Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I've only been in this charity thrift store once that I can recall. I needed a replacement VCR for one that had given up the ghost, and it was some years since they were a common item. I was pleased and surprised to find a whole shelf of them here, paired with the correct remotes. I picked up one and we got several years of good service from it.

I'm not sure if this closing is COVID related, or if they are remodeling or what, but the signs announce that they will return.

UPDATE 27 August 2021: Commenter Andrew reminds me that this was the former site of Spring Valley Ace Hardware, something I had completely forgotten, despite having done a closing on it.

Frankly, I had no idea at all what kind of place Kirkland's is. Looking at their web site, it appears they are a home decor store, something which comes onto my radar with vanishing rarity.

This particular store was in the new strip creating by redeveloping the old Kmart complex. They seem to have closed without fanfare -- I can't find any stories about it online, and google seems to think it is still there.

According to their store locator, there are still two locations in the Midlands, one in Harbison, and one on Two Notch Road.

(Hat tip to commenter Joe Shlabotnik)

This convenience store and Exxon station at the edge of Shandon was formerly the full service Branham's Exxon. It had already done a remodel from that era to do away with the service bays, but the current tenant Gaz-Bah (also an Exxon) has temporarily closed to do another remodel.

As you can see from these pictures, the place has been completely gutted, and looks a good way from reopening.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin S).

As you can see from these two sets of pictures, the Circle K at the corner of Two Notch Road & the Trenholm Road Extension is closed, the pumps have been demolished, and apparently the storage tanks have been dug up, or that is the next step.

The store here was much smaller than the current Circle K style, and to me the lot does not look big enough to put in one on their new standard lines. In the case of a similar situation on Bethel Church, they removed the pumps and tanks and then put the building on the market. I expect they will do the same here, unless they go as far as razing the building entirely.

(Hat tip to commenter Thomas)

UPDATE 28 February 2023 -- As mentioned again by commenter Thomas, this building has now been razed:

UPDATE 29 March 2023: Updating tags.

UPDATE 16 January 2024 -- Now a Valvoline Instant Oil Change:

I never stopped at this Market Express though I do remember noticing it from time to time. While the property light poles aren't quite the kind of gull-wing fixtures I really like on vintage buildings, they are a bit better than most current ones.

Commenter Larry suggests that the lot is to become a car wash which seems like poor siting to me, but then I don't drive that stretch too often.

(Hats off to Larry)

UPDATE 11 Aug 2021: Forgot to put a date on the initial post. I'm guessing "Spring 2021" and have added that.

This mailbox store was the end unit in the venerable Jimmy's Mart strip on Two Notch Road. I noticed a few weeks ago that it is now vacant.

Somewhere in this area was a auto-carwash which seemed to vanish almost overnight, but I can't quite place it.

Some time ago, the Toyota Center franchaise moved from Airport Boulevard to Sunset Boulevard and branded as Fred Anderson Toyota. As reported by commenter Alan, the franchaise is now Peter Boulware Toyota. I can't find any media stories about this online, but it apparently happened around May of 2021. Fred Anderson appears to still have dealerships in at least Charleston & Raleigh.

(Hat tip to commenter Alan)

East Coast Granite & Marble was the follow-on operation in this former residence on Sunset Boulevard after Chandler Chiropractic relocated. As far as I can tell, East Coast has also relocated, to 1809 Sunset Boulevard, which is on the other side of I-26 from here.

I noticed this closed variety store on Leesburg Road last weekend. I am unable to find the full name of the place, but google streetview confirms the sign has been that way since 2018.

This location of Mattress Firm is one that survived the big wave of store closing a few years ago, but it has now pulled up the sheets. As commenter Matt points out, it was just across the street from another mattress store, which can't have helped matters much.

Somehow or other I managed to drive by hundreds of times over the years without ever fixing it in my mind that the store was here, and probably dozens of times in the past month without noticing the closing flags. We'll see what comes next -- the location is not bad, with stoplight access and a good bit of traffic.

(Hat tip to commenter Matt)