Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

To the best of my memory, I never ate at this Shoney's. Our go-to was always the Two Notch location where I had many a plate of spaghetti and hot-fudge cakes.

The chain struggled after dropping the Big Boy branding, and dug themselves further into a hole with a disasterous side-trip into the hotel business. (Does anyone know if they ever owned any of the nearby Airport Boulevard motels?).

This building is their original 1970s style and has probably been around at least that long. The newer stores such as Manning & Aiken have a completely different look. That store (Aiken) may have actually closed as well, as the Post & Courier story on the closing lists only Myrtle Beach, Sumter, Manning, Hartsville & Florence as the remaining South Carolina locations.

So what next? Mexican, or Asian buffett?

(There seems to be some confusion about exactly when this location closed, but I believe it's a hat tip to commenter george011210.)

This North Pointe Shoppping Center Publix had a car drive through the front windows on Wednesday 6 August 2025. Unlinke Lita's Treats in Irmo, they were able to get the situation under control pretty quickly, and move on after putting up some plywood.

WLTX has the story here. There were two injuries, but apparently neither were serious.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

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The former 2nd Spin Appliance, now Appliance Home Store has moved from this building at the top of Fontaine Road to the old All South Federal Credit Union building at 7227 Parklane Road.

In the meantime, Scout Motors has taken over this space.

(Hat tip to commenter Matt)

I hope everyone has been enjoying their Summer: I know I have!

As the season winds down, I hope to get back to more regular posting.

I was not really aware of this Biscuitville, and in fact have not been to the chain at all, despite having the taste for a sausage biscuit every now and then.

The State says this location opened in March of 2024, so it lasted a bit more than a year. The story didn't give any reason for the closing, but it is located rather close to a Bojangles where biscuits also feature heavily on the menu.

The back yard is rather nice with a good bit of greenspace and their own retention pond, which is more attractive than most with a good stand of reeds or cattails taking advantage of the opportunity.

(Hat tip to commenter Payne)

Commenter Cats provides the closing date here, but the news has been out for a while. This site first featured here as a Bi-Lo, and for a while it looked like a successful bid to bring the IGA model into more urban territory, but in the event the one closer to Lexington closed in 2022, and this closure leaves Saint Andrews Road as their only location as far as I am aware.

(Hat tip to commenter Lavender)

Ever since the grocery store at the corner of Centre & 6th Streets closed and turned into an antique mall, probably in the early 80s I'm guessing, this Publix has been my go-to when in Fernandina. Also, Publix "Presto" ATMs are about the only sure thing for not triggering a fraud alert on my debit card when I am on the road, so imagine my surprise last week when I went to get some cash and found the whole store mostly demolished.

According to local reports, the store closed in April and is to be rebuilt in place as a larger store, with Publix Pours kiosk which sounds like more of an internal restaurant than the current deli sections. Apparently the new store is to be like the one in Wellington a place I don't believe I have ever heard of before.

This shopping center, Island Walk Shopping Center is the site of several other posts here, including Kmart and Barberitos.

In the interim, there is a Publix west on A1A a few miles at the new Wildlight development in Yulee.

Hope everyone is having a great 4th Of July!

Tati's, headquartered on Broad River Road, were in the process of rehabilitating the old Dentsville Rush's location, but operations seem to have stalled out. I have not seen any progress on the work there over the last several months, and I have not seen the Tati's food truck parked in the parking lot lately either.

At first it seems like this Fatz is well situated, being highly visible from the Interstate, and right next to Gaffney's most famous landmark, but on further consideration, it is quite a long distance down a frontage road that by the time you get to the Interstate exit, you have half forgotten that you were going to get off. Locating in an outparcel of the Hamrick's right at the exit might have in fact been better. In the event it is all moot since the whole chain shut down as we have discussed before, but perhaps not moot at the time as this location apparently closed well before the others, and the note from management hints at some issues.

The building has obviously attracted unwelcome attention, and may be beyond salvage at this point. I'll have to see how it looks the next time I'm in the area, which most likely won't be for a year or more.

Here is the building in happier times.