Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I'm not sure what the issues were since they spent a good while remodeling this building after it was Sunset Grill & Pizza, and that was not so long ago, but at any rate, there does appear to be actual work going on here, so I expect it will not be long before this Chickadee's location is back.

(Hat tip to commenter gofinsc and others)

UPDATE 22 February 2019 -- They had re-opened after the Fall 2017 closing in the post title, but now closed again for good to become King's Pizza:

UPDATE 11 May 2019 -- A) King's Pizza is apparently no longer coming here and B) This site is going downhill fast:

UPDATE 21 September 2021 -- Now open as Tropical Smoothie Cafe:

Well, here's the latest McDonald's to undergo the chain's current style makeover. This one is at East Forest Plaza, the Wal-Mart anchored strip at the Forest Drive/I-77 interchange.

In general these upgrades have been going pretty quickly, so I don't expect them to be shut for long.

I do have to say that I have found this store to be hard to get in and out of from Forest Drive. I've gotten coffee there a few times, but have kind of crossed it off my list.

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I was unaware of this little country-cooking restaurant a bit behind the old Piggly-Wiggly on US-1. The street, Oak Drive, doesn't look like the kind of place that would have any businesses, but there it is.

The door sign cites tax issues and has a postscript suggesting the place will re-open.

(Hat tip to commenter Arthur)

Devine Foods was unfortunately a place I only got to once or twice. Spanakopita is my go-to Greek dish and as I recall, theirs was quite good. My problem was that they closed quite early both for lunch & dinner making it difficult to fit into my eccentric schedule.

Here is a story from The State on the closing, and an appreciation from The Free Times

UPDATE 8 May 2018 -- This place is being razed to the outer walls:

This local soul food restaurant apparently opened in 2015 and was active at least to June 2017. This stretch of Percival is on my route between home and the new Panera on Forest Drive, and I started wondering about the lack of cars at the place recently. Taking a closer look reveals no closing signage, but there is definitely work going on inside. I don't know if this is in preparation for a new tenant, or is an upfit for this restaurant.

While I'm by no means a Bojangles regular, I do like a sausage biscuit every now and then, and they make a decent one.

Judging from this State story, I think the basic issue here was that while this location did a reasonable business, it was in an older building that the chain just did not want to fool with anymore. Although commenter James R noted the quick paint job, it does not appear that there is anything as yet slated to go in here as the real estate sign is still up some 3+ months later.

The LoopNet listing has a nice picture of the Bojangles still in operation.

(Hat tip to commenter ED)

UPDATE 11 March 2020 -- More than two years later, all the fixtures still inside:

Also adding map icon.

This little home-cooking restaurant had been on this corner since 1991. (Before that, the place was a sandwich shop, and before that, a pharmacy). According to this article in The State, the owner decided, with regret, that it was time to retire.

By the time I got around to taking these pictures, I was surprised to find the place setting up as a new restaurant, the Hampton Street Diner. In fact, I was surprised enough that when there were actually people inside, I could only think of a few words to introduce myself and ask a few inane questions about the opening date and format, not even getting a web site or menu. There's a reason I take pictures of empty buildings rather than talking to people..

Luckily, The Free Times has it covered here: The place is now open, has a '50s' theme, and is serving breakfast & lunch with local delivery available.

And, if you are ever get too comfortable with using google as a source, just google "nathan's hampton street":

Brooklyn-born fast-food chain offering signature hot dogs, fries, burgers & more.

To a first approximation, Pizza Man on Woodrow seemed like the kind of place I would like: Open late & serving pizza.

In the actual event, I only ended up going there once. The pizza was a style I didn't really care for, and was a bit overcooked, and the place was so dim that I could hardly see a page while I waited for my order. I probably should have given it another chance, but in the end never got around to it.

Here is a State story on the (then upcoming) closing, and here is a story on the final auction.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin & co)

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Well Barberitos at Saluda Pointe is definitely gone, and it looks like a complicated situation.

I actually ate at this location at least four or five times. I first encountered Barberitos in Fernandina Beach Florida and enjoyed it there. At the time I found it, I put it in the category hierarchy below Moe's but above Qdoba & Chipolte (I have yet to visit a Salsarita). The way Moe's has been imploding locally lately, I might have moved it to a regular lunch spot if it were in Forest Acres.

One thing I do find odd about the Columbia locations (here and in the Vista), is that while the Florida stores have the expected ground beef filling available, the Columbia stores have only ground turkey -- I was somewhat put off by that, and went with the veggie option. I don't know why that choice was made, or if it had an impact on sales here. The place was always pretty quiet when I would drop by, but I eat lunch so late that's not a good indicator.

(Hat tip to commenter Jason)

UPDATE 9 July 2018 -- This is to be a Willie Jewell's Old School Bar-B-Q:

Update 27 August 2018 -- Willie Jewell's is open:

I never managed to eat at this place, former location of Moe's Grapevine, although I tried once. As I recall, I stopped by one Friday evening about 9:50 and found the place in the process of closing. I was quite surprised that a "Pizza Pub" would close at 10PM on a Friday night. To be fair, they offered to make me a pizza anyway, but I really dislike being in a place that is actively trying to close, especially if I am the only customer, which I was, so I passed.

In retrospect, being empty on a Friday evening was not a good augury for the longevity of this place, and unfortunately that now seems true.

Here is The State story on the pre-opening of the place, and here is the Free Times story on the finalized "Detroit Pizza" theme.

And in the meantime, Well, well:

(Hat tip to commenter badger)

UPDATE 21 May 2018 -- Eric's San Jose is now open in this location: