Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Well, this one is a shame as I used to go in here all the time back when I was shooting film, and always found the staff friendly and helpful. (I'm sure they would have told me to never shoot against the sun as I had to in the front-on daytime picture!)

Of course, I found that after I went digital, I went in there much less often, and I think that applied to many other shutterbugs as well.

I would still go in to use the nice large format printer if I wanted to have something framed, but generally that was only a couple of pictures a year, which is not enough to offset the loss of the film business.

UPDATE 26 Feb 2013 -- As reported by commenter Justin, this place is to become an Ace Hardware (though it seems a bit small to me):

I believe I went into this Yumilicious on Forest Drive once last year. While in theory I liked the idea, in the event every single variety of yogurt was either low-fat or no-fat, so I ended up going across the street to Baskin Robbins.

The closing sign mentions that the Lexington store is still open. Or, if you would rather stay in Forest Acres, 32 Degrees is still in Trenholm Plaza.

And no, I'm not going to try to figure out how to put the dots over the 'm' :-)

(Hat tip to commenter Matt)

UPDATE 9 January 2013 -- It's now a Chiropractic clinic called The Joint:

A distant view of the whole shopping center plot:

The First Citizens stands more or less exactly where Campbell's Drugstore was:

The new Forest Acres Town Clock:

The Talbot's building is where the far end of the first building was:

This is the second building of Forest Lake Shopping Center which is still standing today:

Sakura was Christo's Roast Beef House as well as Moolan's Hide-Away, Biddie Banquet and serveral other restaurants:

Coplon's was originally Colonial grocery:

This was originally Dobbs House and several other restaurants:

The Forest Lake Shopping Center Park was originally owned by Colonial and fell into disrepair after that store closed:

This was the original location of Forest Lake TV:

The current garden center (not to be confused with the one sometimes listed below) and Webb Rawls gallery/framing center share the old First Citizens location, with the gallery being in the old main building (the vault is still in there) and the garden center being in the drive-through buildings and parking lot. I suspect the listings below give several different bank tenants for this slot, but I'm not sure which are here and which are elsewhere in the shopping center:

Forest Lake Shopping Center was the name of the shopping center at the North-East corner of Trenholm Road & Forest Drive, across Forest Drive from Trenholm Plaza and across Trenholm Road from Five Guys and Forest Acres Town Hall.

As I remember Forest Lake Shopping Center it never quite thrived the way Trenholm Plaza did, and over the years it gradually got a bit dowdy. In the end, instead of giving the place some TLC and a facelift, the main building was torn down to be replaced by a two new ones, a First Citizens bank and Talbot's. (Just recently the Forest Acres town clock was put up at the corner of the old Shopping Center Space).

The second original building of Forest Lake Shopping Center still stands and now houses Coplon's, Sakura and several other shops.

As you can see from the listings below, the city directory went back and forth on whether Dobb's House (in the corner of the parking lot) and the Garden Center (across Gills Creek) were offical parts of the shopping center or not. You can also see that they also incorrectly listed Trenholm Plaza fixtures Piggly Wiggly and the Post Office as being in Forest Lake Shopping Center

Rather than reproducing images from the city directories, I have opted to type them in, so search engines can find them here. That means I have probably made some typos that I will fix as they are pointed out. Also note that the early listings for the shopping center did not have suite numbers. When they started being given, I have reproduced them. Even then, not every shop was always given a number.

I have given 1982 as the closing date for Forest Lake Shopping Center because that was the last year it was a separate listing in the City Directory. Apparently at that point, they gave up running it as a going shopping center, and thereafter every shop got its own street address. However, the building was not torn down until sometime after 1984. I should have continued looking in directories after that, but for some reason I did not.

1957

No separate listing for Forest Lake Shopping Center as such was given in the 1957 city directory, but a number of the shops are listed as standalones.

