Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I used to go to this Pizza Joint location fairly often when they were open late on Thursdays for Service Industry Night, but when they stopped that, I kind of drifted away. I had noticed driving by several times lately that they were not open when I would have expected it, but I put it down to covid + staffing, and didn't think much about it until commenter Larry noted that they had had a fire there.

Looking at the place last Sunday, I am happy to report that repairs are obviously underway, so hopefully they will be back soon. The building must be surprisingly durable as it has been a number of different operations since starting life as a Hardee's.

(Hat tip to commenter Larry)

UPDATE 18 January 2023: The place has been sold, so I have removed the "Temporary" notation from the title. The next tenant, according to The State will be a breakfast/brunch place: The Vicious Biscuit.

This convenience store and Exxon station at the edge of Shandon was formerly the full service Branham's Exxon. It had already done a remodel from that era to do away with the service bays, but the current tenant Gaz-Bah (also an Exxon) has temporarily closed to do another remodel.

As you can see from these pictures, the place has been completely gutted, and looks a good way from reopening.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin S).

As you can see from these two sets of pictures, the Circle K at the corner of Two Notch Road & the Trenholm Road Extension is closed, the pumps have been demolished, and apparently the storage tanks have been dug up, or that is the next step.

The store here was much smaller than the current Circle K style, and to me the lot does not look big enough to put in one on their new standard lines. In the case of a similar situation on Bethel Church, they removed the pumps and tanks and then put the building on the market. I expect they will do the same here, unless they go as far as razing the building entirely.

(Hat tip to commenter Thomas)

UPDATE 28 February 2023 -- As mentioned again by commenter Thomas, this building has now been razed:

UPDATE 29 March 2023: Updating tags.

UPDATE 16 January 2024 -- Now a Valvoline Instant Oil Change:

M Kitchen was built on the site of the old Steak 'n Shake after razing that building, and is part of the peripatetic Myio's empire.

As of 27 June 2021, this location is closed, with the staf moving to Bower Parkway

(Hat tip to commenter Mitch)

The situation with Urban Cookhouse seems a bit odd to me and I suspect something went wrong. The Devine Street location (which was the only SC location at the time) closed around 30 June, and the place advertised a new "temporary" location in Five Points, which guessing from their Facebook Page was for catering only. There have been no posts to the page since 14 July, and no answers to questions people are asking there about the new location and opening date. Unless I missed an announcement somewhere, I think this place will not be coming back as a dine-in location.

Here is some (old) information from The State.

(Sorry that the pictures are poor, it was really too late in the day, and I meant to go back, but have not yet).

(Hat tip to commenter MB)

UPDATE 19 August 2021 -- Here are some better pictures:

Here is 741 Saluda, so I am still a bit confused about the status of things:

OK, I'm going to say this. The current practice of using lawfare in Five Points, weaponizing South Carolina's idiosyncratic liquor statutes against businesses you don't like, is wrong. Yes, Five Points had a problem, but shooting the patient is not a cure. I guess in this case the fact that there were prior legal troubles was a factor, but the empty storefronts speak for themselves.

The State has more details on this, and on who will still be open.

(Hat tip to commenter Tom)

I never stopped at this Market Express though I do remember noticing it from time to time. While the property light poles aren't quite the kind of gull-wing fixtures I really like on vintage buildings, they are a bit better than most current ones.

Commenter Larry suggests that the lot is to become a car wash which seems like poor siting to me, but then I don't drive that stretch too often.

(Hats off to Larry)

UPDATE 11 Aug 2021: Forgot to put a date on the initial post. I'm guessing "Spring 2021" and have added that.

I was unfamiliar with this micro-brewery off of North Main until commenter Alan noted its (apparent) passing.

According to The State:

The owner of Cottontown Brew Lab announced in April on Facebook that the neighborhood microbrewery would be closing temporarily for renovations.

In his post, owner Zack Jones said, “the operational costs of trying to build a regionally distributed brewery without the financial support of a proper tap room have meant that we rarely met operating costs.”

I'm not entirely sure of the context there but I think it means that their indoor operation was closed during the pandemic. The same article mentions that they hope to re-open as "a higher quality, indoor dining experience", but I did not notice any signs of construction as I drove past.

(Hat tip to commenter Alan)

This outlet mall is in Darien Georgia on the west side of I-95 Exit 49 (across the interchange from the old Cafe Risque). I used to stop there from time to time on my way to Fernandina as they had one of those overstock "Giant Book Sale" storefronts where I picked up an interesting title or two over the years.

Starting around 2015 however the place started going downhill fast. I'm not sure why, as at the time the decline started, the buildings were still well maintained and attractive, and I-95 was certainly as busy as ever. I suppose it was part of the general Internet-based retail hollowing out that we have seen in many places. Now the entire place is vacant, and even the antiques store, which I thouht might still be going, is just abandoned stock from the defunct operation, though it does host a large colony of feral cats.

Apparently there have been a number of things that have *almost* happened here, with one of them, International Decor Outlet getting as far as opening their doors before folding. I'm not sure exactly what went wrong, but the whole concept which seems to be something like connecting manufacturers in China with US storefronts seems odd and hard to understand, and the company also got into trouble in a Jacksonville mall and downtown Jacksonville as well.

In mid-2020 another developer passed on the mall due ostensibly to COVID-19. I suspect that is what led to Ruby Tuesday giving up the ghost. As I recall, it was still open when I drove to Fernandina in December of 2020, but the building is now a local sports bar. Along with the restaurant, several gas stations and convenience stores a victim to the mall's closure, and I may feature some here later.

You can see the mall in happier times in some nice pictures at this real estate site and note the demographics that make this place really dependant on Interstate custom: Less than 20,000 people live in a ten mile radius of the site.

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I have been on vacation, which I generally don't pre-announce for security reasons, and which probably seems longer because I was off in early July as well. I meant to do a few posts while on the road, but well, mice & men and all that..

Normal posting should resume today.

I appreciate your concern!