Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Well, that didn't last long. I posted a closing for Carolina MoneySaver at this site back on 6 January 2012, and since then the followup operation, Carolina Title Loans has already moved in and then either folded or moved on.

I still kind of like the checker-board floor, which is unchanged from the MoneySaver days.

The pix are all, unfortunately, from yet another of our recent oversupply of grey days.

UPDATE 30 August 2016 -- Actually I think I was wrong about this place. They hadn't closed when the pictures above were taken, they just were taking an incredibly long time to open. They finally *did* open, but closed after a short time, and now the building is for sale:

UPDATE 19 August 2019 -- Now Fabric Bistro:

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Somehow I've never gotten around to trying Thai food, though I think I might like it. Thai Lotus on at the top of the hill on Saint Andrews Road is no longer an option for that though. The online reviews look mixed, but the place lasted for a good while. In fact, if you look through the foyer window, you can see *two* payphones, which tells you something about the vintage. Most places ripped them out a good while ago, leaving either odd little alcoves near the bathrooms or bereft cables on the wall..

I quite like the picnic terrace on the left side of the building. It has a nice tree growing up through it, and overlooks the activity farther down the hill.

(Hat tip to commenter Nobody.)

UPDATE 22 April 2013: Added Lowcountry Cafe and Yesterday's to the post title based on the comments and the 1985 phonebook (Yesterday's).

UPDATE 28 January 2020 -- Now Steve's Classic Burgers:

Well, I finally got by the Saint Andrews Road Kmart, and it looks like whenever the final date is, it is definitely not long for the world.

I don't really understand why Kmart does store closings like this. Kmart a chain. It's not a chain that's in great shape, but there *are* other stores. It seems to me that it would make more sense to have a couple of trucks come in and take stuff either to the warehouse or directly to other stores, especially the small stuff like the jewelry department. Just looking at it cold-bloodedly, that would have to be cheaper than continuing to pay salaries and utilities for an extended closing period..

(Hat tip to lots of people)

UPDATE 20 May 2013 -- Well, Sunday 19 May was the last day of retail operation -- they will be open next week to sell the store fixtures only. I got some $0.19 Jazz CDs and a George Thoroughgood concert DVD for $0.29..

UPDATE 7 October 2019: Add map icon and update tags.

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As detailed here, on 11 December 2012, Mattress Firm bought out Mattress Source and all the Mattress Source stores were closed temporarily for re-branding.

I missed the buyout news, not being in the mattress market currently, but noticed the new banner over the old marquee when I was driving down Harbison recently. Since I don't have a dog in the fight, I'll say that I like the name Mattress Firm better than Mattress Source as it works (presumably intentionally) as a play on words.

I'll also say that while I have no opinion yea or nay on their mattresses, I continue to admire the Tempurpedic logo.

You wouldn't think that you could get away with plastering a shapely undraped female derriere all over your marquee and front yard, but they do. Granted they have toned down the, um, cleavage from a few years ago:

UPDATE 19 September 2022 -- As mentioned in the comments, the building has come down. Also there seems to be a lot of land clearing behind the old site as well:

Also updating tags and adding map icon.

UPDATE 7 October 2022 -- Here are a few shots from the start of the teardown:

This spot on Saint Andrews Road just east of the I-26 interchange has been much restauranted over the years as you can see here, here, here and here.

In general my theory is that it's too hard to get back to I-26 from this spot, or indeed to do anything requiring coming out of the parking lot and going westbound on Saint Andrews Road. In this case though, there may have been other factors in play as sadly a security guard was shot and killed here on 25 August 2012 as detailed in this State story. While it appears the culprits were caught, that incident certainly has to have given people pause. And while it appears to have been related to a late-night switchover to night-club operation, still I would have hesitated to go myself after that even during the day. I certainly would not have taken any kids.

At any rate, the place seems to have kept on until Thanksgiving at which time they closed down, and did not re-open as planned. Curiously letters are already peeling from the roadside sign, and missing from the rooftop marquee.

UPDATE 27 Jan 2013: Added the bouncy-castle picture of the Grand Opening.

UPDATE 26 January 2023 -- Interesting this update is almost exactly ten years since the last one! Anyway, as reported in the comments, this building has been razed:

Also adding map icon.

UPDATE 8 February 2023 -- I got some more pictures from inside the parking lot this time:

This small urban wear shop was in a little strip mall on Broad River Road more or less across from Widewater Square. I can't find it in my phonebooks, so I'll just put the closing date at "late 2000s".

Here's The State story on the closing of Corner Kick, just down from the former Marinoni's in Murraywood Centre.

When I got by last Sunday, the place was still apparently still open (though closed for the day), but already referring customers to Todd & Moore with their door signs. My guess is that the poster is probably David Beckham or someone similar -- I wouldn't want to come up on that one unexpectedly.

I don't know much about this self-service car wash in between Widewater Square and Nancy's Nook other than it has seen better days (the LoopNet listing marks it as "distressed" and as an "office building").

The interesting thing is that although I must have driven past it dozens if not hundreds of times before, I can honestly say that when I saw it the other day, I had no memory whatsoever of ever having seen it before.

I've never really seen the point of this kind of wash. Just spend the extra $3.00 and drive through one with the foam and buffer.

UPDATE 23 November 2016 -- Someone has rehabilitated this wash, and it is now open again: