New Life Fitness World, 265 Charter Oak Court: 31 December 2013 3 comments
Well, the post on the Irmo location seems to have gotten a bit of traction today, so why not make a clean breast of it and post the final one?
The Lexington New Life Fitness World is off of Charter Oak Road, which connects US-1 and US-378 which are more or less parallel at that point. The gym is on a little court that seems to have some sort of failed building showcase on it, which I may post another day, though it is well behind the set of empty foundations.
This building is done in a completely different style than the other two, and seems to have had at least one other business co-located inside. There is something rather sad about the forlorn swim-noodles.
Family Dollar, 3234 Augusta Road: 2013 (moved) 3 comments
Woodberry Plaza is on US-1 West of I-26 and East of the Flea Market. I believe the last time it figured here was a mention for the old Winn-Dixie. Family Dollar was to the left of that store, and appears to have closed sometime in 2013 (or, at least it is still listed in the February 2013 phonebook).
There seems to have been a good bit of activity in this general type of store lately, with Dollar General making a big push, and Fred's largely giving up.
UPDATE: Commenter Andrew remarks that this store relocated, so I have added "moved" to the post title.
New Life Fitness World, 7000 Saint Andrews Rd: 31 December 2013 9 comments
Comparing the Irmo New Life Fitness World with the Two Notch one, you can see that the chain had a well defined aesthetic.
It's also quite a large building, and presumably mostly hollow in the middle. It's hard to think what could go in there without extensive remodeling. (Recall that Columbia Athletic Club had to be completely gutted to become Trader Joe's).
New China, 800 Lake Murray Boulevard: December 2013 no comments
Commenter Homer notes that this small Chinese restaurant in High Pointe Centre on Lake Murray Boulevard has closed.
He sends in his pictures here and notes elsewhere that the place was a true family operation with a daughter often taking orders and translating them for mom and pop.
I note that at this juncture, the plaza sign and spelling (note the 'e' on Pointe and the British Centre) seem rather more grandiose than the current tenant list warrants.
(Hat tip to commenter Homer)
Carolina Wings / Daddy Mac's, 105 Northpoint Drive: December 2013 (Open Again) 15 comments
The latest Carolina Wings to close is this one in Lexingtion near the Regal theaters.
As you can see here, things are alreay in-train to reopen this building as Daddy Mac's of which, their facebook page says:
Daddy Mac's Restaurant was created by three brothers as a tribute to their Grandfather, whom they affectionately called Daddy Mac. This restaurant brings back childhood memories filled with laughter, fun, larger-than-life stories and wonderful aromas of great meals being cooked by Daddy Mac in his kitchen.
The grandsons' vision is to open their kitchen and share with you, those comforting and delicious meals that invite laughter and good times with friends and family. We hope that you will take home fond memories of your own.
and their Help Wanted ad on CraigsList says:
We are a full service restaurant that will specialize in hand cut steaks, pastas, burgers, speciality appetizers & desserts. We also offer one of Lexington's largest craft beer selections as well as an extensive wine and liquor list.
(Hat tip to commenter Beth)
UPDATE 20 April 2020: Well, Daddy Mac's closed (which I will just note here rather than do a separate closing) and this place is oce more a Carolina Wings & Rib House. Also, updating tags and adding map icon.
National Mail Services, 736 Saint Andrews Road Suite D, 27 December 2013 3 comments
Independant mailing storefront National Mail Services on Saint Andrews Road by the old Fred's closed at the end of December. If you look at the Fred's post, you can see that for some reason, they were not on the shopping center marquee, but apparently enough folks knew they were back there for a 22 year run, which is good for any business!
(Hat tip to commenter Tom)
Bojangles, 2737 Sunset Boulevard: Late November 2013 (moved) 10 comments
Forest Acres Pet Supply & Grooming, 3612 Covenant Road: December 2013 (Moved?) 6 comments
I just noticed yesterday that Forest Acres Pet Supply & Grooming, next door to the old Powers 60 Minute Cleaners in Ravenwood had closed. This was an independent pet accessories store which had been there a good few years (and outlasted some big box stores like Superpetz).
You can see it in operation in the background of this shot:
UPDATE 21 January 2014 -- Interesting. Commenter Bryan notes a new pet store at 4230 Bethel Church Road, and when I took a look at it, I saw that the name is different, it's Super Starr Pets, but the phone number is the same as that for Forest Acres Pet Supply. That certainly argues for some connection -- perhaps one owner is carrying on after another retired or something like that. Anyway, here it is:
UPDATE 3 February 2021 -- This building and the one next door were razed in December 2020:
Also adding map icon.
High School Social Clubs / Les Friponnes / LTA / Les Croquettes / Deboneers /Dark Horsemen / Les Truands / FNV / Order of the Rainbow / LGO, etc: 1980s 20 comments
Well, High School social clubs of the 50s through the 80s is a subject about which I know nothing (I was in the Beta club, and that was about it..), but it's come up several times here, so I thought I would do an actual post on them so people googling-in will have a nice landing spot, and one place to add their comments.
Here's what various people, with inside and outside perspectives on the clubs, have already contributed:
High school social clubs of long ago --
When I was in high school, way on the wrong side of the tracks in the 1970s, I nevertheless had friends from the wealthy side of Forest Acres and Spring Valley.
I learned from them about these social clubs, that were apparently deeply established local institutions for teens, sort of like junior sororities and fraternities. They had some nominal nable mission written down somewhere, like helping the dowtrodden or supporting youth, but their real activity seemed to be throwing these fancy parties, complete with live bands, corsages, fancy finger food, and LOTS of booze that wasn't "officially" there. One or two distracted moms would serve as chaperones while the kids behaved like wild heathans.
It was fun, but so far above my actual social standing and family income level that I felt like a tourist. The girls were way out of my league (except a couple who hauled me around as their pet hippie to torture their parents with) and the guys were overpriveledged future doctors and lawyers. These were the kids who got brand new Camaros for their 16th birthday which they wrecked a month later, and never wondered if their family could send them to the exclusive private college their parents went to. Without exception they all went to Myrtle Beach for "first week" in big house parties with only nominal adult supervision.
Anyone else remember this crowd? Some of the clubs were:
Les Friponnes
Les Coquettes
Dark Horsemen
Les Truands
Order of the Rainbow
LTA
LGO (can't remember what these initials stand for)Dennis
I definitely remember the Dark Horsemen, it was a fraternal "order" of course, and for some reason I remember the Les Friponnes and Les Coquettes as well, which were the sororities. I NEVER fit in with those folks socially or attitudinally, however I did know several K-12 school mates who were in the Dark Horsemen in high-school. The girls who were members of those clubs wouldn't even give me the time of day, I mean that literally. There was maybe one in my whole high-school career who would actually say hello. My clique was so far out there that we were listening to Frank Zappa in 8th grade in 1969 and making fun of all the people in those clubs right up to the day we graduated 12th grade. We were definitely spurred on by Mr. Zappa's biting satire on "joiners," which probably made it harder for those club folks to warm up to us. In retrospect, maybe a vicious cycle of mistrust and misunderstanding.
And though we weren't poor, my folks were basically middle-class working people and I never fit in at all with the country club set, which on the whole pretty much populated those clubs. No bad memories per se, never had the Dark Horsemen bop me up against the side of the head because I had long hair and wild friends or anything like that, but you and I obviously had different experiences with those clubs. Fascinating.
Michael Taylor
Hey Ted:
Since my family has been in Columbia and Lexington before our country's independence, I am always very interested in your web site, which brings back great memories of people and places. I love history of any kind, especially that I can relate to!
I was reading some comments from a few years back and someone wanted to know more about social clubs. I was a member of Les Friponnes which started in 1954. I was a member in the late 70's early 80's.Most of our members went to Hammond,Cardinal Newman, Dreher or Spring Valley. There was definitely some silliness going on with these groups but it was fun and it was a way to meet girls outside of my school. I know high school administrators did not like these clubs because of elitism and hurt feelings and the fact that we had initiation rites at school. I remember having to call all members "Miss So and So" One made me spin around every time I passed her in the hall at school. I also had to buy snacks and run errands for members during lunch. During hell week, we had to wear the same outfit to school all week and we could not wear make up. We would have after school initiations at people houses. We had to do these shoulder, knees and toes motions called buttons and say "I love Les Friponnes" over and over. Members would yell at us and pour disgusting things on us. We would sometimes have tri-club initiations and parties at Legion Lakes- the three clubs were Les Friponnes, LTA (Les Croquettes) and Deboneers In the mid-late 1980s I think schools had had enough of this distraction and banned anything like that during the school day. I am not aware that any of these groups exist any more. Sometimes my friends post old social club formal photos on facebook and it does bring back good memories of my youth.
Eleanor
They were essentially high school sororities. I went to many of the Les Friponnes & FNV semi-formals back in the mid-to-late 80's. Most were at hotel ballrooms in the Northeast area. The initiations at the girls houses were a lot of fun to watch as a guy, and very similar to the girls initiation scenes in the movie "Dazed & Confused". Lots of fun, good, if not fuzzy, memories. Hope it was worth it ladies.
palmettopanic
Jack Oliver's Pools & Spas, 2829 Millwood Avenue: 2013 (moved) 3 comments
I noticed this empty building on Millwood the other day, and a little research shows it was Jack Oliver's Pools & Spas before they made their move to the old Good Wood building at 3303 Forest Drive (keeping the location's signature giant rocker).
The new location:
