Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Judy's was the follow-on operation to Baker Brothers American Deli in this outparcel building at the Target shopping center in Lexington.

I hadn't really checked the building out since dong the Barker Brothers closing, so I wasn't sure when I took the daylight pictures here whether Judy's was coming in or going out -- there was certainly some sort of activity inside.

Commenter Russ later pointed out that it was in fact a closing, and the later nighttime pictures show the place with real-estate info in the windows.

(Hat tip to commenter Russ)

UPDATE 20 August 2013 -- Work on becoming Chicken Salad Chick has begun:

UPDATE 10 March 2014 -- Chicken Salad Chick is open:

Here's an interesting little restaurant building in Lexington. It was last a San Jose until that operation relocated to 115 North Point Drive, but the building obviously predates that. It has a familiar look, but I can't quite place it. I would say the front extension was not part of the original building.

The building looks a bit forlorn now, but the murals are a nice touch.

UPDATE 22 April 2013: Added Taco Cid to the post title based on the comments and the 1985 phonebook.

UPDATE 29 NOvember 2017 -- as mentioned elsewhere by commenter ED, this building has now been razed:

UPDATE 30 August 2022: Updating tags and adding map icon.

UPDATE 25 January 2023: Add tag.

I don't have a street number and so couldn't find out the name, but this little vacant lot adjoining Sunset Court was a used car operation in the not too distant past, though as you can see, their stock is now rather limited:

I rather like Schlotsky's and used to go to the Parklane location fairly often when I worked at home, and when it was still open. To my mind, the sourdough buns differentiate their sandwiches from all the sub places in a pleasing way, if that's what I'm in the mood for. And Cinnabon, of course, is pure sticky goodness, one of the few things I used to look forward to in going to airports.

I believe the closing of this store leaves the Dutch Square location on Bush River Road as the last one in the metro area, and I'm afraid it was looking a bit down-at-the-heels last time I dropped by.

(I note that the roadside marquee still lists Jamestown Coffee. And what's up with that balcony?).

(Hat tip to commenter Susie)

UPDATE 16 October 2013 -- This place is now well underway to becoming a Zoe's Kitchen:

Well, sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't. It certainly appears to be the latter case here. This Monterrey is in the strip mall associated with the Sunset Boulevard Wal-Mart in Lexington, and, given the manger scene still not taken down, appears to have closed sometime around Christmas.

(Hat tip to commenter Beth)

I noticed this "stuff for the holes in your house" store driving on Sunset last weekend. They are listed in the February 2012 phonebook so apparently they closed up shop sometime last year.

Presumably they meant "Vista" in the scenic sense as they aren't really close to the Congaree Vista..

Marion Burnside Chrysler Plymouth was a constant breakfast-table presence while I was growing up due to their memorable commercials on WIS Radio. At this remove, it a little cloudy what the exact lyrics to their jingle were, but clearly they spelled out the word "Marion" and drove home the fact that they were at "Seventy Two Oh One on the Sumter Highway!". Here's the way several people recall it (as first seen on the Ads & Jingles page:

Mar-i-on is the name to remember,
7201 on the Sumter High-Way!
M-- "More Service"
A-- "Able to Serve You"
R-- "Real Value"
I-- "something something!"
O--"something something!"
N--"something something!"
Today!

(me)

M A R, I O N,
Marion Burnside Plymouth in Columbia
M for Marion Burnside Plymouth in Columbia
A at 7201 the Sumter Highway
R ready to serve you
I integrity
O opportunity
N now go!

(commenter Dennis)

M- Marion Brunside Chrysler Plymouth in Columbia
A- address 7201 Sumter Highway
R- ready to serve you
I- Integrity
O- Opportunity
N- Now Come

(commenter GB)

It's a bit hard to conceptualize now, but before I-77 and the growth of the metro area, this lot was way out in the boonies, or at least that's how I considered it. It was something we would pass on the way to the beach, and not something I considered as being "in town" at all. In the event, we were a Ford/Mecury family in those days (something 1970s' Mecurys cured us of), so I never actually paid a visit to Marion Burnside, and am a bit hazy as to when it closed. I'm thinking the late 1970s, but I could be wrong.

Jim Hudson moved into the Marion building sometime later, and had been there quite a while by the time they got caught up earlier this month in the general flight to Blythewood that has already taken Dick Dyer Toyota, Lexus of Columbia and a surprising number of other dealerships.

After a long series of days when I could only take pictures as the sun went down, or when the day was completely overcast, I had some hopes for these pictures. In particular, the sidelot with all the little plastic flags strung up was quite photogenic as they glittered in the early afternoon sun. Of course, the instant I got out of the car, the sun went behind the clouds, and I got yet another gray set of pix. The only partial benefit was that shooting against the sun as I had to do for most of these was a little less bad (Less bad, but still *bad*).

(Hat tip to commenter Frank)

UPDATE 2 May 2016 -- It appears that Dick Smith Ford is about ready to open:

Driving back from Moe's in Lexington recently, I noticed that Exotica International in the strip mall at the corner of Sunset & Mallard Lakes Drive, is having a retirement sale. Well, retiring someplace sunny sounds like a good plan this time of year. I'm not sure when the final closing will be, but I would expect them to plan for Black Friday and the shopping season, so am going to guess December though of course they may sell out earlier.

UPDATE 13 March 2013: Articles in The State mention that the owners, Governor Haley's parents, have retired. The store remains open presumably under new ownership.

UPDATE -- But they could be wrong:

I've driven by Jamestown Coffee Company a good many times on my way to Pizzeria Uno, but on my way there, it would be a bad time to stop because I was about to have a meal, and on my way back, it would be closed.

Now they have moved from their Lexington-ish location to downtown Columbia. As story in The State details, they have reopened inside Cromer's on Huger Street.

The story mentions losing their lease as the precipitate cause, but you have to wonder if the drive-through espresso kiosk across the street wasn't a factor as well.

(Hat tip to commenters Andy & Matt)

UPDATE 16 October 2013 -- The old location of Jamestown Coffee is now Tropical Smoothie Cafe:

Commenter Sidney reported this closing just recently, but it appears to me that it may have happened last year. At least, this little thrift store on the east side of Cedar Terrace is listed in the February 2011 phonebook but not in this year's (February 2012). I think the little window bunny is the sadest thing..

In the same wing of the plaza (though not really in front of the thrift store) is one of those generic soda machines that you very rarely see anymore. It looks as though it may have been doing duty there for the last 40 years.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)