Forest Lake Laundromat
Forest Lake Radio & Television Service
Mayfield's Barber Shop
Cooper Agency Inc
Perpetual Building & Loan Association
Mutual Properties Inc.
Mutual Savings & Loan Co
Cooper-Shawview Hts Inc
Forest Lake Water Wks district office
Southern States Construction
Mrs. Eliz B. Bailey (liquor)
Forest Lake Hardware
Ardis Texaco Service Station
Campbell's Forest Lake Pharmacy
Piggly Wiggly
Forest Lake Beauty Salon

1958

Dodd's 5-10-25¢ Stores Inc
Mel's Kiddie Land (toys)
Lad 'N Lassie Shops Inc (children's clothes)
Brooks Brown Forest Acres Florist
Bagnal's Appliances & Paint
Your Shop (clothing)
Eau Claire Bakery
Calhoun Life Insurance
Colonial Stores Inc
The Commercial Bank & Trust Co of SC
Forest Lake Shopping Center
Carol Glass School of Dance
Gillespie's Forest Lake Laundromat
Forest Lake Radio & Television Service
Mayfield's Barber Shop
Cooper Agency Inc (real estate)
Perpetual Building & Loan Association
Mutual Properties Inc
Mutual Savings & Loan Co
Cooper-Shawview Hts Inc (real estate)
Forest Lake Water Works (district Office No 1)
Southern States Construction Co
Mrs. Eliz B. Bailey (liquor)
Forest Lake Hardware
US PO
Ardis Texaco Service Station
Campbell's Drug Stores Inc
Piggly Wiggly
Forest Lake Beauty Salon

1959

Dodd's 5-10-25¢ Stores Inc
Mel's Kiddie Land (toys)
Lad 'N Lassie Shops Inc (children's clothes)
Brooks Brown Florist
Forest Lake Mens Shop Inc
Garber's Shoes
Your Shop (clothing)
Eau Claire Bakery
Colonial Stores Inc
Lampland
Perry mortage & Realty Co
The Commercial Bank & Trust Co of SC
Forest Lake Garden Center
Carol Glass School of Dance
Gillespie's Forest Lake Laundromat
Forest Lake Radio & Television Service
Mayfield's Barber Shop
Cooper Agency Inc (real estate)
Perpetual Building & Loan Association
Mutual Properties Inc
Mutual Savings & Loan Co
Forest Lake Water Works (district Office No 1)
Southern States Construction Co
Mrs. Eliz B. Bailey (liquor)
Forest Lake Hardware
US PO
Campbell's Drug Stores Inc
Andrew A. Manning Jr (physician)
Elmo J. Schmidt (dentist)
Piggly Wiggly
Forest Lake Beauty Salon

1960

Dodd's 5-10-25¢ Stores Inc
Mel's Kiddie Land (toys)
Lad 'N Lassie Shops Inc (children's clothes)
Brooks Brown Florist
Forest Lake Mens Shop Inc
Garber's Shoes
Your Shop (clothing)
Forest Acres Realty Co
Eau Claire Bakery
Colonial Stores Inc
Lampland
Perry Realty & Mortgage Co
The Commercial Bank & Trust Co of SC
Forest Lake Garden Center
Carol Glass School of Dance
Gillespie's Forest Lake Laundromat
Forest Lake Radio & Television Service
Mayfield's Barber Shop
Cooper Agency Inc (real estate)
Perpetual Building & Loan Association
Mutual Properties Inc
Mutual Savings & Loan Co
Forest Lake Water Works (district Office No 1)
Southern States Construction Co
Mrs. Eliz B. Bailey (liquor)
Forest Lake Hardware
US PO
Campbell's Drug Stores Inc
Andrew A. Manning Jr (physician)
Elmo J. Schmidt (dentist)
Piggly Wiggly
Forest Lake Beauty Salon

1961

Dodd's 5-10-25¢ Stores Inc
Mel's Kiddie Land (toys)
Lan (sic) 'N Lassie Shops Inc (children's clothes)
Brooks Brown Florist
Forest Lake Mens Shop Inc
Garber's Shoes
Your Shop (clothing)
Forest Acres Realty Co Inc
Eau Claire Bakery
Colonial Store's Inc
Lampland
Perry Realty & Mortgage Co
The Commercial Bank & Trust Co of SC
Forest Lake Garden Center
Carol Glass School of Dance
Gillespie's Forest Lake Laundromat
Forest Lake Radio & Television Service
Mayfield's Barber Shop
Cooper Agency Inc
Perpetual Building & Loan Association
Mutual Properties Inc
Mutual Savings & Loan Co
Forest Lake Water Works (District Office No 1)
Southern States Construction Co
Mrs. Eliz B. Bailey (liquor)
Forest Lake Hardware
USPO
Campbell's Drug Stores Inc
Mrs. Theodosia G. Orr (physician)
Mrs. Serena R. Clark (physician)
Elmo J. Schmidt (dentist)
Piggley Wigly
Forest Lake Beauty Salon

