Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Well, I was unhappy to notice this real estate sign. As I mentioned when they moved, my parents always felt that Bob Andrews dealt with them more fairly and competently than the dealer, and that's usually where we took our cars while I was growing up. Still, a 90+ year run is pretty good by any standard.

I think there have been a few mentions of Chapman Dodge here over the years, but I have absolutely no memory of it, despite the fact we must have driven past the lot often. Currently all that seems to be left is the faded name painted on the back of the building abuting the lot (which I presume was the repair shop).

While this lot has been vacant for many years, it's not uncommon for temporary truck-based businesses to pull in and set up shop for a weekend.

This little strip mall is on the downhill side (north) of Two Notch near Sesqui. Custom Car Stereo is listed in the February 2014 phonebook, so it either closed in 2014 or 2013 after listings closed.

UPDATE 13 May 2020: Add tags & map icon.

Commenter Justin pointed out this place on Have Your Say a while back, but I misread the comment and blogged about the business on the other side of Confederate instead.

This place looks to be an old gas station of some sort, and in this latest incarnation, stuck with an auto theme. Personally, though I know my car gets scalding in the Columbia summers, I find being behind tinted windows makes me uneasy.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

Discount Cars & Trucks was the follow-on operation to Go Used Tires in this old Esso building in Dentsville.

I have to say I can't actually recall seeing any cars or trucks there, though I know there must have been some.

You can look at the corner view in the LoopNet listing for this building at North Main & Confederate and see a portrait format marquee on the side.

Somewhere I have a picture of that marquee up close with the name of the place visible, but as is often the case, knowing I have a picture and being able to put my hands on it in a timely fashion are two sadly different things. Commenter Justin believes this was a window tinting business, and that sounds plausible to me. What google pulls up, however, are references to two different used car operations. If that's accurate, I think they both would have to be from some years ago, as I cannot recall the lot being anything but empty in recent years.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

Well, you've seen the signs, now you can get $10.00 off.

I went to this Jiffylube near the I-20 interchange on Two Notch several times. While sitting in the heat and watching traffic up and down Two Notch is no garden vista, the deck was nice as it got you out of the waiting room and away from the TV.

The siting of this store was interesting as it was directly next to a Precision Tune, just as the Knox Abbott location is almost directly across the street from one.

Update 10 October 2016 -- Now Quackt Glass windshield repair:

Commenter Matt points out that the Pope Davis on the corner of Taylor and Millwood has closed.

This was one of those open-air auto operations that you don't see much anymore -- certainly no more in this style are being built. (And some, like this have been knocked down.)

You can stll see the Bundrick's label scar on the awning. The building is still apparently owned by Pope Davis as it has not been emptied, and as yet there is no For Sale sign.

(Hat top to commenter Matt)

I did a building closing for Prestige Hitech Autowerks when they moved from their old location on Two Notch near Fontaine into the old Dick Dyer Body Shop location at Two Notch and Windover. That was around August 2013, so they lasted a bit over a year in the new location.

In the meantime, as I noted here, the follow-on business at their old location has closed as well.

(Hat tip to commenter David Lee)

Auto Selection was the follow-up operation to K & C Radiator Center in this old gas station building on Two Notch at Covenant, and I believe it lasted about a year.

I have to say I liked the building better in white. I do like the curved facade on the roof, and would like to see the building restored as the sister building on Devine has been.