Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

This one is kind of odd. After what was apparently a somewhat prolonged build, the proposed Fresh Market on Sunset Boulevard in Lexingtion was boarded up, giving rise to several local media stories, like this one from The State, that struck a reassuring tone, indicating that the store was still expected to open this Spring (ie: now). Conspicious, however, in the spin of those stories was a very tepid quote from Fresh Market corporate, which said essentially: No Comment.

Then last month The State reported that this store will *not* open in 2018 at all:

The company plans to focus on “improving core operations” at current stores, “so it has decided not to open any previously announced new stores for 2018,” according to a statement issued by the company. “Our focus remains on strengthening and growing our in-store operations, guest service program, merchandising selections, future offerings and, of course, our team members, as well as planning and executing new store openings after 2018.”

This strikes me as an extraordinary statement that has a blood-in-the-water feel to it. If the company had opened the stores it had been building and then put a hold on expansion, nobody would have said anything, but in these hard times for grocers, pausing (forever?) the opening of already (mostly) built locations sends a message quite apart from the bland words. I hope I'm wrong as I quite like the Fresh Market, but it doesn't sound good.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 13 April 2019: The Free Times reports that Fresh Market has abandoned the site and that instead a Publix Greenwise Market will be coming instead.

I've also changed the post title status to Cancelled and added a map icon.

UPDATE 25 August 2020: Changed the street address from "5328 Sunset Boulevard" to "5336 Sunset Boulevard Suite A", to match the buisness address used by Greenwise Market, which opened in this building in December 2019 and closed in August 2020. Also updated the map icon to use the better address.

UPDATE 18 June 2022: It looks like Prisma Health will be going into this site. See here.

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)

Here'a another vacant bank branch, though this one closed a good while ago. I find it a little interesting because Capital Bank has not really been in Columbia all that long in the first place as I recall it. Looking at Wikipedia. Also, it appears that Capital was bought out late last year by First Horizon so the remaining branches are not really the same company though the name will continue to be used except in TN.

It was raining a bit when I took these pictures and I was trying to not get the lens wet. There is a much better picture at the LoopNet listing, which also shows better that part of the building is still occupied by Ellis Physical Therapy.

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)

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)

Well Barberitos at Saluda Pointe is definitely gone, and it looks like a complicated situation.

I actually ate at this location at least four or five times. I first encountered Barberitos in Fernandina Beach Florida and enjoyed it there. At the time I found it, I put it in the category hierarchy below Moe's but above Qdoba & Chipolte (I have yet to visit a Salsarita). The way Moe's has been imploding locally lately, I might have moved it to a regular lunch spot if it were in Forest Acres.

One thing I do find odd about the Columbia locations (here and in the Vista), is that while the Florida stores have the expected ground beef filling available, the Columbia stores have only ground turkey -- I was somewhat put off by that, and went with the veggie option. I don't know why that choice was made, or if it had an impact on sales here. The place was always pretty quiet when I would drop by, but I eat lunch so late that's not a good indicator.

(Hat tip to commenter Jason)

UPDATE 9 July 2018 -- This is to be a Willie Jewell's Old School Bar-B-Q:

Update 27 August 2018 -- Willie Jewell's is open:

As mentioned by commenter Andrew, this Landmark Square Wendy's is being remodeled into the style of the Assembly Street store (though not as tall).

Now, I have only eaten in this Wendy's once, when I was working out on Bluff Road and didn't have time to go all the way to Panera. My observation at the time was that they seemed pretty unclear on the concept of exchanging food for money, or at least on implementing that concept, which a new building won't help.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 21 February 2018 -- Open again: