will be a Sonic beside the new Murphy's gas station on Airport Boulevard, where the Lizard's Thicket was. The space looks a bit small for both. And there are three other Sonic locations within a few miles (Charleston Highway, Platt Springs Road, and Augusta Road/Highway One).

Robin

8 Jan 23 at 11:42 am
Wet Willy's at 800 Gervais St. in the Vista has announced on their FB page that today is their last day. They said they have decided not to renew their lease, and hope to reopen in a new location.

Heath

8 Jan 23 at 4:05 pm
Glad you are back. The Smashburger on Devine, across from Buffalo Wild Wings and in the same building as Moe's, has closed and all signs of it are removed.

Trevin Montgomery

8 Jan 23 at 5:22 pm
Glad the site is back up! Looks like BLD Diner in Trenholm Plaza can go on the permanent closing list, they haven’t been open in weeks and there is an eviction notice on the front door.

Larry

8 Jan 23 at 5:35 pm
Piggly Wiggly on 378 in Lexington is closing again. I thought it was interesting when they reopened after Bi-Lo closed. Bi-Lo opened there when the Pig closed the first time. My guess is the store can't compete with Publix across the street and Lowe's Foods a little down the road. Both Publix and Lowe's offer more amenities to the Pig's basic services.

James R

8 Jan 23 at 6:21 pm
Barnes & Noble Forest Acres will soon be closing. The land they are on has been sold for redevelopment.

Zephod Beeblebrox

8 Jan 23 at 6:44 pm
According to a post on their Facebook page, Wet Willies on Gervais has chosen not to renew their lease. Tonight is their last night open.

Gypsie

8 Jan 23 at 10:25 pm
Not sure that Barnes and Noble is closing soon. Per ColaDaily, "Phase one of the project will take around four to five years. Belk and Barnes and Noble are both expected to stay open during phase one."

Matt

9 Jan 23 at 11:13 pm
According to WLTX, the former Smashburger location on Devine is to become the first midlands location of Dave’s Hot Chicken.

Larry

10 Jan 23 at 9:27 am
The old restaurant building on St. Andrews near I 26, across from the old Kroger has been demolished. I'm has hosted so many different restaurants I have lost count.

Tom

10 Jan 23 at 12:07 pm
If it's the one I'm thinking of it was at least Moxie's / The Cork & Cleaver / Cobblestone (?) / John Paul's Steakhouse / D. B. Hooter's / CJ's (?) / D's Wings & El Toro

ted

10 Jan 23 at 12:51 pm
As Bed, Bath & Beyond considers bankruptcy I have discovered this article announcing plans to close 127 stores and one of the ones closing as part of this is the Sparkleberry Square location (10136 Two Notch Road).

Andrew

10 Jan 23 at 2:25 pm
@Ted. Yep, that one. Hopefully it's curse is gone with it.

Tom

10 Jan 23 at 5:55 pm
The students & staff are now at the new E.L. Wright building. CFK however, will stay at their own building and the old middle school will be demolished.

That Guy

12 Jan 23 at 4:00 pm
I'm seeing some chatter that The Southern Belly BBQ restaurant on Harden St. has closed. Can anyone confirm?

Heath

12 Jan 23 at 8:59 pm
I’m wondering that the CFK That Guy is referring to is called…

Andrew

13 Jan 23 at 2:10 pm
Center For Knowledge

Larry

13 Jan 23 at 4:52 pm
I heard that Dick's Sporting Goods and Bed, Bath and Beyond on Two Notch are closing.

Sidney

14 Jan 23 at 12:22 am
Rumor has it that the property at 1500 N. Lake Dr will be sold to make way for another gas/convenience store. An open air market and antique store are on the corner at Andrew Corley Rd. now. This may include the land behind those. I need to research this more.

JohnR

14 Jan 23 at 8:49 am
I can confirm the signage at Southern Belly on Harden is down. Honestly forgot it was even there anymore.

Larry

14 Jan 23 at 1:30 pm
I miss the original Southern Belly on Rosewood. Parking was challenging, but I otherwise enjoyed it. The ones on Harden and Colonial Life never lived up to the original.

Payne

14 Jan 23 at 4:05 pm
Saw the report this morning about the fire at the old Clusters of Whitehall. I guess we'll have a closing for Hair Power and Red Beans & Rice jazz club. I haven;t heard anything about any damage at Ollie's.

Homer

17 Jan 23 at 11:50 am
I was on scene last night. There was no activity at Ollie's. The church to the left of it had a ton of smoke inside, but no flames. The jazz club and the hair place are a hot (no pun intended) mess though.

I've never seen so many fire trucks in one place before. There were easily 25 of them there, a couple of ambulances, the haz mat team, and the police. It looked like something out of the movies.

Gypsie

17 Jan 23 at 10:24 pm
Does anyone have a news story link about the fire?

ted

17 Jan 23 at 10:41 pm
State Newspaper:
https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article271269352.html

WACH:
https://wach.com/news/local/irmo-strip-mall-fire-under-investigation#

WIS:
https://www.wistv.com/2023/01/17/irmo-strip-mall-blaze-extinguished-by-fire-crews/

There's not much information that has been released as of yet.

Homer

18 Jan 23 at 11:57 am
Thanks Homer!

ted

18 Jan 23 at 12:19 pm
Those of you in that remember (what was then) Clusters of Whitehall back in the 90s should remember that Revco was in the space where this fire happened. I have been by it and can see some charcoaled remnants on the top window above the 2 tenants Gypsie hinted to.

I couldn't tell what impact that Ollie's or the NY Bride and Groom (which was where Tuesday Morning was as well as Gregory's to Go & Grand Computers) have been dealt with.

Andrew

18 Jan 23 at 9:57 pm
My understanding is that Ollie's and everything to the right of it are fine. A friend of mine was one of the first to see the smoke coming out of the jazz place and she called 911. She said the first couple of fire trucks arrived on scene pretty quickly and kept the fire from spreading.

I saw an article in The State where the owner of the hair salon stated that he mostly has water damage. He seemed to actually be complaining about that and the fact that the firemen cut a hole in his room which resulted in more water damage. You'd think he might be grateful that they managed to save his business from being a blackened crispy mess.

The church suffered mostly smoke damage. Another friend is the pastor there and he said they plan to have services on Sunday.

I remember where Revco was, but I don't remember Tuesday Morning being where the bridal place is. I only remember it being in the building across from the church. I was never a big fan of the store though so I could have just missed it's original location.

Gypsie

19 Jan 23 at 10:42 pm
The HWY 55 near Elgin is apparently closed and being rebranded as a Gyro location.

Thomas

20 Jan 23 at 6:35 am
As I don't visit often, I was very surprised to see GAP in Columbiana Mall is closed. Apparently, the company is either having issues or is changing how they do business...

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/nation-world/gap-closing-stores-leaving-malls/507-a275e87c-8c7f-48cb-ad0e-94bfba3a38fa

Regrettably, this leaves Columbiana with one less relatively decent clothing shop. To be the capital of the state, and for as affluent as Columbia is, shopping for clothes in person is more difficult than need be. Charlotte & Greenville have high end shops and lots of choice, and good old Columbia is stuck with two essentially dead malls and one half-assed one.

Lone Wolf

21 Jan 23 at 10:10 am
Two things - is there a search function on this site that I just am not finding? :)

Second - I'm trying to remember the restaurants that were on Charleston Highway/Knox Abbott in WeCo in the 1980s. We used to call it "Hamburger Hill"... can't remember and not sure where to look.

WeCoGal

25 Jan 23 at 3:27 pm
@WeCoGal:

1) Probably the best way is to choose the Alphabetical Closings link from the top of the page and then do a ctrl-F search within that.

There are also tags for many streets and regions.

Finally you can to to google and do a site restricted search by typing

site:columbiaclosings.com thing I'm searching for

2) I remember "Ed's" and the original "What-A-Burger" building and Bell's

ted

25 Jan 23 at 5:48 pm
Moctezuma on Ft Jackson will be closing Friday. The property was bought last year and will be demolished to build a large veterinarian clinic according to plans I saw at a recent city council meeting.

Larry

26 Jan 23 at 6:43 am
Verizon Wireless Call Center on Spears Creek Church Rd is closed. Now it is the Southeastern Esthetics Institute. I know they were work from home during the height of covid closures but hadn’t been by in a while and was surprised to see it was now closed. Anyone know when?

J-B

29 Jan 23 at 8:48 pm
In the Red Bank area, 57 acres of land will be used for a new "mixed-use residential development", called Platt Springs Crossing. Across from the Publix.

https://westmetronews.com/57-acres-sold-for-platt-springs-crossing-a-mixed-use-residential-development-coming-to-the-red-bank-area-of-lexington-county/

Robin

1 Feb 23 at 1:00 pm
I found several things on the City of Forest Acres facebook page that I wanted to share.

The old Pizza Joint - neither Viscious Biscuit or TacoBoy have filed paperwork with the city to open a new restaurant.

The Baskin Robbins owner retired.

BLD Diner has closed.

Matt

2 Feb 23 at 4:58 pm
According to a manager at Kairos, they are planning to open eight new locations in 2024.

Elizabeth

2 Feb 23 at 9:31 pm
Tacos Nayarit will have a new location in Cayce, at 1100 Knox Abbott Drive.

Elizabeth

2 Feb 23 at 9:36 pm
The O'Charley's restaurant in Lexington has been undergoing renovations for some time now due to a fire but it has been confirmed that they are now permanently closed.

Scott

6 Feb 23 at 7:41 am
Does anyone ever witness someone posting these "Now Closed" signs on the door? Who has the keys to the place...if it's a chain? Do you just walk in one day, go about your daily business, and before closing time hang the sign or is it known in advance? Just curious how that works...especially places that serve food. Is there food in the refrigerator or have they anticipated this and there is nothing left?

Beth

8 Feb 23 at 8:00 am
Zoes Kitchen at Lake Murray Blvd. Is now history. All the signage has been removed from the builder and it looks like a serious remodeling job is going on inside.

Tom

8 Feb 23 at 12:18 pm
@Tom, it’s the last Zoe’s to be converted to CAVa. The ones on Forest Dr, Two Notch and Sunset have already been converted

Larry

8 Feb 23 at 3:59 pm
The Bed, Bath and Beyond at Woodhill on Garners Ferry is on the new list of store closings for the company as they look to avoid an inevitable bankruptcy. I guess this will leave Harbison as the only remaining location in the Midlands (unless there is one in Lexington I’m unaware of.)

Larry

9 Feb 23 at 9:07 am
Bed Beth & Beyond has never had a Lexington location...if we were having this discussion ≈15 years ago I would've thought Lexington was a possibility for them...be that as it may, I now think Bed Bath & Beyond is a retailer that is not long for this world...

Andrew

11 Feb 23 at 2:08 pm
The Shoppes on Main across from Mast General is closed and all inventory cleared out.

Justin

13 Feb 23 at 7:24 am
Shoppes on Main are suppose to move into the former Metropolis Salon that the Middletons bought on Taylor next to Hotel Trundle. I think Good Life Cafe is also moving in next door to it from its current location on Main St.

Larry

13 Feb 23 at 11:34 am
What do you all wish Columbia had more of?

Robin

13 Feb 23 at 12:56 pm
@Robin - QT and Murphy gas stations, quick oil change facilities, dollar stores, and CVS/Walgreens pairs. And ambulance-chasing lawyers.

Payne

13 Feb 23 at 9:55 pm
Hahahaha!

Robin

13 Feb 23 at 10:54 pm
More heat & humidity!

ted

13 Feb 23 at 10:58 pm
Actually I would like an Abuelo's, a TGI Friday's, an El Chico, a Chuy's, a Logan's, a Cheddar's, an Ultimate California Pizza, a restaurant actually on the riverfront, and a theater with recliners like Cinemark

ted

13 Feb 23 at 11:09 pm
In a fantasy world of mine, Kmart would reestablish itself in the shopping world, JB White, Service Merchandise & Phar Mor would rise from the dead and some of the merged/defunct airlines would be reestablished (mainly Independence Air, AirTran, US Airways, Northwest).

I enjoy going to QT. They have many of the best gas station amenities I enjoy except a car wash.

I also would like to see better inter-city rail service out of Columbia (and the Southeast in general).

I'm also with Ted on welcoming TGI Friday's & Logan's.

More realistically I would like to see Harris Teeter, JetBlue Airways, The Container Store, Jack in the box and at home in Columbia...I am also hoping for the day we have a nonstop flight to Denver on (hopefully) United and that they can (perhaps) restart the Houston flight they used to have. Maybe one day we can even land Southwest Airlines.

Andrew

15 Feb 23 at 9:05 pm
Bring back Bi-Lo!!!

Sidney

15 Feb 23 at 10:50 pm
Also bring back Quincy's Family Steakhouse. I know there is still one in Florence, but I am not driving that far for Quincy's. Those that have been coming to this site for a few years, probably remembers that I used to work at Quincy's back in the late 80's and early 90's. Both Rosewood and Piney Grove.

Sidney

15 Feb 23 at 10:58 pm
I want Chappy's back.

Gypsie

16 Feb 23 at 9:05 pm
*More* of in Columbia:
- I'd like to swap Sportsman's Warehouse (even though ours has only recently gotten a facelift) for a Cabela's/Bass Pro. Back in 2020, ownership of Cabela's (Great American Outdoors Group) purchased Sportsman's Warehouse, but the merger was recently called off. Cabela's is an experience, has tons of great outdoorsy stuff and some of them even have 5-star restaurants inside.
- I'm with @Andrew in wishing to bring back old mall stores (JB White and Service Merchandise were indeed great) and malls in their heyday in general. I seriously miss malls from the 80s and 90s. I'd *love* to have Hickory Farms again.
- One thing that stumps me, and I've said it before, why is it Greenville/Spartanburg and Charleston have all the nicer places to shop and old Columbia, the bloody capitol of the State, seems to struggle with anything that isn't a big box store? I'm not suggesting we transplant King Street here, but why can't we have something like SouthPark Mall (and it's kinds of shops)??

Harris Teeter is pretty great, but what's with all the love for TGI Fridays?? Y'all, seriously lol

Lone Wolf

17 Feb 23 at 7:56 am
Two restaurants were given a "C" grade by DHEC: Cayce's Reggae Grill (901 Holland Avenue, Cayce) and Sum Ming Chinese (7509 Saint Andrews Road, Irmo). Sum Ming Chinese was upgraded to an "A" during a follow-up inspection.

https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/2-lexington-county-restaurants-received-c-grades-in-january,44883?

Robin

17 Feb 23 at 9:53 am
Saluda residents don't want a new Dollar Tree near the Family Dollar: https://www.wistv.com/2023/02/14/saluda-residents-respond-city-proposal-after-demanding-supermarket/

"...residents tell WIS they are commuting 30-plus miles for basic groceries. At least two people WIS spoke with are considering moving altogether.

Residents say they have no problem with the Dollar Tree enterprise except that it’s not enough to fulfill their grocery needs.

The Town of Saluda already houses three Dollar Generals and one Family Dollar within a one-point-two-mile radius."

Robin

17 Feb 23 at 10:39 am
Sum Ming wrong to get a “C”

Rim shot

John

17 Feb 23 at 7:19 pm
According to a study, the following restaurant chains have now become "too expensive for what you get":

1. (worst) - Shake Shack
2. Blaze Pizza
3. MOD Pizza
4. Panera Bread
5. Chick-Fil-A

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-restaurant-chain-offers-the-worst-bang-for-your-buck-customers-say-and-its-not-even-the-most-expensive-23752f52

Robin

18 Feb 23 at 9:04 pm
Golden Chopstix on Broad River Rd. has either closed or is remodeling - I'm not sure which, but something is definitely going on.

Gypsie

19 Feb 23 at 2:24 pm
@Gypsie -- Where is that? I see one on the Charleston Highway, but google isn't turning up anything on Broad River..

ted

19 Feb 23 at 4:15 pm
Busted Plug is being moved to a storage site until the City can figure out a permanent home for it. The property it currently resides at was sold last year and the new corporation that owns it told the city to move it. I noticed Friday there was a backhoe next to it and figured it must be on the move.

Larry

19 Feb 23 at 7:56 pm
@Ted -- Not sure why I typed Golden... it's just Chop Stix. 2639 Broad River Rd. It's the pink and white building on the left if Rush's is on the right.

Gypsie

19 Feb 23 at 10:54 pm
@Larry - Man, that stinks. I love Busted Plug! I hope the city will find a good new home for it.

Payne

20 Feb 23 at 9:19 pm
A couple of media sources are reporting that Drake's Duck-in will make a temporary move to 1840 Hampton Street during a renovation of their Main Street location. In the article I read, it's noted that Drake's has occupied a number of locations on Main Street over the last 50 years, and originally opened in 1907 at a location on Elmwood Avenue.

https://columbiabusinessreport.com/news/hospitality-and-tourism/83188/

Heath

22 Feb 23 at 4:24 pm
Lanier Pools at 256 Jamil Rd. has closed and moved to Riverchase Way in Lexington per the sign on their door. They left the Jamil location in complete shambles too. The pools outside are still full of water that is nasty and no doubt a hotbed for mosquitos and they threw a bunch of trash over the fence.

Ted, don't forget that Seven Oaks Animal Hospital at 591 St. Andrews Rd. still needs to be added to the list. I previously reported it, but it may have gotten overlooked during all the Covid Chaos.

Slightly related closings question - does anyone know who one would call to complain about the situation going on at the old U-Haul storage units on Jamil? I know DOT owns the property now, but I'm unsure if they are the correct entity to call.

Gypsie

23 Feb 23 at 3:33 pm
The Motel 6 on Burning Tree Rd looks to be closed. I do believe it's set for demolition as part of the many years long Malfunction Junction construction.

Arthur P

23 Feb 23 at 6:28 pm
Their Google listing states "temporarily closed" but I'm told the Fireworks place on Jamil was sold to DOT as part of the interstate project. (That's what happened with Lanier Pools as well)

Gypsie

23 Feb 23 at 7:03 pm
I found a list of properties being acquired for phase 3 of the project and it says they will take possession of the Motel 6 in June. I’m assuming some on the list are just partial acquisitions because IHOP and Chuckee Cheese are both on the list, but perhaps both will be completely torn down.

Larry

23 Feb 23 at 7:45 pm
It was reported earlier that the Kangaroo Exxon Convenience location at Two Notch and Trenholm Road Ext was closed. That is near the QT and Texas Roadhouse. There is signage on the property offering it for sale, however there is demolition and grading underway now, so apparently a future use of the property has been determined.

Thomas

24 Feb 23 at 8:42 am
I saw a sign on the I-25/St. Andrews Road westbound that said the exit ramp by the Motel 6 will be temporarily closed starting February 28.

Tom

24 Feb 23 at 1:51 pm
The Grand Motel on Two Notch Road will be replaced with new “attainable, family-focused” apartments. The complex will be owned by the Homeless No More organization. There will be cooking classes, career advancement classes, and mentoring programs for children.

WIS article: https://www.wistv.com/2023/02/23/new-attainable-family-focused-apartment-complex-coming-two-notch-road/

Robin

24 Feb 23 at 2:07 pm
@Larry -- I'd love to see that list if you're willing to share. I'm surprised Chuck E. Cheese is on it though given that they just finished a remodel a couple of months ago.

Side note, my friends and I all worked there throughout high school when it was still Showbiz Pizza. I still have PTSD from wearing the Billy Bob suit to a publicity gig at Dutch Square in the middle of July one time. HOT HOT HOT.

@Tom -- the ramp by Motel 6 was already closed both Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday when I passed by.

Gypsie

24 Feb 23 at 9:21 pm
@Gypsy here it is, however it lists the owners name not the address. Motel 6 is Hare Krishna West Columbia Hotel LLC on the list. Some are pretty easy to figure out, others you’d need to search owners on a tax map.

https://www.scdot.org/business/TPA%20Files/809-3_CCR%20Phase%203%20-%20Conditional%20Right%20of%20Way%20Certificate.pdf

Larry

25 Feb 23 at 6:32 am
Correct me if I am wrong, but wasn't the Grand Motel the last operating independent motel on Two Notch from the days when US 1 was the main route from New York to Miami?

Tom

25 Feb 23 at 8:56 am
That might be technically correct, but the Star Motel on Pine Belt is still open, and is basically on Two Notch.

ted

25 Feb 23 at 2:41 pm
I know the Motel 6 is going to be demolished as part of the Carolina Crossroads project...the ultimate plan is to overhaul St. Andrews & I-26 into a SPUI and then overhaul 26 & 20 into a turbine style interchange. I know some of the property acquisitions are partial and others are full but the details are unclear to me. I also remember that Jarret & Hart was on the news making me wonder how they'll be affected.

SCDOT is anticpiating this being complete in 2029...

Also, for those looking for a getaway this summer, I am please to announce the following CAE service upgrades:

American will be restaring nonstop service to New York LaGuardia on May 5.

American will be adding a nonstop flight to Chicago O'Hare on July 5.

In June, United will be upgauging the seats on their Chicago O'Hare flights from 50 seat CRJs to 76 seat Embraer 175s.

Every Saturday from June to August American will operate a nonstop flight to Miami.

Andrew

25 Feb 23 at 6:45 pm
@Larry -- Thanks! I'm confused though - does "Secured" on the list mean that a property has been sold and will be torn down - or..... ?

I'm asking because I know both Chuck E. Cheese and Burger King recently underwent renovations - why would they have done that if they were going to be torn down?

Gypsie

25 Feb 23 at 10:24 pm
Tandy Leather in Cayce appears to have closed permanently.

CG

26 Feb 23 at 9:50 am
Soda City Auto Sales at 4468 St. Andrews appears to be closed for good this time. There haven't been any cars there for quite awhile and it looks like the building is empty.

Gypsie

27 Feb 23 at 2:22 pm
The Moctezuma 2 closed down a few weeks ago, that's the former location of Julia's german restaurant. The building was torn down last week. A veterinarian's office is scheduled to be built there.

J.P. Boileau

27 Feb 23 at 7:59 pm
Has anyone ever seen the Chinese restaurant in the old Church's Chicken at Forest & 2 Notch open?

It has stuff inside it and a Coke cooler, but I've never seen anyone there.

Matt

28 Feb 23 at 11:32 pm
@Matt -- I've been contemplating doing a "Never Opened" post on that one. They appeared to be working on it on a time available basis for a long while, but now I think they have just given up.

ted

28 Feb 23 at 11:58 pm
Another "Never Opened" could be Urban Air, in the old HH Gregg location on Bower Parkway. They *had* a sign up, but I never, ever saw any vehicles there. Recently, it looked like folks were moving stuff out of that location and the sign is gone.

Additionally, according to a post on their BookFace page, the Army Navy Store in West Columbia has closed their doors after 70 years in business. They moved to West Columbia from their original location on Main Street.

Lone Wolf

2 Mar 23 at 10:42 am
Minor correction/addition...Urban Air wasn't in the HH Gregg spot. It was operating in the location directly to the right of the old HH Gregg, which I believe may have been Stein Mart.

Lone Wolf

3 Mar 23 at 3:57 pm
My recollection of the Urban Air Trampoline Park Lone Wolf referenced is that they were going to occupy both the former Stein Mart as well as the former hhgregg (both spaces).

Regarding the Asian Express that Matt referred to in the old Church's at Forest/Millwood: the same Asian Express had plans to open up in the former Sandy's at 1935 Broad River Road so I wonder if that one has set up shop or not (I haven't been down that stretch in a while to know one way or the other).

Andrew

3 Mar 23 at 9:54 pm
In fact the Asian Express in Sandy's did open. I probably need to update that post.

ted

3 Mar 23 at 10:39 pm
@Andrew -- Asian Express did open in the old Sandy's building on Broad River Rd. I haven't tried it yet, but every time I go by there they seem to be busy.

Gypsie

4 Mar 23 at 8:34 pm
Why does the Bull Street District annoy me whenever I drive through there? I can't put my finger on it. Maybe it's their daydream-y website and social media marketing. Reminds me of SoDoSoPa from South Park: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoUtoqeEw8U !

Robin

5 Mar 23 at 12:09 pm
Residents of the South Kilbourne neighborhood don't want new townhomes being built there: https://www.wistv.com/2023/03/08/townhome-development-brings-pushback-columbia-neighborhood/

"Longtime residents of the area cite major concerns with aging water and sewer lines throughout the neighborhood."

Robin

8 Mar 23 at 7:48 am
Looks like l Starbucks in Five Points will close
https://amp.thestate.com/news/local/article272897865.html

Russell

8 Mar 23 at 5:03 pm
St. Andrews Seafood Market has apparently closed. I haven't seen any activity in recent weeks but thought maybe they were just on vacation. I've just been told that the owner had a stroke though. Google is showing it as permanently closed with the last review being a month ago. The address is 4470 St. Andrews Road. (It's next door to the car place you featured a couple days ago.)

Gypsie

10 Mar 23 at 11:43 am
Huh. I'm sorry to hear that. I noticed it was closed, but didn't think anything of it because it was a Sunday.

ted

10 Mar 23 at 12:52 pm
Not sure about Paws & Claws Animal Clinic at 1431 North Lake Dr. The lights are on but nobody's home for over a month now. No answer by phone either.

JohnR

14 Mar 23 at 7:43 am
@JohnR. According to the SCLLR website, the sole veterinarian there had his license temporarily suspended.

Beth

14 Mar 23 at 9:47 am
There will be a Dunkin' Donuts beside the Chick-Fil-A in West Columbia (Augusta Road/Highway 1).

Robin

17 Mar 23 at 7:43 pm
Does anyone remember a local blogger/writer called The Shop Tart? There was a bit of controversy about her in the Free Times newspaper, during the mid- or late 2000s. I don't recall what the nature of the issue was.

Robin

17 Mar 23 at 7:56 pm
Old Country Buffet is opening a second location in the old Irmo Fatz Cafe building. I hope this one will be better than their other location because it was downright awful when we went there.

Gypsie

17 Mar 23 at 10:55 pm
@Robin -- I don't recall any controversy. The way I remember it, a magazine called Fig was trying to bring an edition to Columbia -- It was kind of a glossy, doctor's office table local spotlight thing -- and she took her blog to their web site, but the magazine ended up folding fairly quickly.

ted

17 Mar 23 at 11:07 pm
Huh. Well I take it back, apparently the magazine does still exist.

ted

18 Mar 23 at 1:14 am
Ted - Thanks. In the "Rants and Raves" section of The Free Times, people were complaining about her or defending her, for a couple of weeks.

Robin

18 Mar 23 at 7:51 am
Apparently StoneBridge Gardens And Events at 3506 Bush River Road has closed. I pass by it multiple times a week and knew it was an event space, but I had no idea it was no longer in business until I stumbled on a listing for the building on LoopNet that listed it as "a former event space". Their last Instagram post was on September 3, 2021 so it looks like they probably closed up shop in late 2021.

Gypsie

23 Mar 23 at 10:12 pm
It is my understanding that Griffin Chophouse in Lexington has recently closed...

Andrew

30 Mar 23 at 10:48 pm
@Andrew - Wow, based upon recent Google reviews, it's not surprising that Griffin's has closed.

Payne

31 Mar 23 at 9:25 pm
Comfort Scratch Kitchen at 407 North Lake Drive in Lexington has announced that they're closing immediately, and looking for a new location. This was posted on a Facebook restaurant group, Columbia Eats, by someone who appears to work there or own it.

Heath

2 Apr 23 at 6:44 pm
Tuesday Morning on Harbison is closed as of 3/28.

Kenneth

4 Apr 23 at 5:11 pm
In South Congaree, the Hum@n Be@n (coffee shop) will be changing to C@nal Coffee.

Robin

5 Apr 23 at 8:28 pm
^^ Sorry for the odd lettering in my previous comment, but it kept getting auto-banned without the @'s. Replace the @'s with a's.

Robin

5 Apr 23 at 8:29 pm
The Human Bean on Broad River will also be changing ownership.

Gypsie

5 Apr 23 at 9:52 pm
Southeastern University on Fernandina Road is in the process of being torn down. This is yet another building being demolished as part of all the interstate construction.

Gypsie

6 Apr 23 at 3:58 pm
Gypsie - Apparently the Hum@n Be@n in Gastonia, NC, also became a C@nal Coffee. I saw an image that says HB “continues to grow, with new locations”. Maybe they are getting rid of underperforming locations, or something.

Robin

8 Apr 23 at 10:13 pm
According to Lexington County Chronicle, DHEC gave these restaurants a "C" grade in March:

~ El Jimador on Lake Murray Boulevard
~ Fusion Bowl Asian Bistro on Sunset Boulevard
~ Tokyo Grill on South Lake Drive

All were upgraded to "A" ratings after follow-up inspections.

https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/5-lexington-county-food-service-businesses-received-c-grades-in-march,51469

Robin

8 Apr 23 at 10:46 pm
There might be a new Marriott hotel on Airport Boulevard in Springdale/West Columbia, on the corner where Lownsdale Road ends. Residents of Springdale can go to a meeting, I don't know the date, and share their concerns. The hotel would practically be in the neighborhood on Lownsdale Road. I was told this by someone who lives in the Springdale town limits.

Robin

10 Apr 23 at 5:58 am
Clutch Coffee, a chain from NC, will be opening in three locations: Harden Street and Devine Street in Columbia, and Columbia Avenue in Lexington. These are drive-thru businesses; no indoor seating, but the Devine Street location will have a "walk-up patio".

source: https://www.wltx.com/article/money/business/small-business/clutch-coffee-bar-drive-through-opening-columbia-lexington-southcarolina/101-944b9f86-cc50-41f5-991b-137a06dbcb98

Robin

12 Apr 23 at 1:55 pm
Connection Auto Sales and Carolina Pavement Equipment, both on Edmund Highway have closed and are vacant. I'm not sure exactly when but it had to be fairly recently for both as I go that way weekly for work. The auto place still had cars on the lot earlier this month for sure. CPE has looked vacant for a few weeks, but a FOR SALE sign went up sometime earlier this week.

Gypsie

14 Apr 23 at 1:48 pm
Was driving on #1 today, and saw that Griffin Chophouse closed. Searched online, and they closed their Chapin location too.

https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/griffin-chophouse-restaurants-close-new-restaurant-taking-its-place-in-lexington,49116?fbclid=IwAR1Qn9n-vS_pZd3eXcuHkOW7X25I1b9e8CXS_BNE6SfRVs7a9Esx5VIe2qI

Brian Hahne

14 Apr 23 at 2:58 pm
Royal Butcher was in the same place as Griffin, that closed too.

Brian Hahne

14 Apr 23 at 2:59 pm
It has just become apparent to me that at the intersection of Platt Springs & Emmanuel Church Road that the Marathon Gas station that was there (that was Hess prior to that) has recently closed

Andrew

14 Apr 23 at 7:46 pm
As someone else previously reported, Old Country Buffet is set to open what they advertise as "a second location" in the old Irmo Fatz building, but my understanding is that the Lexington location is actually going to close.

Gypsie

15 Apr 23 at 2:28 am
Transitions Homeless Center is planning to open an "adult day center" in Dutch Plaza. It will be "open to anyone" and will also have 22 apartments.
WLTX video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6ebXs03P3E

Robin

15 Apr 23 at 10:32 am
There is signage on the space between KJs and Goodwill on St. Andrews Rd. indicating that Dollar Tree is moving in. I love me a good Dollar Tree!

I suspect this may actually be a relocation of the one currently located at Broad River and St. Andrews. I certainly hope so. The parking lot for that one is absolutely destroyed and the night lighting is non-existent. That's not exactly an area I want to be shopping in at night without proper lighting. The dealings going on at the back of the store are always pretty shady looking as well.

Gypsie

20 Apr 23 at 12:42 pm
There is a Rush's on 378 in the Target parking lot... I've not seen cars there in months. Did it close permanently?

Brian Hahne

21 Apr 23 at 8:18 pm
The Lexington Pavilion Rush's Brian Hahne asked about did close (and feature here) and while it was marketed as a temporary closure I haven't heard anything one way or the other about it becoming permanent for sure...until the Red Bank location opened in 2018, the Lexington Pavilion was the newest locaiton they had (opened in 2010)...

Andrew

21 Apr 23 at 8:46 pm
On Bush River Rd. where Frank's Carwash is, I know it was originally Bob and Frank's Car wash.. but curious about what happened to Bob? I've never heard anything to why the name was changed. Anyone know?

DB

22 Apr 23 at 10:15 am
Folks it is now official: Bed Bath & Beyond has filed for bankruptcy.

2 of the 3 Columbia area locations we had have already closed & featured here...the Columbiana Station location is the last one standing of the 3 we had...I did read an article speculating that they might not last through wedding season (and couples are being mindful of such) so I'm afraid they might not be long for this world...

Andrew

23 Apr 23 at 3:36 pm
In West Columbia, a food truck business called City Limits Barbeque will be moving into previous location of Lil Duck Kombucha & Treehouse Cafe.

I never ate at "Lil Duck" myself, but I saw some...commotion...on Facebook. Apparently the owner closed one day/a couple of days(?) because a staff member was ill. A customer left a bad review on Google Maps, because he had made a reservation, and claims he was never contacted about the sudden closing.

This caused someone to make posts on Facebook, asking people to "show their support" for Lil Duck's owner and leave nice comments on Google Maps. Their Google listing has five-star reviews from people who had NOT actually eaten there before. Then someone called the owner out on FB for "soliciting reviews". So, the owner had to ask that "helpful" person to stop pushing people to "show support" or whatever.

I don't know if any of that had a serious impact on the business, but it was probably not helpful after all.

Robin

25 Apr 23 at 8:18 pm
there is a gun and ammo store on 378, c2c arms. the building is for sale. it's right before wise ferry road. i want to say it was Lexington armory or something like that a few years ago.

Brian

5 May 23 at 7:02 pm
Folks Tuesday Morning is completely liquidating.

I remember shopping there at the former Clusters of Whitehall both in the 326 St. Andrews spot as well as when tehy were across the lot in space that is now occupied by New York Bride & Groom...after they moved to Harbison Court I never made it there...be that as it may, they've already closed the Harbison Court location but I don't think it has featured here yet.

They still have the following 2 locations:

1. Lexington Towne Centre (932 N Lake Dr, Lexington)
2. 4905 Forest Drive

So be on the lookout for those 2 to liquidate and feature here in due course..

This one is cited as issues with debt where prolonged closures/shutdowns during the COVID pandemic ultimately became insurmountable as the debt became increasingly burdensome.

It also looks like Bed Bath & Beyond is close to facing a similar fate.

Also, it was noted that Party City & David's Bridal have recently filed for bankruptcy as well...

Andrew

5 May 23 at 9:22 pm
After I drafted that previous writeup I realized that Tuesday Morning's Harbison Court location has featured here (it just wasn't on the Alphabetical Closings list but found it in a Harbison tag)...

Andrew

5 May 23 at 11:36 pm
@Andrew -- Oops! Fixed.

ted

5 May 23 at 11:49 pm
Looks like the Oak Grove Fish House in Lexington county has closed. Not clear if permanent or a remodel. If permanent, that's a shame, it was quite good.

Bobby

7 May 23 at 2:13 am
Not looking good, @Bobby - the Oak Grove Fish House website and Facebook pages are gone, and their phone number is inactive.

Payne

7 May 23 at 4:30 pm
Reuben Wade's Antiques has closed. They were at 115 Andrew Corley Road, at the corner of Andrew Corley and South Lake.

There has been an annual rotating landscaping/christmas tree/mums stand on the very corner, for YEARS. I think it was called Creech's. They're gone now too. It was more of a pop up place. But with that cleared out and Reuben Wade's gone, my guess is that there's something coming to that corner or the road. I'm gonna guess a gas station.... of course.

Looks like Reuben Wade's closed at the end of March. https://www.facebook.com/Reubenwadeslexington/

Brian

9 May 23 at 10:25 am
Sadly, Steve’s Deli/Sub Shop on Platt Springs Road has closed after 21 years. It’s got to be a tough business. I just hope it doesn’t get turned into another awful “Subway”.

https://westmetronews.com/steves-deli-on-platt-springs-road-closes-after-21-years/

Lone Wolf

10 May 23 at 3:42 pm
Oak Grove Fish House is now listed as "Permanently Closed" on Google Maps.

Robin

10 May 23 at 5:21 pm
I just heard that the Buffalo Wild Wings in the Wal-Mart shopping center on Two Notch has closed.

Mr.Hat

12 May 23 at 12:28 pm
Mr.Hat beat me to it. Buffalo Wild Wings has closed. If you had gone there in the last few years, this is NOT a surprise. Service was horrible. I am surprised it lasted this long. When I went by there last Sunday afternoon, it was dead, about 5 cars in the parking lot. With this closure and Wild Wing Cafe closure last July, does this say something about wings? Or does this say something about the area. Or does it say something about it's employees or lack of employees or lack of QUALITY employees?

If there was a restaurant Dead Pool List, I would say Applebee's on Two Notch across from this former Buffalo Wild Wings and Beef O'Brady's would be next.

I hope the BWW building doesn't become another crab leg restaurant. I would love for Outback to move up here but I don't think it would survive more than a year.

Sidney

13 May 23 at 7:14 am
Also, in Northeast news, Chick-Fil-A on Two Notch will be closing for remodeling. It will close Thursday May 18th.

Sidney

13 May 23 at 7:23 am
The old bank building at the corner of Two Notch and Sparkleberry near the Publix is in the process of being remodeled. Not sure what will occupy that space.

thomas

13 May 23 at 8:15 am
Sidney - I wonder why the Applebee's chain is still open. I hear/read so many complaints about the "trashy" atmosphere and quality of food ("I have a microwave at home!").

Ruby Tuesday and Chili's both seem to get slightly more respect. However, the Chili's in Harbison closed, and so did three Ruby Tuesday locations.

Robin

13 May 23 at 11:12 am
The old Ms. B's Southern Soul Food location at 676 St. Andrews Road has a For Sale sign on it now. I know it moved to the old Ruby Tuesday building at Dutch Square several months ago, but for awhile the St. Andrews location still had some activity. That has apparently ended now.

Gypsie

13 May 23 at 1:04 pm
Thomas - That building will be a Chase Bank.

Robin - I hear the same thing about Applebee's. I went to the Spring Valley Applebee's 2 times in the past year. It wasn't bad but the food portions are much smaller and the prices have gone up.

Speaking of microwave food, Beef O'Bradys boneless chicken seems to be the same frozen nuggets I buy for my kids at Food Lion.

Sidney

13 May 23 at 4:30 pm
this is a weird one.
so on 378 there was a sandwich place to open called Its a wrap!. i don't think they ever moved in. it then was taipo ramen house. but something delayed the opening. it took FOREVER. Maybe more than a year? but it opened! in the meantime, another Ramen place opened way down 378 by flight deck.
OK so anyway, i drive by taipo and it's gone. it's now ichiban Japanese express.
here's the strange part. you go to taipo Ramen house on fb.. and they say something about they've been open for 2 months... learned a lot of lessons. thank people for the patronage... but say they changed their name, the whole menu, everything. so strange to me that they did this. good luck, i guess?? 2 months isn't long to give it in the restaurant business. something seems off.

Brian

13 May 23 at 7:51 pm
@Sidney -- I've eaten at the Two Notch Applebee's, and it's been decent (I just get a burger), but imho the portion of fries has gone way down.

ted

13 May 23 at 10:11 pm
@Brian -- I did a closing for It's A Wrap. I had thought the Taipo place was actually open and meant to get some follow-up pictures of it.

ted

13 May 23 at 10:12 pm
@Ted and @Sidney - To be fair, there are also jokes about Taco Bell making people sick, but they also stay in business!

(I like Taco Bell occasionally. The food is okay for the prices, so I know what to expect. The customer service is generally good, too. I've had more bad experiences at Chick-Fil-A, with their food and service.)

Robin

14 May 23 at 9:42 am
A new Wendy's location is being built next to the Publix at Lake Crossing plaza, in the Red Bank area. It looks small so far. Maybe it won't have an indoor dining area? I've read about several chains that want to build more locations with drive-through and pick-up service only.

Robin

14 May 23 at 9:29 pm
@Ted
Yeah, I saw the It's A Wrap entry. That never opened either.
I remember the Taipo sign being there for quite a few months, with no activity inside. Then Haikkaido (or howver you spell it) opened, and I thought, well.... they lost their claim to be the only Ramen place in town now...even though they're far apart.
Strange to me they only did it 2 months. To me the place is small, and not in the best location off that road to get into. Bellacinos has lasted a long time. But that shopping center has seen quite a few food places come and go.

Brian

15 May 23 at 10:06 am
Here's the FB site for Taipo Ramen, which is now Ichiban Express. The facebook site still says Taipo. And the letter they sent / posted about the change is there:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089291257320

Brian

15 May 23 at 10:09 am
Didn't realize... that the Taipo Ramen letter, says that Hakkaido Ramen is the same company? That's interesting, the different names would make them seem like competitors.
An interesting business model.

Brian

15 May 23 at 10:10 am
In West Columbia, a developer wants to build new apartments and retail space at the corner of Augusta Street and Alexander Road:
https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/apartments-and-retail-space-could-be-coming-to-west-columbia/101-7dfba1fa-ef0d-46a1-b03f-4902b3b7afb4

Robin

16 May 23 at 11:10 am
Steve's Deli on Platt Spring's Road in West Columbia has closed.

Mr.Hat

16 May 23 at 11:02 pm
In Springdale, the Springdale House and Gardens will now be a beer garden: https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/from-weddings-venue-to-beer-garden-the-dales-reimagines-former-springdale-house-venue,55907

Robin

17 May 23 at 9:42 am
Wild Wings in the Vista has closed. I believe that’s the last one in the area. It had really gone down hill over the years but I kind of assumed after Ale House closed that would help their business, guess not.

Larry

17 May 23 at 3:21 pm
I saw a Facebook post that the Buffalo Wild Wings off Two Notch near Sparkleberry Rd closed. I checked the BBW store locater and it is no longer listed.

Alan

17 May 23 at 3:55 pm
While you've got to admire the chutzpah of the business owner, opening a beer garden in Springdale seems antithetical, given the local PD's demonstrated vigilance with speeders. Understanding a beer garden and a Five Points bar are two completely different animals, I wouldn't be surprised if there was one officer magically posted near this new place.

Somebody definitely got a visit from the Good Idea Fairy...

Lone Wolf

18 May 23 at 12:24 pm
Neither of these are closings but I've noticed that a restaurant appears to be going into the old JackSon's BBQ on Sunset Blvd in West Cola. It has been renovated since the last place went out of business. They left the sign in place so maybe it is going to have the same name.

The old Wachovia at BeltLine and Forest Dr that was torn down has heavy machinery that looks to be getting ready to rip out the footings from the drive thru. Hopefully whatever is going here can work with the awful accessibility at this location.

Matt

18 May 23 at 8:31 pm
@Matt, last I heard 7Brew coffee and a medical office building were planned for the old Wells Fargo/ Wachovia you mentioned.

Larry

18 May 23 at 9:57 pm
The coffee chains are sort of booming in the Columbia/West Columbia/Lexington area. I've heard about 7 Brew Coffee, C@n@l Coffee, Clutch Coffee, and Biggby Coffee.
(replace the @'s with a's, due to auto-censoring)

Robin

19 May 23 at 10:50 am
@Lone Wolf - Haha! Would not surprise me.

I think there will be a lot of growth in Springdale, as soon as the downtown/river area of West Columbia is too crowded (it almost feels too crowded now).

Robin

19 May 23 at 11:03 am
@Robin -- At one time I was getting a lot of porn spam comments and I put "that word" on the stop list. Things seem better lately -- I'll take it out and we'll see what happens..

ted

20 May 23 at 12:41 am
Esther's Soul Food in the Village at Sandhill announced that they will be closing for good on Sunday.

Mr.Hat

21 May 23 at 12:55 am
@Ted - Understandable.

Robin

21 May 23 at 1:20 am
Restaurant question for everyone: Is there a food that you think many restaurants make "wrong"? And what place actually makes it good?

Robin

21 May 23 at 1:47 am
Rice quite often. Restaurants often use parboiled rice. Real rice should stick together in a fluffy manner.

ted

21 May 23 at 10:30 pm
I know that alfredo sauce is not an authentic Italian food anyway. However, I don't think it should be too creamy and thick, with a consistency like mayonnaise or toothpaste. Many restaurants make it that way. It should be thinner and easier to move the pasta around in with your fork/spoon. More like pasta al burro (which is authentic Italian, I believe), but with some cream.

Also, don't use large amounts of any pasta sauce to hide skimpy amounts of ingredients. Some restaurants do this with ravioli and lasagna.

Robin

22 May 23 at 12:44 pm
My husband is adamant that cranberries, pecans, and almonds don't belong in chicken salad, but that seems to be a very unpopular opinion. He makes it himself or buys it from Publix sometimes.

Robin

22 May 23 at 12:52 pm
@Robin -- I completely agree with your husband. NONE of those things belong in chicken salad! Not true Southern chicken salad anyway. Chicken, Duke's mayo, finely chopped celery, salt and pepper - that's it. I never get it at a restaurant because I know it's going to be awful and 99% of the time I will just make my own but every once in awhile I'll buy it from Ole Timey Meat Market. Theirs doesn't have any of the weird stuff in it and tastes good enough in a pinch.

Another thing people mess up is pimento cheese. I know a lot of people like the Palmetto brand from store, but that is some vile stuff. Ruth's is nasty as well.

Gypsie

23 May 23 at 8:56 am
Fusco's Market, located near Lake Murray at 2900 Dreher Shoals Road, closed on Monday. Their Facebook announcement says lunch and catering will continue to operate out of Tavern on 6 next door.

Heath

24 May 23 at 10:35 am
Adding on to Heath's comment, here is an article by the Lexington County Chronicle: https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/irmo-area-market-and-eatery-to-close-begin-lunch-service-at-neighboring-bar,56468

I feel bad for them having to close, but I don't quite understand these "market and eatery" places. Go to any grocery store where the bakery/deli has a seating area. It's probably empty. I rarely see people dining there, and when I do, they are usually store employees taking breaks.

Robin

24 May 23 at 11:00 am
This morning, (5/24) I saw that work was being done on the former Pizza Joint on Forest Drive near Richland Mall to replace all the HVAC units on the roof. Hopefully this is a good sign and someone is about to put in a restaurant.

Matt

24 May 23 at 11:11 am
You should do Walgreens on Decker.

Mr. Guy

24 May 23 at 12:48 pm
@Matt, Vicious Biscuit is going in the old Pizza Joint.

Larry

24 May 23 at 3:57 pm
Today's The State had an article announcing the closure of Ester's Soul Food in the Village at Sandhill...

Andrew

25 May 23 at 10:48 pm
@Robin,

I agree, but I'm coming to the realization that there are things I just won't understand. Premium take-out only food is one of those things.

I know my wife and her friends picked up stuff there for a party at someone's house one time.

Heath

26 May 23 at 4:46 pm
Google Maps confirms that Walgreens in Decker Village Shopping Center (2300 Decker Blvd.) has closed as Mr. Guy hinted to so I'm afraid that the closing cam will need to pay Decker Village Shopping Center a visit soon...

I have a feeling that lack of a drive through was a major factor in this one...

Andrew

26 May 23 at 8:51 pm
@Heath - Yeah, good point.

Robin

27 May 23 at 9:21 am
I am surprised there is no listing for the multiple Pic-A-Flick Video Rental Stores that use to be around Columbia up until the early 2000's. I use to manage one for a few years in the 1990's, when it was a thriving business type. It was an older chain that pre-dated Blockbuster Video and was based out of Spartanburg, SC. Quite frankly from a total unbiased point of view, it kicked Blockbuster's butt in terms of selection and older hard to find movies Blockbuster did not have. I wish I had pictures, but I just never took any when I worked there.

Jason

29 May 23 at 3:26 pm
Jason's comment reminded me of a movie rental business that was in South Congaree. I can't remember the name. I interviewed there in late 2010, just looking for something to do part-time. I was told that they still opened locations every year, with no worries about Netflix and Redbox. However, they closed one or two years later.

Robin

30 May 23 at 9:15 am
I remember the movie place Robin referenced being called Movie Gallery.

Movie Gallery had a location at 4350 St. Andrews Road that abruptly closed somewhere in the 2000/01 timeframe (perhaps even 1999). I remember being surprised to find out they still existed but I checked and apparently the whole company is defunct as of 2010.

Those are the only 2 former Movie Gallery location I can remember off the top of my head unless someone else can remember any others.

BTW I never remember the Pic-A-Flick video rental store Jason mentioned (though I have a vague recollection of someone who is a former employee of one that was on Decker Blvd. at one point discussing their experiences with it).

Andrew

30 May 23 at 9:26 pm
@Robin I believe you're thinking of Family Video which was the most recent one in the shopping center on main street where the gym has been for some time now.

Ev3nflow

31 May 23 at 1:00 am
@Jason and @Andrew, I too used to be a manager of Pic-A-Flick Video on Decker Blvd from 1994 - 1996. Great times. I still have a red sweat shirt with the name and logo on it. Gotta say that it was one of the funnest jobs I have ever had. At that time, I was working 2 full time jobs and I still had a blast. Holidays were the best to me because we were sooooo busy. I was there when Moovies took over, I still have my name tag for that somewhere in the garage.

Sidney

31 May 23 at 5:47 am
@Ev3nflow and Andrew - Thanks! According to guy who interviewed me, this place had a system where nobody was a manager - "everybody does everything". The idea was that customers shouldn't have to wait for someone who can resolve an issue; every employee should be able to handle it right away. I've never worked at/interviewed at another store chain that tried this.

Robin

31 May 23 at 9:07 am
In Springdale, the gray building across from Dollar General is vacant again (Platt Springs Road). Used to be an antique shop, then it was a used car business (if I remember correctly). Most recently, it was/was going to be a children's learning center.

Robin

1 Jun 23 at 8:24 pm
Borden (maybe a distribution center) on The Blvd looks like they have closed up. It's on Bluff Rd right next to I-77 N side. I saw Borden trucks there before but when I drove by Wednesday, the place looked deserted.

Sidney

2 Jun 23 at 11:12 am
Looking through Google Streetview images of the South Congaree area it looks like Movie Gallery was there in August 2007 (consistent with my memories) and then the Family Video Ev3nflow recalls was there in October 2011...then Family video was gone by 2014 and after a time of vacancy it became a fitness center ca. 2016-17 (though it does look like the name of it has changed a couple of times during the intervening years).

Andrew

3 Jun 23 at 7:22 pm
@Sidney - that Borden office/warehouse has been closed at least for a year.

Jason

4 Jun 23 at 8:28 am
Peebles Wings will be opening a Five Points location in the former Southern Belly location this fall.

Larry

6 Jun 23 at 12:19 pm
Someone in a West Columbia/Cayce Facebook group asked how people would feel about a Krystal Burger location. It's not clear if the person is "officially" involved in possible new locations.

Most of the responses are basically: "We prefer White Castle, but we'll take Krystal" or "Not another fast food joint; we need some nicer restaurants".

Robin

6 Jun 23 at 12:32 pm
I remember Pic-a-flic. They did have a better selection that Blockbuster, plus they had a back room. I went to the one at Rosewood Shopping Center more, but I grew up close to the one on Decker.

I'd love to see Krystal, but I remember they tried and failed here back in the 80s.

Mr. Bill

6 Jun 23 at 1:08 pm
Krystal had several Columbia locations, and at least one on the Grand Strand, but they completely exited those markets. I see there are still some in SC though.

White Castle doesn't get anywhere near us, so it would be a real stretch..

ted

6 Jun 23 at 10:45 pm
Robin those same people always chime in with not another fast food restaurant, or Not another Burger place. LOL

Mr Bill

7 Jun 23 at 4:16 pm
@Mr. Bill - Yep! It seems like there is a desire for West Columbia to have "nicer" places, but that is only happening in the downtown area/River District. I don't imagine a lot of "nicer" (as those people say) places being added to Augusta Road/Highway 1 anytime soon.

Robin

7 Jun 23 at 5:18 pm
I’m hearing Chicken Salad Chick will be replacing BLD Diner in Trenholm Plaza.

Also the Chick Fila at Forest Dr will be demolished and rebuilt soon.

Larry

8 Jun 23 at 11:38 am
Does anyone know what is being done beside Foth on SC-302/beginning of Edmund Highway? Land is being cleared behind the brick "City of Cayce" sign.

Robin

9 Jun 23 at 11:29 am
I noticed today that the AIA Insurance building at 7234 Garners Ferry is in the process of being demolished. Looking at Tax Map info it appears a 7 Brew coffee will be going up there. This will join the one currently under construction at the intersection of Forest and Beltline.

Larry

10 Jun 23 at 9:58 pm
I saw an article somewhere yesterday stating that the Chick-Fil-A on Forest Drive at I-77 is the next one to get the full tear down and rebuild. I assume this will happen after the rebuilt out on 2 Notch is completed.

The Forest Drive location is landlocked and I'm guessing their best option is a smaller location with double drive through lanes.

The followup business to Cod & Tail on Decker has been in progress for a long time. I haven't seen anything in a while when I drive by on my multiple weekend trips to Lowe's.

Matt

13 Jun 23 at 8:25 pm
Signage indicates a Tidal Wave Auto Spa will be coming to Piney Grove Rd across from Costco soon. Because we need another damn car wash and far fewer trees.

Gypsie

14 Jun 23 at 12:58 pm
@Gypsie - I know, right? *sigh*

I wonder, are all of these new car washes and oil change/tire businesses very profitable? I understand that gas stations are making a huge profit from snacks, drinks, and other items in the store (it's not really about selling the gas). Why is there a recent urge to build so many car washes and oil/tire businesses?

Robin

14 Jun 23 at 8:08 pm
"Plans for Irmo downtown remain paused" - https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/plans-for-irmo-downtown-remain-paused-space-issues-at-town-hall-not-a-current-priority,58569?fbclid=IwAR0chLy3fCT7ewZVIgFARL29Xj8t4PyjOsBKsyaNWIeG0htP58EpD5wmQ14

Robin

14 Jun 23 at 8:09 pm
I've pondered what Gypsie and Robin mentioned about car washes and I thought of the following: I remember about 8-10 years ago that mattress stores were building up in a similar fashion and people were wondering what we were doing with so many mattress stores...lo & behold MattressFirm wound up filing for bankruptcy and closing many of them...nowadays we're getting different car wash & oil change businesses are building up in a similar fashion...the question is how many of them will survive the economic ups and downs we go through...

Andrew

17 Jun 23 at 4:10 pm
And the Hot Ticket du jour goes back beyond that. During the CB radio craze (Smokey And The Bandit) of the 1970s there was a small store every other block selling and installing radios. There were also car stereo stores and video arcades scattered all over town and you would be hard pressed to find many today.

Music stores and head shops came and went. The retail landscape is in constant flux. Which is why this site is so interesting. Right, Ted?

Joe Shlabotnik

18 Jun 23 at 5:34 am
@Andrew - I don't know how accurate this is, but I read that mattress stores were trendy because the stores could pay their monthly expenses by selling very few mattresses. Convince three customers to buy your more expensive mattresses, and you are all set. The rest of the month's sales will be pure profit....supposedly. I bet there is more to it.

Robin

18 Jun 23 at 9:32 am
According to their website, Pizza Hut at 1467 Sumter St is temporarily closed. I wonder if this location is relocating to 2400 Forest Dr (the old Church’s Chicken) which is now listed on Pizza Huts website.

Larry

20 Jun 23 at 12:39 pm
Speaking of oil change places: one is being built where Cougar Drive meets Sunset Boulevard. On Facebook, West Metro News describes the land as being for sale, but some comments say that an oil change business has already been approved.

Robin

20 Jun 23 at 1:20 pm
They put one of those Frank's carwashes right across the street from me. You would not believe how loud those blowers, to dry the cars off, are.

Mr Bill

21 Jun 23 at 4:29 pm
Does anyone remember/have pictures of the old fountain/pool and modernist(?) Gamecock sculpture that was by Gambrell Hall at USC? It was paved over, then they built the current Colloquium Cafe there. Would appreciate any pictures, and if anyone can confirm that the sculpture was originally intended to move - and if it ever did!

Neil

23 Jun 23 at 10:07 am
@Neil, is this is sculpture or was it replaced at some point with what you’re referring to?

https://localhistory.richlandlibrary.com/digital/collection/p16817coll17/id/623/rec/1

Larry

23 Jun 23 at 10:52 am
@Neil - I believe I saw it move one time. Sort of like the fountain at Finley Park; it's a distant memory.

Homer

23 Jun 23 at 11:08 am
@Larry, that is in fact the sculpture. It was also on the cover of the USC phonebook one year.

My father moved from Davis College to the Welsh building when it was built, and my memory is that at that time, the sculpturs did in fact move in response to piped in water, which would cascade off of them. That didn't last too long. I don't know if the artist moved on and nobody on staff knew how to fix them or what, but for many, many years they stood motionless.

ted

23 Jun 23 at 11:29 am
@Larry, that was it - thanks!!

Neil

23 Jun 23 at 6:44 pm
New apartment complex in Cottontown area of North Main Street, Columbia: https://www.wltx.com/article/money/update-cotton-town-apartment-complex/101-025dfdd0-defc-4c9f-b17e-2ed8af9b2836

Robin

25 Jun 23 at 10:28 am
From the WLTX article @Robin shared - "Rent for these will range from $1600 to $3000 per month."

I can't believe how Columbia has changed! I get that prices always go up. But, charging that kinda scratch for rent here is bananas. Columbia is not Charlotte or Atlanta or Asheville. Frankly, that's part of its appeal.

While I freely admit I didn't study "financial management" at University, something about dropping that kind of coin for something you *don't* own seems strange, to put it politely, unless your last name happens to be Bezos, Gates or Guthy.

Lone Wolf

26 Jun 23 at 8:21 am
@Lone Wolf - what I want to know is, where do the people who can afford this kind of rent work? I need a job there.

Homer

26 Jun 23 at 12:02 pm
@Lone Wolf - Some say that paying rent is paying to *not* deal with other costs of home ownership: repairs, maintenance, taxes, etc. There is also the issue of saving up a down payment and developing good enough credit for a mortgage. However, I agree with you. I wouldn't want to pay $3,000 a month and not even own the place.

What puzzles me is, I've heard/read about people wanting the North Main area to become "nicer". They want to fight the negative reputation. But it seems like the changes, i.e. the expensive apartments, might just force some of the long-time residents to move. Gentrification.

Robin

26 Jun 23 at 12:06 pm
North Main has had a bad reputation since the late 1960's when things changed, and not for the better. The one's building these Apts. have zero clue about the problems they're gonna have as time goes on. It's a waste of money, effort and time. But some never learn.

Db

26 Jun 23 at 10:17 pm
There was recent similar news about Garner's Ferry Road, which has some...less-than-ideal sections. New apartments and/or townhomes.

Robin

27 Jun 23 at 9:24 am
@Homer - that's what I was thinking too, sir! I'm open to opportunity, for sure...

@Robin - I can *almost* see validity in the rent v. own dilemma, except for a few things. One, when you rent and you need to change locations, you leave with nothing. Renting is basically paying someone else's mortgage for them. It's a necessary evil when you're young. We've all done it. If you own and you need to change locations, you can either sell or rent, thereby putting $$$ into your pocket (well, bank account, but you get my drift). You're leaving *with* something.
The second point is more of a cost/benefit thing. $1600 a month (or more) for a 6-700 sq/ft space borders on barking-at-the-moon lunacy, in my eyes. Yes, location *absolutely* matters. But, when you can have 2-3x more room *and* lower your monthly outlay, well, that had better be one fan-dang-tastic location you're paying for.
Lastly, rent tends to go up each year and the renter has virtually zero say in how much it goes up. Rent in Columbia has gone bonkers...

Lone Wolf

27 Jun 23 at 11:55 am
The housing market in general has gone bonkers. The 2500 sq foot townhomes in Bull Street are now listed for $675K+. If you want new amenities like what you’ll get at a new upscale apartment complex downtown then you’re going to be paying a minimum of $400K. Most young adults don’t have 80K laying around for a down payment and even if they do, with interest rates approaching 7% a monthly payment is still going to be in the $2500 range. One other thing to factor in is closing costs. If you’re not planning on staying in the home for more than 2-3 years then any profit you potentially make from appreciation is eaten up by those costs when buying and selling the home. Obviously if you’d have bought in 2020 and your home value is now 30% higher then that’s not the case, but buying now isn’t going to net you that kind of appreciation going forward.

Larry

27 Jun 23 at 12:17 pm
Irmo will have a new town hall, but not proceeding with new downtown area: https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/irmo-mayor-says-downtown-development-at-a-full-stop-grant-secured-for-new-town-hall,60230?fbclid=IwAR0BYedUeO60ChUBFoBFspF07wfL49DcxxDzBkCZ95A7KN9cOJ6CZdQiV3Y

Robin

27 Jun 23 at 12:19 pm
@Lone Wolf and @Homer - Some of those $3000 apartments could have groups of roommates...maybe. Can you imagine people being *that* eager to move to North Main Street? We used to live in the Goose Creek/edge of North Charleston area. We heard about people paying $1000+ for a bedroom - not even a full apartment - in downtown Charleston. And that was 5 - 6 years ago, so the same rent has probably increased. But, again, will people pay so much for the North Main area?

@Lone Wolf, you make very good points. There are pros and cons to both options. I understand why renting works for some people, and it worked for us in the past, but I don't miss it now.

Robin

27 Jun 23 at 12:45 pm
@Larry - Also very good points. Buying and selling has its own issues. People can't always just buy a property, then quickly sell it later. Not to mention, someone's circumstances and situation may not have allowed them to save thousands of dollars. I had high school classmates who had to get jobs and help their parents pay the bills.

Robin

27 Jun 23 at 1:01 pm
Gale K Bell Accounting Practitioner, LLC at 7228 Woodrow Street in Irmo has closed. I'm not sure exactly when they stopped doing business because I drive by there pretty often and only just saw today that his signage is no longer there. According to the L&R website his license expired on 1/31/23 though. The building now serves as the office building for the storage units behind it. The sign is up but I can't remember what the name was and wasn't able to take a reminder photo.

The building of luxury apartments on North Main St. is laughable for so many reasons. I understand the city is trying to fancy up that area, but there is still a huge homeless population around there. Unless these apartments are going to have a fortress built around them that's going to be a major issue at some point.

Gypsie

28 Jun 23 at 6:10 pm
What concerns me is that it is making it harder for 'young professionals' to afford any of these places (be it a house at these high prices or the high apartment lease prices)...but then again, this can't last forever ('what goes up, must come down')...

I know the city is trying to revitalize the North Main corridor but it won't happen overnight...but I have heard a school of thought that different sections of town (over time) go through certain 'rise and fall' or 'up and down' cycles...all I can say is that all of this is a chapter that is yet to be written...but then again Ascension Lutheran in that area recently celebrate their 111th anniversary (and even had a WLTX article talking about it) and they're showing signs of new life after they considered closing so perhaps that's a good sign for the area...

Andrew

28 Jun 23 at 9:12 pm
It's not just the young professionals who can't afford those kinds of prices. I'm middle aged, single, no children at home, and have a salary that is considered the average in SC - there's no way I can pay rent or a mortgage in the price ranges going on today without also having roommates. It's absolutely insane how much the cost of housing - and living in general - has gone up in the last couple of years while salaries have not.

Another issue with this apartment complex going up on North Main is that what's available around that area is limited. Unless you're planning to go downtown all the time, your options for restaurants and groceries are slim and there's no Walmart, Target, etc. in the area either.

Gypsie

29 Jun 23 at 10:53 am
@Gypsie - I've read the argument that some areas need to increase the average income level of residents if people want Publix, Trader Joe, Target, Whole Foods, Olive Garden, etc. But I can't imagine living in a $3000 apartment for a couple of years, in the hopes of the area changing for better. And housing prices are overall insane, as you say.

Robin

29 Jun 23 at 12:12 pm
It is my understanding that the average household income in Sumter is too low for Target to open a store there...I had hoped that Target would open in Newberry but I think it's a possibility that Newberry has the same issue going on.

I remember when Sam's was on River Drive back in the 90s and somehow that building has sat vacant since that Sam's closed in the late 90s (ca. 1997/98)...that is when the other 2 locations (Forest Drive & I-77 as well as the one on Harbison/Park Terrace/Bower Parkway opened)...

Andrew

30 Jun 23 at 9:43 pm
Per WLTX, Alodia's in Lexington is temporarily closed. Employees have quit due to not being paid in weeks: https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/employees-lexingtons-alodias-quit-delayed-paychecks/101-5801c3ba-1c59-4465-9e1e-9c5d2ffb7db2

Robin

1 Jul 23 at 7:33 am
Passed by the old Orleans Apartments recently at 1707 S Beltline. All units are boarded up! Wonder what happened there? I used to live there a long time ago..

Arthur P

1 Jul 23 at 7:30 pm
The renovation in Trenholm Plaza for the Publix expansion is not going how I expected it to. Instead of remodeling the 2 spaces where J Crew and the other store were located, this is now a full demo. I stopped at Publix this morning to get snacks for work and the only thing left of these 2 stores is the facade. I can see the trees in the back parking lot and a big pile of rubble inside the store.

Matt

5 Jul 23 at 9:37 am
@Matt, even the facades are coming down from the old JCrew and Ivy&Leo at Trenholm Plaza now. I wonder if they are going to raise the roof to match the rest of Publix.

Larry

8 Jul 23 at 12:07 pm
Something I've thought about is this: Trenholm Plaza's Publix is the only one around that has the suspended ceiling and I wonder if they'll remove the suspended ceiling and have the more open ceiling that the other Pulblixes have (I'm sure the whole store will get an overhaul as part of this).

I furthermore get the gut feeling that they're going to try to do what they can to make sure it doesn't look 'added on' to once the expansion is complete...

Andrew

8 Jul 23 at 4:00 pm
Buffalo Wild Wings now has job openings for their recently closed location at 10056 Two Notch Rd. Granted, this is probably a typo on their part. Regardless, it will be interesting to see if something comes out of this. It could be that they are opening a new location elsewhere.

Russell

9 Jul 23 at 1:28 am
A new student housing complex is proposed for Huger/Wheat/Williams Streets:

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/downton-student-housing-complex/101-c5abca78-5484-43b0-841c-ac908f7876e0

Robin

9 Jul 23 at 8:54 am
Alodia’s in Lexington is racing to reopen in spite of the controversy and LLR investigation being opened up:

https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/alodias-swaps-temporary-closures-moves-irmo-staff-to-lexington-restaurant,62226

The owners of Alodia’s both locations sounds like a real piece of work, and people are now boycotting. Good riddance.

Logan

13 Jul 23 at 11:53 pm
@Logan - According to The State, the owner has also listed the restaurant for sale, as a turn-key operation.

Robin

14 Jul 23 at 1:07 pm
Here is the website for Develop Lexington County Responsibly (I am not affiliated with them). Has information about why people are opposed to the Smallwood Cove development: https://dlcr.org/

It does seem like a lot of new businesses and homes are suddenly being crammed into Lexington County. Are people flocking away from Columbia? Tired of life revolving around USC?

Robin

14 Jul 23 at 1:14 pm
Expansion at Publix #597 (Trenholm Plaza) is underway. The expansion will include the relocated Pharmacy department and additional aisles.

I do not know if the dropped perimeter ceiling will be removed.

The store will undoubtedly update its decor to the new evergreen decor common in new stores.

Knight

15 Jul 23 at 5:26 pm
Havens on Gervais St is in the middle of being demolished.

Matt

19 Jul 23 at 6:14 pm
@ted - Noticed that Heathcliff's at 1000 Gervais St. appears to e closed and the building is for sale.

Justin

20 Jul 23 at 5:19 pm
The possible Smallwood Cove development (in Lexington) has been stopped, per the Lexington Chronicle: https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/project-to-bring-lakefront-resort-to-lexington-is-over,62754?

Robin

22 Jul 23 at 10:31 am
I'm hearing mixed news about Mikino's Diner in the Seven Oaks Shopping Center on St. Andrews Rd. Some folks are saying it's closed for 3 months for renovations. Others are saying that it's been sold to the Asian store next door, and that they're in the process of expanding their footprint into the old Mikino's location.

Given that this is one of my favorite hole in the wall places, I can only assume that it's gone for good. I'll post more here as I see it, and try to stop by and take pictures.

Heath

28 Jul 23 at 9:51 pm
@Heath... According to a Facebook post in Columbia Foodies made by NgocNi Tran, Mikinos is permanently closed.

Gypsie

29 Jul 23 at 8:30 am
It has been brought to my attention that dipping egg rolls in mustard is very common. I thought most people dip them in soy sauce, duck sauce, sweet and sour, or some type of sweet chili sauce (often included with frozen varieties). Please advise.

Robin

29 Jul 23 at 9:23 am
Chinese Hot mustard required

John

29 Jul 23 at 10:11 am
I meant to add, I've spoken to two people who think it's strange to NOT dip them in mustard.

Robin

29 Jul 23 at 10:12 am
Just to let you know, Ricky's Tire and Auto on Sunset Blvd in West Columbia has closed.

Brandon Brown

31 Jul 23 at 10:47 am
Barnes and Noble will be taking over the former Bed Bath & Beyond at the Shoppes at Woodhill. I’m assuming the Richland Mall location will be closing after this one opens.

Larry

31 Jul 23 at 12:05 pm
Robin, I am glad you clarified that. I enjoy Pagoda Egg Rolls dipped in stone ground, brown or yellow mustard.

Joe Shlabotnik

31 Jul 23 at 10:13 pm
Kendall's Katering at 6230 St. Andrews Rd is no longer there. The event space is now called Palmetto Place Event Hall and the restaurant space is occupied by High Five Bar And Grill.

Gypsie

1 Aug 23 at 10:55 am
I am glad to hear about Barnes and Noble moving. As I understand, print book sales are still increasing. People are getting tired of doing so many things on their phones and tablets. Same with planners and journals.

Joe - I am surprised that dipping egg rolls is such a basic thing - according to some people - but I never saw it or heard of it until recently! Then again, I've never liked ketchup on French fries.

Robin

2 Aug 23 at 9:50 am
According to a recent City of Forest Acres council meeting, Lex Med has now bought the dentist office at 5115 Forest Dr (and I guess the rest of the office complex) next door to where they are currently building a medical office building on Forest Dr. It will be demolished and a stand alone building will be built.

Larry

2 Aug 23 at 11:53 am
I wonder if Dr Lovit is retiring

John

3 Aug 23 at 1:56 am
As Matthew Benjamin already noted, La Cazuela is closed (Three Fountains area of West Columbia). There is a sign saying that a new Mexican restaurant will open there.

Robin

7 Aug 23 at 11:07 am
@Larry -- I'm glad to hear that Barnes & Nobel will continue to stay in Columbia though Woodhill is a bit less convenient than Richland Mall.

Interestingly, if they keep the cafe, Woodhill will have three Starbucks!

ted

7 Aug 23 at 10:52 pm
It appears that the Discount Tire location on Clemson Road in Northeast is closed for good. The signs are off the building and the monument sign out front has had the plastic signage taken off, leaving just the frame and exposed lighting.

Steve

7 Aug 23 at 10:59 pm
According to WLTX, the Belk at Richland Mall will be closing for good in September. I guess that they decided not to be a part of the mall's redevelopment.

Mr.Hat

8 Aug 23 at 12:43 am
@Mr. Hat. Are you sure about Belks closing? I saw nothing about it on the WLTX website nor after doing a google search.

Tom

8 Aug 23 at 1:12 pm
I’m wondering like Tom is…none of the local news outlets have anything about Belk closing (WIS, WOLO, Coladaily, WLTX)…the plan (last I knew) was for Belk to move into Parisian’s old space with the rest being demolished & rebuilt…

I’m also boggled that the Woodhill vacancies are got filled as fast as they are…Barnes & Noble in the former Bed Bath & Beyond as well as Party City in the former Pier 1…part of me wonders if Barnes & Noble will open in the former Bed Bath & Beyond at Columbia Station…

Andrew

8 Aug 23 at 1:59 pm
I don’t see it anywhere either but a person on NextDoor posted that Belk is closing 9/5 based off what employees said. It doesn’t really surprise me if they do permanently close that location. Between Belk’s financial issues and already having two locations I was surprised they originally planned to be apart of the redevelopment.

Larry

8 Aug 23 at 3:04 pm
@Tom WLTX mentioned it during their 11 pm newscast last night. They said that the store will be closing for good in September with a going out of business sale beginning this Friday.

Mr.Hat

8 Aug 23 at 6:20 pm
Not at *all* surprised about Belk. When was the last time any of y'all have been *in* a Belk? Lemme tell ya...things have changed, and not for the better.

I was staggered when I walked into their "flagship" store at Columbiana. A noticeable chunk of the store is empty, and to compensate, they've done a few "floor moves" to make it look like they still have lotsa stuff. They don't. And, what they do have is not as nice as what they used to carry. Other Belk locations are even worse off and there is more of a difference.

As @Larry mentioned, Belk has been dealing with some financial issues, and it's become very noticeable in their stores. I'm *certainly* no whiz-kid, but we may well be watching the demise of yet another household name mall store. And that's sad...

Lone Wolf

9 Aug 23 at 10:11 am
Belk’s Richland Mall closure is now WLTX.com official

Andrew

9 Aug 23 at 1:18 pm
An issue with malls in general was loitering. If you can easily afford a $200 pair of shoes or a $100 eyeshadow palette, you may not want to walk through a mall full of sketchy characters, obnoxious teens, unsupervised children, vandalism, fights, etc. My husband worked for a store chain that has several mall locations, and these problems were not uncommon.

Recently, if people are not shopping online, I think they prefer small boutique and specialty stores. Places where the atmosphere does not invite lots of people to just hang around.

Robin

9 Aug 23 at 1:50 pm
I worked at Belk at Columbia Mall back in the 80's when Bill Belk ran that store and the one that was still Downtown Columbia then. He was a total jerk with an attitude, because his stores were losing money. Meanwhile, his brother Carl Belk was running the store or stores in Charlotte NC and was doing much better than his brother. Carl was very nice with no attitude. It was their Dad that ran the original Belk's downtown in the 70's on back, and I think he's the one that took over the old Mimnaugh store that became Belk's. So with the way things are now, I see the store name going away soon. I don't know who own's Belk anymore though.

DB

9 Aug 23 at 3:59 pm
I'm not sure when it happened, but Immuno Tek Plasma at 2601 Broad River Rd. is now called Kedplasma United States.

---
I'm sad to hear Belk is closing - mostly because I have very fond memories of going there with my grandmother when I was a kid. As an adult, I'm just not a department store shopper. I only go to the malls if I have no other options. I think the last time I went to ANY mall was at least 10 years ago, probably closer to 15. It's not the loitering teens or any of the other stuff Robin mentioned that has kept me out of the malls - I just don't like shopping in general, and when I do partake in it, I don't want to pay a lot. Brand names mean nothing to me. I'm not a specialty or boutique kind of gal either.

Gypsie

9 Aug 23 at 4:28 pm
Gypsie - By "boutique" and "specialty", I mostly mean a small store. Easier for a customer to quickly walk in, get what they want, then leave.

I don't care about fashion trends and brand names, either, and this is another possible issue with malls, according to what I've read. Fewer people in general care about them.

Robin

9 Aug 23 at 7:46 pm
Trying the WLTX article from a desktop platform (concerning Belk's Richland Mall closing plan).

I last set foot in Richland Mall's Belk several times in the 2017-19 timeframe and remember then that about half of the upstairs was curtained off.

Belk was originally to move into the former Parisian space as part of this overhaul and now I have a feeling that the folks planning the overhaul will be needing to plan something else (imagining them having to back up and punt).

Another thing I've thought of this this: Belk reentered the Columbia market in 1998 as JB White faded off into the sunset (alongside parent company Mercantile Stores). With Richland Mall's Belk closing, Columbiana is the only one of the 3 still remaining. Belk has been through a couple of bankruptcies and they're now owned by the Sycamore group (per their Wiki page).

The other thing I see happening is that malls aren't the hangout place that they were 40 years ago...some malls have been requiring chaperones for teenagers and one article I read a good while back theorized that as the generation of teenagers impacted by those policies reach adulthood that they're not as interested in malls because of the way they felt as teenagers about the situation. Plus shootings, etc. that have happened in recent years can't be doing this trend any favors.

I have never been knowledgeable about fashion trends. Brand names don't mean much to me. I also got the vibe a few years ago that mall stores tended to be the pricier option for things. I don't shop for clothes online (as a rule) but I do prefer to avoid the congestion that the stretch of Harbison around where Columbiana is is prone to.

Andrew

9 Aug 23 at 11:54 pm
The WLTX link says "The project is expected to take 10 years to complete."

10 Years! Are they knocking it down with nerf guns?

ted

10 Aug 23 at 12:21 am
And honestly, that Belk has been preparing to close for the last 5 years. It had a really bad case of "Dutch Square Syndrome" with the top floor hollowed out and then closed off.

ted

10 Aug 23 at 12:22 am
@ted, The original plan went something like

6-12 months of design/planning
12-18 months rehabbing old Parisian for Belk
3 years demolishing and building phase I which included pretty much everything except building a second set of apartments on the side of the property where Dillards use to be.
Then a few years later building those apartments

I’m not sure if not needing to rehab the old Parisians speeds things up or if they’re sticking to the 5 years before phase I is done timeline now that Belk is out.

Larry

10 Aug 23 at 7:14 am
Both @Robin and @Andrew make salient points in their posts, regarding the change in clientele of malls over the years.

I was a skater/surfer type and, when I wasn't doing one of those things, or sitting in classes, I was also a mall-rat. Chances are, if you grew up between, say, 1970 through the late 90s, you were too, if you're honest. Sure, a lot of us may have had our first make out session at the mall theatre or had our first cigarette at the mall, or done some skateboarding outside to the chagrin of the mall rent-a-cops. But, that was generally the limit of our "troublemaking". See, parents were *parents* back then. If you got brought home in a squad car, your parents were going to make you wish you'd been sent to Sing Sing.

Some parents flat out fail to parent their kids, and abdicate their responsibilities. Then, when a kid does act out/act negatively, the parent gets *all* butt-hurt and insists "you can't do that" and "my kid is an angel". These are the kids who end up, unsupervised at the mall getting into fights, stealing, and involved in shootings. Sorry, but somebody going to buy new set of towels, or an Insta-Pot, or a set of sneakers *doesn't* want to deal with that kinda crap. For want of a better term, "kids with no consequences" are what is closing malls and the stores therein.

Yes, some companies are their own worst enemies (looking at you Bed Bath and Beyond). Yes, some businesses just die or fail to change with the times or their corporate execs are a bunch of amoral cretins. And, yeah, I get it - some folks don't like shopping. Some folks aren't into fashion or trends (I fall into this category). Some folks don't like busy areas or might be more price conscious. Do what works for you, by all means.

But, when I need a new pair of jeans because my favorite go-tos have been magically "discontinued", I'm gonna need to try some things on to see what works. You can't do that at Bezos Mart.

Lone Wolf

10 Aug 23 at 12:25 pm
I think Belk being out of the picture should speed up the process.
I’m ready to see demolition.

John

10 Aug 23 at 3:58 pm
Ted, the "Nerf Guns" is funny! I agree...It didn't take that long to build the original Mall...but I think 10 years is a little slow pokey..I'll be 75 or so years old when they finally finish it..if they do and something doesn't happen during that time.

Db

10 Aug 23 at 5:00 pm
Really? Almost a year to design this thing? I thought they had already planned that out. Then another year and a half for a "NEW" Belk's? I see they have the " Slowpoke Turtle Brigade" working on this project I guess. And 3 years?? to tear it all down? after all that? No wonder. It's gonna be the year 2525 before it's all said and done being done.

6-12 months of design/planning
12-18 months rehabbing old Parisian for Belk
3 years demolishing and building phase I which included pretty much everything except building a second set of apartments on the side of the property where Dillards use to be.
Then a few years later building those apartments

DB

10 Aug 23 at 5:05 pm
P&C is running a story about the Belk closing. According to it, the remaining stores in Columbia are safe.
Me Hat - I stand corrected.

Tom

10 Aug 23 at 5:50 pm
My aunt went in the Richland Mall Belk on Thursday (8/10) and said that there was nothing worth buying left. I doubt this Belk will take all that long to go out of business unless they are completely hampered by the fact that no one goes to Richland Mall anymore.

Matt

11 Aug 23 at 12:37 am
Looks like Barnes & Noble will be moving out of Richland Mall to the old BBB location at old Woodhill Mall/ Shoppes at Woodhill per the state..... https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article278131162.html

palmettopanic

11 Aug 23 at 7:02 am
@ Ted. Lodi is a coffee shop in North Charleston that is still in business. Given that the "Lodi" logo on this building is still being used bu the coffee shop, this was probably a branch location that did not do as well as they hoped.

Tom

11 Aug 23 at 11:13 am
@DB I see they have the " Slowpoke Turtle Brigade" working on this project I guess.

It's the same crew working on the Hardscrabble Road widening project. lol

Sidney

11 Aug 23 at 12:22 pm
I don't make it down Hard Scrabble very often these days but last time I was down there I got the sense that they were working on the stretch from Clemson Road towards Farrow Road and coming along it with...news reports I've read about it have lead me to believe that it'll be done by mid-2024. The crazy thing is that I remember reading when I was in HS that Hard Scrabble was handling double the traffic it was designed for when I was in High School (ca. 2005). Once completed I remember reading that there will be new traffic signals at Palmetto Springs Parkway (across from the entrance to Rice Creek Village (Publix)) as well as Rimer Pond Road meets Kelly Mill Road...

Ricky's Tire & Auto Shop has decided to close. They're known by the slogan "Where the hugs and the handshakes are free." Apparently certain ebbs and flows (especially with COVID) lead him to believe it's time to close up shop...

It took a day or so after Mr. Hat discussed Belk's plan to close Richland Mall for it to hit wltx.com and I (like Tom) was unsure what was going on initially...then WLTX, WIS & Coladaily had the story and it became clear that Belk was closing Richland Mall...what type of impact this has on the folks planning to overhaul the Forest Acres property remains to be seen.

Google Maps says that there is Maya Home in the mall somewhere (as well as a children's theater)...plus an office building for Price Waterhouse Cooper is in the back of the facility...

Andrew

11 Aug 23 at 10:16 pm
@ Sidney, it's either the "Slowpoke Turtle Brigade", or the "Sloth Brigade"...either one, it's gonna be slow. I wonder if anyone is gonna care about the place in 10 years or so when and if they finally finish things there. I still say it's gonna take longer than 10 years to do it all. Things do and can go wrong, and projects get delayed. So time will tell.

DB

11 Aug 23 at 11:06 pm
I was mistaken about the Clemson Rd Disocunt Tire being closed. They were just without signage for a week before they put up new signs.

Taco Grande on the back side of the Sumter Street Parking Garage has (not unexpectedly) closed. Such poor visibility at that location. The tacos were good.

Steve

12 Aug 23 at 10:12 pm
The store to the right of Nevin Broom's on Broad River Rd. (I think it used to be an unfinished wood store or something like that - the name of it escapes me right now) has a temporary sign on it indicating that HAIR DEPOT is coming soon.

Gypsie

12 Aug 23 at 11:47 pm
The space Gypsie referenced next to Nevin Broome (2353 Broad River Road) was an Aaron's rental shop...after Hobby Lobby finished taking over the former Babies R Us & most of the former Golfsmith (and prior to that OfficeMax & Office Depot at Harbison Court) they left a space vacant before you get to where Dollar Tree is and Aaron's recently opened in that space at Harbison Court so it looks like that Aaron's relocated from next to Nevin Broome's at 2355 Broad River Road to Harbison Court...looking back through Google Streetview archives Aaron's was there dating back to 2007 and that store has recently relocated to Harbison Court (perhaps it'll feature here as such).

My mom once told me that Big Lots was apparently in that building years ago...it's possible that the unfinished wood store Gypsie is recalling was there at some point prior to Aaron's moving in as well...

Andrew

13 Aug 23 at 3:09 pm
Big Lots was there in the mid to late 80’s. Not sure when they closed. Across the street was a HQ, Home Quarters Warehouse. Precursor to HD. The first place of business in this building to my knowledge was Palmetto Home Center, which was a hardware store that might have been put out of business by HQ. I don’t remember going in there. I also remember the unfinished furniture place. Think it has the name “Naked” in it, could be mistaken.

Jonathan

13 Aug 23 at 7:03 pm
According to this WLTX article, Dutch Square Mall is under contract to be purchased by a local church. This is the same church that already purchased Intersection Center nearby.

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/community/church-bishop-announces-plan-purchase-dutch-square-mall/101-e6821836-4e3a-4811-8d0e-d9f8de80dd6d

Larry

13 Aug 23 at 7:59 pm
@Lone Wolf - You are correct about the "mall rats" types vs. the loiterers and worse trouble-makers. I was thinking something similar but did not describe it well.

Robin

13 Aug 23 at 11:33 pm
I wonder, if more stores are going to push self-checkout machines, why keep 4+ empty cashier lanes (traditional)? At least take those out and put in more self-checkouts. I've seen this a few times now, especially at Target and Walmart Market. One, maybe two cashiers. Four or more lanes that are closed. Four self-checkouts with a long line building.

Not saying that I totally support cashiers being replaced by machines, but choose something to prioritize. Having long waits for the traditional cashier and the machines, while empty lanes gather dust, is silly.

Robin

13 Aug 23 at 11:57 pm
Jonathan mentioned above about the Nevin Broome location on Broad River Road. It was originally Palmetto Home Center, and was owned by the Rish family. There was also a related location on Main Street near the intersection of Belt Line. It was just Palmetto Hardware. The location across Broad River Road originally housed a Bi Lo which eventually moved up to the shopping center near the intersection of Broad River and St. Andrews. Prior to that it was a GEX, some type of membership organization and subsequently Home Quarters (HQ). A stand alone building just to the right of the Broome location was originally a Mrs. Winners Chicken. We lived in the area from '73 until '86.

thomas

14 Aug 23 at 7:47 am
Lowe's Foods is supposedly coming to one of these locations:
(1) the new Platt Springs Crossing development in Red Bank/Lexington, across from Publix, (2) somewhere near the San Jose restaurant on Augusta Road (near Laurel Road). Not the space that is already confirmed as a pickle ball court.

I saw a Facebook post last night. People could not seem to agree on where.

Robin

18 Aug 23 at 9:13 am
Circle K on Clemson is in a reconstruction phrase

Mr. Guy

18 Aug 23 at 5:21 pm
I saw a Facebook post today that the building that New Brookland Tavern is for sale for about 3/4 of a million dollars.

Tom

22 Aug 23 at 1:22 pm
In West Columbia, there will be a new housing + retail development near 326 Alexander Road, called Alexander Place.
https://westmetronews.com/new-apartments-retail-space-planned-for-the-corner-of-augusta-st-and-alexander-rd-across-from-riverwalk-in-west-columbia/

Robin

22 Aug 23 at 7:51 pm
Mother of Pearl. I'm totally good with New Brookland being sold. The *entire* neighborhood has been coming up. New hot yoga place. New breakfast spot. Nicer restaurants. $2K a month apartments. 34 single- family homes in a close-by area. But, *right* in the middle of what should be a pretty neighborhood is this derelict double-wide trailer. On an average Friday night, NBT has a show and it looks like Hot Topic was having a yard sale.

Did you not see this coming?? The old phrase "failing to plan is planning to fail" comes to mind. I figured "The Powers That Be", in West Columbia, would just tell them "Your lease is not being renewed."

Whoever drops $750K on that place (never mind, how much it will take to fix up, because it's pretty bad), *ain't* gonna let NBT continue, doing what they do. The math just won't bear it out. Their day has come.

Lone Wolf

22 Aug 23 at 8:57 pm
@Lone Wolf -- I saw The Explorers Club there, probably in 2009, and the place was already looking pretty ragged then. Haven't been since.

ted

22 Aug 23 at 10:22 pm
@Ted, here is an article from The State, supplying details about the sale of New Brookland Tavern.

https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article278481804.html

(My Lord, could they have more pop-ups on their webpage? Can we all agree right now that pop-up ads should be banned from The Internet of Things and punishable by caning?)

The article states the current tenant *was* offered the first opportunity to purchase the building. I'm also hearing they were offered a bit of a discount to boot.

I'm not a betting man, but I think NBT should begin scouting for new locations *now*.

Lone Wolf

23 Aug 23 at 7:48 am
Lone Wolf - Does your browser have a "reader mode" option? This sometimes helps you read the whole article without ads. In addition to Ad Block extensions.

Robin

23 Aug 23 at 9:57 am
I read on Facebook that Fatz Cafe closed all 8 SC locations today. I think 942 E. Main St Lexington was the only one left around here.

Alan

23 Aug 23 at 5:14 pm
https://www.greenevillesun.com/news/local_news/fatz-cafe-closes-local-manager-cites-bankruptcy-filing/article_ab760fee-41e5-11ee-b5db-0ff74d377353.html

Fatz has filled for bankruptcy and the entire chain is history

Tom

23 Aug 23 at 5:18 pm
Is something going on with Frank’s Car Wash? The one on 378 in Lexington and the one on US 1 out towards the High School both have signage that says Take5, with the same logo as the Take5 oil change.

James R

23 Aug 23 at 9:22 pm
I last ate at Fatz with some family members in June 2021 at the Camden location...I had my birthday dinner at the Lexington location one year...I also remember eating at the Irmo location a few times as well as the defunct one that used to be on Colonial Life Blvd.

A The State article I found on this lead me to believe that they had 19 locations scattered across several states...

Andrew

23 Aug 23 at 9:43 pm
Much like Quincy s, the most memorable thing at Fatz was their rolls. it's still sad to see a local chain die - even if we all saw it coming.

Heath

23 Aug 23 at 10:08 pm
Frank’s Car Wash was purchased by Take 5, they are currently being rebranded

Jimmy

23 Aug 23 at 11:27 pm
My understanding is that the owner of New Brookland Tavern ideally wants to stay in the current location, but the old Headliners location is also being considered.

Gypsie

25 Aug 23 at 8:22 am
Anyone know what is going up on the corner of Two Notch and Trenholm Ext? Across from the new QT and next to Waffle House. From the way it looks, I think it might be a Take 5 oil change.

Sidney

25 Aug 23 at 11:24 pm
Don't know if I've asked before or not, but whatever became of "Bob" of Bob and Frank's Carwash?

db

26 Aug 23 at 12:23 pm
Not a specific local change, but Taco Bell supposedly wants to stop taking cash payments. Cards, payment apps, and pre-paid mobile orders only. The same company owns KFC and Pizza Hut.

I think the Planet Fitness in Cayce is already this way.

Robin

27 Aug 23 at 12:52 pm
An article about changes to the Spears Creek Church Road area: https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/street-squad/homes-and-businesses-in-the-works-on-spears-creek-church-road-south-carolina/101-d82205e2-983b-4994-8935-dcd86a8840e7

Robin

30 Aug 23 at 9:57 am
Sorry to interrupt any preexisting conversations, but does anybody know what was originally in 1221 Bakersfield Rd, Columbia, SC 29210 (now an Asian Market). I can't find any information on what it could've been nor can I find anything on YellowPages. Someone please help! It would really mean a-lot to me as I've been shopping at the Asian Market for years now and have always wondered what it was.

Brandon

31 Aug 23 at 12:42 pm
@Brandon -- For some reason when the market moved, I neglected to mention what the building used to be, and now I can't remember.

However, if you are interested in the market, here is *its* original location.

ted

31 Aug 23 at 11:37 pm
According to what I was able to dig up, 1221 Bakersfield was previously home to a Pic 'n' Pay and Sherwin Williams.

badger

1 Sep 23 at 9:03 am
1221 Bakersfield on Richland County GIS lists 2 owners.

1/1/1978 RJM Co Inc (I assume that this was the landlord for the 2 businesses that badger listed)

11/21/2006 Asian Market

I googled RJM Co and it looks like they were also a home builder heavily involved with a lot of the St Andrews neighborhoods.

Matt

1 Sep 23 at 10:33 am
Whitehall Television sales & repair at 3640 Bush River Rd. has closed. I believe it has been over a year. I used to get 2nd hand TVs from them back in the day. I also think they used to be on Broad River Rd. for a time.

JohnR

1 Sep 23 at 3:01 pm
Thanks a-lot everyone! I appreciate it. In the back of the Asian Market, it looks like some kind of kitchen/washroom, which looks to be original to the building. There's also a sign on the side of the building that mentions something along the lines of Schroeder Towing picking up unattended cars. I could see a Sherwin Williams being there but it's not a sherwin Williams building design I've ever seen.

Brandon

1 Sep 23 at 4:30 pm
The Smallcakes on Fort Jackson Blvd just announced that they will be closing on September 15th.

Mr.Hat

5 Sep 23 at 3:41 pm
The Super 10 store building is for lease, according to LoopNet. On Charleston Highway, behind the La Fiesta and CVS that are closed now.

Robin

6 Sep 23 at 9:33 am
Here are restaurants that received food grades of "C" last month, according to the Lexington County Chronicle: https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/8-lexington-county-restaurants-received-c-grades-in-august,69028

Three of the places mentioned are Carolina Ale House (Columbiana Circle), Inakaya Watanabe (St. Andrews Road), and the deli at Kroger in Irmo.

Robin

7 Sep 23 at 9:40 am
Yesterday's The State had a blurb (print edition) stating that Smallcakes Cupcakery at 4400 Ft. Jackson Blvd (Rosewood Crossing) is going to be closing up shop soon...

Andrew

12 Sep 23 at 9:29 pm
Here is a video, from WIS, about plans to turn Columbia Place Mall into government offices:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3uhAirsAiA

Robin

13 Sep 23 at 9:11 am
The Waffle House at Piney Grove Road and I-26 is currently closed. It looks like they are remodeling it or going to put something else in there.

Tom

14 Sep 23 at 7:25 am
Earlier in this thread (ca. February 2022) it was noted when Waffle House locations at SC 6 & I-20 (1036 South Lake Drive) as well as Two Notch & Trenholm Road Extension (8208 Two Notch Road) underwent closing and remodeling around the same time (and I do believe they featured here)...I consequently have a feeling that the 491 Piney Grove Road Waffle House Tom referenced is undergoing a similar overhaul (stay tuned)...

Andrew

14 Sep 23 at 10:07 pm
I also know that Finlay Park revitalization has been discussed here before and today WIS had a story on a groundbreaking ceremony that the City of Columbia had for an overhaul of Finlay Park...

Andrew

14 Sep 23 at 10:49 pm
@Andrew, I believe this is the link for the WIS story.

I hope it works out, and certainly stuff like fixing the fountain is doable, but making the park safe and attractive is a heavy lift.

ted

15 Sep 23 at 8:23 am
Another apartment complex might be built on Huger Street.

https://www.wltx.com/article/money/huger-250-housing-development-columbia-south-carolina-apartments/101-cc49bf12-1d7d-48f3-9328-db0c8c3e4af6

"...this project aims to attract older residents and young professionals."

Robin

15 Sep 23 at 11:05 am
Superior Home Center & Builders on Two Notch Road near Alpine has announced they are closing. One of the last family owned Building Supply locations.

Thomas

18 Sep 23 at 6:58 am
I have a hopefully temporary closing for Hungry Howie's at 6801 St. Andrews Rd in the Irmo area. According to chatter on an Irmo Facebook group, they've been closed for about 5 days now. The owner has posted that it's due to a broken walk-in cooler. It seems like a long time to get a cooler repaired, but in todays world of "supply chain shortages" I'm sure it's possible.

Their location has been pulled from the Hungry Howie's website, and the phones are out of service - but this could all be normal when they have to go offline for a while. Hopefully they'll be back soon. We really enjoy their pizza, and the owner donates a lot of pizza to community events and causes.

Heath

19 Sep 23 at 1:06 pm
Somewhere in the last couple of weeks the Bank of America stand-alone ATM "building" that was in the U.S. Foods parking lot on St. Andrews Rd. was torn down.

Gypsie

20 Sep 23 at 6:20 pm
^^ I went to the CHEF'STORE last week and noticed then that the Bank of America ATM building Gypsie referenced was surrounded by a construction fence.

I'm also with Heath in hoping that Hungry Howie's is a temporary closing...I have enjoyed their pizza on many occasions...both at home and I can think of a few occasions where I was able to do so with folks from church (though it's been a while since I've been). I also have dealt with supply chain issues in my work so I know how frustrating it can be.

Andrew

20 Sep 23 at 11:12 pm
Just read on neighborhood web site that Buffalo Wild Wings site on Two Notch between Lowe's and Wal Mart is future location of a car wash. They seem to be growing pretty rapidly in the Columbia area.

Thomas

22 Sep 23 at 8:36 am
Thomas - So many new car washes and oil change places. I've occasionally heard urban legends about car washes being used as "fronts" for money laundering and drug-dealing, but there can't be so many people doing that! Haha.

Robin

22 Sep 23 at 9:19 am
Does anyone know what is going into the old Wells Fargo at the corner of Rosewood and Garners Ferry? There has been a construction fence up around the building for a long time and nothing appears to have changed with it.

Matt

23 Sep 23 at 11:26 pm
Chase Bank is going in the old Wells Fargo at Rosewood and Garners Ferry

Larry

24 Sep 23 at 12:14 am
In West Columbia, something is being done to the plaza building with Pet Supplies Plus and the closed furniture store (I think it's been a couple of different furniture stores). Augusta Road.

Robin

26 Sep 23 at 9:02 am
I went by Hungry Howie's this evening and a sign on the door said that they were closed for reparis in what looked like bold Sharpie...then the 'for repairs' was Xed out and permanently was written in what appeared to be pen ink so I'm afraid that Hungry Howie's is likely history but their FB page had a post just today.

I was like Heath in hoping they'd come back as I have enjoyed my share of pizzas from there (though it's been a while).

The other thing I thought of is how numerous times on this blog over the years a 'temporary' closing that features here gone permanent...

Also don't forget that the last of the 3 Bed Bath & Beyond locations to close is nearby at Columbiana Station (136 Harbison Blvd.)...

Andrew

26 Sep 23 at 9:04 pm
The Bank of America walk in ATM building in the parking lot in front of the Chefs Store on St. Andrews Rd is gone. I also noticed the Wells Fargo walk in ATM down the road in the St. Andrews shopping center that the ATM machine has been removed and the opening boarded over.

Arthur P

27 Sep 23 at 8:01 am
https://www.postandcourier.com/free-times/news/new-brookland-tavern-building-sold-move-pending-for-west-columbia-bar-concert-venue/article_ae22b092-5d71-11ee-b52f-cbf425fdb447.html

New Brookland Tavern has been sold, confirmed. "Beloved concert venue" is a pretty favorable description,. They were the reason West Columbia got a noise ordinance. And, their bands had been clogging up that back parking lot, for years. So much so, that West Columbia PD would often have to come and drop knowledge like "you can't block public right of way."

And forgive me, but if your building needed new bathrooms, new plumbing and a new HVAC system, *why* didn't YOU do this?? It isn't like these problems magically appeared over the past few months.

Frankly, the fact they get to stay until the end of the year is very generous.

Lone Wolf

27 Sep 23 at 8:43 pm
LIDL is closing locations in Florence and North Augusta. I still haven't been to one, but a few people have mentioned that they like ALDI better.

Robin

29 Sep 23 at 2:40 pm
Robin - I sure hope they don't close the one in Lexington; I love shopping there! Similar to Aldi, but I much prefer Lidl.

Payne

29 Sep 23 at 6:01 pm
The owner of the Hungry Howie in Irmo just posted on Facebook this morning that his restaurant has closed for good.

You can read his heartfelt statement here:

https://www.facebook.com/HungryHowiesIrmo/

I wish him good luck in his future endeavors.

Tom

30 Sep 23 at 9:59 am
Payne, what do you like better about it? People tell me they prefer ALDI, but I've personally never been amazed by those. The prices might be low, but I can't find a lot of what I would buy at Publix or Walmart Market.

Robin

30 Sep 23 at 10:09 am
Just as I have to realize that Hungry Howie's is no sadly no longer, I have also heard a commercial indicating that Casual Living (6006 Two Notch Road) is closing after 36 years in a retirement sale.

I remember Casual Living having a store in (what was then) Clusters of Whitehall...they were one of several tenants from the 90s I was able to recall when the fire there happened earlier this year that I remember from the 90s...then I seem to remember them having a store in Columbiana Station for a time (between where Planet Fitness & Kirkland's (back in the ways where Planet Fitness had Circuit City and Kirkand's had Zainy Brainy)) during the 1999-04 timeframe.

Retirement sale leads me to believe that it's a case where the owner is ready to retire and there isn't anyone suitable to pass the business on down to.

Andrew

30 Sep 23 at 10:04 pm
The Michaels Cleaners near the intersection of Garners Ferry and Leesburg says they are closing November 1.

badger

1 Oct 23 at 10:01 am
@badger -- They closed 1 November 2022...

ted

1 Oct 23 at 3:18 pm
I’ve seen several reports that Wardlaw Apartments on Elmwood has been sold and the low income senior residents forced to find new housing. I noticed the building is on next months City of Columbia Design/Development Review Commission agenda for Bailey Bill approval. Usually that occurs for historical tax credit purposes. My guess is the apartments will be redeveloped into a higher end apartment complex.

Larry

1 Oct 23 at 6:02 pm
Robin - I find Lidl to be a bit more polished and organized and with a bit higher quality offerings than Aldi. A bit of a German Publix, if you will. :-) I don't do all my shopping there, which I think would be a bit of a challenge, but it's a nice supplement to a traditional grocery store.

Payne

1 Oct 23 at 6:57 pm
My dearly departed grandmother once concluded that "people need food and seem to have their preferences."

I myself haven't really shopped at Lidl (and haven't been to Aldi in several years) but I do most of my shopping at Publix, Lowe's & Food Lion (with some KJ's & Kroger in that mix as well)...

Andrew

1 Oct 23 at 10:36 pm
Thanks, Payne and Andrew. I find it funny how some people (who I've talked to) act like they're building up considerable wealth by shopping at Aldi in particular.

I like how Publix has usually better standards for service and cleanliness. Many people want one in West Columbia/Cayce, or a Lowe's Foods...but I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Robin

2 Oct 23 at 6:57 pm
Things that I don't want on pizza: corn, tuna, cranberries, potatoes

Robin

2 Oct 23 at 7:05 pm
Ted, got a Myrtle Beach closing for you. Scatori's Pizza off 544, in that strip mall where Lowes Foods is. Shame, they had great pizza.

Dan R

3 Oct 23 at 6:12 am
Wells Fargo just announced that it is closing it's operations center at Greystone and Broad River Road by the end of next summer. Over 500 jobs will be lost.

Tom

3 Oct 23 at 4:55 pm
@Dan R --- I'm pretty sure I've eaten there, though it wasn't one of my regulars. I'll try to check it out next time I'm in the area.

ted

3 Oct 23 at 10:08 pm
I saw in passing that the Shoney's in Orangeburg is For Sale, I'm not sure if that means the franchise itself is for sale or if they are closing and the building is for sale. Either way, I hope the one near the Airport isn't going anywhere. It's one of the few places left that has a breakfast buffet. The only other one I know of is Golden Corral - well, and Mathias' but that's a bare minimum buffet. If anyone knows others, please let me know!

@Robin - I don't want any of those things on my pizza either. Or chicken for that matter.

In general I prefer Aldi over Lidl because the prices are better at Aldi, but I do like that Lidl has a bakery and a larger produce section. I'm not going all the way over to Lexington for it though.

I used to love Food Lion, but their prices are too high now - well, EVERYWHERE is too high now, but Food Lion is more inline with what Bi-Lo pricing used to be than what FL's pricing was.

I went to Lowes for the first time a few weeks ago, but I walked out with nothing but a bag of potatoes. I don't understand all the hype over that chain at all.

Gypsie

3 Oct 23 at 11:46 pm
I once ate chicken alfredo pizza that was okay...but I think pizza should be pizza, and pasta dishes should be pasta. Same with other strange food mash-ups, like cheeseburger pizza and buffalo chicken spring rolls.

Robin

4 Oct 23 at 7:56 am
The Columbia City Council discussed a stimulus program to bring more grocery stores to certain areas.

WLTX article: https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/columbia-grocery-store-incentive-program/101-387acc84-0008-490e-b64a-800aeaf50d57

I don't want to be insensitive, but isn't there a reason why grocery stores already closed in some of these locations?

Robin

5 Oct 23 at 3:09 pm
Funny:

https://www.reddit.com/r/starterpacks/comments/15wvmcf/trendy_restaurant_that_just_opened_starterpack/

(I've never seen the fries in a paper cone, though.)

Robin

7 Oct 23 at 7:51 am
Believe Fiske at the fair used to serve in paper cones.

thomas

7 Oct 23 at 7:54 am
In Springdale, the grey building across from Dollar General is now a spiritual wellness center. The one that was previously a children's learning center, used car dealership, antique store, etc. Nothing seems to stay in that building for long.

Robin

9 Oct 23 at 10:25 am
Per The Lexington Chronicle, a new coffee shop is opening inside the Old Mill in Lexington: https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/couple-to-transition-long-standing-lexington-salon-into-coffee-shop,72239?

"'We're not trying to compete with O'Hara's or the other little coffee shops or Starbucks, we just want to take it a step further for people wanting coffee to go,' he said of the emphasis on quality and quickness."

Robin

10 Oct 23 at 11:41 am
Does anybody here remember the off-post barbershop located at 4347 Fort Jackson Blvd. Columbia, SC 29205? Don't think there ever was a post for it. Used to go there as a kid and the place was decorated in GameCock related merch, including a huge plush of the mascot.

Brandon

15 Oct 23 at 11:33 am
Saia LTL Freight is no longer operating out of the location at 2301 Airport Boulevard. As near as I can figure it happened sometime in the late spring or early summer of this year. I believe they merely relocated to their current location of 323 Dreher Road in West Columbia.

Gypsie

17 Oct 23 at 3:37 pm
Ted you've mentioned living in Aiken. I attended USC-Aiken from 1990 - 1992. During that time, there was a burger restaurant walkup/drivethru at about 1646 Augusta Aiken Road. It was called Central Park and they had the best fries ever! Menu was small but everything was fresh and tasty.

It sat in an outparcel of a shopping center as you went up the hill into Downtown Aiken. It was only there a few years and I think was gone by mid-90's (I had transferred to USC by that time).

You can still see the pad in the parking lot (and Google Maps) of where it stood.

Andy

19 Oct 23 at 3:07 pm
According to New Brookland Tavern’s instagram, they will be relocating to Five Points in the current Cotton Gin/ Former Movie theater on Harden St.

Larry

19 Oct 23 at 9:09 pm
@Andy... I was at USC-Aiken from 1990 to 1994 and I can second your stance on Central Park having the best fries! They were located in the shopping center where Rose's was. I worked there for a short time while I was at USCA and loved to get dinner from Central Park after my shift. It was also a hopping place after party nights.

Up until a couple years ago or so there was a Central Park in Conway. I used to stop there every time we'd come back from the beach hoping for the same delicious fries and burgers I'd had so many times during college and never getting them. It was always such a disappoint, but I kept trying over and over HOPING to catch them on a good day. It never happened though and now that building is home to Jimmy Burgers which I have yet to try.

@Larry... That is correct. And they are supposed to announce tomorrow morning who the first act at the new location will be.

I'm just hoping the new place has seating. NBT gets some shows I'd like to see, but the lack of seating is usually a deal breaker for myself and those I tend to concert with.

Gypsie

19 Oct 23 at 11:53 pm
@Andy and Gypsie, there was a Central Park in Orangeburg on John C Calhoun Drive as well. I’m guessing it was there from the early 90’s till mid 2000’s. I agree their fries were really good.

Larry

20 Oct 23 at 8:12 am
I don’t think Central Park ever made it into the Columbia area…a number of years ago one of the regular commenters we had at the time wanted Cayce to have one but it never came to pass…I never went to one but did some research to determine that their mission was to provide the best burgers, fries, chicken sandwiches & drinks available while leaving the other stuff to the other guys. I later came across something that lead me to believe that Central Park (as a company) is now defunct.

Andrew

20 Oct 23 at 10:35 am
In West Columbia, Planet Fitness is coming to the plaza with Sonic and Pet Supplies Plus, on Augusta Road. According to the newsletter on the city website. The whole shopping center is being refurbished.

Robin

21 Oct 23 at 2:50 pm
Hwy 55 Burgers, Shakes, and Fries in Irmo has announced on their Facebook page that they're closing on 10/29/2023 after about a decade in business. The restaurant is located in the out parcel of the Ballentine Walmart at 1180 Dutch Fork Rd. I have been there a few times and thought it was pretty good, but I was never wowed to the point that it made it into our regular rotation.

Heath

22 Oct 23 at 9:37 pm
I still haven't been to a Hwy. 55. I keep forgetting. It's one of those places that I rarely hear people mention or recommend, like Fatz Cafe.

Robin

22 Oct 23 at 11:09 pm
My dog would withhold my treats if she knew I'd forgotten to report this when it first happened.... Wag-N-Train Kennel at 178 Greenbriar Drive, Columbia SC 29212 is now operating as the second location for Sutton's Southern Pet Retreat (they have another location in Lexington). The change came about because Mike, the founder of Wag-N-Train decided to retire and move to the mountains after over 30 years in business. I learned of all this in early August and knew that another already established company would be taking over, but Mike wasn't allowed to say who or when exactly it would happen because the deal was still being finalized. When I went back in early September the new owners were there.

Gypsie

22 Oct 23 at 11:26 pm
Boost Mobile located at 859 Bush River Rd. STE B is gone.

Gypsie

24 Oct 23 at 3:06 pm
@Gypsie -- curiously, I was taking pictures there Sunday!

ted

25 Oct 23 at 11:10 pm
Kleen Kare Dry Cleaning at 6179 St. Andrews Rd. is gone. There is a For Sale sign out front.

Gypsie

26 Oct 23 at 7:13 pm
Please recommend a good pizza restaurant in Columbia/Forest Acres.

Pizza Problem

27 Oct 23 at 10:07 pm
Not a lot in Forest Acres. Za's on Devine in Shandon is good.

ted

27 Oct 23 at 11:05 pm
A Fuego 100 x 35 Puerto Rican Restaurant in Irmo has announced that Tuesday 10/31 will be their last day. They had great reviews, and I had planned on giving them a try "some day" but I waited too long. It is located in the Kennerly Crossing shopping center at 7320.Broad River Rd. in the same location as the former Pizzeria Opa and Zorba's Express.

Heath

28 Oct 23 at 12:35 am
Labrasca's on Jackson Blvd. used to be very good. I haven't eaten there in probably 5 years though. Village Idiot in 5 points and on Forest Drive was also good. Bear in mind that I would only get a Village Idiot pizza after a night of bar hopping. I never had one without a side of alcohol buzz.

Homer

28 Oct 23 at 9:21 am
Village in Forest Acres is a step below the other two. We live in FA but go to the other two when they aren’t filled with college students. Personally I like Danos on Rosewood the best. Il Bucato on Beltline is not bad either.

Larry

28 Oct 23 at 1:02 pm
I found out that Waxing the City located in Harbison will be closing on November 11th.

Ellen

28 Oct 23 at 1:12 pm
Last time I went to Labrasca's (pre-pandemic) they gave me plastic utensils and a styrofoam plate -- which I promptly cut through. I thought the pizza was pretty meh as well.

Have not tried VI on Forest as I was never impressed by the one in Five Pionts (and the storefront is not really a good restaurant space). Il Bucato is not really a restaurant -- it's takeout only.

ted

28 Oct 23 at 3:22 pm
The State had an article discussing plans to put apartments in a defunch Sunset Shopping cetner where River Drive and Sunset Drive converge with Union Street...it is my understanding that this particular building had an A&P grocer there in its heyday (it was apparently called Sunset Shopping Center then)...then I remember it housing a Bingo facility (imagine brick painted white with reddish/brown letters on the Bingo itself...then after Bingo left Spirit of Truth Christian Center was there for a while but that church appears to either closed or moved...the only instance it has featured here is in an A&P post referencing several A&P locations from the era (before my time)...

Andrew

28 Oct 23 at 6:32 pm
Dunkin Donuts on Two Notch is closed for remodeling.

Sidney

28 Oct 23 at 7:16 pm
Hi folks, does anyone here remember Azzardo’s Pizza on 378 just past Lexington Medical Center, near the entrance to Quail Hollow? I believe they closed in the early 1990s. I can’t find a thing anywhere about Azzardo’s. My brother recalled that they had a mini golf course on site.

B Jones

30 Oct 23 at 7:28 am
I noticed all entrance ways to Richland Mall’s parking deck have been taped off. Not sure if that’s because they don’t want anyone driving in it or if it’s to start work for the redevelopment.

Larry

30 Oct 23 at 7:44 pm
My favorite pizza in Forest Acres is Schiano's on Forest Drive across from Trenholm Plaza.

Erick

1 Nov 23 at 9:47 am
The location of the new apartments that Andrew mentioned, near Earlewood, is interesting. There will also be the new luxury apartments in the Cottontown area of North Main Street.

Again, I wonder if these "improvements" will drive out some of the residents who wanted to see these areas improve.

Robin

1 Nov 23 at 4:07 pm
The Michael's Cleaners at the intersection of Garners Ferry and Leesburg Road closed November 1. Does anyone buy clothes that require dry cleaning anymore?

Joe Shlabotnik

2 Nov 23 at 10:00 pm
Constan Carwash is being demolished this morning. I know the City had plans to buy the property to help with flood mitigation but I’m not sure if that actually happened.

Larry

3 Nov 23 at 8:05 am
Dlorah Home Care at 3600 Fernandina Road has been boarded up. The latest I could find on Street View was from April 2023 and their sign indicated they were hiring. I'm not sure when they shut down though.

Gypsie

3 Nov 23 at 10:47 am
Joe - I don't. Dry-cleaning is one more errand and expense.

Robin

3 Nov 23 at 11:12 am
Does anyone want to pitch in and open an upscale market-and-eatery/luxury adult apartment complex/oil change business? Hoping to squeeze it in downtown Columbia on Blossom Street.

:)

Robin

3 Nov 23 at 12:58 pm
@Robin - Only if you also include a drive-thru coffee shop and car wash

Matt

3 Nov 23 at 1:03 pm
Sure, if I can name it something ridiculous for the area, like "Aspen Forest Crossing".

Robin

3 Nov 23 at 3:29 pm
There is a Clutch Coffee Bar nearing completion on Two Notch between Dunkin and the Spring Valley entrance. There was a recent message noting that the Dunkin was closed for renovation.

Thomas

4 Nov 23 at 7:30 am
On Constan Carwash being torn down after 70 years of being there and Happy The Tiger being a resident there in the mid 60's. I bet no one knows that Marlin Perkins of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom played a big part of getting Happy here to Columbia in hopes of a Zoo being built. The Zoo opened in 1974 with "Happy" being moved in there. I can't remember his first name now, but Mr. Smith owned Happy and kept her at Constan for years before he passed away, but don't remember the year now. Curious as to what's gonna be built in the former location? Time will tell..

DB

4 Nov 23 at 10:45 am
The controversial Alodia’s Irmo location is closed again:

https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/with-irmo-location-closed-again-alodias-listed-as-owing-nearly-73k-to-the-state,75875

Logan

7 Nov 23 at 7:38 pm
The Piggie Park at 622 St. Andrews Rd is currently closed. I suspect it may just be a temporary thing due to staffing issues though.

Questions...
Did we ever find out what is going to open on the former Wells Fargo at St. Andrews and Old Bush River location?

Do we have any idea what is going up in the former Hungry Howie's location on St. Andrews?

And what about the old Ms B's on St. Andrews? (next to Piggie Park) the sign out front says the space has been leased.

Gypsie

9 Nov 23 at 10:40 pm
According to The State newspaper, Ichiban's at 5341 Sunset Blvd Suite C has closed. Per the article, the sign has been removed and there is a note on the door stating the restaurant closed on October 29.

Gypsie

10 Nov 23 at 10:53 pm
According to a post on their Facebook page, Al’s Upstairs will be closing on 12/19/2023 after 44 years in business.

Larry

13 Nov 23 at 2:20 pm
A legend retires. Sad to see them go, but they had a stellar run. I had friends who would drive from an hour away to come patronize their restaurant. I’m sad to see a West Columbia stalwart close their doors. R.I.P Al’s. You did well.

https://www.wistv.com/2023/11/13/als-upstairs-announces-closing-after-44-year-run/

Lone Wolf

13 Nov 23 at 6:34 pm
Whataburger opening across the street from McDonald's on Killian Road.

Mall Guy

13 Nov 23 at 9:01 pm
The owner of Olde Country Buffet (1211 Sunset Blvd, West Columbia) was arrested on tax evasion charges.

This is the same thing that brought down the former tenant (JackSon's BBQ) of this location.

I saw this a couple of weeks ago and forgot to mention it.
http://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/olde-country-buffet-owner-arrested-for-tax-evasion-operating-without-license,75877

Matt

15 Nov 23 at 12:41 pm
Several state agencies including DHEC and the Department of Mental Health could be leaving their long time homes on Bull Street next year.

https://www.wistv.com/2023/11/15/plans-move-state-workers-bull-street-approved/

Larry

15 Nov 23 at 7:00 pm
It appears that Dickey's on Two Notch Road is closed (Kroger plaza).

Trevin

20 Nov 23 at 6:27 am
The Chick-fil-a on Forest Dr in front of Walmart has been demolished. A new CFA will be bout there like many of the others in Columbia recently.

Larry

20 Nov 23 at 3:59 pm
The shop "Ice Cream Taco" on 378 (4884 Sunset Blvd), has closed and relocated.
It has moved to Emmanuel Church Road and Platt Springs.

Brian

21 Nov 23 at 3:22 pm
Curious if anyone knows who if anyone still lives in the house to the right of and behind of what was the old Hardee's building on Knox Abbot dr. in West Columbia? You can barely see it behind all the trees. It's a two story house. I used to know the family that lived there back in the 60's and 70's and was wondering if anyone still lives in the house?

Db

24 Nov 23 at 5:19 pm
Db, your best bet would be to check the Lexington County GIS map and see what the ownership history looks like…

Andrew

24 Nov 23 at 9:22 pm
Alodia's Cucina Italiana has announced on their FB page that it will permanently close it's Irmo location at 2736 N. Lake Drive after 15.5 years in operation. Their Lexington location will continue to operate. This isn't a huge surprise, as they've had a very public struggle to pay and keep employees in recent months.

It's still a sad fate for a restaurant that once had the highest rating out of all restaurants in the Columbia market on Trip Advisor. Every time I have a bad day, I have to remind myself that it could be worse - I could own a restaurant.

Heath

25 Nov 23 at 12:12 pm
Does anyone remember a ladies clothing store called InnerCity Glad Rags? It was across from Lums on Greene St. in the early '70s.

Joe Shlabotnik

27 Nov 23 at 11:20 pm
I’m not sure what was housed in the building, but the large older building at 1517 Gregg St across from Leevys Funeral home was demolished sometime in the last week.

Larry

28 Nov 23 at 8:35 am
@Larry. My understanding is that building was originally a school. I know that in the 60s and 70s it was used as a doctor's office and later as law offices.

Tom

28 Nov 23 at 4:48 pm
A 1969 article described its 1944 [sic] sale and relocation to 6515 N. Trenholm Rd (and subsequent renaming to North Trenholm Baptist) due to its being “a dying institution with a bleak future.” However, it appears that this actually happened in 1957.

After that it was a series of doctors’ offices until the mid 1980s. Then a ‘resume service’ until the early 1990s. In 1997, it was the home of an IT consulting firm called “The Registry.” (Ha! I actually worked with one of those guys!)

Benedict College had something to do with it as late as 2001.

Possibly other short term tenants. Looks like it ended up having multiple 'offices' within the building.

badger

29 Nov 23 at 10:09 am
@badger, that is interesting. I actually attend North Trenholm Baptist and had no idea about the history of the church. I guess they chose a good time to move into their current location since many of the homes in Forest Acres were built from the mid 50’s to 60’s.

Larry

29 Nov 23 at 9:02 pm
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1920s-tabernacle-baptist-church-3824964127

Is this the place? This was the church that relocated and became North Trenholm Baptist Church.

Thomas

30 Nov 23 at 6:47 am
@Thomas, it didn’t look exactly like that in its most recent state but it had the same red brick. Tax Map info says it was built in 1939 and remodeled in 1960, so perhaps after the church left it was made to look less like a church and more like an office building.

Larry

30 Nov 23 at 8:31 am
https://localhistory.richlandlibrary.com/digital/collection/p16817coll17/id/1066

According to this link the image Thomas found is how it originally looked and it was built as a church.

Tom

30 Nov 23 at 9:01 am
According to this link the image Thomas found is how it originally looked and it was built as a church.

https://localhistory.richlandlibrary.com/digital/collection/p16817coll17/id/1066

Tom

30 Nov 23 at 9:02 am
Village Idiot has announced they will be closing their Forest Acres location around Christmas this year. I’m not as high on VI as many but that location was by far the worst of the three in the area based off my experience.

Larry

4 Dec 23 at 10:31 am
Barnes & Noble at Richland Mall has announced that their last day open will be 12/31/2023 and they will relocate to the Shoppes at Woodhill sometime in early 2024.

Larry

4 Dec 23 at 4:35 pm
River Rat Brewery on Shop Rd has announced they will be closing on December 30th.

Larry

5 Dec 23 at 6:19 pm
Woah, shocked that River Rat is closing! That’s a sad day but after reading the Post & Courier it sounds like they couldn’t compete with the bigger taprooms that have moved in since.

In the meantime the Bush River Chick-Fil-A looks to move locations:

https://amp.thestate.com/news/local/article282692193.html

Logan

6 Dec 23 at 7:36 am
Looks like Maurices BBQ at 622 St Andrews Rd is permanently closed!!

Arthur P

6 Dec 23 at 2:56 pm
A close friend, who worked in the beer industry for well over a decade, once told me "If you want to make a small fortune brewing beer, it's best to start with a large one."

I'm sorry to hear about River Rat's closure. I never went, but I heard they had a nice facility. We'll likely see more closures like this. Everybody and their brother's dog went into beer making. Call it the 'craft beer boom". Now, the market is correcting the glut of supply. Maybe one day soon you'll be able to walk into a bar without having a choice between 472 IPAs or a domestic beer.

Lone Wolf

6 Dec 23 at 7:40 pm
Re: 1517 Gregg St., I remember it in the late '90s because my landlord my second year in graduate school had his office there. I spent a good bit of time there talking with him about my neighbors' shenanigans. I remember it as a nondescript array of offices inside a building that had obviously been there a while, but I had no idea it had the history it did. Now it is history. So it goes.

Jodie Peeler

6 Dec 23 at 8:49 pm
The movie listings sign for Spotlight Cinemas on St. Andrews Rd. now just states "CLOSED". I'm not sure when it happened, but it had to be in the last few days because it wasn't like that last weekend.

Gypsie

6 Dec 23 at 10:07 pm
Also saw the sign on Spotlight Cinemas today. Website confirms the closure but Facebook and Google Maps seem unaware.

Adam Z

6 Dec 23 at 10:46 pm
The Bush River Road location of Chick-Fil-A was closed for a while in 2021. I had it in my mind they had done some remodeling then, but perhaps not.

ted

6 Dec 23 at 10:47 pm
I don't think it's been mentioned here yet but Jin Jin in West Columbia has closed after close to 30 years.

Justin

7 Dec 23 at 1:31 pm
@Ted - You are correct. The Bush River Rd. Chick-Fil-A was closed for a while in 2021 when they added the second drive-thru lane. I think they also got rid of the indoor playground then too.

Gypsie

7 Dec 23 at 9:45 pm
There's a "we're moving" banner on the Goodyear located at 4520 St. Andrews Road.

Gypsie

8 Dec 23 at 10:02 am
Here's an article about the closing of Spotlight Cinema on St. Andrews.

https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/with-midlands-movie-theater-operations-shrinking-3-cinema-joins-recent-closures,78350?fbclid=IwAR3PiaH98mGU2SeIZ56ukHft2MHXcVzfseUaGIGzdohwURhMKEtRw1x1XgI

Tom

8 Dec 23 at 5:01 pm
Re: Jin Jin/Eggroll Station closing… I’m suspicious now with Al’s Upstairs closing too. Did someone buy the land for more apartments?

MB

10 Dec 23 at 1:29 pm
@MB. The property Al's is on is too small for apartments. Also I believe it is a protected landmark. This may just simply be coincidence.

Tom

11 Dec 23 at 10:38 am
@MB, I’ve heard but not seen any firm confirmation that the strip mall across from the chicken plant will indeed become apartments similar to the Brookland Development across the street. I don’t know that the property was recently sold but it’s been owned by a development company for a while.

Larry

11 Dec 23 at 11:02 am
Does anyone happen to know/remember a young woman, with the last name Perritt (spelling?), who died in the late 90s or early 2000s? For some reason I think she was hit by a car while riding her bike, but don't quote me on that. I went to Hand Middle School with her younger brother. His name started with a J.

E.

14 Dec 23 at 10:23 am
The development company that owns Richland Mall is obviously trying to keep vandals at bay because they have but concrete barriers at all the entrances to the parking deck. They have also fixed a large section of lights on the first floor.

WIS had a story about a group of "urban explorers" who decided to break into a workout space that the sheriff's department had inside the building.

Matt

14 Dec 23 at 11:56 am
Who else remembers Thrifty Mart on Bush River Rd. back in the late 60's? '68-69 before Food Town/Food Lion took over? Then it was several things afterwards before Pep Boys moved in? I don't think Thrifty Mart was around long at all, but not sure since that was 55 years ago. Anyone else remember that? Or am I showing my age and one of the only ones to remember it being there?

Db

14 Dec 23 at 12:02 pm
The closest Pep Boys to where Db is asking about us at 1804 Broad River Road…unless they were on Bush River before my time but I’ve never known them to have a Brish River location (dating back to ca. 1995)…there’s a building on Brusb River that has featured here but it is now home to AutoZone that could easily be the one Db is asking about though…

I am wondering if anyone remembers where Redfern Ford Lincoln Mercury or Heritage Chevrolet Buick were as those are dealerships I remember seeing commercials for back in the 90s but can’t for the life of me remember where they were….

Andrew

14 Dec 23 at 4:14 pm
Both of those Dealerships were in Kershaw County, Camden Lugoff area. Like in Columbia, names change. Some older ones in Columbia

Hampton (Pontiac)
Hancock (Buick)
Nix & Gibbes (VW)
Pulliam & Bob Bennet (Ford)
Wilson (Mercury)
Jim Moore (Cadillac)
Central (Chevrolet)
Oliver & Burnside (Chrysler Products)

Thomas

15 Dec 23 at 10:39 am
Barricades are up blocking entry into the Richland mall garage.

John

15 Dec 23 at 6:19 pm
@ Thomas.: You Forgot Central Chevrolet.
Jim Moore also sold Olds and DeLoreans.

Tom

16 Dec 23 at 10:32 am
86% of Generation Z (born 1997 - 2012) has "menu anxiety" at restaurants, according to a study in the UK. One-third said they will ask someone else to order for them at a restaurant.

https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-z-menu-anxiety-ask-people-order-for-them-restaurants-2023-12

Robin

16 Dec 23 at 10:42 am
@Robin. Part of "menu anxiety" has to be what millennials did to the menus! A cheeseburger has become a "Grass-fed blended bovine disc topped with hand-sliced hand dairy culture on a three grain farm-to-table roll."

Heath

16 Dec 23 at 12:34 pm
@Heath - As a Millennial, I agree. I want my occasional French fries or restaurant ice cream to be the simple things that they should. I refuse to quit supporting a good restaurant because the vegetables might not be sourced from a local woman-owned farm.

(As a woman, I am also not going to choose a "woman-owned" business/product purely for that reason.)

Robin

16 Dec 23 at 2:19 pm
I think a rise of 'social anxiety' in general is leading to the menu anxiety issues...people (across all ages) are lonelier than ever but social anxiety is a major hurdle to them trying to speak to people and grow relationships of any kind and of course COVID didn't to this trend any favors (though I do think the issue predates COVID).

