Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Well, I'm not sure what is going on here. The sign is extremely uninformative, and there is no sign of work being done inside or out. I hit the Forest Acres' Zoe's from time to time for the Greek salad, but have never visited this location.

UPDATE 31 August 2018 -- Removed the "temporary" from the post title based on the comments.

UPDATE 31 August 2018 -- The State reports it as a restroom issue (in that the store had none) though parts of the reporting contradict that..

UPDATE 1 September 2022: Editing tags and adding map icon.

The signage still posits this closing as temporary, but the Free Times has verified that it is, in fact, permanent.

This spot has been the home of a number of restaurants over the years, including Capitol Cafe, Cat & Cleaver, Dunkin' Donuts (almost), Fever, and Roll Call Deli.

I never ate at Persona due to the fact that I rarely go downtown at lucnch time, and would go some place with parking if I did. I will say that I would not use that name for a restaurant as the first thing I think of is Persona Non Grata..

(Hat tip to commenter Tom)

UPDATE 7 October 2020 -- Well oddly enough, this place is unchanged after a bit more than two years. The signage is still up, and the interior looks almost exactly as it did when it closed, down to the delivery moped. The chairs have been tabled though:

Also adding the map icon.

UPDATE 8 February 2022 -- They have finally taken down the Persona signage, but have left the possibility that the storefront might be some sort of wood fired pizza in the future:

I don't believe I ever at at this Applebee's, though I was certainly aware it was there. In general, I find the chain to be a decent late night spot for a good burger though they are a bit stingy with the fries.

Judging from the sign, I guess the Two Notch, Blythewood & Devine Street stores must be under different ownership.

UPDATE 12 May 2020 -- As pointed out by commenter Andrew, this is now Pon.Di.River Caribbean Bistro (assuming it makes the transition out of COVID-19 closure):

(Hat tip to commenter Ken)

Judging from their Facebook page, Holly's Famous Hot Dogs sadly had a death in the family last summer, and have not reopened.

(Hat tip to commenter Kc)

UPDATE 15 February 2022 -- Now (Tameleria) Taqueria La Poblanita:

Also adding map icon.

Somehow after all these years, I've never made it into a Piggie Park. Probably because I convinced myself at an early age that I didn't like barbecue (I've revised my opinion a bit), and didn't really realize they had other Southern items.

The State says the property is to become a car dealership. I would guess used cars.

The Clemson Road and Dentsville locations remain open.

(Hat tip to commenter Harry etc)

UPDATE 22 September 2020: Updating tags, adding map icon.

I ate here twice for lunch, and both times got sort of a weird vibe and the impression the place wanted to be a night club more than a restaurant. The second time I was there, a girl came out of the kitchen and sat at a nearby table, crying. It was very uncomfortable, and I decided that was it for me.

(Hat tip to commenter David B)

Looks like the Lizard's Thicket remodeling effort that has revamped several of their stores is continuing. This one is at the corner of Knox Abbott Drive & State Street, and was some sort of restaurant before, though not a Shoney's like the Forest Drive and Beltline locations. I've eaten there before, and don't recall any particular building issues, but I guess everything has its time.

UPDATE 8 April 2019 -- I don't have a picture, but this location is open again, and has been for a while.

Not very good pictures here as I was shooting against the sun, but it's what I have..

This TCBY was just past the closed Rite Aid at 500 West Main Street. The sign says they were open for thirty years, which is definitely a good run.

In fact, that pushes it almost back into the era when TCBY stood for This Can't Be Yogurt instead of The Country's Best Yogurt, or at least that's the way I remember it. The first froyo places had to combat the notion that yogurt was a sour curdled health-food that people in the Soviet Union ate if they wanted to live to be 130..

(Hat tip to commenter ED)

Atlantic Seafood in the old Taco Bell building on Broad River Road has closed shop, and the place is prepping to be Chicki's Wings. The Decker Boulevard location (interestingly, in another former taco restaurant will remain open.

I have tried to go to The Mouse Trap three times, but in the event only managed it once.

The first time was years ago, probably the early 80s, and I just could not find the place. I had seen it once at that point, and knew it was in the office complex off Forest Drive, but after driving around twenty minutes or so, I gave it up as a bad job and went somewhere else. (Was it originally at a different location in this plaza? Because I have no problem now).

The second time was with some folks from the CS department at USC during a homecoming event. No problem finding it this time (I may have been following someone) and the food was fine, though I have very little memory of it.

The third time was a year or two ago when I decided, Hey, it's been 10 or 15 years; time for another visit!, but it turned out to be one of those places that close between "lunch" & "dinner".

Anway, they are now closed for remodeling. The inside looks a bit torn up and there is a storage container out back, so I think work has started, though the sign doesn't give any ETA.

(Hat tip to commenter Midnight Rambler)

UPDATE 30 January 2019 -- As reported in the comments, this is open again: