Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

As shown in the first picture, the main suite for Bike Street USA was what is now Jackie's Uniforms, but the Bicycles signage remains on the second suite they had to the right of that. As you can also see from the firt shot, the store started as Bike To Nature, which moved here from across the street when its original building was slated for demolition.

After moving, the store was bought by the Bike Street USA chain, which went bankrupt in November 2014 as described here.

I'm not entirely sure what the focus of The Outlet Store in Boozer Shopping Center was. Given the embroidery and printing aspects, I guess they did custom clothes and perhaps uniforms, though I'm not sure exactly how outlet fit into it.

They listed in the February 2013-2014 phonebook, but not the February 2014-2015 one, so I'm guessing they closed in 2013.

Star Music in the Seven Oaks Shopping Center has closed their storefront and moved in with adjacent Hannah Piano. According to their sign, they are looking for another Irmo location, and remain open on Two Notch & Assembly Street.

Here is another Anna's Linens closing, part of the continuing fallout of the chain's bankruptcy. This storefront is in the Wal Mart plaza on Two Notch, and is the former site of Ya Food.

These pictures were taken in mid July 2015, and I expect the store is actually closed by now, though I have not driven by there since.

I noticed the other day that this ABC storefront next to Solstice on Sparkleberry is now vacant. I had actually pulled
in there because I thought Solstice might be closed, but apparently it is just never open whenever I drive by..

Commenter mamarose notes the upcoming closing of Jack and Jane Sport in Trenholm Plaza.

I have to admit that since I don't like clothes shopping and since nobody has ever mistaken me for someone who does sports, I couldn't place this storefront in my mind and had to drive around the plaza looking for it. In the event, it turns out to be in the suite formerly occupied by La Bag Lady which closed in 2012.

It appears to be chilly in there.

(Hat tip to commenter mamarose)

I think I know who could ride this bike..

Harrell's Bicycle World apparently sold out to Bike Street USA in 2014, but that operation, which also bought out Bike To Nature did not long survive the expansion, apparently liquidating in November of 2014. It appears the chain's main strategy was buying out local stores and then functioning as sort of an IGA for the bicycle market:

Pat Patregnani, an avid cyclist and the CEO of marketing advertising firm Zimmerman Advertising, founded BikeStreet USA in 2012 and launched into the market with an aggressive business plan, acquiring independent bicycle shops and rolling them up into its corporate structure. Under BikeStreet, the stores would benefit from leveraging technology like point of sale systems, inventory management and websites that would be handled by BikeStreet, as well as marketing and greater buying power from its larger scale. Former owners and managers would receive backend operational support, allowing them to focus on taking care of customers and servicing bikes.

Though unfortunately:

"BikeStreet was also founded by folks without multi-unit store experience," he said. "When you go from one shop and you're in there everyday and you can control everything. You have your eye on everything and then you go and own 17 locations, you have to have a different set of skills to manage 17 stores, 17 managers, 17 set of employees. That's just not suited for enthusiasts without multi-store experience," he added.

(Hat tip to commenter Aaron)

I had meant to do this post before Free Comic Book Day which was
2 May 2015, but that was not to be.

At any rate, as reported by commenter James R, Comic Nirvana has moved from in front of Best Buy in Lexington to
The Smith Centre just south of the I-20 Waffle House.

I have to say it's not an easy location to find. They have listing on the roadside marquee for the office plaza, but actually
locating the store is a bit of a puzzle. In the event, you can't see it from the default parking area in front, you have to dri
ve around back and duck into a little back nook. Hopefully they will have some more directional signs up soon, along with their
main storefront sign. In fact, they may by now as these pictures are a week or two old.

(Hat tip to commener James R)

Like everyone, I've heard the folksy commercials on 92.1 and other stations, but had no real idea where Chapin Furniture actually was. In the event it's not hard to find as a pretty straight shot from I-26.

The State has the story of this move: Apparently Publix has bought this lot, and Chapin Furniture is building a new two-story store elsewhere which should be open in the fall of 2015.

Anna's Linens replaced (after a hiatus) Lifeway Christian Stores in Harbison Court in late 2011. Now some three plus years later, they are gone as well, and Harbison Court is undergoing fairly extensive facade work and renovation. On the whole I am impressed with how they have kept the place up and made good such major losses as Barnes & Noble and Officemax.

In the meantime, Anna's still has two Columbia locations, one on Forest Drive and another on Two Notch.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 14 June 2015 -- Five Below is coming along: