Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

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)

Mary & Martha's in Forest Park is closing shop in the coming weeks. The State Reports:

Owner Beverley Tuller has started a liquidation sale to sell most of the items as she prepares to close the shop in March if she can't sell it first.

"I've had a couple of nibbles, but nothing has really panned out yet," Tuller said of a potential buyer, adding she will keep the store open longer if she has a contract in place to allow for a smooth transition.

Given the above, I'm not exactly sure where the name of the shop comes from, but I have been in there several times. As I recall, I bought a double-boiler, and an apple peeling machine (that worked better than I expected). It's not the kind of place a guy like me needs often, but always a nice option to have when I *do* need it.

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 thought I had a picture of this place in operation, but find I can't put my hands on it now.

This Richland Mall storefront is the old Eckerd's location, and I believe that up until the time Posh Pets grooming moved in, it had been vacant since the closing of that store. I am also pretty sure that for some reason, while it was Posh Pets the location had no interior signage or mall access.

I believe that Posh was only here for a year or two and has sinced moved out to Fort Jackson Boulevard and Sparkleberry.

UPDATE 11 November 2014 -- Here are those pictures I was looking for with the place in operation:

Commenter Mr. BO notes the passing of ANDeli's in Richland Mall sending in the last two pictures and noting that:

They were exhibiting several of the Signs
that they were about to close

1) Not maintaining regular business hours
2) Regular employees not there
3) Running out of routine things.

ANDeli's was actually one of the few recent stalwarts to move into Richland Mall. As you can see from their closing sign, they opened circa 2012, while the first shot above, taken on 13 July 2008, shows the storefront was vacant on that date with the original tenant being already long gone. The second shot is from 26 April 2013 and shows the place in operation.

(Hat tip to Mr. BO, obviously)

UPDATE 19 September 2014: Added 26 April 2013 shot.

UPDATE 22 September 2014: Added Great American Cookie Company to the post title based on the comments.

Here's a bit more bad news from Richland Mall, and this in one of the most high visibility areas, just across the corridor from Barnes & Noble.

UPDATE 18 September 2014 -- Added the first shot above, taken on 13 July 2008, showing the gallery in operation.

I have some other pictures of this place with the whole "Blue Ocean" moniker still on the sign if I recall correctly. As soon as I come across them, I'll add them as an update. Anyway, I've noticed for a couple of months that this place on Forest Drive more or less across from the old Bojangles was closed. I wasn't entirely sure it was gone for good though until late June when I noticed a new placard proclaiming that the location would soon be Fish & More. Still sounds fishy to me..

UPDATE 15 July 2014 -- Added the first two pictures above, with the original name still on the sign.

If you look closely at the three pictures above (especially the last one), you can see China Max in operation at the (second) Richland Mall food court.

Commenter MrBO sends in the next two pictures, showing that China Max has now moved shop from the food court to Harden Street. I believe this leaves the food court completely empty, possibly leading some of the call center folks to actually try the pizza at the Barnes & Nobel cafe.

This is another in a long series of blows to the mall, which would be bad enough, but management adds to the problem by adopting an air of defeat, as in, for instance, turning off the elevator fountains and pool, retiring the Christmas singing bears and more recently, closing off the upper level entrance and walk-through for Belk's:

(Hat tip to commenter MrBO)

15 July 2014 -- added an additional picture, though it doesn't really add much value.

Commenter Dennis scooped The State in reporting that Cafe Caturra in Trenholm Plaza would be closing to reopen as a Tazza Kitchen, and in fact the place has now closed, and is in the process of being revamped with the marquee letters being taken down today. I first knew this spot as Ed Robinson cleaners, and most recently it was the location of the UPS Store before it moved across the plaza.

I don't know exactly what it was, but I never warmed to Cafe Caturra. It seemed like the kind of thing I would like, and was conveniently located, but on the few occasions I went there, I didn't find anything that really hit the spot. The menu for Tazza Kitchen has some promising items (the guacamole sounds good!), but it also seems to have a number of similarities to Rosso by the Post Office.

(Hat tip to commenter Dennis)

UPDATE 11 July 2014: Tazza Kitchen is now open as partially seen in these rather bad pictures:

Well, I see I've already done a somewhat confused post on Wristwatch Doc when they opened a workspace on Fort Jackson Boulevard, but I'm going to make this a new post anyway.

As of yesterday, they have moved from the storefront on Forest Drive in the Brueggers building and out to 534 Knox Abbott Drive in Cayce. This, of course, is the former Signs 2 Go location.

I wish them well, but it was very convenient for me to have my watch batteries changed and get new bands at the Forest Drive location.

UPDATE 28 April 2014 -- The Forest Drive storefront and message: