Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

According to The State, today was the last day for Gwen Rawls in Trenholm Plaza. Not being a woman or in need of Italian shoes, I was only vaguely aware of this place, but it is in the same wing of the plaza that 32 Degrees was (though about as far away from Rosso as it is possible to get).

It does seem odd to have three storefronts close fairly close together in time like that, but on the other hand, plaza management continues to bring in new businesses like BLD Diner. We'll have to see what happens.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

Payless filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on 18 February 2019, and will be closing all of its stores, which includes three locations here in the Midlands.

This store is in East Forest Plaza at the intersection of Forest Drive and I-77. I don't have it in these shots, but the Fallas in the same wing of storefronts closed late last year as well. I have put March 2019 as the closing date, but the linked article indicates some stores may last as long as May.

I have never been in this store, but I have bought shoes at Payless several times, and they seemed reasonable in both price and quality.

(Hat tip to commenter Tom)

I was not aware of Things Remembered, but apparently it is a personalized gifts store, with a complicated history with ties to Sears, Pearl Vision & Yankee Candle.

They filed for Chapter 11 on 6 February 2019 "as part of a plan to be acquired by Enesco, a giftware, home décor and accessories company". Here is a Forbes article that explains the problems, and then, oddly, turns into a Shinola commercial.

There is another local Things Remembered in Columbiana Centre, and I am not sure what its status is.

Just for reference, here is the current status of The Village At Sandhill as per their public directories on 18 February 2019:

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

The first seven (excellent) pictures here are provided courtesy of commenter Heath.

This Circle K location first stuck in my mind some years ago when I stopped and noticed that the Subway restaurant in the back was clearly built in what was once a automated car wash slot, complete with a guide lane now leading nowhere.

I am a fan of the current round of Circle K rebuilds. The new stores are attractive inside and not at all cramped, plus they have nice bathrooms, which works in their favor on long drives. My cousin was touting Florida's Wa-Wa stores at Thanksgiving, and I think that is the kind of thing the new Circle Ks are targeted at. Of course, some of the older plots won't be large enough to do it.

(Hat tip to lots of folks, possibly commenter Arthur was first. And big thanks to commenter Heath for the pictures!)

UPDATE 17 April 2019 -- Construction is continuing apace:

UPDATE 13 February 2020 -- Open again:

UPDATE 29 March 2023: Updating tags.

Although I go into Dollar General with some frequency, I don't believe I have been in a Family Dollar since 2015. Of course that's mostly because there is a DG in Ravenwood. At any rate, as I recall it, this one on Broad River Road across from the new mini-Wal-Mart was fairly new. I can only speculate that having the Wal-Mart there was not good for it.

After running as a Rite Aid with a Walgreens pharmacy counter for almost a year, this store on the deep corner of Forest Drive & Trenholm Road has finally made the switch to being an official Walgreens location. I'm a bit surprised that it took so long, and also that they slated it in the first place, as it is not that far from the Walgreens on the corner of Forest Drive & Beltline.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

Costume store Hip-Wa-Zee in Five points is closing next month. The State has the story. Most of this block has been in flux in recent years as it is apparently going to be completely redeveloped:

The developer, California based Campus + Main, has said it plans to build a mixed use space with the possibility of retail, office and residential units. Most likely a complete rebuild of most of the 900 block is in store.

The store opened in 1999, making for an impressive twenty year run. But in the end, as with so many other stores currently, the Internet was the deciding factor:

The one change that proved hardest to deal with was the growth of internet retail. When a developer who had bought up the rest of her block on Harden Street approached her about selling, she put him off for a year while she looked for a new location. But after an extensive search and seeing the changing retail landscape, Minerd came to the hard decision that it was time to sell and close up shop.

I didn't see a final closing date in The State, or WOLO stories, but the closing sale is ongoing, and you should probably get there soon.

Happy New Year, Columbia!

This old-school appliance store, right next door to Spring Valley Liquor Store & Party Shop is now vacant.

You have got to admire that wringer equipped Maytag still (as of late December) holding down the fort, and waiting for cartoon hijinks:

(Hat tip to commenter thomas)

I was not really aware of Rue 21 in Lexington as I'm not in the target young women demo, and don't like shopping for clothes anyway. After commenter Jimmy mentioned that this store was closing, I did a little research and found that the store was in Chapter 11 bankruptcy from May to September of 2017 and closed 420 stores during that period. They also took on a new CEO as of 25 June 2018 who 'resigned' mid-November 2018 after less than a half year tenure. Apparently the teen apparel sector continues to flail, and Rue 21 continues to shed stores.

(Hat tip to commenter Jimmy)

UPDATE 7 June 2024: Updating tags.

It's been a awful week or so for taking pictures, but at least it wasn't actively pouring this afternoon.

Consumers Feed & Seed Store in Lexington just announced their upcoming closing after 61 years in business, which is certainly a good run. Looking at the Facebook page, it strikes me as the kind of place my mother used to visit in the 60s for bird seed and gardening necessities. I don't have any inclinations in either direction, but it's sad to watch an era pass as everything goes to Lowes & Home Depot.

(Hat tip to commenter ED)