Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

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Well, it took me quite a long time to get the interior shot here, largely because every time I would come in the door of the food court, a sample tray holder from the Asian restaurant would make a beeline on me. I really appreciate that kind of hustle, but it makes it difficult to inconspicuously take a picture when you are the sole focus of someone's attention! I finally recently got a bit of a zoom from the back end of the court. You can see the boarded up section where Chick-Fil-A used to be just to the right of China Max.

I was actually in the place to look at lawnmowers at Sears, and I note that they seem to be giving up on the mall. The mall stays open until 9PM, but Sears turns out the lights at 8PM, at least during the week. It certainly surprised me.

UPDATE 13 August 2013: Forgot the hat tip to commenter Trina.

UPDATE 28 January 2021: Adding full address, tags and map icon.

This is the follow-on operation to Carolina Famous Hotdogs & Wings (though curiously, Ihave that one at 6303 Shakeespeare), and was one of a number of Chicken & Waffle restaurants opening in Columbia last year. That's certainly a trend that seemed to come out of nowhere for me. I'd gone my whole life without hearing about that particular food combination, and suddenly I seemed to hear about it a couple of times a week. It almost sounds like a punchline. "Why did the chicken cross the road? To get a waffle.."

I never really associated Kenny Rogers with food (well, except maybe "four hungry children & a crop in the field"..), but according to my sister, the chicken at his Kenny Rogers Roasters restaurants was excellent. And, in fact, from what I can tell from this Wikipedia article, there was a Seinfeld episode based around that fact.

The article is quite vague about what happened to the chain. At one point they were doing well, having just bought out a troublesome competitor and gone public with over 1000 restaurants, and a few sentences later they are in Chapter 11. Today, apparently almost all the stores are in Asia.

The Chapter 11 came in 1998, but the Harbison store was already a Bojangles at that point, so I'm just leaving the closing date as mid 1990s.

You've got to know when to fold 'em..

This little sandwich & chicken restaurant was across the fence from Frank's, and shared the building where Mr. B's nightclub is located. This suite is also the former location of Rookie Billiards and Gardenia's restaurant.

I'm not exactly sure what "New York" means in a sub style (I hear "New Jersey" more often), but the reviews they got on Urban Spoon were positive.

UPDATE 30 October 2012: Commenter badger points out that this storefront was once a adult video store. Actually "Chasers Wholesale Video" is listed for this storefront (3122) while "Chasers' Mags-N-Mixers" is listed for the left end of the building (3128). I think the whole building (which has three storefronts now, had only one or two then).

Video:

I think taking the time and trouble to program a Thank You message into the roadside message board was a nice touch.

This storefront (which looks to me as though it may once have been a grocery) on Saint Andrews Road north of Lake Murray Boulevard was the first location for the Carolina Wings & Rib House chain. I'm not sure what the "Smokehouse" marquee signifies exactly -- I don't believe I have noticed that at other Carolina Wings locations.

(Hat tip to commenter jonathan)

UPDATE 8 September 2012: Label the video (first image).

UPDATE 20 April 2020: Add tags and map icon.

Well, given that I did a Forest Drive Bojangles closing just a few days ago, I don't have too much new to say about this one. My sister tells me that she is nearly sure the store was open on Sunday 19 August 2012, so I'm putting the closing date as the following Monday: 20 August. (These shots were taken on 23 August, but the paper in The State rack was for 21 August).

Despite the total lack of signage, several cars pulled into the lot while I was taking these pix.

(Hat tips to pharman99 & my sister)

p>UPDATE 4 September 2013 -- Well, as reported by commenter Amy, demolition has started:

UPDATE 13 December 2013 -- Here are some pictures from 10 November 2013 as the new building started going up. I notice they managed to kill the best tree on the lot:

UPDATE 1 May 2014 -- As mentioned by commenter Ken, this is to be a Panda Express:

UPDATE 19 June 2014 -- Looks like it's pretty close to opening:

UPDATE 28 June 2014 -- Panda Express is open:

UPDATE 24 February 2024: Updating tags and adding map icon.

I knew a man Bojangles and
He'd dance for you..

But not apparently make chicken anymore.

I've had biscuits at a Bojangles's drive-through a few times in the unhappy event of being up that early, and they were pretty good. I can't speak to the chain's mainstay though, as I'm definitely not a chicken person (some are..), but the store on Two Notch at O'Neil Court seems to get pretty good traffic. Perhaps the nearby Church's Chicken at 2436 Taylor was a factor here.

UPDATE 19 September 2014 -- As mentioned by commenter Andrew, this is now an Asian BBQ place:

(Hat tip to commenter Matt)

UPDATE 23 February 2024 -- This spot is now occupied by a Starbucks:

Also updating tags and adding map icon.

I had a hard time finding this Kentucky Fried Chicken in the phonebook because they actually still listed as "Kentucky Fried Chicken" rather than KFC. Good for them! (Interestingly, other KFCs are listed some at the front of the 'K' section with the acronyms and others alphabetically after the "KE" businesses..).

Anyway, they are definitely listed in this year's (February 2012) phonebook, and I'm guessing from commenter Brandi's heads-up that they probably closed very recently. Certainly, as you can see, the store has yet to be stripped of all the equipment and fixtures, and the place doesn't yet seem to be listed as for sale.

(Hat tip to commenter Brandi)

UPDATE 19 August 2016 -- Now Auto Money - Title Loans:

Well, we've been talking about it for weeks, but Friday was the day the Kroger (and associated Chick-Fil-A) on Saint Andrews Road at I-26 finally closed. I suspect these pictures show the last time that sign will be illuminated.

UPDATE 5 December 2014 -- Roses is now open, and the remodel for Save A Lot has started:

UPDATE 28 January 2021: Adding tags and map icon.

UPDATE 4 October 2023 -- The left side of the old Kroger (which Roses didn't take over) is a Spirit Haloween this year (2023):