Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I don't believe I ever went into this Radio Shack in the Food Lion plaza in Five Points. Come to think of it, I don't believe I've ever been into any business in this plaza other than Food Lion, unless you go back far enough to count Peaches and Sears.

You know the drill about Radio Shack by this point.

I think there have been a few mentions of Chapman Dodge here over the years, but I have absolutely no memory of it, despite the fact we must have driven past the lot often. Currently all that seems to be left is the faded name painted on the back of the building abuting the lot (which I presume was the repair shop).

While this lot has been vacant for many years, it's not uncommon for temporary truck-based businesses to pull in and set up shop for a weekend.

ConCOCKtions was the followup operation to Rum Runners in the little 724 Harden Street back lot building attached to the Kester's building.

There is already a followup in place, Back Alley. This building rotates so often that the parking lot signs have trouble keeping up (and spelling, though that's a separate issue).

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 24 June 2019: Add map icon.

Commenter Midnight Rambler asks

And the answer seems to be: Yes.

Sharky's web site is gone, and we have this note on instagram.

As I recall, I only went into Sharky's once, during that period in the 90s when I was trying to sample every credible pizza in Columiba. At that time, Sharky's was trying to brand as a restaurant as much as a bar, but my father and I still left rather unimpressed.

Note that Sharky's Too is a seperate business (apparently the former Rafter's club) and is still open.

(Hat tip to Midnight Rambler)

Commenter badger suggested that Kildare's on Harden Street might be closed, and that does in fact seem to be the case. Looking through the windows, there is a bit of dishevelment inside, with plywood up in one window and checking the roofline shows under-panels missing along the front.

Nothing has seemed to stick in this spot since it was re-purposed from a series of Chinese restaurants to bar use.

(Hat tip to commenter badger)

UPDATE 2 December 2015 -- This much clubbed spot is open again as The Horseshoe and it appears this time the front and back are the same operation:

UPDATE 24 June 2019: Add tag and map icon.

Commenter MikeJ points out that The Pour House in Five Points has been closed since June, though it is scheduled to re-open soon.

I suppose it's been The Pour House for quite a while now, but to me this spot will always be Frank's Hotdogs.
(Hat tip to commenter MikeJ)

According to The State, Club Twist, which was essentially the latest incarnation of the troubled The Library nightclub closed for good in late May. The club had been seen as a magnet for trouble in recent years, and the Richland County Sheriff's office had long taken a dim view of it. Curently the space is mostly empty and for rent.

Commenter justin points out this building on Blanding Street just West of Benedict, the former location of Stier Supply Company. I like the recessed blocks in the brickwork on the East side of the facade. You know that that's been climbed more than a time or two. I also like the bit of railway spur that fades out somewhere between Blanding Street and the main part of the courtyard. Obviously at one time, freight trains plied the way here, and to the concrete plant across the street. (Of course freight trains across the street is not a bit of Columbia nostalgia I actually miss).

Commenter Homer mentions that there is still a Stier location in Irmo on Lake Murray Boulevard.

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Doggone!

(Hat tip to commenter Mike d)

I first wrote about Empire Grill in a closing for College Corner. Even at the point I took the first picture above for that post, I had to wonder what was going on, as the signage for the new place made Open Late a big selling point, and .. it was never open late.

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