Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Carolina Eastern has demolished their Shop Road wearhouse and relocated their fertilizer and gypsum operations to other locations according to this Post & Courier article pointed out by commenter Thomas.

The site is noted as 9.6 acres, so I think most of what I've taken pictures of here is probably part of it, but I don't know the actual boundries. It apparently went on the market in February, so we'll have to see what's next.

(Hat tip to commenter Thomas)

As pointed out by commener Justin S., the Advance Auto Parts store across from the Aldi at 7613 Garners Ferry Road has now moved just a little up the street to 7531 Garners Ferry. In the meantime, this, very checker-boarded, storefront is empty.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin S.)

This restaurant/club space which fronts on both Devine & Santee will always be Monterrey Jack's in my mind, but of course it has been many, possibly dozens, of other places over the years. I believe the most recent predecessor to Moosehead Saloon that I have a closing for is Elbow Room but I think I could have missed a couple in between there.

As far as I can tell, this was a country-rock bar with a mechanical bull and a somewhat rowdy atmosphere. I know they got some bad publicity back in 2018 but they apparently continued on into the COVID age until they were caught up in the Great Five Points Bar Bassacre last April.

Substation II was the follow-on operation in this storefront to Jimmy John's, and opened in 2019. I know that going there would be an issue for me because of parking, but I'm not a student without a car. Then of course there was the pandemic, which can't have helped. For whatever reason though, this storefront is now again vacant.

(Hat tip to commenter Larry).

UPDATE 14 June 2024: Update title & tags.

I was unfamiliar with this healthy eatery on Two Notch near Popeye's, but I do note that the storefront has featured here twice before as both Jimmy John's and Quiznos. I was a little surprised that they featured pizza, next door to a Papa Johns, but I suppose they had a dine in space to make that make sense.

As you can see, the interior is being actively torn down, so that may mean that the next idea for this spot is already on the way.

(Hat tip to commenter Mr. Hat)

UPDATE 1 March 2023 -- Now The Baked Potato Factory:

Here's another Hardee's closed, this one on Dutch Fork Road. I'm starting to think there is something going on with the chain, as it seems quite a few have gone dark over the last year or two.

I see they just named a new CEO last week, but it's a press release, so there is no analysis there. (I will note that the corporate-speak is so thick there, that they think a paragraph like:

"We are excited to welcome Brandon to our talented Leadership Team. His entrepreneurial spirit, strong finance focus and results orientation will be perfect complements to our team," says Chief Executive Officer Ned Lyerly. "Brandon's proven track record in dynamic, multi-unit food service environments will be on display as we build on our momentum and create value for stakeholders in our business."

sounds reasonable..)

(Hat tip to commenter Heath)

Columbia Powersports have closed this location on Two Notch Road, not far from Arcadia Lakes Drive. Commenter Gypsie supplies the information that they had been here since 1976. It appears that they have consolidated operations at the 3750 Fernandina Road location.

In the meantime, this building is to become (or perhaps already is) Precision Pumping Systems.

(Hat tip to commenter John)

There isn't any sign on the door that I can see, but google agrees with commenter Justin that The Carousel A Chic Kid's Botique in Forest Village is closed. I believe this space would once have been part of The Happy Bookseller, so probably 2009 is the earliest they could have opened.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

I am pretty sure that It's A Wrap Cafe in Topspin Plaza never opened. According to ColaDaily, they were trying to move here from Atlanta in 2020 -- probably about the worst time since the Great Depression to open a restaurant. I'm not sure exactly what happened, but in the end they are back in Atlanta, with this comment on their Facebook:

It’s a lot of you that seem to think we’re posting from South Carolina! We are IN ATLANTA!!! Link in bio! SOUTH Carolina missed out because they…. 😩 we will just say it wasn’t in GODS plan! 😉

So apparently they took the long way round, but it seems to be working out for them, so good. In the meantime, this storefront is available.

The Karate Dojo moved into this space in the fall of 2012, occupying the old Wood Zone space at Sunset Court.

As of now, they have moved about half a block toward Columbia to 2225 Sunset in a building I somehow managed not to get a picture of.

UPDATE 17 June 2022 -- Here is their new building: