Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Here's another vacant Cricket Wireless storefront, this one in Topspin Plaza in Lexington.

I noticed as I was getting the pictures that Topspin Plaza actually has two marquees and street addresses. I'm not sure if they are separate developments or not, but the other is at 5341 Sunset Boulevard:

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

Beads & Yarn was the follow-on operation in this Sunset Boulevard location to Firefly Toys & Games. They apparently had quite a selection of knitting and crocheting yarn, and jewelry beads. The owners retired and closed the store in February, but still have a web site here, and do business online at Amazon.

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

I wasn't really aware of this small, tucked away strip mall in Lexington until commenter James R mentioned it. Unfortunately when I got there, the sun was against me, so the shots aren't great. It appears that Allstate was the middle unit, and the sign (which you can read on the click-through version) refers customers to 3920 Augusta Road.

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

Noticed this abandoned Hardee's on South Lake Drive/SC-6 at the I-20 intersection the other day. From what I can tell, Hardee's of Red Bank has relocated to 1910 South Lake Drive, inside a service station. I'm not sure when this happened, but judging from the codition of the building, it was a good while ago.

It sits on a surprisingly large lot, LoopNet says 2.09 acres of which apparently 1.6 acres is included with the building (which, would, I think, have to be razed at this point).

UPDATE 13 March 2018 Updating the closing date in post title from 2000s to Circa 2005 based on the comments.

UPDATE 21 July 2018 Updating the closing date again.

UPDATE 19 August 2019 -- Some new pictures in advance of the tear down to build a truck stop:

UPDATE 19 June 2021: Adding tags.

Yesternight Distilery moved into the old Abolute Discount Mattress space on 11 February 2017 according to commenter James R, having relocated from the The Old Mill after being gutted by the flood of 2015. It seems to me that over the last several years, I have seen a number of "Moonshine" stores open, something I had never seen before that. I don't know if there was some sort of law change that made it easier, or if it is just one of those retail trends. At any rate, Yesternight is now closed, though they apparently are still looking into reopening elsewhere.

I noticed something about this property when I looked for the address. It shares the street number "4884" with the small strip mall containing Lexington Pawn & Gun. I had always assumed they were separate properties, but apparently not.

(Hat tip to commener James R)

I had held off doing this closing as I never could tell for sure if the place was closed, or just not ever open when I would drive by. I think the real-estate sign in the last shot pretty much settles the question.

This sandwich shop was the follow-on operation to The Lost Cajun. I thought it was a bit unusual that it would reopen as a sandwich shop as the plaza already has a Roly Poly on the other side but I guess that one is more "wrap" oriented. As I intimated above, I never visited Palmetto Subs as it was never open when I was in the area, and I'll admit though I love sandwiches I also like padded booths and a little bit more substantial atmosphere. (As I've said before, I would love if somebody brought the "Dagwood's" concept from Surfside Beach to Columbia..)

Although I did not know it at the time Plametto Subs is a regional chain, and continues to have stores in Florence, Sumter & Darlington.

(Hat tips to commenter Brian and I believe a number of others)

UPDATE 19 February 2022 -- Now Konnichiwa:

Also adding map icon and updating tags.

According to the pictures from October 2016 above, One Taco Two Taco opened on 20 October 2016 in the former Buddy's Saucy Dogs location. From the notice posted on the door in the pictures below, it appears they lasted into November or December of 2017. I like tacos, but it's far enough away from me that I never go the chance to stop by.

(Hat tip to commenter ED)

I was unaware of this little country-cooking restaurant a bit behind the old Piggly-Wiggly on US-1. The street, Oak Drive, doesn't look like the kind of place that would have any businesses, but there it is.

The door sign cites tax issues and has a postscript suggesting the place will re-open.

(Hat tip to commenter Arthur)

While I'm by no means a Bojangles regular, I do like a sausage biscuit every now and then, and they make a decent one.

Judging from this State story, I think the basic issue here was that while this location did a reasonable business, it was in an older building that the chain just did not want to fool with anymore. Although commenter James R noted the quick paint job, it does not appear that there is anything as yet slated to go in here as the real estate sign is still up some 3+ months later.

The LoopNet listing has a nice picture of the Bojangles still in operation.

(Hat tip to commenter ED)

UPDATE 11 March 2020 -- More than two years later, all the fixtures still inside:

Also adding map icon.

As reported by commenter James R, Mattress Man is no longer in this Sunset Boulevard strip mall. Prestige Appliance moved out of that suite in October of 2014, and it was empty for a while after that.

I just noticed, looking at the strip marquee, that the Mattress Man mascot is, in fact, a "Mattress Man", or as the late George Carlin might have said, He's a mattress, man..

(Hat tip to commenter James R)