Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I don't know anything about this used car lot in Lexington, other than it was in a nice little legacy brick house, and they had somebody with a sense of humor doing their art.

Currently the lot is for sale -- and will be, I'm sure, another bit of development for this burgeoning corridor.

(Hat tip to commenter JohnR)

Main Street Public House has closed, and will be replaced during the holidays by a pop-up concept: Miracle Cocktail Bar.

After that, Prohibition Columbia restaurant & bar will open in the space, a new location for Charleston's Prohibition. ColaDaily has the story here.

I hate to admit it, but I was not even aware that Main Street Public House existed, though it definitely looks as though I could have found something to my liking on the menu.

(Hat tip to commenter Larry)

I found these pictures of an old barn weathering away across the street from the former Bi-Lo at Lake Murray Shopping Center that I took while I was doing that closing. I don't have any knowledge of exactly what it was, but I do like old barns. While this one is still partially surrounded by fields on two sides, it is amazing how much this corner (with US-378) has built up in the last few years according to old Google streetview images.

The date is a total guess, and doesn't even have much meaning -- even after a barn/shed stops being weather-proof it's still a place to stash stuff.

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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