Archive for the ‘restaurants’ tag
Al Amir, 629 Main Street: February 2015 2 comments
I noticed an odd ad for Al Amir in the Free Times the other week, the wording of which was unusual enough that I suspected that one of its Main Street locations, at University Corner across from the the old Towers was gone. Driving by the other night proved that to in fact be the case. The spot is now occupied by another Middle Eastern restaurant, Sahara on Main. I thought I had a good shot of Al Amir here, but all I can locate now is a shot where you can barely see it in the corner, so I'll just go with these pix of the new storefront.
The other Al Amir on Main, The Epicurean by Al Amir at 1734 in the old The Elite Epicurean location is still there.
Gilligan's, 938 North Lake Drive: Mid-June 2014 5 comments
A Three Hour Cruise..
I'm not too familiar with Gilligan's, but I know there was at least one other in Litchfield Beach which closed last year and is now an ABC store. This one was in Lexingtion on North Lake Drive just east of the Books-A-Million strip mall.
I think that clearly this building and the old Zorba's On Two Notch shared the same design. Whether that means this was originally a Zorba's or that they were both originally something else I'm not sure.
(Hat tip to commenter John Barrs)
UPDATE 24 February 2015: Updated the closing date in the post title based on the comments.
UPDATE 19 August 2016 -- This is now Mr. D's Steakhouse, now owned by the mayor of Lexington, Steve MacDougall. Here is The State story of the restaurant's opening, and here is The State story on MacDougall going from manager to owner.
Bentley's Beach House, 1605 North Lake Drive: Early January 2015 5 comments
Bentley's Beach House was the follow-on operation in the old Dam Bar & Grill spot.
It looks like the next tenant is already lined up with a sign announcing Mari's Lake House, thus continuing the "water" and "house" theme the location has going on..
(Hat tip to commenter James R)
UPDATE 27 January 2022: Adding map icon.
Island Cafe & Deli, 10683 Ocean Highway Pawleys Island: November 2014 no comments
The Island Cafe & Deli was for many years a dependable choice for lunch and dinner at Pawleys Island. Landolfi's is my favorite restaurant in the area, but the Deli had a nice front porch for outdoor dining, and sometimes you just want a grilled cheese or burger with black bean soup instead of pizza. Apart from those options, the menu had a number of quirkily named signature items like the Aristotle Salad or the Strom Thurmond, which the description assured us was "an illustrious member of our menu" and featured "young turkey breast".
Some years ago the place had a bad fire and was closed for an extended period, and I believe that after that, someone once drove a car through the front window. Given that history, I was very surprised when I went down in December for the candles to find the place closed.
It appears that the next tenant will be Rustic Table.
Sonic Drive-In, 2461 Decker Boulevard: Early February 2015 1 comment
Well, I find this closing a bit surprising, especially given that a lot of Richland County offices will be going into Decker Mall just across the street.
For some reason I've always associated Sonic with small towns and bygone days, probably since the first one I was aware of was in Hartsville sometime back in the 1970s, but nowdays they seem to be a chain on the move with national television campaigns (rather silly ones, I must say) and expansion into head-to-head competition with McDonalds and the rest of the "sit down" fast food chains. I don't think I've had the burgers, but I stop for a milkshake once or twice a year, and they're pretty good.
The closing signs here are a bit disingenuous, as in fact the Forest Drive location:
has been open for over a year in the old Hardee's location.
(Hat tip to my sister)
UPDATE -- To become a Tokyo Grill:
Also adding map icon.
UPDATE 16 June 2025: Updating tags.
Northeast Market & Coffee House, 2630 Decker Boulevard: January 2015 1 comment
What can I say?
The curse of 2630 Decker Boulevard continues.
UPDATE 4 December 2015 -- Now open as Bosheen Mediterranean Cuisine:
Northeast Market & Coffee House, 2630 Decker Boulevard: January 2015 1 comment
What can I say?
The curse of 2630 Decker Boulevard continues.
UPDATE 18 August 2015 -- But hope continues to win against experience. This place is to now become Bosheen Mediterrean Cusine
Bruster's Real Ice Cream, 202 Graces Way: Mid January 2015 1 comment
This closing was noted last week on Have Your Say where there was some speculation that Bruster's would have done better on Two Notch than tucked away by Carabba's on Graces Way.
I'm not sure I agree as the Graces Way lot effectively fronts Sparkleberry, and sits right across from Spring Valley High School, which had to be, I think, a factor in the store's siting. Given that all the other Bruster's in Columbia have shut down, and that the only Grand Strand location has as well, I tend to think the whole "no inside seating" concept is iffy. Think about it. The fact that Baskin Robbins has seating gives it a whole season (plus rainy summer days) during which it can draw and Bruster's can't. Where are you going to take the kids' basketball team for ice cream after the game in January? Probably not to a place with outside tables only.
I took the daylight pictures on Saturday 24 January 2015, at which time a crew was actively getting the equipment out of the store. As you can see in the night pictures, the menuboards are already gone.
And just as an aside, I *do* think the Graces Way siting works against Carabba's. They have just reduced their hours, which is Sign #1.
(Hat tip to commenter Mr. Hat, making it a Hat hat tip..)
UPDATE 6 October 2016 -- Now a Pelican's SnoBalls:
UPDATE 30 August 2021: Updating tags and adding map icon.
Za's Brick Oven Pizza, 2930 Devine Street: January 2015 (temporary) no comments
I've always liked Za's, though I go there less since they stopped being open to 11:00 on Thursadys. The only things I would change would be to make the individual pizzas a little larger, and to brew stronger tea. I suspect, however, that more than that is slated to change as the place is now closed for revamping as The New Za's. Commenter David suggests that it will then be under the same ownership as Cantina 76, a place I have somehow never gotten around to.
(Hat tip to commenter Dennis)
Fast Food / Greek Restaurant / Dish & Design Catering, 420 Meeting Street: 2010s 3 comments
This small building in Capitol Shopping Center at the corner of Sunset Boulevard and Meeting Street in West Columbia ha
s been a number of things over the years.
Judging from the look of the place, it started as some sort of fast food chain outlet, but I am unable to recall which. Somet
ime after that, I believe I recall a Greek restaurant setting up there. Most recently it was Dish & Desing Catering u
ntil sadly the owner passed away and they had to close.
These pictures were taken not too long after Halloween, as you might infer from the deflated Jack O'Lantern somebody left in t
he parking lot.