1962

Forest Acres Town Clerk
Dodd's 5-10-25¢ Stores Inc
Lan (sic) 'N Lassie Shops Inc (childrens' clothing)
Forest Lake Men's Shop Inc
Garber's Shoes
Your Shop (clothing)
Forest Acres Realty Co Inc
Eau Claire Bakery
Colonial Stores Inc
Lampland
Perry Realty & Mortage Co
The Commercial Bank & Trust Co of SC
Forest Lake Garden Center
Bankers Securities Inc
Carol Glass School of Dance
Forest Lake Laundromat
Forest Lake Radio & Television Service
Mayfield's Barber Shop
Cooper Agency Inc
Prepetual Building & Loan Co
Southern States Construction Co
Mrs Eliz B Bailey (liquor)
Forest Lake Hardware
Campbell's Drug Stores Inc
Mrs. Theodosia G. Orr (physician)
Mrs. Serena R. Clark (physician)
Dobb's House (restaurant)
Elmo J Schmidt (dentist)
Piggly Wiggly
Forest Lake Beauty Salon

1970

1 Forest Lake Pharmacy Inc
1a Phillips Petroleum Co
10 Forest Lake Beauty Salon
11 Dodd's 5-10-25 Cent Store
12 Flowers By Brooks
13 Norman's Lampland
14 Forest Lake Knitting Shop
16 Union Oil Co of California
16 Forest Lake Fabric Center
17 Calvert-Brodie School of Dance
18 Perry White Realty Co
19 Jack Owen Photography
20 Elmo J. Schmidt (dentist)
21 Forest Acres Realty Co
22 Colonial Stores Inc
23 Town of Forest Acres City Hall
24 Christos Roast Beef House
25 Forest Lake Radio & Television Serivce

1975

1 Forest Lake Pharmacy
1a Lob's Volley Tennis
10 Forest Lake Beauty
11 Fabrific Fabric Center
11a The Jade Clock
12 Flowers By Brooks
13 Carolina Lamp & Shade
14 Forest Lake Knitting
15 Union Oil Co of California
16 Forest Lake Drapery & Upholstery Fabric Center
17 Jack Owen Photography
18 White Realty Co
19 Ladder Escape Co
20 Elmo J. Schmidt (dentist)
Christos Roast Beef House
21 Forest Acreas Realty
22 Colonial Stores Inc
Forest Lake Radio & Television Service
23 Registered Nurses & L P N Registry
Dial-A-Sitter
Vogue Stylons
24 Calvert-Brodie School of Dance
Fabrific Fabric Center
26 The Dance Store

1980

1 Forest Lake Pharmacy Inc
10 Forest Lake Beauty Salon
11 The Lily Gilder (women's clothing)
12 Flowers By Brooks
13 The Golf Bag
14 Forest Lake Knitting Shop
15 Case Brothers House of Music
Brides of Carolina
16 Forest Lake Drapery & Upholstry Fabric Center Inc
17 Vacant
18 Capital Independent Adjuster
20 Skandia Restaurant
22 Forest Lake TV Repair
23 The Nurse Registry
Palmetto Nurses Registry Rev Richard C. Acker Director
Peachtree Nurses Registry Rev Richard C. Acker Director
Poste Bidders (printing)
Dial-A-Sitter
24 Calvert-Brodie School of Dance
26 Howard S. Denny, Jr (dentist)

1982

Last separate listing for Forest Lake Shopping Center

1 Forest Lake Pharmacy
7 The Lily Gilder (clothing)
8 Brides of Carolina
10 Forest Lake Beauty Salon
12 Flowers By Brooks
13 Heritage Printing Co
14 Forest Lake Knitting Shop
15 Case Brothers House of Music
15 Forest Lake Drapery & Upholstery Fabric Center Inc
17 The Cache Pot
18 Mitchell Music Co
20 Skandia Restaurant
21 Erik Florander
22 Forest Lake TV Repair
23 Ralph E. Walden & Associates (architects)
24 Calvert-Brodie School of Dance
26 Howard S. Denny, Jr. (dentist)

1983

Shops now listed as individual street addresses

4803 M. L. Sweets (confectionery)
4805 Majik Market Food Store No. 39
4807 The Picture Place (framer)
4809 Silver Fox Tennis Shop
4811 Forest Lake Barber Service
4813 Cooper Insurance Agency
Perpetual Trust Co
4815 Southern States Construction
4819 Schmidt Liquors
4825 Good Wood Unfinished Furniture

