Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I was driving down Fairfield Road when this building next to the Food Lion caught my eye. It looked very much like a number of the old-school Dairy Queen buildings in town.

Sure enough the ad (reposted above) lists a Fairfield Road location. The only slight difficulty is that it gives the address as 5104 Fairfield Road while the current address (written in quite large letters) for the building is 5102 Fairfield Road. I pretty sure there has been a minor renumbering at some point over the last 40 years.

Googling for the new address turns up a large number of tenants at the building since it was a DQ. The only one I might have ever heard of is the camera repair operation, and if so it was so long ago that I can't be sure.

UPDATE 10 February 2025 -- Now purple:

Also adding map icon and tags.

Well, it's getting to that time of year where I start trying to put together calendars. There will be a new Pawleys Island one forthcoming eventually, but for a little change of pace here's a Roadside Florida calendar in either 8.5x11 or oversize formats. Click on the picture for details.

I'll also note that all calendars are now universal! You can pick your starting date, so the designs no longer go obsolete. Hit the Store for all avalable designs.

I'd never been entirely sure if Parklane Seafood on Leesburg Road were open or closed, but judging from the fact my most recent trip through the area showed the building up for sale, and some recent comments here, I think it is now clear that the restaurant side of the business is closed while the catering side continues.

This building was the old Flamingo Club. It also appears that the back lot has recently been converted into a garden center.

Update 23 April 2018 -- As commenter Rick notes, this building has been stripped of the canopy and door facade that probably dated back to Dick's Flamingo Club:

It looks like the building is prepped to rent as some sort of three suite office.

UPDATE 5 October 2021 -- Now Performance Medical Supply, Inc.:

Also adding map icon.

I'm sure that Express Check Advance was not the first business in this little store next to Subway at the corner of Devine and Crowson Streets -- to me it has a bit of the look of a dry cleaner.

As mentioned in this State story, longtime State Street fixture Cafe Strudel is.. staying on State Street. They have however moved south two blocks to 300 State Street (certainly within easy walking distance from the former location), and have re-opened ahead of schedule. In fact they were still painting the new marquee sign as I walked by, but underneath the ladder were open for business.

This thrift shop was at the corner of Beltline and Edison Street just down form the former Kim's Beauty & Variety.

I'm not sure exactly when it closed, but long enough ago that the building is now up for sale.

I have to admit I was not really aware of The Village Gourmet, but according to the nice little note currently still on their web site, the place had been there over 17 years. I have to say the lunch menu looks quite good, and I wouldn't have minded trying a grilled four cheese croissant at all!

It looks as though another eatery is already setting up shop in the space, Spork Food And Beverage Cafe.

(Hat tip to commenter Jason)

Teddy Mountain is a stuff-your-own-teddy-bear franchaise. The Columbia store was at The Village At Sandhill next to the Nestle cookie store, and just down from Bluefin.

I'm not entirely sure when the store closed, but as the last mention I can find on the Sandhill website is for 30 April 2012, I'm putting it as "Spring 2012".

Sammi's Deli still has a Broad River Road location in Irmo near the Publix plaza, but this one in front of the old Intersection Center has changed hands and will become a Nick's.

Nick's seems to be using the Lizard's Thicket "hermit crab" strategy of moving into buildings which were already set up as restaurants. This will be the third new location they have opened or will open over the past year. They have already opened in the old Taco Bell location on Decker and appear close to opening in the old Tony O's Pizza on Saint Andrews.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 17 September 2012 -- The comments have reminded me this used to be a Taco Cid so I have added that to the post title. I have also copied commenter Melanie's matchbook scans here:

UPDATE 30 August 2022: Updating tags and adding map icon.

This little building is just to the left of the Dessi Short Stop III building, and google doesn't turn up a whole lot about it.

All I know is that On 27 November 2002 the building, which was to operate as a restaurant and nightclub, was denied beer & wine and mini-bottle permits due to an objection (considered by the court) from the Richland County Sherriff's office, and that on 26 December 2011, the place (which was referred to only as "a former nightclub") caught fire despite the electricty being turned off.