Of the dealerships on Thomas's list I remember the following:

Hampton Automotive...this one was on Fernadina Road, closed, sat vacant for a while and is now home to Floor & Decor

Hancock: I remember a ♫ Hancock on Beltline ♫ jingle but I think they moved out to the I-77 & Killian area and they have a new name now.

Pulliam Ford: I remember the name but can't place where it was exactly

Bob Bennet Ford: This one became Classic Ford...Bob Bennet used to pride themselves in no commission salespeople...they were on Greystone Blvd. and it's now home to Classic Ford.

Central Chevrolet: I think this one used to be on Two Notch near Columbia Place Mall but moved out to I-20 & Clemson Road and became Steivers before becoming Jim Hudson Chevrolet)

I have since found a Coladaily article talking about how Heritage Chevrolet Buick became Lugoff Chevrolet Buick GMC as a result of an ownership change and I think something similar happened with Redfearn Ford Lincoln Mercury (though I am unclear as to the details thereof)...

Andrew

16 Dec 23 at 2:57 pm
The previously reported/featured closings of the pool and fireworks stores on Jamil Rd are being torn down. The pool store is completely down and they had about half of the fireworks store down this morning so it may be completely gone by now as well.

Gypsie

16 Dec 23 at 4:39 pm
@ Andrew. Central Chevrolet was on Gervais originally. I think it was between Marion and Sumter, then it moved to Beltline.
Hancock was next to the Township.
Pulliam was on the same block where the Hampton Preston House is. It moved to Two Notch.

Tom

16 Dec 23 at 5:44 pm
I still remember/can sing the jingle for Redfern. It was catchy!

Gypsie

16 Dec 23 at 7:42 pm
Classic/Bob Bennet was originally Lentz (sp??) Ford. When it opened my understanding was that one of the upper level managers at Pulliam opened it. Hampton Pontiac was at the corner of Elmwood and Main, on the diagonal corner was Oliver Motor Company. Andrew mentioned a location near Columbia (place) mall, I believe that was the original location of Nix VW. It then moved to Belt Line near the Rail Road track. Central was downtown and then moved out to Belt Line. I believe a company from Sumter purchased them and there was a different name until it moved out near I-20 and Clemson Road. It was Capitol, then Stivers and now Jim Hudson. Stivers had a Hyundai dealership near there which recently relocated to Farrow Road just off of Clemson Road. The old Stivers location is now Jim Hudson trucks.

Thomas

16 Dec 23 at 9:37 pm
There was Burnside Doge at the corner of Harden and Gervais where Greyhound used to be. And Burnside Chrysler-Plymouth on the Sumter Highway across from Greenlawn Cemetery.

Tom

17 Dec 23 at 10:39 am
Central Chevrolet originally sat behind and to the side of the old S&S Cafeteria sort of on the corner of Bull and Sumter? but I don't remember for sure since that's been 55+ years ago. They moved to Beltline I think around 1969 or so.

DB

18 Dec 23 at 6:33 pm
Also in the same parking lot and to the right of S&S, sat a small Uniroyal Tire store...or some tire place that sold Uniroyal tires but don't remember for sure since that's going on 60 years ago now...

DB

18 Dec 23 at 6:36 pm
Black Rooster, in West Columbia, will now be an Italian restaurant instead of French. They are located close to the former Al's Upstairs Italian.

https://westmetronews.com/black-rooster-transitioning-to-italian-cuisine-in-2024/?fbclid=IwAR0bSm8pI9vAQNQOieojQYMkxpTSf3kaxFJUC3SswcRFa2gtRpHXrrM4_mU

Robin

19 Dec 23 at 9:55 am
I think Redfern was in Newberry. Catchy jingle.

Mr. Bill

19 Dec 23 at 2:50 pm
Speedway on Two Notch near Sandhill is now closed.

Rashaad

24 Dec 23 at 9:49 am
Gypsie mentioned earlier in this thread moving signage on the Goodyear at 4520 St. Andrews Road...today I figured out that the sigange was directing people to their 141 Harbison Blvd. location...it consequently appears to me that things are being consolidated into the 141 Harbison location.

This situation reminds me of when the Pizza Hut closed at 621 St. Andrews Road...they billed it as a move to the existing Bush River Village location (1324 Bush River Road) when in reality it was a location closure and things being consolidated with the Bush River location and I think something similar is going on here (perhaps staffing, overhead, maintenance costs, leasing, etc. (some combination of these and other factors not mentioned))...

Andrew

24 Dec 23 at 3:25 pm
Please recommend an Italian or Italian/Greek restaurant. Columbia, Irmo, Lexington, wherever. This has nothing to do with Al's Upstairs. We never happened to go there.

Penne For Your Thoughts

27 Dec 23 at 10:48 am
Zorba’s on St. Andrews Road. Still think it’s the best pizza in Columbia. Been in the same location for 40 years, and unlike literally any other restaurant I’ve been to, there has never been a decline in the quality of their food. The pizza might have somehow actually gotten better. Order the Meatball/Onion/Feta pizza.

Jonathan

27 Dec 23 at 9:28 pm
Villa Tronco Italian - 1213 Blanding Street in Columbia. Absolutely authentic Italian and has been here a long while. Rumor has it, "Mama Tronco" introduced pizza to Columbia back in the 40s. Reservations suggested.

DeLucca's Italian Restaurant - 1720 Sunset Blvd in West Columbia. I think this place gets forgotten about because it's in a little shopping center with Jersey Mike's. In business for 15+ years, serving pasta, pizza and Italian classics.

Both are wonderful and I hope you enjoy! Cheers!

Lone Wolf

28 Dec 23 at 12:49 pm
Thank you, Jonathan and Lone Wolf. We've actually been to DeLucca's a few times. Food is excellent but not the service. More than once, the same server had an irritable, exasperated attitude, and loudly ridiculed us about a couple of things. Just our experience. We may try to go back sometime, because the food is great. Maybe we will have a different server.

Penne For Your Thoughts

28 Dec 23 at 1:02 pm
@ Jonathan. I agree with you 100% about St. Andrews Zorba's. We get the Jimmy's Special Pizza (Meat Lovers) routinely. It never disappoints!

Beth

28 Dec 23 at 1:30 pm
Penne For Your Thoughts - I am very sorry to hear you had such terrible service at DeLucca's. That's unforgivable. I hope you spoke to an owner (or at least a manager) about your terrible server. People like that server behave like that because they're allowed to. And, they deserve to be fired publicly and for cause.

I hope your Columbia area dining experiences improve

Lone Wolf

28 Dec 23 at 2:01 pm
Lone Wolf - Thank you.

Penne For Your Thoughts

28 Dec 23 at 3:37 pm
Barnes & Noble in Richland Mall has a big sale going on to try to clear out the stock before they close. We were in there on Tuesday (12/26) and books were 50% off and everything else (except Legos) were 75% off.

McCrory Construction has installed construction entrance signs around the mall property and they appear to be gearing up to start as soon as the bookstore is gone.

The signage has been removed from Groucho’s on Forest Dr. I’ve learned that the embezzlement was in the 6 figures and the franchisee finally had enough and shut it down. The finally nail in the coffin was more that a 100 customer complaints in a single day.

Matt

28 Dec 23 at 8:37 pm
The old Rush’s on Decker has had the theme bar signage removed and it is back to the defunct Cod and Tail signs. There is work going on so maybe something decent will finally go in here (but I’m not holding my breath).

Matt

28 Dec 23 at 8:39 pm
Let me dissent from the consensus a bit and say that I feel Zorba's has gone a bit down-hill since Covid & the ongoing staffing crisis. My go-to for Greek & Greek pizza is Grecian Gardens.

ted

28 Dec 23 at 11:43 pm
I'll take Ted's thoughts about Zorba's even further. I ate there a couple of times pre-covid and was never impressed with their food.

Tom

29 Dec 23 at 8:38 am
I have had many good experiences with Zorba's at Seven Oaks Shopping Center over the years...eating there not only with different family members but also some of my church friends (in different combinations) and the Jimmy's Special Pizza Beth referenced is my typical 'go to' so I have many fond memories of eating there over the years.

I ate at Villa Tronco on Blanding last October and it went well...and can think of a few occasions I ate at Greecian Gardens and it seemed to go well but it's been a while since I've been there.

Andrew

30 Dec 23 at 6:37 pm
I also Found this The State article talking about some notable 2023 closings...among the highlights for me:

- Piggly Wiggly #312 (760 Highway 378, Lexington) (hated to see this one go)
- Bed Bath & Beyond (Columbiana Station location (Harbison) hasn't featured here yet but the other 2 have)
- Al's Upstairs (retirement)
- Alodia's at Murray Landing
- Dick's Sporting Goods at 10204 Two Notch Road
- Belk at Richland Mall
- Fatz Cafe (companywide)
- Blue Flour Bakery in Irmo
- A Fuego (Kennerly Crossing)
- Tuesday Morning (companywide)
- Buffalo Wild Wings (10056 Two Notch Road)

Also note that it is when Richland Mall was announced to be redeveloped and Belk closing and then Barnes & Noble moving to the former Bed Bath & Beyond at Woodhill to make room.

Andrew

30 Dec 23 at 6:49 pm
@ Penne for your Thoughts

Pasta Fresca on Forest Drive is another good Italian spot. Our favorites are their Lasagna, Chicken Parm, and the Loaded Spaghetti. They've been around for at least a couple of decades, so they definitely have a good following.

Heath

1 Jan 24 at 2:51 am
I am curious to see exactly what "improvements" will be made to Highway 1/Augusta Road:

https://westmetronews.com/city-of-west-columbia-288000-grant-award-will-be-used-for-improvements-along-the-highway-us-1-corridor/

Robin

2 Jan 24 at 9:47 am
^^ SCDOT's project viewer site describes it as: SCDOT Preservation in Lexington County as well as traffic signal upgrades/improvements and work on concrete medians & pavement markings...

Andrew

2 Jan 24 at 9:34 pm
Thanks, Andrew.

Robin

3 Jan 24 at 12:26 pm
The NTB in front of the Lowe's on Garners Ferry appears to have closed up shop.

badger

4 Jan 24 at 10:07 am
Post & Courier has a story that the bin store on Forest Drive (the old Hobby Lobby) is closing and will be replaced by an indoor entertainment company (trampolines, mini golf, etc).

https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/business/golf-rockclimbing-bumpercarts-lasertag-family-columbia/article_6829fa4a-a994-11ee-85dc-974d253ca9a1.html

Matt

4 Jan 24 at 11:07 pm
Is that the bin store where women can't even bring their purses inside?

Robin

5 Jan 24 at 8:38 am
I went inside the main branch of the Richland Library today and found that Hot Cat's Biscuits on the main floor was permanently close. One person told me that it had been closed a month.

Tom

5 Jan 24 at 3:10 pm
apparently Yamatos by Harbison is closed after 49 years. their voicemail is who initially reported it and people who worked there are confirming.

Andrew

6 Jan 24 at 9:54 am
@Andrew - where was Yamato located before the Harbison location? I know there was a Japanese Steak House on St. Andrews kind of near the old Cussin' Bills - was that it?

Heath

6 Jan 24 at 10:11 pm
@Heath, that’s where I recall Yamatos being before Columbiana. We lived in Irmo in the mid 90’s and went to Yamatos there a good bit. The only other habachi place I remember back then was Kyoto on Beltline which is now Sato. I believe Kyoto mobed into the mall for a while in the early 2000s and then became Miyabi before moving to its current location near Yamato.

Larry

7 Jan 24 at 9:48 am
The building that I remember Yamato's being is at 736 St. Andrews Road in a building that is now home to South Carolina Christian Dance Theater. I am not 100% sure when it moved to its current Columbiana Drive location but my best guestimate would be somewhere in the 2001-05 timeframe.

I have a story in The State discussing the closure of Yamato at 360 Columbiana Drive.

* btw the original post was from a different Andrew *

Andrew

7 Jan 24 at 4:41 pm
During this past weekend I became aware that the Speedway station at 637 St. Andrews Road has closed up shop, removed pumps and everything and is now history after years of Speedway (and prior to that Hess).

I also have this article in The State talking about plans to close place in Cayce called Henry's (2108 State Street per Google).

Andrew

7 Jan 24 at 4:50 pm
@ Andrew, I noticed the exact same thing with the former Hess on Harbison this past week.

Tom

7 Jan 24 at 7:11 pm
Concerning the closing of Henry's, when the government says they are here to help, close the door and walk away. I will have to use the Christmas gift card fairly soon.

Thanks for the heads up Andrew.

Joe Shlabotnik

7 Jan 24 at 9:45 pm
The closings of Yamoto and Henry’s are victims of the ongoing liability insurance crisis in this state. Since our state legislature and governor signed off on this mess in 2017, let’s see if they will
actually fix it this legislative session. Otherwise prepare for an onslaught of closures this year.

Logan

8 Jan 24 at 6:32 am
I don't see this mentioned here yet but Noma Warehouse at 2222 Sumter St is closing. Also, regarding the liability insurance topic, I'm thinking that this will cause a lot of places to drop their licenses. Indah is already stopping alcohol sales, for example. I think any place where alcohol is a small portion of their revenue will drop the licenses until this is corrected. For places where alcohol is a larger portion of revenue but where the venue is marginally profitable, this might push them into closing entirely. Very unfortunate.

Justin

8 Jan 24 at 10:35 am
Splurge has moved from 6169 St. Andrews Rd Ste 130 to 1709 Sunset per a sign on their window.

Gypsie

8 Jan 24 at 5:54 pm
This Coladaily article speaks to the liability issue Logan hinted was playing a role in the closure of Henry's...

Andrew

8 Jan 24 at 10:23 pm
Cracker Barrel is closing one area location not near an interstate.

Mall Guy

10 Jan 24 at 3:51 pm
Hey there! Just saw that the Pitt Stop on Two Notch in front of the I-20 eastbound exit & the Jasmine Buffet has been boarded up -- couldn't get a pic fast enough before the light changed.

AvidReader

10 Jan 24 at 7:05 pm
Just read that Which Wich on South Main near the state house closed sometime recently and that a Sub Station II will be opening there soon. When I worked over that way years back I enjoyed several good lunches at Which Wich and always liked it.

Payne

11 Jan 24 at 8:11 am
Henry's closing may not be entirely due to liability insurance. They are being sued for two wrongful deaths: https://www.wistv.com/2024/01/11/henrys-cayce-sued-wrongful-death-teen-grandfather-amid-closure/?fbclid=IwAR1dksb2-ExmnrEad43gEMBgmXdd0vlaLyohlN41ieAg_sc8-vFIaiLc3cQ

Tom

11 Jan 24 at 12:23 pm
Five restaurants that received a "C" grade from DHEC last month:

https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/five-lexington-county-restaurants-received-c-grades-in-december,80567?

Robin

12 Jan 24 at 9:49 am
Blum Coffee on Devine Street will become a second location of Piecewise Coffee, from Cayce.

Robin

12 Jan 24 at 10:04 pm
It looks like all of the Frank’s Carwash locations are now Take 5. I noticed this in Blythewood, Farrow Rd/Killian Rd intersection and in Cayce.

Alan

12 Jan 24 at 10:07 pm
I'm hearing rumors about Rockaway Athletic Club - either a closing or maybe just a change of ownership. I don't know how far we want to go into unsubstantiated rumors here, but if that's acceptable - has anyone heard anything about this?

It seems that rumors about restaurants closing that I like are almost always true - but I sure hope this is the exception.

Heath

16 Jan 24 at 5:48 pm
Cracker Barrel is closing Village at Sandhill location.

Mall Guy

16 Jan 24 at 7:17 pm
Taking a quick moment to say, that every morning when I boot my computer, this site is my FIRST stop before news, work or anything.

I want to say that as the admin of another site, crowesbase.com, where the founder passed away and thankfully I was involved and took over.... I hope this site has a backup plan/admin. Not saying anything about the current admin... I'm just saying how this site is an integral part of my day. I would honestly be devastated if it went away. That probably says more about me than anything...

If you need a standby at any time, please let me know.
Love the site, love participating here... just love it.

Brian

17 Jan 24 at 8:45 am
I am not saying this to be nasty, but I don't recommend Azalea Coffee on Devine Street. The coffee was okay, although I wouldn't make a special trip for it. A manager/owner(?) was arrogant and ready to boast about being "the boss". On Google Maps, some of their responses to any less-than-great review are a little...aggressive. And I am a woman, by the way, before anyone scolds me for not supporting a woman-owned business.

Just My Experience

17 Jan 24 at 10:18 am
Brian - It's getting harder to find good blog-style websites like this anymore. Sites where the author is not trying to become an influencer or Internet entrepreneur ("How I Made Six Figures From Blogging in Six Months!!!"), and doesn't do a bunch of ridiculous sponsored posts.

Robin

17 Jan 24 at 4:35 pm
@Alan -- The Frank's on Forest Drive is still there.

ted

17 Jan 24 at 8:25 pm
@Heath

Rockaway’s closing has been confirmed:

https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/business/rockaway-rosewood-sc-columbia-closure-bar-restuarant/article_5b4879b8-b47b-11ee-b1d1-2367d6a75e52.html

Logan

17 Jan 24 at 11:49 pm
Rockaway closing? This one hurts…

With so many local bars and restaurants closing, I never thought that Rockaway would be on that list. I have SO many memories of their legendary pimento cheeseburger & fries and revolving list of deep fried vegetables.Their burgers are truly the best I've had - so good that the burger is served alone on a plate with nothing to distract from its perfection.

I ate there the night before the original building burned down.
I ate there the night they opened in the new building.
One of my masks hangs on their wall.
Trivia nights have become a tradition.
Most of all, Rockaway was a melting pot of local personalities from students to politicians and I always saw a friend in the crowd.

So thanks for the memories, Rockaway!
You will be missed

Patti

17 Jan 24 at 11:55 pm
I was a frequent late-night denizen of the original Rockaway Athletic Club ("Rocks" as we affectionately called it) and have many fond memories of time spent with friends, some gone and some still around.

I believe RAC opened on the site of the old Rosewood Bar, which was just a dive with old guys drinking during the day and a younger crowd coming in at night, but it had a great pinball machine and an amazing full-length mural of a Middle Eastern desert scene (camels and desert)d, turned ochre with age. If anyone has pictures of the Rosewod Bar, especially the mural, I'd love to see them.

Speaking of pinball machines, the Star Drive-In (run by a guy named Johnny Pappas) had some of the best in town. It was located near the Twilight Drive-In Theater where Whole Foods is now. Again, would love to see any pictures.

Anyone remember the Crow Bar on Rosewood not far from Rockaway? All the windows were blacked out and it only had one clock, which was behind the bar and the bartenders would periodically reach up and turn the hands back so no one would realize how late (or early) it was getting. I remember deciding to head on home one Saturday night only to be greeted by blinding morning sun and the bleary vision of families driving by on their way to church. Not proud of it but there it is. :-)

Sandy W.

18 Jan 24 at 9:47 am
Brian, would LOVE to see a reissue of CRB’s Betty’s Blends Volume 1! I’ve all but given up hope of ever finding an original. Sure that the demand is there. Not sure if you can grease the Driving Wheel or not with your crowesbase connection, but I figured it was worth a shot.

As far as RAC, spent many a Sunday night there eating crab legs. Would go lunch there whenever possible, but it took so long.

Jonathan

18 Jan 24 at 12:02 pm
Love this website! As an old Columbia guy, I can stroll down memory lane and end up going down a lot of rabbit holes.

Anyone remember the Wheat Street Club, located where Wheat deadends. Rough place. I remember a redhead named Cricket worked there who (so I heard) was willing to make parking lot visits.

Sandy W.

18 Jan 24 at 5:50 pm
Jonathan... BB1 is pretty amazing. Unfortunately I don't think it's gonna get a re-release. I gave several copies away when the band was touring. I have the digital version of BB1 that you could get on Amazon for a while, which is actually full releases of the shows that made up the LP.
CR is focusing all his attention on the Crowes.. so I'm not sure what's gonna happen with the CRB stuff. I was mixing the most recent live releases, when that all got halted.
At least he's doing offshoot work though... as he's a good friend. So he's producing a new Beachwood Sparks album that we're releasing on our label in about a month. That is kinda exciting.
If you need BB1, the best thing to do is look on discogs or ebay, but as you know, it's anything but cheap.

I did get news last night though, that a long awaited LP is coming out on record store day.... you'll want to keep an eye out for that one. :-)

you can reach me at crowesbase, ravens reels almanac, crbase, or curation records... on fb, ig, or directly on fb to my account.

Brian

19 Jan 24 at 9:49 am
Brian, thanks for the reply! That’s what I was afraid of, but couldn’t resist reaching out to you. I’ve got the rest of them, but someone beat me to the only copy at Papa on RSD.

Absolutely will pick up the RSD release, no matter what it is.

Have a great weekend!!!

Jonathan

19 Jan 24 at 1:34 pm
Add the Speedway on Harbison Blvd to the list of those that have closed. The building is boarded up and there is a chain link fence surrounding the property.

Gypsie

22 Jan 24 at 4:24 pm
Please recommend a Mexican restaurant.

Let's Taco-bout Q

22 Jan 24 at 5:12 pm
Please recommend a Mexican restaurant.

Let's Taco-bout It

22 Jan 24 at 5:13 pm
Nothing fancy, but I've always been happy with Casa Linda on Beltline. Hack/tip: Order the pico de gallo as an appetizer, and spoon it into your salsa. (Along with some hot sauce if you need a bit more kick).

ted

22 Jan 24 at 10:20 pm
The Jersey Mike's at 5594 Sunset Blvd. Ste. B in Lexington has been closed for the last few days. Not sure what's going on.

JohnR

23 Jan 24 at 8:31 am
The Red Roof Inn at 10 Berryhill Rd is closed and in the process of being boarded up. Good riddance to that place!!!

Arthur P

24 Jan 24 at 12:58 pm
The Sunset Blvd. location of Jersey Mike's has been removed from the online list of local stores. I phoned the South Lake store and was told the Sunset Blvd. store was "permanently" closed.

JohnR

26 Jan 24 at 8:02 am
Everyone, how soon would you enter a restaurant before closing time? I've heard opinions ranging from "no less than an hour before closing" to "still open means still open".

Robin

27 Jan 24 at 11:25 am
For drive thrus as long as the lights are on I will attempt an order. For a walk in restaurant I would not walk in less than an hour before listed closing time. Who knows what might occur if the cooks or wait staff felt rushed with the order.

I will say after leaving a ball game in Florida one night we found a Sonny's BBQ that was closing in 10 minutes. The manager waived us in and we ate while the crew cleaned up around us. We thanked them and bought a couple bottles of Sonny's Sizzlin' Sauce. Good stuff.

In high school in the early '70s I worked at Pizza Hut and folks would come in as if we didn't have a closing time on Friday and Saturday nights.

Joe Shlabotnik

27 Jan 24 at 12:09 pm
It appears that all entrances to Richland Mall except the main one on Beltline have been barricaded off. I keep hearing demolition scheduled for March/April.

Also the Capital City Club is closing after 35 years. It’s located on the top floor of the Truist building downtown. I’ve only been there once and that was 25 years ago for a rehearsal dinner, but they’re blaming the closing on preference changes post Covid.

Larry

29 Jan 24 at 1:57 pm
Beat me to it Larry! :)

https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/business/capital-city-club-columbia-closing-truist-bbt-sc/article_b62c9d02-bece-11ee-8874-3f2268fd5e8d.html

Not surprising. The logistics of this place were complicated, and every time I went and tried to like it, I felt like I was in a nursing home dining room. Beyond the views iit was a snooze....Top of Carolina at USC is much better experience.

Logan

29 Jan 24 at 3:39 pm
@Robin - if a place is open until X time, then X time is the latest I would go in. When I worked in restaurants it was understood that the listed closing time was the latest we would seat people or take an order. It was not the time we expected to have everything broken down, cleaned up, and ready to walk out.

Gypsie

29 Jan 24 at 10:02 pm
Generally I will not go less than half an hour before posted closing because I hate to rush.

However, if I go two hours before closing and hear "Well, it wasn't busy so we just closed the kitchen", that's a big black mark.

ted

29 Jan 24 at 10:14 pm
The Bojangles at 4301 Ft. Jackson is closed, presumably for remodeling. Also, Twisted Spur Brewing at 705A Gervais Street has for lease signs in the windows.

Midnight Rambler

31 Jan 24 at 9:12 am
Would think that Dave’s Hot Chicken has had an impact on Bojangles, at least as far as chicken goes. There’s really no comparison between the two as far as flavor and the ability to actually be spicy.

Jonathan

31 Jan 24 at 12:25 pm
La Estrella or there food truck called LOS CHICANOS is really good. They are at WECO Biergarten about once a week.

Mr. Bill

31 Jan 24 at 4:31 pm
I meant their, sorry.

Mr. Bill

31 Jan 24 at 4:31 pm
Demolition and rebuild has been planned for that Bojangles for a few years now. Believe they’re adding a double drive thru as well.

Larry

31 Jan 24 at 5:52 pm
Pup's Barbershop 1945 Decker Blvd has closed up after decades being open.

Sidney

2 Feb 24 at 8:10 pm
Does anyone know the deal withthis building sort of across from the Lowe's on Highway One/Augusta Road: It looks like a brick house with a brick-colored building attached to either side. Has a pond. It's been closed for many years.

I was told that it used to be pawn shop. The owner closed it suddenly, and it's still full of stuff that people never had a chance to get back.

Elizabeth

3 Feb 24 at 9:42 am
@ted - Cole's Barber Shop at 1828 Sumter Street is closed. I believe the owner passed away a couple of years ago.

Justin

3 Feb 24 at 12:56 pm
@Elizabeth -- this was Boss Bull.

ted

3 Feb 24 at 3:16 pm
Thank you, Ted.

Elizabeth

3 Feb 24 at 4:25 pm
Rioz Brazilian Steakhouse at 410 Columbiana Drive has rebranded and is now called Braza Do Sul. We drove past earlier today and saw the new signage and Rioz announced the name change on Facebook about and hour ago.

Gypsie

3 Feb 24 at 4:56 pm
Question: what was the idea of these business buildings disguised as houses on Decker? Where they made as business properties after being built?

Mr. Guy

4 Feb 24 at 5:33 pm
Can you be more specific? There certainly are many former houses on Decker that are now businesses, but that doesn't mean they didn't start as houses.

ted

4 Feb 24 at 8:36 pm
Ted, if you want to get any last minute shots of Richland Mall before demolition you might have to do it soon. A construction fence is going up now and demolition is expected to start within the next few weeks.

Larry

5 Feb 24 at 2:02 pm
Eight restaurants that received a "C" grade from DHEC last month:

https://www.lexingtonchronicle.com/stories/8-lexington-county-restaurants-received-c-grades-in-january,82919?fbclid=IwAR1Y9hxDyn7FnBT8_xoLxJJKe_Ppf6Rm_h9D-EcZd_Fgx7TDxHtrqF_NxdQ

Robin

6 Feb 24 at 9:12 am
Has anyone ever heard of THE BRASS KNOCKER from 1980's?
It was a bar for college students and I swore I went there. Now I cannot find any trace of its history. Am I crazy?

BT

6 Feb 24 at 4:56 pm
I received a mail notice of Dems jewelery going out of business. I think they have been at the Lake Murray Blvd. location for about 20 years.

JohnR

7 Feb 24 at 8:16 am
I am a Millennial who doesn't prefer the breweries/bar scene, but this seems accurate: https://www.reddit.com/r/starterpacks/comments/1ame9v0/millennialcore_brewery_in_your_local_warehouse/

Robin

9 Feb 24 at 8:17 am
BT - I was curious, so I tried searching older pictures on Flickr. I couldn't find anything about The Brass Knocker.

This will cost you $7.95 per month, but you can subscribe to The State Newspaper's online archives, then search for a mention of the place: https://thestate.newspapers.com/?xid=3142#navlink=mi_footer

It's also interesting if you want to search for articles that family members might have been mentioned in, or wedding announcements, births, obituaries, etc.

Robin

9 Feb 24 at 8:25 am
I saw this post below on Hootie and the Blowfish's Instagram page a couple of weeks back with a old flyer for one of their early shows at the Brass Knocker. From the hand drawn map, it looks like it was located in Middleburg Mall off Forest Dr. Maybe it was where the Mousetrap was located?

https://www.instagram.com/p/C2agc6zR-L4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

David

9 Feb 24 at 10:01 am
Not sure when this happened but I noticed that Granby Grill in Olympus/Granby Mills on Olympia has been shuttered for good. I remember going a number of times back in 2020
and 2021 and WXRY broadcasting there.

Edit: A quick Google search and I found this:

https://amp.thestate.com/news/local/article279645534.html

Logan

10 Feb 24 at 10:07 pm
Color me shocked, in regards to Logan’s post I thought this blog would’ve mentioned Granby Grill’s closure given their high profile location (next to Village Idiot) and the fact Granby made a splashy debut and did do all that WXRY and WTCB cross promotion. Granby let their alcohol license lapse almost a year before that having folks
bring in their own drinks BYOB. For whatever reason, largely due to Covid and being forced to cater to ungrateful college age students just just failed to take off, and this blog’s middle age audience probably didn’t paid any attention to a prime spot unfortunately.

Dustin

11 Feb 24 at 10:15 pm
The former Showbiz Pizza / Ultimate California Pizza Game Zone, that was located at 959 Lake Arrowhead Road will soon open as 707 Indoor Shooting Range and Gun Shop according to this article: https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/local/article285292872.html

Casey G

12 Feb 24 at 7:44 pm
@Dustin -- Well I haven't watched TV for years. I'll try put it on the list.

ted

12 Feb 24 at 10:21 pm
Shealy's PDQ Too at 204 Crystal Springs Drive (29073) is now called The Farmhouse Grill. The change happened sometime between last Thursday and yesterday.

Gypsie

15 Feb 24 at 11:38 am
I have to say I'm pretty sure I have never in my life been by that location.

ted

16 Feb 24 at 12:09 am
The Koffee Koala, in the previous location of Lazy Llama (Ted did a post about it), is closed, but possibly moving. According to their Facebook page, they could not make an agreement about a new lease. They are currently offering cold brew coffees for delivery.

Some people might blame the new Starbucks across the street, but I've often thought this location was a disadvantage. It's behind a hotel and gas station, in a semi-creepy parking lot with a closed Piggly Wiggly. That might be okay for the bar next door, but it's not a place where I like to stop for a coffee on the spur of the moment.

Robin

18 Feb 24 at 1:16 pm
PDQ on Devine St will be closing 2/20/2024 according to the P&C Columbia. I think I went there twice over the 10 years they’ve been open, but it didn’t really stand out.

Larry

19 Feb 24 at 8:16 am
I was told last night that Whataburger is going to replace them at this location.

David

19 Feb 24 at 8:29 am
I saw several posts this weekend on a Columbia Foodie blog on Facebook that the PDQ on Devine will be closing soon.

Matt

19 Feb 24 at 10:08 am
I basically agree with Larry about PDQ. The atmosphere and service felt like an average-quality Chick-Fil-A. Not bad, but not enough to stand out among the other nearby restaurants.

Robin

19 Feb 24 at 10:40 am
Was told that a new fully automated carwash is gonnaa be built in place of the old Constan Carwash on the same site. Anyone else hear about it? Rode by that area just a couple days ago, and the old Autowash is still there. Ideas?

DB

19 Feb 24 at 3:16 pm
@DB My understanding is that the area will be a park. They are keeping the sign up (I hope) because it is a local landmark.

Tom

19 Feb 24 at 5:13 pm
The new car wash is on the other side of the railroad overpass by the Shell Gas station. The last I heard the city was talking about turning the Constan property into a retention pond to help with flooding in the area.

Larry

19 Feb 24 at 5:18 pm
I remember going to that Brass Knocker place when I was a kid. I was going to a Columbia Mets game with a friend, and his dad stopped there to either pre-game or pick someone up that was also going to the game. This was around 1986 or 87. It was somewhere in Middleburg Plaza. Seemed kind of like a yuppie sports bar.

