Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Bricks And Stones is in Woodberry Plaza, along with Big Lots and behind the former Fat Boy. While I was not aware of them, the menu looks pretty good, and perhaps I will try to sneak in there over the next few weeks.

Commenter Robin reports that their facebook put the closing down to inflation, COVID and staffing issues, like all too many places lately. Commenter Andrew sends in this ColaDaily item about the closing as well.

(Hat tip to commenter Heath)

Happy China Buffet was in the Westland Square storefront which used to house Gooney Birds. Last year they moved into the new building built on the old Quincy's lot a few blocks down Sunset towards Lexington.

According to this ColaDaily article, they originally planned to keep the same name, but in the event, they reopened as Blossom Buffet (you can see that the phone numbers are the same).

Here is the new building:

In the meantime, an Olde Country Buffet is to open in the old location:

Veranda Grill was at least the third restaurant in this Elgin-ish spot on Spears Creek Church Road. I wasn't really aware of it, but apparently it was a well regarded Chop House. Based on the timing, I would guess it was a late casualty of Covid-19.

The spot is now occupied by a Peruvian Tapas Restaurant, Ratio, whose fixtures you can see on the paito. (For some reason, I barely got a shot of the actual restaurant storefront -- it's on the right).

I'm afraid this is yet another place I never got around to eating at, despite the fact, according to they closing sign, they were here ten years. They were pretty quick to get the butcher paper up too -- I really was unable to see inside the place at all.

Here is a ColaDaily article on the closing.

(Hat tip to commenter Ellen)

I stopped at Drip a few years ago when I had an appointment down town and I had a bit of time before I had to be on the grid again. I thought it was a decent cup of coffee, not something I would fight parking to have again, but not bad at all.

They closed the main street location on a temporary basis in October, and have recently decided with the ongoing labor and supply-chain problems, they are just going to make it permanent and concentrate on their Five Points location.

The State has the story here.

(Hat tip to commenter Dustin)

I was not aware of Primal Gourmet which is a "kitchen & market" on Meeting Street. Apparently the did a lot of prepared meals as well as being an SCDA flagged marketplace. As commenter Heath reports, they are regrouping while dealing with, staffing, supply-chain, pricing and pandemic issues, and expect to be back in some format soon.

Commenter Andrew supplies this link to a ColaDaily story, and you can read a somewhat longer explanation from their door note if you click through to the large version above. Hopefully they will be back soon.

(Hat tip to commenter Heath)

UPDATE 5 February 2022: Fixed missing tag issue.

UPDATE 17 June 2022 -- Removed the "Temporary" from the post title, and am adding these pictures of the follow-on operation, Brickhouse Gourmet Coffee & Tea Co:

The Weekend seems to have been a dinner & dance club in this Spring Valley area strip mall best known for Big Lots. You can see some google photos of it in operation here.

Based on the vague "a year ago" dates on the google reviews, I'll say it closed in early 2021. According to the window signage, the next tenant is to be an even venue probably called Suite Sixty.

(Hat tip to commenter Dan R)

UPDATE 22 February 2022 -- The Suite Sixty signage is up:

This suite in The Addesso has held a number restaurants, not all of which I have tracked, but the most recent was Bruno’s Taqueria. According to their Facebook they closed at 5pm on Christmas Eve of 2021.

Unfortunately, I didn't have any convenient parking, so all I have are these long shots. We'll have to see what happens here next.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

This is the fifth closing I have done for this building, and there would have been six except I totally missed doing one for Levi's Lake House.

I don't know what it is about the spot -- It seems like a good location, and a good building, but nothing seems to stick. This may be the Lexington County 2360 Decker.

(Hat tip to commenter Steve)

Crabby's was the follow-on operation in this space to Takosushi and apparently closed at the end of the year. As I am not a seafood person, I never stopped by, but this was one of a wave of crab-oriented places that have opened in the area over the last few years. I guess it's possible the wave has crested, or, given the history of this storefront, it may just not be a great location for a restaurant.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)