1984

4803 M. L. Sweets (confectionery)
4805 Majik Market Food Store No. 39
4807 The Picture Place (framer)
4809 Silver Fox Tennis Shop
4811 Forest Lake Barber Service
4813 Cooper Insurance Agency
Perpetual Trust Co
4815 Southern States Construction
4819 Schmidt Liquors
4825 Ashby's (clothing)

UPDATE 19 October 2012: I have been reminded in the comments that this shopping center pre-dates Trenholm Plaza and that the Piggly Wiggly and Post Office did in fact start here before moving across the street. (Piggly Wiggly is, of course now long gone, but the Post Office remains in Trenholm Plaza).

I noticed while at Starbucks the other night that the one of Trenholm Plaza's three banks, Capital Bank, while remainging open, is doing major remodeling.

I believe that Capital Bank is a fairly new name for this building, which has been a number of different banks over the years.

Well, given that I did a Forest Drive Bojangles closing just a few days ago, I don't have too much new to say about this one. My sister tells me that she is nearly sure the store was open on Sunday 19 August 2012, so I'm putting the closing date as the following Monday: 20 August. (These shots were taken on 23 August, but the paper in The State rack was for 21 August).

Despite the total lack of signage, several cars pulled into the lot while I was taking these pix.

(Hat tips to pharman99 & my sister)

p>UPDATE 4 September 2013 -- Well, as reported by commenter Amy, demolition has started:

UPDATE 13 December 2013 -- Here are some pictures from 10 November 2013 as the new building started going up. I notice they managed to kill the best tree on the lot:

UPDATE 1 May 2014 -- As mentioned by commenter Ken, this is to be a Panda Express:

UPDATE 19 June 2014 -- Looks like it's pretty close to opening:

UPDATE 28 June 2014 -- Panda Express is open:

UPDATE 24 February 2024: Updating tags and adding map icon.

But I swear I never let him off the leash!

Forest Lake Spirits & Fine Wines was one of the follow on operation in the old Dobbs House / Steak 'n Egg Kitchen building (next to Gills Creek and Forest Lake Park).

It appears that the building is now broken into three storefronts, and Forest Lake Spirits & Fine Wines was the leftmost one. You can see the attached picnic/patio area which I believe was the deck from the last time the place was a restaurant (which was well after the Steak 'n Egg era). I stopped there several times to pick up some cooking spirits for tiramisu, cheesecake and eggnog. The staff was quite friendly, but I believe that each time, I was the only customer in the store.

I'm not exactly sure when the place closed, but they are listed in the February 2012 phonebook, so I'm saying early 2012. Or, I suppose it's possible they will be back at 1:35.

UPDATE 25 September 2012 -- Something is happening here. There are dumpsters both in front and behind the building and people in and out:

UPDATE 18 December 2012: It appears a new restaurant will be going in here. See the pictures here.

Commenter Matt mentions that this building at the corner of Forest & Sunnyside Drives, more or less across the street from Zesto, is being remodeled from multiple suites into a single space, and now we can see that it is going to be a Matress Source.

Putting the address into google turns up a number of former tenants.

Since the web site of MBenton Personal Training still lists this address as their gym (ie: hasn't been updated), I suspect they are no longer around. Michael's Cleaners still has a number of locations in Columbia, but I don't know if one of them moved from here or if they are seperate ownership. Posh Pets had several locations, and seems to have moved this one to 3400 Forest Drive. Jackie's Uniforms has moved to Sunnyside. Ashley's Studio is not listed in the current phonebook.

(Hat tip to commenter Matt)

UPDATE 19 December 2022: Updating tags and adding map icon.

When The State announced Good Wood's closing back in February, I have to admit that my immediate thought was to wonder what would become of the streetside rocking chair of which I have always been fond. The chair, the gull-wing lights and the cut-out lettering on the Harrison Road fence all give the place a distinctive and appealing look.

The State article is interesting in that it, once again, points to demographic problems for businesses in the Forest Acres area. I suppose I can understand it in the case of a furniture store, as the biggest market for furniture is young families setting up, but it still seems to me that the Richland Mall area ought to be able to tap into the generally financially comfortable suburban residents.

Apparently the store was to close its doors Saturday 2 June, but the closing sale has extended to "Make an offer Monday" on 4 June, so you still have a day left to buy the rocker.

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