Mr. Bill

19 Feb 24 at 7:23 pm
I'll dissent on PDQ...I have enjoyed eating there over the years (though most my memories are pre-COVID). I enjoyed their tenders. They also had the Coco-Cola Freestyle and their beverage station (tea, etc.) had a unique setup (but I don't drink tea). The other thing that stood out to me was they had a sink with a foot operated bar you stepped on to activate. They also (as opposed to having an order number) identified orders by name (and even had a good quality intercom they'd announce names via). The other thing (though I only used it once during COVID) was that for their drive thru you spoke to a real person at the window as opposed to having a menuboard with a speaker the way most drive thrus are.

Admittedly several life changes of mine mean I don't make it to that section of town as much as I used to but I still think fondly on my experiences eating there (part of me wishes they'd opened an Irmo/Lexington location even).

PDQ is also on the site of a former Burger King (which featured here and the demolition/rebuild for PDQ was part of that post).

I saw a reddit forum on this that lead me to belive that some PDQ locations in the Triangle area (RDU) would become Whataburger while some in the Triad area (Winston-Salem) were to become Cookouts so perhaps something along those lines is going on here...

Andrew

19 Feb 24 at 8:34 pm
I *wanted* to like PDQ, as I saw it as a Zaxby's competitor that aspired to Chickfila level of service/quality (just think how many restaurants would rule-the-world if they got that second part right).

And I did like the fact they offered grilled tenders (before anyone else did) and the service was always very good in my few times going...

...but I could never really say I savored or craved the food. Nothing on the menu was as good as what I could get at a Zaxbys or a Chickfila. Plus, it was relatively expensive.

So RIP PDQ.

BrianC

20 Feb 24 at 8:43 am
Eastern States Serum Company on Harden must have closed at some point because that is where Rise moved to.

I joined a farm coop one year and this is where I picked up my produce every week. The gentleman who ran the store was really nice and he sold dog food as well as pet and livestock medicine.

Matt

20 Feb 24 at 4:29 pm
Please point me in the direction of a good burger and fries.

Jasmine

20 Feb 24 at 8:31 pm
Time will tell what happens with the old Constan property. With Columbia, you don't know what's gonna happen...one says this and one says that and others say other things. Columbia cares nothing about its past and they can't make up their minds on a lot of things. Let's just wait and see what happens if anything. Maybe something will happen by the year 2525. Any guess as to what year the former Richland Mall area will be completed? 15-20 years? Whatever they do, it won't improve things...it'll be a "new" homeless people gathering place...wait and see.

Db

20 Feb 24 at 8:38 pm
@Jasmine -- I'd like to say some hole-in-the-wall like Rockaway, but truthfully Five Guys probably gets it, especially for fries. Unfortunately their prices are insane for the non-ambiance & non-table-service.

I've been favorably impressed with Logan's burgers, but we don't have them here for some reason.

ted

20 Feb 24 at 10:15 pm
@Db -- well for what it's worth, Richland Mall is in Forest Acres, which seems a bit more act-togetherish than Colatown.

ted

20 Feb 24 at 10:16 pm
The Post and Courrier has posted an article stating that Compton's Kitchen in West Columbia has closed. The restaurant's website seems to confirm this, although it's not clear that the closing is permanent.

Heath

21 Feb 24 at 11:10 am
Mostly accurate: https://www.reddit.com/r/starterpacks/comments/6zvx1u/trendy_fast_casual_restaurant_starterpack/

Robin

24 Feb 24 at 9:04 am
@Heath. My understanding its permanent. The owners decided to retire.

Tom

24 Feb 24 at 10:01 am
You gonna add Barnes and Nobles to closings?

Matthew Benjamin

24 Feb 24 at 3:49 pm
I'm sure the Barnes & Noble relocation from Richland Mall to Shoppes at Woodhill will feature here in due course (same for the Bed Bath & Beyond at Columbiana Station (136 Harbison Blvd.) that closed early last summer)...

Andrew

25 Feb 24 at 5:21 pm
@Tom and @Heath - According to some reviews on Google Maps (sort by "recent"), Compton's had been declining in quality. A couple of reviews mention new management and owners.

Robin

27 Feb 24 at 9:55 am
Macy's announced today that they are closing 150 stores, starting with 50 this year. Wanna bet Columbia Mall will be on the list.

Tom

27 Feb 24 at 12:36 pm
Columbia Place Mall’s Macy’s closing has been mentioned here several other times over the years and there are several factors that keep it open (despite the community reputation of Columbia Place Mall)…supposedly they own the building leading to low overhead costs are at the heart of it (these factors also play a role in why Macy’s never moved to Village at Sandhill or Columbiana Centre)…last time I was even in Columbia Place Mall was around 2016/17 before Sears liquidated so I can’t attest to the condition of the store itself…be that as it may the overall corporate health of Macy’s could easily prove to be insurmountable. The other issue is that most of the type of department stores of Macy’s caliber have struggled (I.e. Belk & JC Penney have both had bankrupcies in recent years, Lord & Taylor as well as Filene’s have closed their brick and mortar stores completely).

Before the Richland Mall demolition was announced I had hoped Macy’s would move there…but this means that moving there or either Columbiana or Village at Sanhill seem less likely.

Andrew

27 Feb 24 at 1:05 pm
@ Andrew, I went to the Macy's last year at Christmas time to pick up an on-line order. Since I had not been in it in years I decided to look around and basically saw a store with half empty shelves everywhere, little foot traffic, and hardly anyone available to help. When I did find someone to ask a question of (a manager or possibly THE manager) they referred to me to a rival store. That experience suggests to me that Macy's may be on the way out of that location.

Tom

27 Feb 24 at 5:44 pm
@Tom - Honestly, at most of my retail jobs, I gladly referred customers to rival stores. It's been my experience that people appreciate you being direct and saving them a hassle. Most of them would buy something else while they were at my store, because I was helpful. Or they came back again.

Robin

27 Feb 24 at 7:32 pm
Yes, that practice was shown to be beneficial for Macy's in the documentary "Miracle on 34th St".

Kenneth

27 Feb 24 at 9:39 pm
@Matt
I was also going to mention Eastern State Serum closed. It's been YEARS since I went there, but I used to buy medicine and dog food there until about 10 years ago.. I always loved that he was old school.
Like, his inventory methods... and the way he would hand write an invoice, take care of his inventory, write the receipt. In fact I feel like he still used credit card carbons.
Either way, it was a great throwback store that had an amazing ASMR aesthetic to shopping in it.. with the buckets of rawhides and pig ears... and the owner was so nice and soft spoken.
LOVED that place.

Brian H

29 Feb 24 at 9:07 am
Social Grill in Ballentine has announced that their last day will be March 9th. According to the announcement, they were in business for a bit over a decade. I had heard a rumor that they were planning a new smaller venture somewhere in the area, but there was no mention of one in the announcement.

Heath

1 Mar 24 at 4:32 pm
Macy's finally getting some karmic retribution makes me happy. I had family who worked at Marshall Field in Chicago. Macy's bought Marshall Field and promptly laid off/liquidated staff and had their famous candies, formerly made in-house, made in Ohio.

Lone Wolf

3 Mar 24 at 8:48 am
I noticed last night that Silk Restaurant and Lounge at 902 Gervais St has closed. The restaurant really sits on Lincoln St despite the Gervais St address and I believe was the follow up to Carolina Strip Club. I never patronized either place while open.

Larry

3 Mar 24 at 9:10 am
I noticed this afternoon that the Forest Plaza office complex at 5115 Forest Drive has been torn down. There is an excavator sitting beside the road. This was a cluster of 5 or 6 small buildings with a number of different businesses in them.

Matt

3 Mar 24 at 3:57 pm
@Matt, Lex Med bought this property too. Haven’t seen what they’re going to put there, assume it will complement the newly constructed Family Medicine Practice/OBGYN office next door.

Larry

3 Mar 24 at 4:22 pm
According to their social media accounts, Plant House at Cross Hill Market will be closing on 3/17. They claim they were unable to reach and agreement for a new lease.

Larry

5 Mar 24 at 3:53 pm
The SC Riot Room closed on June 17th, 2023
https://www.facebook.com/scriotroom/

Thrash: The Smash Room closed January 27th 2024 but website says they are expanding.
https://breakinthrash.com/

I would take all my TV's there after I gutted the parts to sell on eBay. I would also take the TV's and monitors from my job there. You can donate them all for free. If Thrash reopens and you need to get rid of some TV's, take them there. They will be happy to take them.

Sidney Wallace

5 Mar 24 at 5:05 pm
It looks like Miyo's on Bower Parkway has moved. I'm told there is a sign on the door redirecting customers to the former M Kitchen location at 340 Columbiana Drive.

Heath

7 Mar 24 at 1:57 pm
I hear about Miyo's moving more often than I actually eat at a Miyo's.

Robin

7 Mar 24 at 2:02 pm
The Blended Bakery in Lexington, located at 5076 Sunset Blvd, has announced that it will close effective immediately on their Facebook page. It appears that they had a satellite location in Columbia on Stoneridge Drive that has also closed.

Heath

7 Mar 24 at 6:09 pm
Yeah, the Miyo's does have a sort of hermit crab life cycle.

badger

8 Mar 24 at 9:20 am
San Jose at 5400 Forest Dr has closed and will be moving to Sparkleberry Ln.

Larry

12 Mar 24 at 5:49 pm
Was told today that Rice Music House is going out of business due to the retirement of the owners.

Tom

14 Mar 24 at 3:37 pm
I have noticed that the Chick-Fil-A on Forest Drive that is being rebuilt is getting a bigger property. It looks like they moved the retaining wall on the adjacent runoff retention pond and made their lot bigger. This would answer the question about how they can accomodate more drive thru space on a property that was fairly small.

Matt

15 Mar 24 at 12:17 am
WESCO Distribution is no longer operating at 1050 Chris Circle, West Columbia 29169. I'm not sure when they closed, but the building was listed as being for lease on Loop Net on 3/31/23. I drive by there on the regular, but had not noticed the For Lease sign on the building until the other day when I was stuck in traffic.

Gypsie

15 Mar 24 at 1:32 pm
@Gypsie, Wesco recently moved both of their West Columbia locations into a new location at 2500 Leaphart Rd. Their other location was at 100 Branch Dr behind the Circle K on Airport Blvd.

Wesco and Anixter merged a few years ago but Anixter still has a location downtown near Colonial Life. They are an electrical products distributor. The location on Chris Dr dealt with larger equipment (power companies) and the Airport Blvd location handled residential and commercial cable and hardware including low voltage.

Matt

18 Mar 24 at 4:16 pm
Folks Joann Fabric has filed for bankruptcy.
Joann is a retailer I've seen listed on different lists as far as retailers that aren't in the greatest of shape...no word yet as to how our 2 locations (Knoxx Abbott Drive, Cayce as well as Northpoint Commons on Two Notch Road) will be impacted by this so stay tuned...

Andrew

18 Mar 24 at 8:58 pm
Demolition of Richland Mall (or Fashion Mall lol begins today)

https://www.wltx.com/article/money/consumer/richland-mall-demolition-scheduled-to-start-wednesday-march-20-forest-acres-shopping-southcarolina/101-e022c560-a76f-4183-b634-596c41ab3389

People still have a pipe dream about Macy’s going to Columbiana or Sandhill? Lord it’s 2024 not 1994.

Logan

20 Mar 24 at 10:13 am
Logan - I agree about Macy's. Haha!

Robin

21 Mar 24 at 8:39 am
Macys is now opening a smaller concept and shuttering their lower performing traditional department stores. I could see the Columbia Mall location shutting down and one of the smaller concepts opening in the area. But I doubt you see many if any new department stores open in today’s environment.

Larry

21 Mar 24 at 10:11 am
Michael's Bistro & Cafe at 3001 Broad River Road is closed for good. I'm not sure of an exact closing date, but I noticed about a year ago that it seemed to be closed/undergoing some type of construction. I guess I just figured they were doing work and would reopen, but now it appears the building is being prepped for a new business. Michael's Bistro has also been marked as Permanently Closed on Google.

----

Hyatt Park playground and such on Lamar St. (29203) doesn't appear to be coming back. When they started doing all the construction on the nearby roads a lot of stuff also started happening at the park. People sorta thought the park would be getting updated, but instead it seems to have been done away with entirely. I'm sad to see it go. We used to play there a lot as kids. I guess I'm not all that shocked though since in recent years it seemed to attract a lot of drug deals and other unwelcomed activity.

Gypsie

24 Mar 24 at 2:14 pm
If anyone is interested in "abandoned properties" and related history, the Youtube algorithm just pushed me "ABANDONED Mortician's Mid Century Modern Mansion." I have no interest nor affiliation but the channel is JeremyXplores. Palmer Mansion. It's somewhere Columbia or Sumter. The segment is respectfully done like most of the Youtube abandoned property explorations.

Mitch

24 Mar 24 at 11:03 pm
1971 -Columbia bars near USC
Does anyone remember the Wheat St club ( on Wheat street)?.
It was a college bar that did not check IDs very much. I went there in the Fall 1971, but it closed shortly thereafter.
thanks jim

jim

27 Mar 24 at 5:51 pm
Does anyone know what's up with United Auto Sales? I passed by today, and their lot is empty. Google lists them as temporarily closed. Not gonna get it at United - at least for now.

Payne

30 Mar 24 at 7:45 pm
Freshe Poke at 252 Harbison Blvd. is gone. Google has it listed as Temporarily Closed, but the signage is no longer on the building.

Gypsie

31 Mar 24 at 6:37 pm
What was the "Rob Shaw Gallery" at 324 State Street has gone. He was there for at least 4 years that I know of. I just passed by and the lights are off and the signs are gone.

Lone Wolf

1 Apr 24 at 8:08 pm
What is a food/dining trend that you just don't get?

Robin

1 Apr 24 at 9:59 pm
^^Biscuits. I love biscuits as much as anyone, and probably more. I just don't get the trend. My mother used to make a big biscuit for me. Called it a "hoe cake." That sucker was probably half a foot across! Now, if one of the places has something like that, I might drop in for that.

badger

2 Apr 24 at 9:40 am
Sushi! You are really "cool" if you eat it. The appearance, texture and menu description(s) are a turn-off for me. I'll pass!

Beth

2 Apr 24 at 11:15 am
The Crab/ Seafood places that bring you your food out in a plastic bag.

Larry

2 Apr 24 at 1:02 pm
Beth - I think sushi became "cool" because there was a popular misconception that it's a miracle diet food. I like it, but it should be eaten responsibly, as with salads (creamy dressings, fried chicken, etc.). There can be a lot of cream cheese, sauce drizzles, white rice, and some rolls are fried.

Robin

2 Apr 24 at 3:13 pm
Not everything needs to be called an "experience". Getting a good coffee drink from a place with polite employees is great, but it's not a whole "experience", as if you hiked in the mountains.

Also, tipping for things that we were not expected to tip before 2019 or so. Especially if a restaurant's register prompts for a tip before you even, sit down when your food is not even made.

Robin

3 Apr 24 at 9:12 am
@Robin. I remember being in Las Vegas many years ago and sushi was the "in" thing. It made its way here and I just can't partake. I guess I'll have to be uncool. Ha!

Beth

3 Apr 24 at 9:13 am
Not a 'closing,' but a 'not opening.' Looks like there's no Fair Food drive-thru at the fairgrounds this year. We gourmands will have to wait until October, it appears.

badger

4 Apr 24 at 1:50 pm
@Badger. Check the website. I see something that says "Tailgate and Walk-In, Kickoff Day, April 15 and Drive-Through Spring Fair Food, April 16-22". Bring on the Fiske Fries!

Beth

5 Apr 24 at 8:56 am
A dining trend that I don't get? Parents who take their kids out to a restaurant. But, instead of talking to said kids, doing a little parenting or teaching the kids how to behave in public, Mom forks over her phone. They sit in complete silence, until Mom asks for her phone and then the kids lose their minds. If you're going to bring them out in public, don't rely on your phone to keep them in line & behaved.

Lone Wolf

5 Apr 24 at 10:07 am
@Lone Wolf - I see parents put small kids in grocery store carts and hand them a phone to keep them quiet.

Robin

5 Apr 24 at 10:42 am
@Robin - my frustration comes from parents, and I use that term loosely, not actually parenting/teaching their kids. Depending on the age of the kid and where you're taking them, sure, giving them something to do or to occupy them is an *excellent* plan. But relying on your phone (or worse, pacifying/bribing kids with your phone because "you can't even") to keep your kids behaved is a mistake.

And, "tipping for everything"? I owe you a drink. That needs to not be a thing anymore. You're not "shaming" me into giving you a tip for the coffee you sold me and were paid to sell me.

Lone Wolf

5 Apr 24 at 11:47 am
@Lone Wolf

Re: "tipping for everything"

I draw the line at tipping wait staff at sit-down restaurants. Everywhere else, their employer needs to pay them better wages. Actually, that should happen at sit-down restaurants, too.

This is one thing done in Europe that I agree with. When I went to Amsterdam several years ago, I learned prior to making the trip that the wait staff in restaurants will feel insulted if you try to tip them, and that's because they are already been paid well.

Sean

5 Apr 24 at 2:40 pm
A trend that I dislike is the decline of basic class and professionalism at a lot of restaurants. Staff wearing pajamas and sandals, listening to ear buds while taking orders, ignoring customers as much as possible while joking and chatting, serving cold soup and fries, etc.

If people want these jobs to pay $20-$25 an hour, there should be a certain standard for service and quality. One reason why I am not firmly in the "increase minimum wage" camp anymore.

Robin

7 Apr 24 at 11:49 pm
I went down to E.L. Wright today and found out all traces of the old building were removed. CFK is now in the new building as I saw kids in it.

Mr. Guy

8 Apr 24 at 11:18 pm
Subway at 2301 Bush River Road (next door to Real Mexico) appears to have closed...

Andrew

9 Apr 24 at 9:22 pm
Belly's Southern Pride BBQ at 2508 August Hwy in Lexington has closed. From what I can gather there were some lease issues and drama with the new Boho Pizza & Brew beside it...source is Facebook. Anyway, I will miss their ribs and Macaroni and Cheese.

Beth

10 Apr 24 at 7:26 am
@Beth - that info was for 2023. There is, unfortunately, no Spring Drive-thru at the fair this year. Instead some kind of Bavarian Circus is there until April 21st. I also need a Fiske Fry fix!

------
Food trends I don't get....
* Square biscuits. I understand the practicality of them, but it just seems wrong to me.
* The insanely expensive and usually not great crab places. I'd rather drive to Surfside.
* The Korean BBQ places. It's hot enough in SC without trying to dine mere inches from a hot griddle. Also, the ordering process is too confusing.
* Sushi - yuck.
* Coffee - also yuck. But if I did like it, I sure as hell wouldn't be willing to spend more than 3 bucks for a cup of it.
* Tipping - I'm not going to tip you for taking my order. That is literally your job as a cashier. I'm also not going to tip for selling me a t-shirt or hat at a concert - or food and drink for that matter.

-----

The whole dining out experience has just gone to hell. Employers are letting their staff get away with bad behavior because they are desperate to HAVE any staff in the first place. The staff behaves badly because they think they don't get paid enough to actually care about doing a good job and because they know they can get away with it because the employers need them more than they need the employers.

The quality of the food seems to have gone down at a lot places as well. Between that, the insane prices, the crappy service, and the abundance of parents who let their kids run wild or scream bloody murder .... the days/nights of enjoying a good and relaxing meal away from home are gone.

Gypsie

10 Apr 24 at 10:55 pm
@ Gypsie. Thank you for the fair info. My family will be disappointed. Your post was spot on!

Beth

11 Apr 24 at 7:27 am
Yeah, I had already seen that that was from 2023. I'm still working on getting my flux capacitor repaired on my Delorean so that I can make it.

badger

11 Apr 24 at 9:14 am
It has become apparent to me that Discount Tire of Irmo at 7948 Broad River Road in Irmo has closed...Larry (the shop's owner) has apparently decided it's time to retire and hang it up...I hate to see it close as my folks and I have gotten good and honest service from them over the years.

Andrew

13 Apr 24 at 10:26 pm
Cracker Barrel Sandhills has abruptly closed down.

Sidney Wallace

15 Apr 24 at 2:32 pm
A commenter on here mentioned that Cracker Barrel was closing a month or two ago, looks like he was ahead of the times.

Another tough blow for that area, following Dick’s and Buffalo Wild Wings closing in the corridor.

Larry

15 Apr 24 at 2:46 pm
Yep, as Shirley mentioned Cracker Barrel in Sandhills is officially closed. As of Today. With 0 warning to any of its staff.

Allegedly, CB Corp didn't wanna renew the lease. And have known they were gonna lock the doors for several months. Just couldn't be bothered to tell ANYONE.

Logan

15 Apr 24 at 2:46 pm
On a related note to the Cracker Barrel at Sandhills, I drove through there yesterday and it seemed like about half of the store fronts were empty. I also noticed construction fences around several of the multiuse high rises with no apparent construction going on.

Tom

16 Apr 24 at 1:38 pm
Don't worry about the replacement for Dick's Sporting Goods, Bed Bath & Beyond or Cracker Barrell. You'll see the strength of this corridor when the replacements are announced.

Mall Guy

17 Apr 24 at 12:05 pm
Not a traditional "closing" but does anyone else remember the late night "scary movie" airings that occurred in the 80s on our local channels (WIS, WOLO, or WLTX not sure which), complete with a female host?

I can't remember the name (something like "Chiller Theatre" or "The Chiller") but these were common in other markets and I'm now curious if our "host" was really truly local and instead this was syndicated from somewhere else.

Can't find anything on the web so I thought this would be a good resource to ask. Anyone?

BrianTR

18 Apr 24 at 8:18 am
I recently noticed a for lease sign at Burn Boot Camp on Forest Dr. it is located in the same building as Forest Lake Travel. I have no clue when it may have closed.

Larry

18 Apr 24 at 10:49 am
@BrianTR -- there is a little discussion of the local "Thriller" Burnside Dodge horror showcase in the comments here.

ted

18 Apr 24 at 9:54 pm
Wow, Ted, you are GOOD managing to dig that up.

The funny thing is I was the Brian commenting in that thread too with these comments:

From 2009:
The "Thriller" comments remind me of another similar type show that ran in the 80's. It was on either channel 19 or 25 and had a woman as the host (but not "Elvira"). I got the impression it was a locally produced show as well. I just can't remember the name of it for the life of me.
[end quote]

And then later in that thread:
I also remember "The Darkside" which came on late at night (late for me that is, say around 1130) and had spooky stories similar to the Twilight Zone.

But the show I mentioned above similar to "The Thriller" seemed to be a local production and they had a short intro with the "scary chick" and then showed some old horror movie, with the scary chick providing commentary before the commercial breaks. It also came on at night after the last local newscast (1130).

Anybody else remember this?
[end quote]

I sure wish I could find someone that could help me track that down! The internet has spoiled me, usually you can find anything.

BrianTR

19 Apr 24 at 10:03 am
Here's a tough one! I had a girlfriend mid-90's who loved to go to a restaurant/bar/watering hole called "The Other Place" on Bush River Road near AutoZone.

Pretty sure the building is gone.

It was a dump - although the beer was cold. This being 95/96, video poker machines everywhere. Everyone smoked liked crazy inside. It was a small place and felt like it would collapse with a big crowd inside.

My girlfriend, and the other waitresses at IHOP on St Andrews Rd, partied there after work. I never saw the appeal. We broke up early 1996 and I completely forgot about it until recently.

Andy

19 Apr 24 at 9:55 pm
BrianTR, are you thinking of Elvira? She was always dressed in black and acted quirky.

Joe Shlabotnik

20 Apr 24 at 2:13 am
BrianTR - the full name of the other show you're probably thinking of was "Tales From the Darkside." I loved that one! Another one to mention that folks out this way may not know about is Morgus the Magnificent, a mad scientist, and his sidekick Chopsley. They were similar to Elvira and introduced horror movies and gave commentary throughout. They were in the New Orleans market, and I'm not sure that they made it much further than that. I got a kick out of them. :-)

Payne

20 Apr 24 at 5:19 pm
Thanks for the replies!

@Joe - No, as I apparently said 15 years ago, definitely not Elvira. This female host, while not un-attractive necessarily, was definitely not going for the Elvira aesthetic. I got the impression she was local, but with no facts to base that on, she could have been from another syndicated market (like a lot of other markets did, bringing in a syndicated show with a host like "svengoolie" or "sammy terry").

@Payne - Yep, "Tales from the Darkside" was great! You can still catch it on certain streaming channels like PlutoTV. I have a set recording of all episodes on my YoutubeTV subscription and occasionally check out an episode.

Back on our local late-night horror show - seems like Nevin Broome sponsored it at one point? maybe I'm just thinking about all his commercials from that era. :)

BrianTR

22 Apr 24 at 10:32 am
It was announced this morning that The Express clothing chain was filing for bankruptcy and will closing 98 stores.

Tom

22 Apr 24 at 12:53 pm
@Tom -- looking at their store locator, it appears the only SC locations are in Myrtle Beach (for now).

ted

22 Apr 24 at 10:30 pm
The only Express closing in the South Carolina area is Northwoods Mall.

Mall Guy

22 Apr 24 at 11:00 pm
Can someone suggest a Mexican restaurant that has tamales? A family member liked the ones at Casa Linda, which closed. We've been to two places that don't serve them. Monterreys on Knox Abbott Road (Cayce) and Moctezuma on Beltline. Thanks.

Rose

23 Apr 24 at 4:16 pm
@Rose -- I believe Taqueria Jalisco Restaurant on St. Andrews just up the hill to the west from I-26 has tamales. There's a couple recent Google reviews saying the tamales were good. I've eaten lunch there 2-3 times and dinner once. It was pretty good. I suppose I need to go back and check out the tamale situation. :)

Mitch

23 Apr 24 at 9:48 pm
@Rose -- there is still a Casa Linda on Beltline in Forest Acres, and they do have tamales on the menu as an a la carte item though I have not tried them.

ted

23 Apr 24 at 10:03 pm
"Thinking about the future of downtown Columbia..."

https://youtu.be/7dEbqakU1tA?si=FhQHPjxQuvoI9ctc

I wonder if nobody mentioned "not revolving life around college students" or if someone did, it just wasn't included. Haha.

Robin

24 Apr 24 at 9:20 am
Anyone know what is going on at the corner of Publix on Hwy 6 and Irmo Drive? They're clearing off that corner lot and appear to be putting access at opposite ends of the parking lot.

BrianTR

24 Apr 24 at 1:53 pm
Rush's 378 Target Parking Lot... looks like they finally gave up and closed this location permanently, moved out.

Brian

24 Apr 24 at 3:49 pm
A few future bank closings

First Citizens at 9800 Two Notch Rd will be closing in July. This is at the intersection of Polo Rd

Wells Fargo will be closing their Main St branch at 1441 Main St in October.

Larry

25 Apr 24 at 8:36 am
@ Larry- The Wells Fargo location you mentioned is their main branch in Columbia. I am puzzled as to why they would want to close it.

Tom

25 Apr 24 at 12:03 pm
@Tom, I’ve heard Wells has pretty much cleared the rest of that building that they occupied out and sent employees to other locations around town. They have a branch on Assembly that is easier to access and they own vs leasing the 1441 Main Location. Plus it’s a pretty large branch (6600 sq ft) for the amount of people that work in there. My experience with branch locations on Main Street is that they’re pretty dead as far as normal customers coming in to do transactions. Of course that may just be bank locations in general now with digital banking and ATM deposits eliminating the need for customers to physically visit.

Larry

25 Apr 24 at 2:04 pm
i just saw on a Facebook group that Alodias in Lexington had their sales tax license revoked. business closed

Brian

25 Apr 24 at 6:23 pm
I agree with Larry - people are physically going to the bank much less often. Not to mention, the "not a bank" money apps (Cash App, Venmo, etc.) make it possible for most people to get an account easily.

Robin

28 Apr 24 at 10:35 pm
The Hitch RV place on Garners Ferry has apparently closed up and all inventory gone.

badger

30 Apr 24 at 11:46 am
El Amenecer on Wise Ferry Road closed permanently. Announced on their website yesterday.

They were ok as a restaurant, we went there once. It was a really odd setup, and the service was really slow. They closed for several months, then re-opened.. We didn't go back after that one time. I don't think that the location was well suited to traffic, and I don't know how much advertising they did.
I think the building was a former daycare, or school... it was REALLY weirdly setup inside... I think they moved in and didn't renovate too much.
Anyway. Permanently closed.

Brian

30 Apr 24 at 3:28 pm
Rack Room Shoes at the Village at Sandhills has closed.

Local Reader

1 May 24 at 11:15 am
Per the P&C Columbia, Carolina Barber Shop on Devine St in 5 Points will be forced to relocate due to expansion of a future restaurant into their space. Carolina Barber Shop has existed in their current location since 1937 and no future location has been determined.

Larry

1 May 24 at 11:25 am
Zesto in Chapin, at 1250 Chapin Riad, has announced that they're closing after about 18 years in business. in a Facebook post the owner addressed rumors of illness, divorce, or sale of the building saying, "Same struggles as all mom and pops. Can’t get decent employees, food cost, etc. times are a changing…

Heath

3 May 24 at 6:58 pm
What place surprises you (everyone) by still being open?

Robin

3 May 24 at 7:20 pm
The Bow Tie store in 5 Points

Joe Shlabotnik

5 May 24 at 3:11 am
Just noticed the Circle K at the corner of Alpine and Two Notch is borded up

Sidney

9 May 24 at 5:38 pm
Somethin is afoot at 212 Motors on Knox Abbott Drive in Cayce. They used to have a lot full of various vehicles. Now, all that is on the lot appears to be white fleet trucks.

Lone Wolf

10 May 24 at 10:39 am
I noticed the other day that United Auto Sales on Garners Ferry appears closed. Google says they are Temporarily Closed and Yelp has some awful reviews of them. I would be surprised if they are seen again.

Matt

10 May 24 at 12:13 pm
Poogans Southern Kitchen in Forest Acres’ Cardinal Crossing developed announced this will be their last week open. Not all that surprising as it seemed the place was mostly empty outside of brunch and they scrapped a planned location in the upstate that has been previously announced.

Larry

13 May 24 at 3:24 pm
Re: Poogan's - wow, they've only been open around a year and a half. I ate there once and found it to be quite good.

Payne

13 May 24 at 6:20 pm
Supercuts in Publix Shopping Center in Redbank closing end of May 2024, staff has been alerting their clients

Jimmy

13 May 24 at 8:58 pm
Red Lobster announced yesterday that it is closing 48 locations (the only SC one is in Myrtle Beach) and may file for bankruptcy.
The main culprit is the endless shrimp promotion which drew more customers than expected but also proved to be a major money loser for the chain.

Tom

14 May 24 at 8:42 am
Sadly, it appears the Schlotzky's on Bush River Road near the old Dutch Square Mall is on its last legs/days.

I went by there today for lunch and didn't notice the lack of cars in the lot until I got to the door and it was locked, with a sign saying essentially "Dine In closed, Online orders can be picked up in the Drive Thru".

So, resignedly, I got in the drive thru. But when I didn't get an answer at the drive-thru speaker box, I pulled up to the window and there wasn't anyone inside. All signage, lights, etc were as normal though.

The consumer-base for this location took a major hit when remote-work happened during COVID I think. It's been pretty empty all times I visited the last 3-4 years.

BrianTR

14 May 24 at 12:41 pm
I had dinner at the Dutch Square Schlotzky's BrianTR referenced last December with a friend and I don't recall there being many other people there.

I noted that the only Red Lobster location in Myrtle Beach has ad address of 10000 Hwy 17 N...

WIS has this article discussing Poogan's and their statement indicates that you'll still have the chance to eat at a Summerville location.

Andrew

14 May 24 at 11:30 pm
Dear Guests,
We're saddened to share the news that Poogan's Southern Kitchen in Forest Acres will be permanently closing its doors after our final brunch and dinner service on Sunday, May 19th.
We want to express our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your patronage and support since our opening in 2022. Your presence has made our journey truly special.
To the people of Forest Acres, your support has been incredible, and we're grateful for the warmth and community you've shown us.
Before we say goodbye, we invite you to join us over the next week, where we can reminisce and share our favorite Southern dishes with you once more.
For those venturing to the Lowcountry, our locations in Charleston and Summerville will continue to serve our signature cuisine with the same hospitality you've come to love.
Thank you for being a part of our story. We hope to see you soon.
Warm regards,
The Poogan’s Southern Kitchen Team

Jimmy

15 May 24 at 10:07 am
@BrianTR or Andrew. Was Cinnabon still in that Schlotzky's?

Beth

15 May 24 at 3:50 pm
The kast time I was in Schlotzyky's a couple of months ago they still had a sad little display case for Cinnabon, but the only option was the mini buns and they were microwaved and then drizzled with icing. They weren't very good and neither was the rest of the food we ordered. Most of it wound up in the trash with a vow to never go there again. The food wasn't good the couple of times before that either though so I'm not surprised they are closing and this is one place I definitely won't miss. I've never found them to be good but would go once in a blue moon hoping things had changed.

Gypsie

15 May 24 at 5:15 pm
I'm not much on Cinnabon, I only visited the Schlotzky's for their unique take on sandwiches (and occasionally, their excellent pizzas).

I really couldn't disagree more with Gypsy's take. Even the last few years when the place was clearly hurting for business, I was always pleased with the food that was brought to my table (which is notable in today's "fast casual" dining scene - this place still brought the food to you). Whether it was a sandwich or a pizza, it was always delicious and appeared to be made with care. I made it there once a month and I never once had an experience like Gypsy described.

Possibly related, there was an older guy that seemed to work all hours...being there whether I visited at lunch or dinner...and he clearly took it upon himself to make sure the customer service was a top priority. If you visited this location when he was working, I would bet you know who I am talking about. I hope that guy finds his way to the West Columbia location if this one indeed closes.

BrianTR

16 May 24 at 8:40 am
@Tom -- We lose money on every customer, but we'll make it up in volume!

ted

16 May 24 at 11:14 pm
@BrianTR -- I know exactly who you mean. He came over from the Parklane location when that closed.

I haven't been here for a while, but driving by, it appeared to me that the Cinnabon signage had been painted over recently.

ted

16 May 24 at 11:17 pm
@BrianTR ... None of the times I went there was the food ever brought out to the table. It was either given to me at the counter or I had to give a name and they called me up when it was ready. I've never seen anyone over - maybe 30 - working there either, but I didn't go there often so that could just be a timing thing.

Isn't it wild how people can have such vastly different experiences at the same place? I know everyone has an off day from time to time, but I just never had any dealings with them that were even mediocre - they were always just straight up BAD.

Gypsie

16 May 24 at 11:20 pm
I'm wondering if the common denominator in my vs Gypsie's experience is the guy that Ted and I both remember. He seemed to be on top of things there, and if he was missing I could see it falling apart.

BrianTR

17 May 24 at 11:36 am
P.S. I guess this can be categorized as an "uh oh"...

I just pulled up google maps for schlotzky's in the area and it appears the Cayce location (which I erroneously referred to as West Columbia above) is also showing as "temporarily closed" as well.

I think this could spell doom for anyone wanting Schlotzky's in the Midlands. :-(

BrianTR

17 May 24 at 11:40 am
Schlotzky's is one of the places that I rarely hear anyone mention. I've known people to make a specific trip to Chick-Fil-A, Moe's, Taco Bell, KFC, Zaxby's, Pizza Hut, Popeye's, Sonic, or Freddy's.

Meanwhile, if someone goes to Schlotzky's, McDonald's, Subway, or Burger King, it's usually because a location is nearby and they want something convenient.

Don't get me wrong; I actually don't prefer several of these places anymore (diet changes + the decline in service and quality). This is just my general experience from being around others.

Robin

17 May 24 at 1:56 pm
I looked at the corporate website for Schlotzky's. It has "closed" listed for both Cayce and Dutch Square for all hours. The same is true for the Florence location. All other SC locations appear to be open.

Tom

17 May 24 at 2:16 pm
I use to go to Schlotzkys for lunch a good bit before Covid and know the guy y’all are referring to. Service was always solid to me and the food was consistent. I went there a month or two ago at night and it was pretty dead, but the same guy was still working there. They always gave me a number and brought my food to me, though I think perhaps they did have a pick up window years ago. I imagine the area surrounding the one at Bush River didn’t help at night. I think I only went to the Cayce location once or twice and only the drive thru.

Larry

17 May 24 at 3:15 pm
I don't think KFC is especially good.

The Ugly Truth

17 May 24 at 11:34 pm
It's official. Red Lobster has filed for Chapter 11:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/red-lobster-files-for-bankruptcy-days-after-closing-dozens-of-locations-across-the-us/ar-BB1mIuw1?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531&cvid=64ca73de71bc4dc9838029c0efead18e&ei=1

Tom

20 May 24 at 11:42 am
The Town of Springdale (Lexington County) will have a hearing regarding the Airport Inn on Airport Boulevard. Wednesday, May 22nd at 5 PM in the new Springdale Town Hall building (next to the old building on Platt Springs Road).

The Airport Inn is regarded as a "crime hub" by many.

Edge of Springdale

20 May 24 at 7:14 pm
@Edge, are you talking about the old Days Inn?

Tom

20 May 24 at 8:25 pm
Someone is posting orange poster signs around Springdale. They only refer to the place as "The Airport Inn".

Edge of Springdale

21 May 24 at 10:56 am
When were the "good" days of Dutch Square Mall? I was 15 years old in 2003, and my parents thought it was a "bad area" back then. The few times we went, I didn't think it was especially awful, just not as popular as Columbiana Mall or even Richland Mall.

Robin

22 May 24 at 10:33 am
@Robin-When Dutch Square opened in 1970 it was the first enclosed mall in SC and the place to shop in Columbia. When the mall opened it had a nice blend of local, regional and national chains. The first Chic-Fil-A, Walden's Books and Orange Julius in Columbia were in the mall.
There are several factors IMHO that contributed to the mall's decline. The opening of Columbia Mall in the 70s and Columbiana in the 90s pulling shoppers away was a big part of it as well as mall management issues, recessions, and companies going out of business. Thus the mall today is only a pale shadow of its former glory.

Tom

22 May 24 at 12:00 pm
Tom has it right. I would say the last "good days" of the mall (and that area in general) ended in the 90s.

Dutch Square Cinemas was still "nice" and viable until around the time Robin mentions (2003 or 2005 at the latest), after that it took a steep dive.

BrianTR

22 May 24 at 1:52 pm
Thank you for the comments.

Robin

23 May 24 at 10:08 am
Dutch Square Mall badly needed a renovation in the 1980s and was given a lifeline when expansion plans were announced.

Dutch Square announced Miller & Rhodes, Macys and another department store would join a line up that would include a new wing of stores. As you can see this never happened because Miller & Rhodes backed out and Macy's filed bankruptchy.

Mall Guy

23 May 24 at 12:53 pm
A lot of stores that were in Dutch Square didn't just leave -- they are *gone*:

Woolworth's
Woolco
Eckerd
J. B. White
Tapps
Magnavox
Walden's
Record Bar
Standard Savings & Loan
Berrys On Main
Morrison's
Radio Shack
Jackson Camera

ted

24 May 24 at 12:02 am
Has anyone noticed the work that is going on between the Forest Dr Chick-Fil-A and the former San Jose/Panchos?

The stormwater runoff area has been taken in from the CFA side to make that lot bigger (and is how they are going to have enough land for a double drive thru).

The area closest to Walmart is also being expanded. I think that it must be additional parking for the business going into the San Jose lot which is now under construction or maybe CFA.

Matt

24 May 24 at 3:41 pm
The Zaxby's on Lake Murray Boulevard is temporarily closed for remodeling. It's being painted white like the one in Ballentine is. I wonder if it will also have a double drive-thru like that one?

I hate double drive-thrus.

------

Greedy Rascals at 651 St. Andrews Rd. is permanently closed. The most recent Google review puts it at about 2 months ago, but I think it likely closed in late January or early February. Their last restaurant related post on Facebook was January 16 - everything since then seems to be personal. I noticed several weeks ago the place didn't look to be in business anymore, but thought maybe they just had odd hours.

I know several people who absolutely loved the food there, but our first and only experience was bad enough that we never went back.

-------

Dutch Square - I've never been a mall shopper, but I did spend quite a bit of time in the arcade in my early teens and almost every Friday and Saturday night in my later teens cruising the mall. Some of the best times my friends and I ever had were in that parking lot.

Gypsie

24 May 24 at 10:20 pm
My understanding is that a number of the area Zaxby's, including the Irmo location, have a new franchise owner.

Tom

25 May 24 at 9:19 am
The Zaxby's at the Hendrix Crossing Publix (823 US 378, Lexington, SC) underwent a paint overhaul simliar to what Gypsie hinted is going on at the 1042 Lake Murray Blvd. location.

-----

I had never heard of the Miller & Rhoads that Mall Guy referenced...turns out they were a Richmond-based department store that folded into Hecht's which wound up being transitioned into Macy's under circumstances similar to how Rich's did. As Ted noted, many of the stores poeple remember from Dutch Square's pre-Columbiana days are gone now completely.

----

I would occasionally shop at Dutch Square...I'm too young to reemmebr Dutch Square's pre-Columbiana days but I do remember going to JB White (and later Belk) and sometimes even Burlington...I remember Burlington moving from Bush Rievr Mall to Dutch Square...Burlington has closed of the mall entrance as of late. There was a point where several things were trying ot move into the food court and I thought it would revive Dutch Square but then the eateries didn't last long and around that time Phillips Edison divested themselves of that property...I remember seeing easels proposing things like medical and/or professional offices at one point and I have a feeling that many other things have been proposed behind the scenes but never progressed to the point of becoming public information.

Andrew

25 May 24 at 6:00 pm
According to WestMetroNews[dot]com, homes and businesses might be built in the area of Augusta/Center/South Cromwell Streets, in West Columbia.

https://westmetronews.com/new-homes-and-commercial-space-could-be-coming-to-center-street-in-west-columbia-according-to-newspaper-report/

Robin

26 May 24 at 8:18 am
My dad opened Captains Kitchen in Augusta GA. it was great food, closed on Mondays, we (my dad and i) would drive to get fresh seafood, never frozen. I peeled shrimp with Ms. Susie she was awesome. it closed because the stock holders spent more money then the restaurant made.

Cyndi

27 May 24 at 6:02 am
CarQuest Irmo Auto Supply at 7592 Woodrow St, Irmo, SC 29063 is closed. I'm not sure of an exact date, but I noticed it didn't seem to have any activity a few weeks ago. Their latest Google review was two months ago and the property was listed on LoopNet on 5/16/24.

Gypsie

29 May 24 at 8:16 am
Hey Ted! I’ve been wanting to start a Greenville version of this blog. I moved back to the upstate after 7 years in Columbia and loved checking on this blog every morning.

sara

30 May 24 at 4:53 pm
Sara, please do! We moved back to the upstate after 16 years in Columbia. Still have to go back to Columbia for work on a monthly basis. Love staying up to date through this site!

GVegas

30 May 24 at 8:38 pm
Alodia's (Lexington) looks totally cleaned out... lettering/logo on windows is removed.
Sign in the window says there is an equipment auction coming up.

Brian

31 May 24 at 4:46 pm
If you're bored, read the Google Maps comments for Wendy's on Augusta Road, in front of Big Lots. This location is known for the awful service and homeless people loitering. (I've also seen Facebook comments about it.)

Robin

1 Jun 24 at 3:31 pm
I haven't been to the Woodberry Plaza Wendy's Robin referenced in quite a long while (part of it is I don't make it over that way like I used to)...be that as it may, there is a Wendy's at I-20 & SC6/Two Notch Road (1065 S Lake Drive) that I've given up on since it seems like they don't have their act together at all...both locations (looking at Google maps reviews) have their share of issues in the reviews...

Andrew

1 Jun 24 at 10:02 pm
Andrew, you weren't kidding about that location...wow.

Robin

1 Jun 24 at 11:11 pm
Since the pandemic has ended, I have read that many fast-food chains are going to "improve" their physical locations or offer specials to drive customers back and/or blaming their woes on inflation based on increase costs of labor, food, supply chain issues, etc.
To me if they really wanted to get customers back, they should focus on customer service. With the exception of one or two chains, service in just about all major fast-food chains have gone downhill over the last decade to the point that more often than not, they just plain suck. If they can fix that problem (and I am not holding my breath) I think they would see an increase in sales.

Tom

2 Jun 24 at 3:53 pm
It's not just the fast food chains, it's restaurants in general. Customer service is definitely a huge issue, but the quality of the food has also gone downhill at a lot of places as well. Now that the price of eating out has gone up so much many of us are not willing to part with our $$$ to get crappy service and crappy food.

Gypsie

2 Jun 24 at 11:02 pm
An in-law of mine is a general manager of a pizza restaurant. She can't even get some people to sweep the floor. They refuse to do anything that was not clearly noted in their job description. It's the "act your wage" movement. This sort of thing is why I mostly disagree with a $20-$25/hour minimum wage now.

Robin

3 Jun 24 at 12:28 am
Boltinhouse Jewelers on Platt Springs Rd. has closed and is currently selling their buildings.

george011210

3 Jun 24 at 6:35 am
Covid complicated life for everybody. We (consumers) are still paying the price. Sadly, Covid convinced a lot of minimum wage earners that they're "worth" $20+ an hour. Fact is, minimum wage jobs were never meant to pay $20+/hr. They were to help young people learn about business. It wasn't meant to be "your calling" forever.

I won't do business with a place where the service is bad. If your staff makes the product badly on top of it? Time to start firing people and giving them honest references. Telling your employer that's "not your job" isn't ok, within the boundaries of common sense.

Lastly, if you're in your 30s and your only aspirations in life are X-Box, "weed" and occasionally running the fry station at Burgers R US, you're going to be poor. Sorry. Life is tough.

Lone Wolf

3 Jun 24 at 7:24 am
@Lone Wolf - There are adults who have minimum wage jobs because they want "side money". Something to do while their spouse earns the main income, the kids are at school, etc. But these people are generally not the ones demanding $25 an hour (based on what I've seen).

Part of the problem is college students who expect to flash their new degree at couple of job interviews, then move into a luxury townhome by the end of the month. But employers don't want to hire them after checking references from that part-time retail job, and hearing about their bad slacker attitude. So College Grad resorts to working at Lowe's/Target/wherever, and thinks that place should fund the lifestyle they expected.

(Sorry for the ramble, but I've supervised high school and college students who were like this - expecting their degree to magically provide everything, so they're too important to spend ten minutes dusting or cleaning off some counters.)

Robin

3 Jun 24 at 9:41 am
@Robin - I agree with you on all points. The folks picking up "side money" aren't clamoring for $25+/hr. In my experience, it tends to be the kind of person I described...no ambition, borderline unhireable based on appearance, likely can't pass a drug screen. They don't warrant "A living wage", because they don't bring enough to the table.

A college degree can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, a degree is certified proof that you can learn. On the other, if you've spent the past 4-7 years living in high end accommodations, not having to foot your own tab, you're going to be in for a slap of reality. Degrees are nice. Experience is better. Just because you have a sheepskin from a University doesn't mean you'll be rubbing elbows with Bezos anytime soon. And Lowe's/Target gigs ain't gonna cover a LandRover and a pad in The Vista. But I digress...

I simply won't pay for or patronize places with bad service or inferior products. If the staff is screwing things up, somebody needs to be the adult and remedy the situation. Just sayin.

Lastly, have no idea what piercings cost, but I do know a good tattoo artist gets about $150 an hour or so. Maybe some folks should look into spending less on "cool ink" so they have more money to, you know, live on. What do I know?

Lone Wolf

3 Jun 24 at 7:42 pm
"You need to work to earn a living"
"Okay, I got a job. Why can't I afford anything?"
"Oh, looks like you got one of those minimum wage jobs. Nobody is supposed to earn a living with those."
"Then why do they exist?"
"They're for teenagers!"
"Then why do I see people in their thirties working them?"
"Well they're uneducated. You can't expect to get a good job without a college education."
"Okay, I went to college and got a degree. Why are companies still only offering a dollar over minimum wage?"
"You can't expect to get a good job with just a degree. You need experience."
"Okay, but meanwhile the interest from my college loans is piling up and I still can't afford to live anywhere."
"Well you should have thought about that before you agreed to take on massive debt."
"Didn't you go to college for free?"
"Never mind that. Just work hard and quit being lazy."
"Didn't your entry level job allow you to buy a house, support a family of four, and afford a new car every year?"
"Never mind that. Just work hard and quit being lazy."

OK Boomer

3 Jun 24 at 9:33 pm
Maybe I'm a weirdo, but *my* entry level job, fresh outta college, didn't allow for a house or kids, or a new car. Matter of fact, only one person I know landed an upper-income job fresh out of college. It *does* help to major in something you know you can monitize right away. You may love 16th century French literature, but the demand for people teaching it is infinitesimally low.

Anybody who says you'll be able to afford a house, kids and a new car with your first job is either lying or trying to sell you something.

Lone Wolf

5 Jun 24 at 6:49 am
For the record, myself and the in-law (that I mentioned above) were born in the late '80s. It's not just grumpy old Boomers and bitter Gen X-ers (as the stereotypes go) who have issues with this mentality.

Robin

5 Jun 24 at 10:06 am
@Lone Wolf - My grandmother was a teenager and young adult in the '50s...she said that even then, most people weren't treating cashier and server positions as a full-time career that was supposed to provide for a household.

Robin

5 Jun 24 at 10:08 am
Kids/college graduates today expect to have high paying jobs and be able to buy a nice house right away because that's how most of them are being raised - or at the very least they aren't being taught that it does NOT always (usually) work that way. For starters, they look around at what their parents have NOW and don't understand it hasn't always been that way because no one tells them so they expect that once they have a steady job they too will be able to achieve the same. Second, their parents have raised them getting everything they want when they want... expensive phones, always the latest and greatest tech products, brand spanking new cars, cash flows that allow for $15 coffees whenever the mood strikes them, etc. etc. etc.

Obviously not ALL kids are like this, but many - MANY - are. Their parents have raised spoiled brats who don't know anything other than the high life their parents have given them so that's what they expect when they get out on their own. Some of them are willing to bust their asses to make it happen, most are not.

Gypsie

6 Jun 24 at 10:43 am
Not local news, but Dollar Tree might sell Family Dollar after buying it in 2015.

Robin

6 Jun 24 at 6:18 pm
Looks like Red Lobster in Cayce is officially on the chopping block.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/06/food/red-lobster-closures-list/index.html

Zach

6 Jun 24 at 9:55 pm
Scratch that “officially.” Looks more like a strong possibility.

Zach

6 Jun 24 at 9:58 pm
Oh noooooo...not the Cayce Red Lobster! It's been there forever!

Beth

7 Jun 24 at 8:36 am
I won't shed a tear for the Cayce Red Lobster. Me and my wife used to love going there until a visit few years ago. We asked the manager on duty (who looked extremely apathetic about being there and doing his job.) who was doing the seating, for a table and was sent to a booth to the mostly empty restaurant. (though it was corrected). The menus we were given looked old and were literarily coming apart. When we tried to place an order, the waiter said that they were out of salads. (WTF!) When he went back the to the kitchen to check on the salad situation, we decided to leave. The manager saw us leave but did not say a word to us. Not surprisingly we have not been back there since.

Tom

7 Jun 24 at 1:34 pm
In the mid- and late 2000s when it was still semi-common to check the job ads in newspapers, there was often a listing that said the Cayce Red Lobster was hiring for multiple positions. I went there twice.

One time, a woman was chopping fruit at the bar and "looked down" at me, like I (18-20-year-old female college student at the time) was crazy for thinking I could work there. I described the ad in the paper and she said they were only hiring cooks. I think she wanted me to go away.

The other time, a manager actually talked to me, but I had to take a long test with personality and math questions. Not unusual when you're applying at places, but I remember this one being unusually long and difficult. I got one too many questions "wrong" and was automatically declined for a second interview.

Robin

7 Jun 24 at 5:35 pm
I've enjoyed my share of Red Lobster dinners at the Cayce location over the years but the last one I had there it was clear to me that they didn't have their act together.

The good thing is that they have the biscuit mix in grocery stores and I make it occasionally.

Andrew

7 Jun 24 at 11:37 pm
When did personality and math questions become part of the process for getting restaurant jobs? I never had that experience. The applications I filled out were never anything more than name, address, prior experience, and maybe a reference or two.

I'm not sorry to see Red Lobster go as I have never been a fan. I LOVE seafood, but never thought theirs was worth eating. The best thing they had was the biscuits, but those are easily made at home with or without their boxed mix. It's just a simple biscuit recipe with the addition of shredded cheese and garlic powder.

Gypsie

8 Jun 24 at 12:20 am
@Gypsie - I almost wonder if it was something that the particular manager made up, not the restaurant standard. I once took a brief personality/"What would you do if...?" test during an interview at an Applebee's in 2007. It was shorter and without math questions.

Many online applications for retail jobs will have questions like that (in my experience). If I'm correct, they're really testing your ability to follow instructions and not be a complete idiot: "How many days last year did you come to work after consuming three or more alcoholic drinks?"

Robin

8 Jun 24 at 10:04 am
I watched this video about the fall of Red Lobster by Bright Sun Films and found it very interesting. There's a lot more to it than people going overboard on all you can eat shrimp.

I mistakenly thought that Red Lobster was still owned by Darren restaurants, but it was spun off years ago. Various owners pillaged the company, and sold off a lot of it's real.estate holdings with lease back agreements. Now the whole thing is folding under the weight of high rents on top of all of the other stuff that makes the restaurant business a mess these days.

https://youtu.be/f9d9QHP4R2Y?si=pyPOH1tCxjY8Q4li

Heath

8 Jun 24 at 12:52 pm
Darn autocorrect. *Darden Restaurants

Heath

8 Jun 24 at 12:54 pm
Also, things that didn't happen to Gypsie can still be experienced by other people. Not sure why she has felt a need to debunk/debate a few things that I've said on this website before. I don't get paid to write stories or anything. I am not trying to be aggressive; am just confused.

Robin

8 Jun 24 at 2:06 pm
@Robin - I'm not sure why you're taking things I comment on so personally. I was just curious when those types of questions became standard during the application process because it wasn't that way back when I was working in restaurants and retail.

I'm not a member of the snowflake generation. I'm quite aware that not everything revolves around me and my experiences. People frequently question or add to what others have posted here. I'm not singling you out intentionally.

Gypsie

8 Jun 24 at 9:40 pm
Catching up on the latest posts from the last month or so.

Dutch Square Mall
Man I remember those days in the 90's when I shopped there. I actually lived in Bentley Court Apts. in 1990, 2110 Bentley Court. Lived for free for 7 months because of some kind of tax write off the owner needed at the end of 1989. He let about 5 people stay there for free for a year. I stayed there from January 1990 - July 1990. Brand new apts. at the time. It's called Boulder Creek Apts now. Anyway, I would shop at the A&P there in the Dutch Square Mall outparcel. Had dinner at Annabelle's a few times. Shopped at JB Whites/Belks. And drove by several times on Friday and Saturday nights to see all the cars and people just cruisin' and having fun. @Gypsie, I was only 18 at the time and I didn't know anyone on that side of town (grew up on Ft. Jackson and then off Decker Blvd), I hate that I couldn't join in the fun. It seemed like everyone was having so much fun, playing their music and showing off their freshly washed/waxed cars.
----
Schlotzskys Deli- Wow! The last time I ate there was in the 90's when they first opened up on Parklane. I didn't really like deli sandwiches at that time, so I never went back.
-----
Speaking of bad service and COVID. I really think that is the reason Buffalo Wild Wings on Two Notch closed down. The service was HORRIBLE during the last part of COVID and afterwards. Food took way too long to come out. There was usually only about 2 or 3 servers serving the whole place. It was just awful the last few years it was there. Poor management.
-----
@Lone Wolf - I know several interns that worked for me that started out making over $70k fresh out of college. And that was just in the last 3 years.
-----
Never cared about Red Lobster because I don't like seafood. Worked at the one on Decker Blvd for 1 day as a dishwasher...I was hired to be the cook. Asked the manager what will I be doing tomorrow, he said, same thing, dishwasher. I told him nope, I quit if I ain't cooking tomorrow. I was 18 at the time and this was a part time job to go along with my full time job, so I didn't need it. I did have one good experience at the one on Two Notch Rd in 2012 or 2013. I went in during the day around 2:00pm and sat at the bar to day drink. I had my first drink and the power went out due to the storm. I was only 1 of about 5 or 6 guests in there. They didn't make us leave, so I sat at the bar and kept drinking. I ended up getting 2 free drinks for my "inconvenience" of sitting in the dark with just a few flood lights on for about 30 minutes, lol.

Sidney

12 Jun 24 at 11:40 pm
Folks SCDOT is seeking public input on ways to enhance rail service in SC.

As someone that is interested in seeing passenger train options grow and expand this strikes me as a pivotal opportunity to try to see about bringing those ideas to SCDOT. I myself have taken the Palmetto from Florence (FLO) and the Silver Star from Columbia (CLB) to visit family in the Richmond area and would like other options to do such (and perhaps expand other intercity options).

SCDOT has recently underwent a secretary change and I am hoping that as the new one (Justin Powell) comes aboard that he can help guide this forward...

Andrew

13 Jun 24 at 10:50 pm
I don't get to downtown Columbia often, but when I do I try and stop by Family Fresh Mex for lunch or even a breakfast burrito.

I admittedly haven't been there since last year sometime. And it appears they've closed. Really unfortunate, they had some of the BEST mexican food around...
They were at 1200 Main Street, in Columbia

Brian Hahne

19 Jun 24 at 10:01 am
@Brian Hahne - wow, I never knew of that place. I guess it was in the spot formerly occupied by ABC channel 25? Looks like it was pretty decent.

Payne

19 Jun 24 at 4:53 pm
I'm planning on going to the Red Lobster on Knox Abbott this weekend since I saw that it is on the short list for the next round of closings. I'll report back on how it was.

Homer

20 Jun 24 at 10:17 am
It was reported today that Olive Garden for the second consecutive quarter saw a drop in same-store sales. This may be something to keep an eye on.

Tom

20 Jun 24 at 10:19 am
Village at Sandhill

- Two national tenants to be announced soon for the former Esther’s Soul Food Kitchen and the former Sharper Image/Rice Music

Two Notch Road

- Hooters will be closing very soon.

Mall Guy

20 Jun 24 at 1:31 pm
Well, the trip to Red Lobster was a mixed bag. My friend ordered the 3 way shrimp platter - shrimp alfredo, shrimp scampi and shrimp & scallop parmesan with a seafood stuffed mushroom cap appetizer. He said it was very good. I ordered the fried seafood platter and, let's just say, I've had better seafood from Captain D's. I had clam strips, butterfly shrimp, flounder and bay scallops. They looked and tasted just like the ones you find in the frozen food case at the grocery store. And we won't even talk about the $10 margaritas!!

Homer

24 Jun 24 at 10:06 am
Wow, what a trip down memory lane. I'm new here, folks, is this the best place to recommend a location that doesn't have a blog post yet? I remembered The Oak Table, it looks like it was the first tenant on the first floor of the office building at 1221 Main St., where Hall's Chophouse is now. A google maps from 2007 shows a parking lot in that spot! There's plenty of press around its closing, since Hall's had quite the marketing machine for its GO.

https://charlestoncitypaper.com/2018/05/18/halls-chophouse-taking-over-the-oak-table-in-columbia/

Mike

25 Jun 24 at 6:01 pm
News reports are that Walgreens is looking to close around 650-700 unprofitable stores out of the 8600 they have nationwide due to changes in the business model making certain things unsustainable...no numbers yet but stay tuned...

Andrew

27 Jun 24 at 8:46 pm
Some people go to Olive Garden and think they are superior for not being at Applebee's.

Lavender

28 Jun 24 at 9:57 pm
Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, the parent company of the Redbox DVD kiosks, has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy citing a $1 billion in debts to 500 different creditors. So we may not see those kiosks in and outside stores for very much longer.

Tom

1 Jul 24 at 2:56 pm
I have found this article listing the first round of Walgreens closures and it looks like 2 midlands locations are impacted:

6500 Garners Ferry Road (This one was an Eckerd* --> Rite Aid)
4520 Hard Scrabble Road (at Elders Pond)

* I remember Eckerd having a store in Woodhill Mall back in the mid-late 90s...as they sought to have stores with drive thru pharmacies, they bulit this store as a way of doing so...then when Eckerd merged into Rite Aid it became a Rite Aid until Walgreens took over or closed the Rite Aid locations we had...

Andrew

1 Jul 24 at 9:23 pm
@ Andrew. Eckerd's had stores inside Dutch Square, Columbia Mall, Woodhill Mall and Richland Mall. All save the Columbia Mall location had fountains in them when they first opened.
While the desire for drive throughs were probably the major reason for them leaving the malls, another reason was that they wanted to control their own store hours and not what the malls told them what they were.

Tom

2 Jul 24 at 9:01 am
No big surprise on the Walgreens by the VA closing. This store was older and they have newer and bigger stores in both directions. They have stores on Devine across from Whole Foods as well as one out at Garners Ferry near Pineview Rd.

I wouldn't be real surprised if the ongoing construction on Hard Scrabble screwed up the sales numbers for the other store and put it on the chopping block. This one is also right in the middle of 2 other stores, but I can't say anything about the stores because I am never out there.

Matt

2 Jul 24 at 12:05 pm
Favorite condiment on a burger?

Matthew Benjamin

3 Jul 24 at 4:22 pm
Favorite condiment? All of them!!!

Homer

4 Jul 24 at 12:15 pm
Mod Pizza is reportedly going to be the latest restaurant chain to file for bankruptcy as soon as next week. They have a location at Woodhill Mall and in Lexington.

Tom

4 Jul 24 at 3:02 pm
It's being widely reported that Big Lots is in big trouble and may have to file for bankruptcy and shutter a lot of its stores, with a chance that it may go out of business all together.

Tom

6 Jul 24 at 8:02 am
Hey Ted - I noticed we don't have a closing for the Rooftop theater at Richland (Fashion) Mall? I guess it's too late as I doubt you could get pics now.

Btw - For anyone interested, these youtubers did a video on Richland Mall, the footage inside is incredible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qEunL7NdwQ

BrianTR

8 Jul 24 at 8:45 am
@BrianTR - Here's that closing http://columbiaclosings.com/wordpress/?p=20094

K

8 Jul 24 at 11:17 am
Ah, thank you - was using "theater" and "litchfield" in my word search, didn't think of "cinema"...my bad, Ted.

BrianTR

8 Jul 24 at 3:06 pm
Big Lots has announced that they will close up to 40 stores (though they have not said where) and the company' future is in doubt.

ws.com/news/big-lots-store-closures/

Tom

10 Jul 24 at 11:25 am
Rice Music House at 125 Outlet Pointe blvd. has permanently
closed.

george011210

15 Jul 24 at 6:48 am
I don't think I ever saw a funeral home featured on here before but here is one. I only know about this one because we used this one for my mom and dad back in 2017 and 2018.

Kornegay & Moseley Funeral Home, 4645 Hard Scrabble Rd.

Not sure when they closed.

Sidney Wallace

15 Jul 24 at 8:40 pm
most of business from Irmo area and relocated there. Property was sold to a local congregation probably to discourage another FH from locating there. They have a location on Meeting Street in W Cola

Thomas

16 Jul 24 at 7:55 am
Well Fargo will be closing their downtown location at 1441 Main St on October 9th.

Mr.Hat

16 Jul 24 at 9:26 pm
The "Pajama Pants Robber" has been sentenced to 49 years, according to WLTX.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bu5Esdvp0lM

Edge of Springdale

17 Jul 24 at 10:50 am
KYLE' Smoke Shop at 1421 Broad River Road is gone. I'm not sure when it closed, but there is an AVAILABLE sign on the property.

The Shelly Leeke Law Firm has relocated from 939 Broad River Road to 1111 Laurel Street. The Broad River Road building is listed on LoopNet.

Gypsie

17 Jul 24 at 11:16 am
Kelly's Pub at 1336 Piney Grove Road is gone. It's also listed as being located at 1236 in some places. I'm not sure when it closed, but according to Zillow the building was sold on 4/11/24.

