Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Auto Selection was the follow-up operation to K & C Radiator Center in this old gas station building on Two Notch at Covenant, and I believe it lasted about a year.

I have to say I liked the building better in white. I do like the curved facade on the roof, and would like to see the building restored as the sister building on Devine has been.

I'm not exactly sure when this little Two Notch spot closed, but the last Facebook postings are from October 2013, so I'll go with Fall 2013 even though I suspect it was later than that. Judging from the wall signs, they had a wider menu than I might have expected.

Apparently the building is being sold fully equipped.

Midlands Shopping Center started out as a virtual twin and sister site to Trenholm Plaza, anchored by two groceries, a five and dime and a post office. Over the years, however, it has failed to thrive and has largely moved beyond retail. With the recent demolition of the old A & P building, I thought perhaps somebody had a plan for the place, but I see today that it is all up for sale.

Commenter Bobby notes that this McAlister's Deli at the corner of Sparkleberry Lane and Graces Way will be moving down Two Notch soon to set up shop by Hobby Lobby.

If I am reading this historical listing right, then the property has been sold once in the last couple of years already. (If there's a more current listing, google is not making it obvious to me).

As I think I have mentioned before, I have never really warmed up to this chain, possibly because you have to go to the counter to beg for drink refills.

(Hat tip to commenter Bobby)

UPDATE 27 October 2014 -- The move is now complete:

I wrote about this building a while ago while it was in the process of becoming It's All Good Grill. As of now, it looks like that operation is on temporary hiatus.

Well, that didn't last too long.

Spunky's Auto Sales was the follow-on operation to Prestige Hitech Autowerks which moved down the street into the old Dick Dyer bodyshop. They opened sometime last fall (the picture I have is from October 2013) and lasted, I'm thinking, until last month (April 2014).

I continue to like the gull-wing lights at these old service stations. The roofline is nice too.

UPDATE 20 November 2015 -- This place has been extensively remodeled and is to become a gas station:

pix 8 August 2015

pix 16 August 2015

pix 23 August 2015

pix 12 September 2015

pix 18 October 2015

pix 6 November 2015

UPDATE 14 March 2016 -- Almost ready to open as King Fuel. It appears the store only needs to be stocked:

I would never go back to one, but there is something magical about a typewriter: the rhythm of the keys, the ding of the bell, the tactile sensation of the platten ratchet advancing while you slap the carriage back over.. Even the smell of one is distinctive, a unique combination of metal, stale air, oil and ink. And for something ubiquitous so recently there are few other things (the phonograph is one..) that illustrate the generational divide so clearly. Set a high school student in front of a typewriter today, and you might as well have supplied a blank cuneiform tablet and chisels.

The Typewriter Exchange had been on Two Notch for as long as I can remember, probably going back into the '60s. I often wondered in recent years how they continued on, but a look through their window suggested they had moved into computer repair as typewriters became paperweights. Although the building had been up for sale since at least 2010, the business continued until recently, but last time I drove by, I noticed the place is now a church.

UPDATE 29 April 2014 -- Here is the place today as Fruit Of The Spirit Love Ministry:

I need to go back and get come better pictures, but the Manigault-Hurley Funeral Home closed down in mid March. This funeral home had been a fixture in Columbia since 1923, and provided respite for grieving families in Columbia's Black community starting in the Jim Crow era when other places would have turned them away. 91 years is a pretty good run by any standard! The State says the home's historic record books will be donated to USC's South Caroliniana Library.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

UPDATE 4 April 2014: Added hat-tip to commenter Sidney.

This little storefront is right beside the Dentsville Best Buy and right across the Two Notch entry to the Columbia Mall perimeter road. In fact, this strip mall shares stoplight access to Two Notch with the perimeter, and it always seemed to me that when they built Best Buy they should have figured out some way to connect their parking lot with this one.

I think Tru Cutz was the last tenant here, as you can still see the word "Barber" superimposed on the window. On the other hand, I can't find a phonebook listing for them, and I can for Anointed who seem to have moved to Decker around 2011.

I noticed the other day that this car service center just east of Midlands Shopping Center was no longer in business.

The real-estate write up calls it "downtown Columbia", which seems a bit off to me.