Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Well, after mailing out the flyers in May, the Richland Mall Bank Of America is finally closed. As you'll recall, they closed the drive-through in March 2015 at which point the writing was probably on the wall.

I don't know why, but I had it in my mind that the ATM would remain, though in the event that turns out not to be the case. At any rate, I believe that Trenholm Plaza is now the only Forest Acres BOA location.

UPDATE 8 May 2018 -- This building has now been sold, though there is no indication of what is planned there:

UPDATE 30 August 2018 -- As commenter Dennis Craighead notes in Have Your Say, this building is being razed. I guess building something there demonstrates some belief that the whole Richland Mall property will not just be plowed under at some point..

Well, I thought we had reached pigqulibrium, but I gues not. The Edens Plaza Pig on Beltline is in the process of closing now.

I went by today, and the place is at that interesting sweet spot of not too picked over but already pretty good discounts. Perishables are mostly gone, but there are still plenty of canned goods, baking supplies, laundry detergent, toothpaste and other sundries..

The location seems fairly viable to me and the area is not over-grocered. It would not surprise me to see an IGA or Sav-A-Lot go in here.

(Hat tip to commenter Mr. BO via email)

UPDATE 27 August 2017 -- Roses will be opening here on 31 August 2017:

I remember at one time having to figure out whether this little Latin Dance club behind the D's on Beltline was in fact a Mexican Restaurant or a nightclub. In the event, it proved to be the later, which was a little disappointing to me. As far as I know they were not affected by the 2011 fire at D's or the October 2015 flood, but I could be wrong.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

UPDATE 13 February 2017 -- Here's an instructional video from the club:

I've been misplacing and finding these pictures ever since commenter Rick sent them, but here they finally are. Commenter Rick says:

Ted,

Attached are a few photos of my store at 2941 Two Notch Road when our new sign was going up. It does not show the building very well but in the back ground just past the McDonald's sign, you can see the old Chappy's Fish and Chips sign that you mentioned in your Carzzz 2941 post. You can also see my old 1976 blue corvette that was in the middle bay of the picture I sent from my Five Points location.

I would also note that in the background of the first picture, you can see the old AMC dealership, where I bought the worst piece of junk ever assembled: the 1983 Renault Alliance. Man, was I ever glad to see the last of that marvel of Franco-American technology.

The building on this lot is now a dental office.

I had not noticed until recently that Sato on Beltline took major flood damage and is closed for repair. In retrospect it makes sense as the restaurant is located at the low point of Beltline as it comes down from Forest Drive and before it starts back up towards Trenholm Road. Looking at google maps, it appears that the nearby creek which presumably did the damage is called Orphanage Branch, a name I can't ever recall hearing.

Commenter AW noted that the Sammi's on Beltline is now closed and a Peruvian restaurant is in its place -- although looking closely at this shot I snapped from the road, I'm wondering if that might be gone as well.

As far as I am aware, this (if open) is the only Peruvian place in town. It's supposed to be one of the world's great cuisines, but it's not one I know anything at all about.

As for Sammi's, I have to admit the only time I've been in one (not this one) I was so non-plussed at the interior that I just ordered a drink and left rather than eating there.

(Hat tip to commenter AW)

Today's post & pix come from commenter Mr. BO, who says

http://www.relevecafeandcatering.com/

I'm going to miss this one. They served breakfast and lunch. They
specialized in breakfast pastry and eclectic lunches. My favorite was
the Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla. Their burgers were pretty good but they
insisted on using fancy greens for their salads.

It was a Mom & Pop operation (A married couple with perhaps one more
hired help from time to time.) One of their parents took ill so they've
been closed for about a month then decided to pack up to another state
where the parent is located.

Picture # 1 is when they first opened up around a year ago. # 2 is them
closed.

I'll note that Releve's was in the old China Max slot in the food court.

(Hat tip, obviously, to Mr. BO)

Given that we are several days into Spring at this point, I think it is safe to say that the rooftop garden shop at Richland Mall is not just closed for the season, but is apparently closed for good.

Forest Acres still has several sites for garden supplies including the Ace Hardware nearby in the old Ritz building and the garden shop in the old First Citizen's bank at Forest Lake Shopping Center.

I noticed the other week something going on at the Richland Mall Bank Of America, with a dumpster pulled up to the drive-through. This week it is apparent that the drive-through has been closed. I guess it was a bit awkward having an unconnected outbuilding for the tellers, and perhaps even a security issue. At any rate, I believe the Trenholm Plaza branch is now the next closest drive-through.

Checking my phonebooks, I see that Advance On Checks goes back at least to 2005, which really surprised me as I had not noticed in all that time that Hursey's Trading Post was gone. I never stopped in there, but I remember the signs that cheerfully promised loans on any item "except guns".

The real estate listing says this little building at the southwest corner of Two Notch & Beltline dates back to 1960, and looking at it, I can believe that. I also believe it must have been some sort of restaurnat at one time, but I have absolutely no memory of what it might have been.

I