Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Are there any driving directions less useful than: "Take the exit with the Waffle House"?

Anyway, you don't see Waffle Houses closing too often, though I do have the one from Bush River Road here. On the one hand, I would have thought the closeness of this Waffle House to SLED would have guaranteed it a steady late-night business. On the other hand, the site is not like their usual Interstate exit locations.

Personally I like the fact that Waffle House never went to "Belgian" waffles, which seem to be the rage elsewhere now. I like a lot of litle holes for syrup rather than a smaller number of larger holes. And yes, that is the kind of thing you think about in a Waffle House booth at 3am.

(Hat tip to commenter Johnathan)

UPDATE 5 January 2022: Adding map icon and updating tags.

UPDATE 10 February 2025 -- Now King Smoke & Vape:

I don't know anything about this bath store on Sunset, but nonetheless I can say

This Place Rocks

(Hat tip to commenter James)

Here's another rainy day set of pictures...

This little dry-cleaning building is more or less across from the old Maunz Electronics and just down from the former Sub Cabin. Judging from the sign, it was also an Eagle Cleaners at one time as well. It appears that they did a bit of light office support as well as cleaning. The sign suggests that they moved, but I am unable to find another location for them in the phonebook.

It was pouring down rain today when I noticed that Modern Lighting Center on Meeting Street was closed. I have always liked the big carraige light they had by the street (the link shows a nice picture of it). According to their sign, lights out was on 30 November of 2012.

UPDATE 3 December 2014 -- This place is now Columbia Flag & Sign Company, though vestiges of Modern Lighting remain:

Here's another open spot in Quail Valley Plaza on Saint Andrews Road.

In this case, Eagle Cleaners relocated several years ago to 6281 Saint Andrews Road, so if you need your eagle cleaned (which I swear sounds like a euphemism), that's the place for it now.

The State had the story on the closing of this doll shop on Broad River Road next to the old The Whale's Tail. Basically, the owner decided it was time to retire, and it sounds well deserved.

I know it's just the antique style, but I do have to say I would hate to wake up and find that doll staring at me..

UPDATE 18 June 2013: For some reason I had the name as Jake's, not Jacs.

I'm not too sure about this storefront across from the Big Lots plaza on Two Notch and just to the left of the old The Crate location. Google reveals a couple of places that I'm pretty sure are still there and not in that particular unit. It might have been 123Imout (love that name!), or it might not have.

UPDATE 20 May 2014: Commenter Nat identifies former tenants Brass Elephant, Blair's & The Lighthouse so I have added them to the post title.

As commenter James noted, Corley Lock & Key in Lexington has dead-bolted from 142 Ellis Avenue to 114 Haygood Avenue "behind McDonald's".

(Hat tip to commenter James)

This building on Two Notch Road near Alpine has a sad history, as it started as the practice of respected Children's dentist Doctor Harry Sunshine who was tragically killed in a hit and run accident in 2001 as described in this newspaper image.

Since then, it has apparently been a number of medical offices, most lately for Griffin Clinic Of Chiropractic who occupied the space until earlier this year.

I must say that while the building is not very impressive from the front, the back is quite interesting, and looks out over a fairly good view.