Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

D's Shoe Warehouse was one of the very few stores left in Capitol Centre, the strip mall behind Columbia Mall which once held Capitol Centre Theatre, MOvies Behind The Mall, Circuit City, Cucos Mexican Cafe, Aliens & Alibis, and Jim's Discount Mall.

As of 31 January 2013, they have moved to Parklane, in the old site of Awesome Mattress.

I would have thought this store and its enclosing little plaza were on Elmwood which these suites face, but web search matches the visible 2101-D street number to Main.

Other than that, I was able to find out very little other than that it was a clothing store, which was already pretty much apparent from the name. In particular, they weren't listed in any of my old phonebooks, so the closing date is a complete guess.

This little convenience store on the corner of Academy Street & Colonial Drive near the hospital has recently moved across the street to 3208 Colonial Drive. It appears to me that there is a re-zoning notice on the old location (though the pictures are quite blurry for some reason).

I'm pretty sure that the new location was a hand-service carwash before Q Mart moved in.

A. C. Moore was the follow-on operation to the old Harbison Bi-Lo. I never went in, but had the feeling from the name that it was probably something like Hobby Lobby. Late last year they for some reason lost their lease and had to vacate the premises. They started a sale and clearance program almost immediately, and it appears to have been successful based on how little is left inside...

I find it curious that they were let go as the plaza is not completely sold, and it will take a special store to get shoppers to brave the traffic and make it a destination, something that that apparently did not apply to the grocery store.

I thought I had some daylight pix of the store after the closing was announced, but they seem pretty well hidden at the moment.

(Hat tip to commenter Tom)

UPDATE 3 February 2026: Update tags & add map icon.

I've done so many closings on Blockbusters that it's hard to believe there are still some around. It's kind of like finding one of those prehistoric fish that get dredged up every now and then. This one is on Broad River Road near the old G-E-X, and is already having their final clearance sale. It's amazing how far and how quickly a company which once had naming rights to everything and thought they were the future of entertainment has fallen..

(Hat tip to commenter William)

UPDATE 8 April 2013 -- As reported by commenter Andrew below, this place closed on 24 March, and the signs are down:

UPDATE 9 April 2014 -- Now a Buddy's Home Furnishings:

UPDATE 5 October 2020: Updating post tags, changing name in post title from "Blockbuster" to "Blockbuster Video", adding map icon.

Tobacco World is one of the spaces carved out of the old Covenant Road Piggly Wiggly after the new Dollar General went into most of the old space.

I believe there are three units on the side of the building closest to the road, and of the three, only Milano Pizza seems to have had a successful start. The signage for Tobacco World has been up for at least a year, but as far as I can tell, it has never (yet) opened, and I suspect at this point that it won't. (The third unit has never shown any signs of becoming anything as far as I can recall).

Here's a heart-themed post for Valentines..

I don't know a lot about Heart 2 Heart (or "♥ 2 ♥" as the sign would have it) other than it was apparently a gift shop, sat in the old Piggly Wiggly Plaza on Lake Murray Boulevard and closed in 2010. The local news site has this and other locations up for comments on what should go there...

I remember going into Learning Express sometime last year while I was looking for something for my niece. Unfortunately, I can't recall what I was looking for or if I found it. I do recall that the place was upscale and had some toys that I would have been interested in back in the day.

OK, who am I kidding -- I'd still be interested in them!

(Hat tip to commenter Terry)

UPDATE 10 April 2013 -- Interesting. Now it's to reopen as Learning Express under new management:

UPDATE 22 April 2013 -- Open again:

UPDATE 27 April 2020 -- As commenter Jacob Pittman notes, this store is closed once more. According to the chain website, the only curren tMidlands location is at 5175 Sunset Blvd., Suite 12 Lexington, SC 29072.

Here is the press release for the reopening of this storefont, which apparently took place on 12 April 2013.

Not sure what happened here, as the location doesn't seem too bad to me, and it has fairly easy access to the Wal-Mart stoplight, but the Raceway at Bush River Road and I-26 has closed. The only site negative I can see is the separate bathroom building, which I personally don't like because there's often a locking hassle and you end up splitting your time at three locations.

(Hat tips to commenters Tom & Frank)

UPDATE 22 June -- As mentioned in the comments, this place is open again:

UPDATE 27 January 2016 -- This place is closed again:

With the closing of the State Farmers' Market (seen in the first picture), Case Plants relocated from there to North Main Street on the former site of Jacob's Automotive Group, and next to the old Varsity Restaurant. It's certainly a good drive from their old location, and that may have made a difference.

(Hat tips to commenters Justin & Matt)