Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I was out driving on yesterday and noticed a For Lease sign in the window of Corma's, which shared a building with Ed Robinson (just re-opened) near Gills Creek on Forest Drive.

A look at their website confirms that unfortunately they will not be coming back after being caught in the Great Flood. They had moved to this building in 2008 after leaving nearby Trenholm Plaza. Interestingly, their old location, though actually nearer to the creek is somewhat higher and did not flood.

I had not noticed until recently that Sato on Beltline took major flood damage and is closed for repair. In retrospect it makes sense as the restaurant is located at the low point of Beltline as it comes down from Forest Drive and before it starts back up towards Trenholm Road. Looking at google maps, it appears that the nearby creek which presumably did the damage is called Orphanage Branch, a name I can't ever recall hearing.

Printer cartridge re-furbisher Cartridge World on Forest Drive have closed their storefront operations. I used them for a LaserJet cartridge a while back, and it is still working fine in my printer.

(Hat tip to my sister)

Hopefully I can add some commentary tomorrow, but for now I just want to get these pictures out there.

UPDATE 16 October 2015: Ok, I was under the weather for a few days, but let me add a little text here now.

First, I am happy to say that even as these pictures were taken, on Sunday 11 October 2015, recovery work was in full stride. All the flooded and gutted buildings on Forest Drive had evidence that of ongoing work and cleanup, and I noticed today (15 October 2015) that the Garden Center in Forest Lake Shopping Center was once again stocked and open for business.

Read the rest of this entry »

Today's post & pix come from commenter Mr. BO, who says

http://www.relevecafeandcatering.com/

I'm going to miss this one. They served breakfast and lunch. They
specialized in breakfast pastry and eclectic lunches. My favorite was
the Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla. Their burgers were pretty good but they
insisted on using fancy greens for their salads.

It was a Mom & Pop operation (A married couple with perhaps one more
hired help from time to time.) One of their parents took ill so they've
been closed for about a month then decided to pack up to another state
where the parent is located.

Picture # 1 is when they first opened up around a year ago. # 2 is them
closed.

I'll note that Releve's was in the old China Max slot in the food court.

(Hat tip, obviously, to Mr. BO)

Commenter mamarose notes the upcoming closing of Jack and Jane Sport in Trenholm Plaza.

I have to admit that since I don't like clothes shopping and since nobody has ever mistaken me for someone who does sports, I couldn't place this storefront in my mind and had to drive around the plaza looking for it. In the event, it turns out to be in the suite formerly occupied by La Bag Lady which closed in 2012.

It appears to be chilly in there.

(Hat tip to commenter mamarose)

Well, I was sorry to see this. Hooligan's has been a long-time presence at Trenholm Plaza, and has continued the ice cream tradition that started in that location with Edisto Farms Dairy.

I didn't go to Hooligan's that often, but they were dependable, and had excellent ice (the chewy kind) for the drinks. At one time, when my eldest niece was in her terrible twos, Hooligan's was the only place my sister could take her out as it was kid friendly, and cranky-kid friendly.

(Hat tip to commenter mamarose)

UPDATE 29 January 2018: According to The State, this is to be BLD Diner

a hip version of the American classic diner, offering everything from omelets and fresh squeezed juice in the morning to a full prime rib dinner in the evenings

UPDATE 14 May 2018 -- The sign for BLD Diner is up:

UPDATE 6 August 2018 -- BLD Diner is now open in this slot:

Given that we are several days into Spring at this point, I think it is safe to say that the rooftop garden shop at Richland Mall is not just closed for the season, but is apparently closed for good.

Forest Acres still has several sites for garden supplies including the Ace Hardware nearby in the old Ritz building and the garden shop in the old First Citizen's bank at Forest Lake Shopping Center.

Another day, another Radio Shack. Sic transit gloria mundi.

This one is in the Wal Mart plaza at Forest & I-77, and is I believe the same operating unit that was originally in a free-standing building near the current Forest Drive Rite Aid and then in Trenholm Plaza. If so, this is the Radio Shack that I historically cut my teeth at. I used to take tubes to be tested at the freestanding location all the time, and bought (or talked my parents into buying) a number of hobby kits there. Later, I was a member of the Battery Of The Month club at the Trenholm Plaza location, and got what I call my "lucky" screwdrivers as a free BOTM gift there. ('Lucky' in that I've had them for over 30 years now, and have never lost or broken them -- yet). I remember I used to manage my BOTM days so that I could get one battery on the last day of a month, and then the next day, get another on the first day of the next month. [This was important since, a) it always took at least two batteries to do anything, and b) I never had any money]

I don't believe I ever actually went into this store after it moved to the current location. By that time, I was living out of town, had enough money to buy batteries, and had bid adieu to vacuum tubes.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

Kids' art studio, Tag It Art closed on 9 January 2015. You can see the classy farewell message here.

Forest Village is the little two-strip plaza that I still think of as the home of The Happy Bookseller though The Happy Cafe now occupies that spot.

(Hat tip to my sister)