Gypsie

18 Jul 24 at 9:59 am
There is a sign at the Precision Tune located at 603 B Columbia Avenue in Lexington stating that they are relocating. It does not state where the new location will be.

Gypsie

23 Jul 24 at 10:36 am
Whit-Ash has sent out notices that they are going out of business.

Tom

23 Jul 24 at 12:02 pm
Big Lots has announced their store closings. The three in SC are in Aiken, Chester, & Newberry.

Tom

23 Jul 24 at 3:20 pm
The comment by Meyer Odette is spam, possible scam.

Edge of Springdale

23 Jul 24 at 7:30 pm
I have this article containing the full list of stores Big Lots is planning to close (to go with Tom's indication that 3 in SC are impacted this go round)...

Andrew

23 Jul 24 at 10:41 pm
I wanted to expand on the Clarion hotel article you did so I did a bit of research and made one myself. I linked back to Columbia Closings, hopefully I can get a few comments on missing parts of the history!

https://numberedexits.blogspot.com/2024/07/town-house-motor-inn-columbia-sc.html

pseudo3d

25 Jul 24 at 1:57 pm
I had a story show up in my Google feed about the parent company of Babcock furniture filing for bankruptcy.

https://kfiam640.iheart.com/content/2024-07-24-national-furniture-appliance-chain-goes-bankrupt-closing-all-550-stores/

Matt

25 Jul 24 at 4:07 pm
JC's Lexington Bowl at 4380 Augusta Rd. in Lexington has announced on their FB page that they are closing at the end of August. This bowling alley opened in 1989, so a 35 year run is pretty good. The announcement cites "these tough economic times" as the reason for the closure.

Heath

26 Jul 24 at 12:33 pm
After Matt indicated the liquidation of Babcock's Furniture I checked and they have on their homepage plans to announce their liquidation...so looking on their site I determined that they have the following locations in the midlands:

- 2730 Decker Blvd (846): Fashion Place
- 732 West Main Street (868) in Lexington
- 736A St. Andrews Road (332): St. Andrews Shopping Center

I haven't been by any of them to confirm if the liquidation is officially underway or not but it looks like that they're about to start liquidating soon as several other notable chains have and ultimately feature here.

Andrew

27 Jul 24 at 9:47 pm
Heath, I am surprised the bowling alley stayed open this long. The last time I bowled there a couple of years ago the balls and pins were chipped and it had to be the worst alley I ever played.

Joe Shlabotnik

28 Jul 24 at 2:26 am
What place needs to close already?

Edge of Springdale

29 Jul 24 at 9:04 am
I think Ulta in Lexington needs to close, due to all the shoplifting there.

Edge of Springdale

30 Jul 24 at 11:32 am
Does anyone have any memory of a Green Stamp store being in Columbia? I think I remember it being at the corner of Trenholm and Gervais, either in the building currently occupied by Tripps Fine Cleaners, or near abouts.

Am I going crazy that I remember this? :-)

In case you're not familiar with Green Stamps:

https://thisnostalgiclife.substack.com/p/this-nostalgic-life-issue-8?r=1tk56x&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

BrianTR

30 Jul 24 at 1:17 pm
There were two or more of the S&H Green Stamp stores around in the 60's through maybe the early 70's. The one I remember was on Forest Dr. past the original Providence Hospital. The other Stamps of that time were Greenbax and Gold Bond stamps.

Db

30 Jul 24 at 2:06 pm
@Db - That must be the one I'm thinking of as that's only a few blocks away and as a kid (when I would've seen these) I could've easily confused those areas.

BrianTR

30 Jul 24 at 3:20 pm
S&H were given at Winn Dixie and Greenbax by Piggly Wiggly if I remember correctly. There was a redemption location in 5 Points and another redemption center on Covenant Road near Trenholm Park.

Thomas

30 Jul 24 at 8:31 pm
Re: Saving stamps The State paper on Dec. 9, 1987 lists two Greenbax Gift Centers in an ad for Piggly Wiggly. One was at 2710 Gervais St. (where Tripps is now). The other was 655 St. Andrews Rd. (now the US Foods Chef'Store). Prior to their move to Gervais, the Gift Center was at 4461 Devine St (per the June 26, 1979 State).

Midnight Rambler

31 Jul 24 at 11:12 am
@Midnight Rambler - Thanks for redeeming my memory! Tripps location on Gervais is where I was originally thinking.

BrianTR

31 Jul 24 at 1:07 pm
Prior to its closing, the Piggly Wiggly on Lake Murray Blvd. had a Greenback's redemption center inside of its store.

Tom

31 Jul 24 at 1:43 pm
I have this Coladaily article speaking to the forthcoming closures of Babcock Furniture as well as Whit-Ash Furnishings...the article said that Whit-Ash Furnishing started on St. Andrews Road in 1973 before moving downtown to Gervais Street in 1974...the question before the house: Does anyone remember where the St. Andrews Road location was??

Andrew

31 Jul 24 at 8:13 pm
I think The Art Smart Academy at 7106 Broad River Rd might have closed. There is an Available sign on the property and I haven't seen any cars there in ages. Google still lists it as being open though so I'm not 100% sure.

Gypsie

1 Aug 24 at 9:00 am
In the July 27, 1973 State paper, an ad for Whit-Ash lists them in Boardwalk Plaza at 1023 Bush River Road.

Midnight Rambler

1 Aug 24 at 9:25 am
@ Gypsy, I drove by Art Smart Academy yesterday and there were cars in the parking lot and their marquee suggested that they were still in business. I think the sale sign might be for an adjoining parcel.

Tom

3 Aug 24 at 1:01 pm
@Tom - Art Smart must be renting the building then, because LoopNet has a listing for that address (7106 Broad River Rd) stating "2 +/- acres with building" is currently for sale for $699,000

Gypsie

3 Aug 24 at 11:06 pm
@BrianTr -- there is this Greenbax closing.

ted

5 Aug 24 at 11:05 pm
@Sidney Wallace -- here is a closing for the Dunbar Gervais Street chapel.

ted

5 Aug 24 at 11:07 pm
@ted - Wow, thanks I must've missed it looking for "green stamps" instead - and a vibrant comment group on that one too.

BrianTR

6 Aug 24 at 8:38 am
Sad news, longtime veteran WCOS-FM afternoon Andy Woods has been cut in the latest round of iHeart Media layoffs:

https://radioinsight.com/headlines/277568/iheartmedia-makes-programming-cuts/

The iHeart studios in Columbia has become such a skeletal crew even from their Clear Channel heyday 20-15 years ago. You can also tell this as of late due to the number of technical issues both WVOC and WCOS have had lately.

WCOS AM has nothing but non-stop Fox Sports except for the Clemson Sports Talk Show from 4-6, but the station hasn't actually have any rights to Clemson Tigers games (or any other SC teams LOL) for quite a few years now. Those are split between WZMJ for football while Keven's WQXL airs the rest.

15 years ago back in 2009 WVOC had Gary David (Barboza) and Christopher Thompson in the mornings, still had a full time local news department, Keven Cohen in the afternoons 3-6 and of course had Phil Kornblut and sports from 6-8.

Today in 2024 it's just Gary and Christopher left by themselves it's been like that since 2014 aside from a short lived attempt at reviving a local sports talk show in the evenings back in 2019. All the news is piped in from an iHeart location in Georgia and is often horribly inaccurate.....a few months back one iHeart reporter Rebecca Hughes yammered on about an incident in "Rowan County South Carolina", yet there is no Rowan County in SC, but there is one in NC.

WCOS's Jonathan Rush and Kelly Nash are the only ones left and my personal opinion of the two is pretty low...rather shady trash talking know it all individuals, especially Kelly Nash.

Both Steve-FM and the Beat are automated...I think the Beat still has Miss Monique although I think she's actually based out of Augusta tbh.

Richtex

9 Aug 24 at 11:24 pm
I rode by Outlet Point yesterday and noticed the signage for the Travelodge Motel was covered up, though it seemed the motel was still in business. Since the Travelodge website does not list anymore, it seems like they lost their branding.

Tom

10 Aug 24 at 10:06 am
@Tom - I don't recall what the name was but the new name is on the sign that's visible from I-20.

Gypsie

11 Aug 24 at 12:00 am
Jarrett&Hart Goldsmiths at St. Andrews Rd@ I-26 is no more. Passed by today and it was being demolished!! If I remember correctly, there used to be a small neighborhood behind there that was razed in the late 80s or so.

Arthur P

12 Aug 24 at 7:47 pm
So this one might be one of the oddest closing announcements ever. Steve's Classic Burgers located in the Ashland Park Shopping Center on St. Andrews has announced that they are closing. Eight months from now in April of 2025 when their lease expires. This burger place has been in operation for about 10 years, and the owner cites health reasons and it being time to retire as reasons for the closure. They mentioned that their employees have agreed to stay on until it closes. I guess we'll see how this very long farewell goes.

Heath

13 Aug 24 at 12:43 pm
I've been to Steve's Classic Burgers, having been swayed by their billboard that (used to be?) on I26.

Eh, it wasn't memorable and with all the competition from burger places, I'm not surprised it hasn't held on.

BrianTR

13 Aug 24 at 2:48 pm
Kestner's Automotive in Lexington has permanently closed according to their Facebook page. The owner, Bobby Kestner, passed away in June. There is a new temporary sign covering the old Kestner's sign. I believe the new sign is for Auto REV.

James R

14 Aug 24 at 3:42 pm
We went to Steve's once. The fries were soft, bland, cheap-tasting crinkle fries. Some places focus on the restaurant's main feature and treat the sides like an afterthought. I don't know if that is always the case with Steve's, but I was not eager to go back.

Edge of Springdale

14 Aug 24 at 4:59 pm
Yet another business has left the little grey building in Springdale, across from the Dollar General. "Solid as a Rock - Spiritual Wellness" has closed due to "problems with the building", according to a comment on their Facebook page. They will now make "pop-up"/vendor appearances.

This building was previously used for a car dealership, a branch of a daycare/children's learning center, and an antiques store.

Edge of Springdale

15 Aug 24 at 10:41 am
It looks like the NE B.B. Barns (formerly Woodley's) may well be closed. They're no longer listed on the BB Barns website and their Google Business entry shows the location as permanently closed.

Jason

16 Aug 24 at 1:26 pm
My kingdom for an edit button. It appears to still be open but has changed hands, and is advertising a grand opening on September 2 on its signage. The small sign right off Brickyard has the BB Barns logo removed but that's clearly a bigger job for the main signage and hasn't happened yet.

Jason

16 Aug 24 at 4:35 pm
A few posts up Edge of Springdale posed the question "What place needs to close already?"

While I don't believe they need to close, The University needs to rethink their business model and what the University's place is within the community. Before you burn me at the stake for heresy, hear me out...

The communities around The University (West Columbia and Cayce) were established long before the University itself. And, many of the people who live and work in the surrounding communities have *zero* connection or affiliation to the University. Many people live where they do intentionally to get some distance from The University (and the students).

But every year, The University buys more and more land because "progress" and "needed growth". That needs to be curtailed. The University doesn't need to own everything in Columbia. Every year, The University admits more rude children from NY/NJ/MD who look down their noses at "the South" yet come here to get an education. Shouldn't most of the students be from, ya know, South Carolina? It would also be real cool if said students didn't drive like Ray Charles.

The University is *part* of the local community, but they're not all that matters. If they're going to have "student housing" it should be on University property. People with no connection to the University should be able to go about their lives without having to interact with the University (or students).

Lone Wolf

18 Aug 24 at 2:49 pm
Well said, Lone Wolf.

Edge of Springdale

20 Aug 24 at 1:35 pm
The thing about out-of-state students is that they pay full price so the University is glad to have them.

That said, I don't think the current Higher Education Industrial Complex is sustainable. There's a demographic crunch coming, not to mention that colleges have not exactly been covering themselves in glory over the past several years and their dropping relevance to actually getting a decent job. I think USC should probably take a deep breath and look around before taking another bite of the pie...

ted

20 Aug 24 at 10:37 pm
I may have missed it in the Alphabetical Listing if it's already been reported, but NTB on St. Andrews Road is gone. Signage is still there, but the building is empty now.

Gypsie

22 Aug 24 at 7:00 am
As I predicted, the Red Lobster in Cayce will be closing:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/26/food/red-lobster-closures-august-2024/index.html

Tom

26 Aug 24 at 10:05 am
@Tom, according to The State it’s already closed

Larry

26 Aug 24 at 11:25 am
Liberty Tap Room in the Vista announced they were closing for renovations a few months ago. Well the renovations are extensive as it will now become Taco Mundo Kitchen Y Cantina, a concept from the same restaurant group that owns Liberty, Pearlz, and Kaminsk’s.

Larry

29 Aug 24 at 10:42 am
Never let it be said that the T-Bonz Group (who Liberty was originally owned by - not sure if that still holds) doesn't know how to make a buck. Steaks getting expensive? Hmm, ya know what doesn't cost much? Tacos!

Lone Wolf

30 Aug 24 at 8:04 am
Blue Beacon Truck Wash at 1340 Buckner Rd. 29203 across from the Pilot station is closed. There is a For Rent sign on the building. The last Google review is from 2 months ago and I saw a couple of trucks over there when I drove past about a month ago so the close must have been pretty recent.

Gypsie

31 Aug 24 at 11:39 pm
Beware of the man who is trying to take pictures of women's feet in the Devine Street area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfhAjhxFvqA

Lavender

3 Sep 24 at 12:07 pm
Anyone remember a store on US-21 near Blythewood called De Sto??

Arthur P

6 Sep 24 at 1:40 pm
WIS is reporting that LL Flooring is closing all of their remaining locations.

LL Flooring was originally known as Lumber Liquidators.

Looking at Google Maps it looks like we have 2 in the Columbia area:

4068-A Fernadina Road
10120 Two Notch Rd #5 (North Pointe Publix)

So prepare for those 2 to close, liquidate and feature here...

Andrew

6 Sep 24 at 2:50 pm
Perry's Gourmet Flaming Chicken (in the old Taco Cid building on Charleston Highway) has been unoperational for several months. I drove around the building a couple of days ago, and there is a "closed for renovation" sign on the door, but there is no evidence of renovation activity, and the electric meter panel is wide open, and the cables are cut. Future doesn't look bright.

Payne

7 Sep 24 at 5:54 pm
An adult picky eater? That's a sign of immaturity.

Marl

8 Sep 24 at 5:51 pm
I can't be the only one that is curious what @Marl is referring to?

BrianTR

9 Sep 24 at 9:07 am
Folks I have just gotten a WIS alert that Big Lots has filed for bankruptcy. They cited several economic factors for the decision...they're in the process of closing ≈300 of their 1,400 stores with others possibly coming (stay tuned) and the CEO says they're planning to use the tools this process affords to to continue optimizing their store fleet (though he noted that the majority of their store locations are profitable). Nexus Capitol will be taking over the majority of their operations.

Andrew

9 Sep 24 at 9:52 am
Grand Appliances at 4886 Sunset Blvd in Lexington is gone. Signage is still there, but the building is empty. I noticed it a couple of weeks ago but forgot about it until I drove by again this morning. Their last post on Facebook was May 3rd, so it must have closed somewhere between then and late August.

Gypsie

11 Sep 24 at 9:31 am
Sukiya Japanese Steakhouse is moving into the old Yamato building at 360 Columbiana Drive in Harbison. I saw the sign when I drove past earlier today and there is also an article in The State about it: https://www.thestate.com/living/food-drink/article292292214.html

Gypsie

11 Sep 24 at 1:54 pm
At 1057 S Lake Drive in Red Bank (I-20 & SC 6) there is what (looks like it) used to be a Pops gas station that has closed up...then across I-20 at SC 6 & Industrial Drive (caddy corner to the QT) something is under construction (Google seems to think it'll be Whataburger)...

Andrew

12 Sep 24 at 12:43 pm
A different kind of closing announced as the Bush River exit of I-26 will be permanently closed in stages over the next few weeks (except the I-26 Westbound Exit). The plan to remove the exit was announced years ago but will now actually happen. I guess some of the new bridges at Colonial Life Blvd will be opening to coincide with the Bush River exits closing.

https://www.abccolumbia.com/2024/09/12/phased-traffic-shift-scheduled-as-scdot-opens-new-ramp-at-colonial-life-boulevard/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1726171253-1

Larry

12 Sep 24 at 7:08 pm
^^ one of the key plans of the SCDOT Carolina Crossroads Phase 1 was to remove the Bush River & I-26 exit in favor of a full access Colonial Life interchange...SCDOT put a video out at https://youtu.be/jlsvE1qU0JA that visualizes what they're planning on...

Andrew

12 Sep 24 at 9:45 pm
The little grey building in Springdale, across from the Dollar General, now has a temporary sign about used cars. The place was recently the "spiritual wellness" center/shop, and has also been an antique shop, children's daycare, and another used car business.

On The Edge of Springdale

13 Sep 24 at 9:05 am
Does anyone else think the Bush River Rd. / Colonial Life Blvd. plan of the Crossroads project is absolutely asinine? I understand the point of it, but isn't it just going to move the problem from one area to another?

And from a personal standpoint, I'm pretty annoyed by it. I use the Bush River exits on a regular basis coming from the Irmo area. Having to go all the way to or from Colonial Life Blvd just seems so far out of the way. Ugh.

Gypsie

16 Sep 24 at 11:52 pm
I have a friend that lives in the Morninghill Dr. neighborhood and he said people in that neighborhood weren't excited about the interchange being removed.

SCDOT's rationale is that it is to remove the weaving across several lanes in a short distance (less than ½ mi.)

I am happy to see the ramp from Bush River onto I-26 towards West Columbia/Orangeburg/Charleston being removed as the way it is scares me (and a friend of my mom's I once carpooled with). I've also heard that our local fire companies call it the 'bad curve'.

The main use I have for the Bush River exit is coming off of I-26 from West Columbia (or after riding down I-77 into I-26). I'm not keen on it being moved the way it is being moved from that standpoint.

The other piece to this plan is to upgrade Bush River & I-20 to serve traffic from that direction as well (though I think SCDOT will be tweaking plans from what they initially had in mind).

I once noted in a post now in the archive that SCDOT posted https://youtu.be/jlsvE1qU0JA to explain their gameplan for this phase...

Andrew

17 Sep 24 at 3:48 pm
Any bets on how many wrecks there's gonna be when this mess is all done? People here are easily confused anyhow and can't drive worth a *******. I would like to thank the dummy or dummies that though Columbia of all places could compete with Atlanta or Charlotte and be able to drive through this with ease. The way things go though, it won't be completed until the year 2525 right? It'll take them that long to do everything they wanna do. Same goes for the old Richland Mall area..it's a waste of time too. I wonder how long it's gonna be before Columbiana Mall Place or whatever it's called is gonna be outdated and they tear it down and build Condo's for the USC Kiddies... Afer working at Malls from 1985 through 1994, I don't miss them or going to ANY Mall at all.

DB

18 Sep 24 at 12:48 am
What fascinates me is the people who whine about malls and other places closing, but so many of them quit going when they still could. They should have continued to "vote with their wallets" for the mall/whatever place if they liked it so much.

The same thing happens when a new Murphy's gas station is built next to an older gas station, or a Starbucks is built across from a small-business coffee shop. People (teens and adults of all ages, from what I see) frequent a new place, then blame it for "killing" that charming local place.

Robin

18 Sep 24 at 4:24 pm
@DB

I think all the new interchanges are going to take some getting used to. I look forward to the better traffic at some point around the time my kids graduate from college. The interchange that I'm telling my family to avoid like the plague for the short term is the Broad River Rd and I-20 exit.

I find the diverging diamond interchange to be a good thing, but when coupled with the crap drivers in Columbia, this is going to be a big mess. The interchange is going to switch the flow of traffic on either side of the interstate. This will position the traffic so that the left turns to get on I-20 will automatically turn and not wait for oncoming traffic.

Matt

19 Sep 24 at 10:24 pm
Stop making burgers so ridiculously tall and "stacked".
Stop using "hand-crafted" and "artisan" as excuses to jack the price up.
Stop with the two-thing names like "Pine and Thorn" or "Slate and Werewolf". You are not cool and unique.
Get rid of the tipping system.
Stop trying to make breweries "family friendly"...as if we really wanted to relax with a few beers while trying to make sure that someone's kid doesn't chew on a fence post.
Recognize that Columbia is not one big apartment community for USC students.
Have self-checkout or don't. STOP making us wait for one cashier or one unreliable self-checkout attendant.

STOP IT

19 Sep 24 at 11:46 pm
A "lagoon" community is coming to Northeast Columbia:

https://thecaycewestcolumbianews.com/crystal-lagoons-coming-to-columbia/

“This approval from DHEC marks a pivotal moment for the Crystal Lagoons project,” said Joseph Baldassarra, president of Broadstreet. “It brings us closer to realizing our vision of a vibrant beach lifestyle community in the Midlands.”

Robin

22 Sep 24 at 8:40 am
Going back to Andrew’s Big Lots post three Midlands Big Lots already closed in Aiken, Newberry and Chester this month here. Sad as the Newberry and Chester stores were just opened like 2-3 years ago!

Logan

22 Sep 24 at 10:11 pm
O’Hara’s Bakery in Lexington has announced it’s immediate and hopefully temporary closure on Facebook.

James R

22 Sep 24 at 10:51 pm
WISTV has announced the passing of Joe Pinner.

He was part of WIS from 1963 until his retirement in 2018...that means he was part of WIS for 55 of the 71 years WIS has been on the air.

He has contributed a couple of comments to this blog along the way.

I never watched Mr. Knozit but I do remember him doing the evening WIS news weather forecasts back in the 90s when I enjoyed the news every night (though I tried ot limit my news exposure).

Andrew

22 Sep 24 at 10:56 pm
WISTV has announced the passing of Joe Pinner.

He was part of WIS from 1963 until his retirement in 2018...that means he was part of WIS for 55 of the 71 years WIS has been on the air.

He has contributed a couple of comments to this blog along the way.

I never watched Mr. Knozit but I do remember him doing the evening WIS news weather forecasts back in the 90s when I enjoyed the news every night (though I now try to limit my news exposure). *(EDIT: clarity on last sentence)*

Andrew

22 Sep 24 at 11:01 pm
I was on Mr. Knozit once, not as a member of the peanut gallery, but as part of a spot on Richland County Parks art classes, I was making some sort of clay pot while the pottery teacher talked.

I don't remember much about Pinner from that as I was too nervous, but certainly watched the show lots over the years, and then saw him often as the snow wishing WIS weatherman!

RIP

ted

22 Sep 24 at 11:47 pm
I was on Mr. Knozit back in the day and thanks to him I developed a lifelong addiction to Looney Toons cartoons and the Little Rascals!
I had a chance to speak to him less than a year ago at an event I was participating in and we spoke about 15-20 minutes. One of the takeaways from it was his observation that what children wanted to be when he was doing the show was so different than what they wanted to be today.

Tom

23 Sep 24 at 10:00 am
Joe Pinner needs his own page on Wikipedia. He does get a paragraph on the page for WIS-TV.

JohnR

23 Sep 24 at 3:03 pm
Joe Pinner's memorial service is set for November 14...

Andrew

23 Sep 24 at 9:45 pm
I noticed that the former Galeana Jeep dealership on Greysrone is completely gutted. I assume it’s a remodel to bring it up to date since JT’s bought it. The dealership was pretty dated and definitely needed an upgrade.

Larry

3 Oct 24 at 7:18 am
1801 Grille near Colonial Life Arena has closed permanently.

JamesR

3 Oct 24 at 11:39 pm
New York Pizza and Pasta on Augusta Road has permanently closed according to a post on its Facebook page. If I recall correctly, this used to be the location of Red’s on Augusta. Red’s moved down the street to a spot that had been another pizza place, but ended up closing not long after. I don’t remember how long it was before New York Pizza and Pasta opened.

JamesR

4 Oct 24 at 4:12 pm
Flour Power Cooking Studio in Forest Village has closed. it was in the same strip as Village Idiot which is currently being converted into a Mexican Ice cream shop.

Larry

6 Oct 24 at 9:11 pm
Grouchos website says the Forest Acres location will reopen Q1 2025 after extensive upgrades and renovations.

Larry

7 Oct 24 at 3:53 pm
Interesting that Groucho's is renovating this location. I was in their original 5 Points store last week and was thrilled the place looked and has the same aroma as it did during my first visit there in 1972. They still hire cute USC students to run the counter. And the STP with Formula 45 sauce remains an iconic sandwich.

Joe Shlabotnik

9 Oct 24 at 4:55 am
Operation Go International at 3514 Bush River Rd is gone and the building is for sale. According to the listing on LoopNet it's been on the market since early July so the closing must have been somewhere in June maybe.

According to their website, Operation Go International is a global ministry that provides "individuals and churches with the tools and training to make visible differences in their communities and around the world."

-----

It's possible that Craft Auto Mart1 LLC at 2701 Broad River Rd is also gone. Their Google listing shows them as still being open, but there have been no cars on the lot for the last couple of weeks.

-----

It's also possible that The View hair salon at 4313 Broad River Rd is gone. The property looks pretty run down and the sign is down - I guess that could be damage from Helene though. It's been ages since I saw any cars there, but that could just be a timing issue on my end.

Gypsie

9 Oct 24 at 4:16 pm
If you go to the Dollar General in Springdale, across from the park, be aware of a woman who asks other customers to buy items for her. Bleached blonde hair. The employees allow her to pan-handle. Read Google reviews. I've seen her walking over from the direction of the nearby apartments.

On the Edge of Springdale

9 Oct 24 at 11:33 pm
Good Life Cafe which recently moved to Taylor St has closed. It recently moved to its current location from 1614 Main St and is part of the Middleton family restaurant group. I’ve heard rumblings that they’re not doing all that well financially these days, we might see some more closings from them in the future.

Larry

14 Oct 24 at 10:43 am
Walgreen's announced this morning that they are closing 1200 stores across the country. No information given on which ones were on the list.

Yesterday, True Value announced that it was bankrupt and selling its assests to an unnamed "rival."

Tom

15 Oct 24 at 10:13 am
Art Smart on Broad River Rd has posted on their marquee that they are having a moving sale on November 1.

Tom

15 Oct 24 at 10:37 am
This morning I noticed that there is a Retirement Sale sign on Spring Valley Antique Mall on Two Notch Rd near the bowling alley. I guess anything antique is a dying breed.

Matt

15 Oct 24 at 3:47 pm
I'm not sure what to make of this one...

Cars and Beyond at 2416 Broad River Rd. has had an empty lot for a very long time now, but their Google listing is still active and they have a review from two months ago. The most recent post on their Facebook page is from August 15 that shows a vehicle in front of the building on the lot as being for sale. If you scroll through the pictures on their page you'll find that almost all of them show a photo of one vehicle in almost the exact same spot on the lot. There are usually no other cars visible at all. It almost seems like the cars were not actually being stored on the lot (maybe for anti-theft reasons?).

I was just going to report it as closed since it has appeared to be vacant for so long, but then when I started looking for a possible date I noticed the issue with the one car at a time on the lot photos. It looks like they were posting vehicles available a couple of times a month, but since there hasn't been a post since August 15 I'm thinking they may have indeed closed.

Gypsie

15 Oct 24 at 11:23 pm
Something has transpired with Muv Fitness. I've been seeing commercials for "OneLife Fitness" on PlutoTV. When I did an internet search (because some of these genius media buyers aren't so hot and PlutoTV in SC occasionally gets commercials for businesses in TX or NJ), it appears OneLife has claimed the Lexington and Irmo locations of what was Muv Fitness

Dunno what happened with Muv, but whether it's a flag change, a buyout or whatever else, but changes are happenin...

Lone Wolf

21 Oct 24 at 12:50 pm
@LoneWolf you are correct, all Columbia area MUV locations were bought by One Life except West Columbias location. The West Columbia location was smaller and didn’t have a pool, not sure if it will remain open under the MUV brand, be sold to another gym or close. One life has promised 6 mill in upgrades to the remaining MUV locations it purchased.

Larry

21 Oct 24 at 1:04 pm
@Matt
That Retirement Sale sign on Spring Valley Antique Mall has been out there for probably a year or more now.

Sidney

21 Oct 24 at 3:40 pm
@LoneWolf -- That's rather interesting as originally the local MUV locations were Gold's Gym, but for whatever reason Gold's didn't want to open a lot of new locations so the local franchaisees moved to MUV, who did not have a problem with the plan.

ted

21 Oct 24 at 11:03 pm
You try K-pot bbq yet?

Matthew Benjamin

23 Oct 24 at 4:36 pm
It is my understanding that I-26 & US 176 near the Ballentine DMV (called the Peak exit) is about to become a fully functional DDI and I have encountered https://youtu.be/8qn1Gzep1H0 explaining what it is, how it is to flow and what it is to look like...it is an innovative European design that has made its way across the USA over the last 15 years or so (starting with one in Missouri in 2009)...

Andrew

25 Oct 24 at 1:49 pm
It’s being reported that Maurice’s BBQ Piggy Park in West Columbia/Cayce has been decimated in a massive fire this evening:

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/multi-alarm-fire-reported-at-maurices-piggy-park-restaurant-off-charleston-highway/101-ba9c08e6-02f6-4158-a64a-427e99043471

Logan

26 Oct 24 at 10:32 pm
Re: Maurice’s Piggy Park

While the restaurant itself wasn't damaged, Saturday's fire destroyed many facilities that serve its multiple restaurants.

https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/maurices-piggy-park-bbq-site-closed-after-destructive-fire/101-cdb9227f-7964-4094-8236-6491dde372d1

Dustin

27 Oct 24 at 12:25 pm
I got a couple of WIS app alerts on it and subsequently found this story talking it about it being 'completely gone' and the Bessigners have a long road ahead of them to try to figure out what happens next.

Andrew

28 Oct 24 at 4:12 pm
The convenience store/gas station at Garners Ferry and Wildcat, just past the Moe's is closed.

badger

30 Oct 24 at 11:17 am
It was announced last week that Wendy's will be closing 140 restaurants across the country. No mention was given of which ones.

Tom

3 Nov 24 at 12:05 pm
Why are there so many new Mexican restaurants? Don't get me wrong, I frequently go to a couple that are excellent. But I don't understand the need to have two on just about every block.

Elizabeth

11 Nov 24 at 8:18 am
I have encountered this article announcing the closure of all American Freight due to bankruptcy...looks like our only locations is at 1424 Atlas Road...they also have a Myrtle Beach location at 1049B Glenforest Road (since I know ted does feature stuff from that area here periodically)...

I'm also seeing reports that Advance Auto Parts will be closing approximately 700 stores but no word yet on details.

Andrew

14 Nov 24 at 9:30 pm
Don Pepe Mexican Grill & Cantina, currently located at 7568 Edmund Highway in Pelion is in the process of building a new building just up the road. The new address will be 7645 Edmund Highway.

Gypsie

15 Nov 24 at 10:26 pm
Based off of this weeks City of Cola council meeting agenda, it appears No Name Deli will be moving from their long time Marion St location to a location on North Main that is currently owned by the city. No Name sold their current location to a developer that is looking to redevelop the entire block of Bull and Elmwood that it sits on.

Larry

18 Nov 24 at 12:39 pm
@Larry - Wow, that is surprising news - No Name has been there quite a long time. A new place will be quite the change.

Although personally, I've always had trouble with parking at No Name - no point in even trying to go there unless you can super early or super late for lunch.

BrianTR

18 Nov 24 at 2:49 pm
Parking is the least of the problems with No Name. The absolutely indecipherable ordering process is worse.

Kenneth

18 Nov 24 at 5:18 pm
@Kenneth - Can you explain? I've never had any trouble ordering at NoName but then I've been going there going on 20 years now.

BrianTR

18 Nov 24 at 7:32 pm
Folks Allegiant has announced 44 new routes. To include CAE to SFB (5.15.2025) & FLL (5.22.2025).

SFB is Orlando/Sanford, FL and is between Orlando and Daytona Beach...FLL (Ft. Lauderdale) is the other city...twice a week service (Thursday & Sunday) starting next May.

CAE is one of 3 citites that gets added to Allegiant's network as part of this expansion (Colorado Springs (COS) & Gulf Shores International Airport (GUF) being the other 2)...

Andrew

19 Nov 24 at 8:58 pm

Columbia Closings What's not in Columbia anymore

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