Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

This Hardees on US-1 in Batesburg-Leesville apparently closed sometime in 2017. I see some reports that it moved to a new location, but not where that actually is. As of three or four years later, there is still no new tenant. The glassed in dining area on the west side (right side in these pictures) is interesting as I don't recall that from Hardees. It looks like it could be very nice or way too bright depending on the time of day and season.

Williston Road is the connector between I-95 and US-301/US-76. Over the years I had noticed this small convenience store from time to time as I was driving the north route to the beach, and recently noticed that it was gone. What I had *not* noticed before, is that it directly abuts a cemetary (Either "Mizpah Cemetary" if you look at the sign or "Hinds Cemetary" if you look at google maps). You could probably infer a pretty good closing date by looking at the gas prices, but all I see from google reviews is that it was already closed "six months ago" (I don't know why google won't put a real date on all their reviews..).

If you look at the google photos it appears that they had a pool table inside, and maybe a bar/food area, but honestly they are too blurry to really tell.

I got these pictures a few weeks ago, and have not driven back by since, so it is possible this Beltline pawn shop is already closed. It is in a little strip almost at the intersection of Beltline with Devine, and is really almost next to the spot where the chophouse is going if you were to walk straight through.

I'm not sure what the three cities invoked by the name are. Columbia, Irmo & Lexington perhaps? Although Forest Acres is, I think, the closest other municipality.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

I'm pretty sure that this former paint store in the Big Lots strip mall on Two Notch near Spring Valley still had a Porter sign (as seen in the first picture) rather than the new PPG Paints name on it, but I can't tell for sure as it has been painted over better than usual (perhaps unsurprisingly) and I can't see any label scar in these photos.

I'm also not sure of the date, but I noticed it in early October, so I'm going with "September 2021".

This shopping center has done better than I would expect lately in making vacancies good, so we'll see if something else moves in soon.

Devine Street changes character drastically after it crosses Beltline, and this little group of buildings is typical of this block of the street, or at least it was as the changes here will move it (probably) in a bit more upscale direction.

I am unable to find out anything about the second storefront in this block of four, which is presumably 4420 Devine Street, but the first business was Sports Talk Barber Shop at 4418 (which has moved to Green Lawn), the third business was Dark Horse Tattoo at 4422 and the last one, which has now been razed, was Capital Animal Hospital at 4424.

As you can see in the first picture, and the (too numerous) night-time ones the Animal Hospital was freestanding (if built quite close) and the other three addresses were joined. You can see a better picture of the Animal Hospital at LoopNet.

As mentioned by commenter 59 Ford Wheelman and confirmed by commenter Larry with this link, the block of three is to become the second location of Griffin Chophouse, which plans to open there in April of 2022.

(Hat tip to Justin S)

UPDATE 15 February 2021 -- Progress doesn't look especially fast:

I had held off posting anything about this church move on Sunset Boulevard because I was never sure if they had already moved, or were continuing to hold services in this building until they were able to sell it. Last month a sign for a new church moving in went up, so I think it is safe to say they have completed their move. Google suggests they now meet at 218 Blackjack Oak Lane.

At any rate, it is a nice large property, one that could hold a couple more buildings, and one where kids could play some nice games of Capture The Flag. I am glad to see that, so far as I can tel, it is not to be broken up for retail.

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Now Cabanas Restaurante with Honduran & Mexican dishes:

Cabanas was the follow-on in this longtime restaurant storefront to La Poblanita, and opened in 2016. I'm not absolutely sure there wasn't another restaurant in between Cabanas and the new tenant, but anyway, as of now this space is occupied by Tacos Locos.

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I believe 2020 is the only South Carolina State Fair i have missed since starting the blog (and I had missed very few before that), so it was nice to get back this year.

There were a number of changes in this year's edition, both major and minor. The major change would have to be that the venerable grandstand, where numerous well known (if not then at their peak draw..) acts have performed over the years is gone. In its place was a circus Big Top tent where a free circus was performing several times daily. I don't know if this is a stopgap, or will be a permanent feature. Also this year, the performance tent generally set up to the left of the corridor leading to the agricultural displays was gone, and in its place was a set of bleachers in front of a space for small outdoor acts. When I was there, there was a torch-throwing duo working. (They had an amusing patter: Hey, maybe this isn't that impressive, but it's better than you coudl do!). To the right of the agricultural corridor, where there generally are bleachers and some sort of animal act like racing pigs, they have turned the orientation 90-degrees witht the bleachers backed up to the corridor and a covered stage up against the art building.. Where the Steel Building (which I still miss) once was, instead of the dinosaur park they have done the past several years, they had a collection of Frontier attractions, including a working glassblower. (Unfortunatey he was on break when I went by -- it's a fascinating thing to watch).

There were a few noticable changes on the Midway as well. Probably the biggest of these was the absence of the Log Flume from its usual spot near the southwest corner. To fill that spot, they moved one of the Bumper Car setups from its usual place on the north corridor. They also moved the junior Bumper Cars from the usual kids' midway to the central corridor. As an aside, it's something of a travesty that armband guests get expedited access to the rides over ticketed guests. When there are only 9 working Bumper Cars, and they fill 6 of them from the expedited line, it's just too much. I have the feeling that some of the fun-house/haunted-house attractions against the back wall were different this year not because I recall the names, but I think some of the carnival artwork I usually try to get pictures of was missing. Finally, the girl sitting in a big lemon selling lemonade at the west terminus of the skyway was gone this year. It's a silly thing, but I liked that lemon.

As far as I could tell, the crowd was of a typical size. I saved a bit of time pre-buying a ticket at Circle-K, but in the end I had to walk back to the car once because they did not like my camera belt carrying case. I think next year I will just stuff the case in my pocket as I go through the gate.

If you have followed these posts, you know what I like, and that hasn't changed. So there is plenty of neon and the usual yearly subjects past the break.

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I admit to being a little confused about the status of this place. I have never seen any cars there, and the Facebook page shows no recent activity. Furthermore, I recently drove by there at 10pm on a Saturday night and everything was dark. But there is no indication on the door that they are out of business, the street sign seems fairly new, and there are recent google reviews.

Can anyone confirm whether they are open or closed?

UPDATE 27 January 2023 -- Initially this post was a request for information as I could never tell if the place were open. (One commenter supplied the tidbit that they did not open before midnight). Now it is a closing, as the shopping center has suffered a fire, centered on this club.