Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

When I became aware of Firefly Toys & Games, it was because they had moved from their Sunset Boulevard location to this spot beside the Chef Store on Saint Andrews Road.

When I was diving that stretch of road recently, I noticed their storefront is now on the other side of the street in the old Fred's location. Looking at their Facebook page I was unable to determine exactly when they moved, but was able to determine that they have a lot going on! If you're into gaming at all, it looks like they have a meet-up for you.

UPDATE 17 December 2019 -- I had the date in the post title as '2019' for lack on anything better. Commenter Erick supplies the date "September 2018" and I have updated the title to reflect that.

I had this store confused with Michael's on the corner of Saint Andrews & Piney Grove, which is still open. This spot is a bit further up the street.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 6 April 2022 -- I'm not sure what happened in the intervening period -- I guess it must have opened again, but this place is going out of business once more:

I don't really get over to this side of Sandhill very often, and I didn't actually remember that there was a Kitty's here. My favorite's were always Hallmark Lite: 1/3 Less Serious Than Regular Cards, and I was disappointed when they discontinued them years ago. I still do like the Shoebox label, albeit not quite as much.

This closure leaves Kitty's without a store in Columbia, though they are still in the Midlands with Irmo & Lexington locations.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

UPDATE 24 August 2022: Updating tags.

I admit to having been completely underwhelmed the two (I believe) times I visited a Fatz. In theory I wanted to like a local chain made good, but in the event I just was not impressed. This location, on Broad River Road past Lake Murray Boulevard, was not one I had been to, though I was aware it was there. As commenter Heath (who provided some of these pictures, including the one showing that the power meter has been pulled) noted, there was no sign on the door, or any indication that the store was closed except for a makeshift barricade at the front, and the total lack of cars.

On the side of the lot there is a real estate sign, but it appears to pertain to the property behind Fatz, and as commenter Tom notes, the Fatz web site still lists this location, so I am not sure what is going on.

(Hat tip to commenter Heath for heads-up & pix)

UPDATE 31 August 2020: Update tags.

UPDATE 24 April 2024: Now an Konnichiwa Japanese restaurant:

I was actually in this Bojangles earlier this year when I had a hankering for a sausage biscuit, and I was perfectly happy with it. The restaurant is in a decent spot with plenty of drive-by traffic on Two Notch, so I'm not sure what the story here was.

At some point, I hope to get a shot of the whole building in brighter light, but for now this will have to do.

(Hat tip to commenter John)

UPDATE 7 February 2020 -- As mentioned in the comments, this building has been razed and will be rebuilt (still as a Bojangles):

UPDATE 14 May 2020 -- The new building is going up:

UPDATE 18 May 2002 -- Still coming along:

UPDATE 23 February 2024: Updating tags.

Folks,

The calendar is down to just one page again. Don't go into the New Year confused about what day it is. Get your 2020 Pawleys Island Wall Calendar right here:

Don't leave home without it! Well, actually, do leave it home. On the wall.

It seems to me this nice little building in the little group at the corner of Beltline & Trenholm has been a number of cleaners over the years. I have it in my mind it was an Arnold Palmer's once, and google says it was a Masters fairly recently as well.

UPDATE 5 November 2020 -- This place is now Il Bucato, a takeout Italian joint, where [m]enu items at Il Bucato will include pizza, salads, hot subs and pasta dishes.

The story from ColaDaily is here.

The pictures below were taken during the final stage before opening:

Also adding a map icon..

I don't believe I was ever in Pecknel Music in Five Points, but I was certainly aware that it was there for most of my life.

The State had the story a while before they moved. It was basically a changing market, the lease being up, and certain physical issues:

For instance, the present store’s repair shop is on the second floor, with no elevator.

“You get tired of carrying tubas up the stairs,” Morgan said.

The new location is 930 N Lake Drive in Lexington, which seems to be the Food Lion/Books-A-Million plaza.

And let me refer back to this converstation between commenters Terry & Dennis for some ancient Pecknel Five Points history:

I thought John Futch worked in a music store in 5 Points back around 1970. They had this high powered amp with a huge metal horn mounted on a base with a dolly called The Mother Dude that they kept by the front door. I'm thinking this place was on Harden near the location of the original Backpacker.

Terry

Terry -- wow! I saw the Mother Dude! I heard it in action once in the middle of Five Points and the police showed up immediately. This was at Pecknel's right after they had moved to their current building. For years before that they were across the street where Sid & Nancy's is now.

Dennis

(Hat tip to commenter Matt)

UPDATE 5 April 2020 -- Here are a few pictures I just found of Pecknel from 1 February 2015:

This store closed at the same time as the Parkland Plaza store, but I kept forgetting to get pictures of it until it caught my eye the other night. As of now, six months later, the building is still to be re-purposed. WLTX has the story of the chain's foreclosure.

UPDATE 7 May 2025: Update tags.

What a long, strange tryptophan it's been!