Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Personally, I'm still not exactly sure what an Ultra Lounge is, and how that is different from a nightclub, but Pure, in this much re-purposed modernistic building on Berryhill Road was one, though it is one no more.

If you look closely in front of the door in one of the shots, you can see a bag with the 2014 phonebooks. Like trying to determine which issue of The Free Times is in the rack in a closed establishment, unclaimed phonebooks are another timing clue. In this case we have further evidence however in the fight poster which touts a 22 February match. Given all that, I'd put the date in early February 2014. I have to say though, that the place looks pretty decrepit for having been open that recently. The dress-code posters, for example, have already faded into illegibility. (Interestingly, the last time they tweeted was 2010).

(Hat tip to commenter)

Well, there was some chatter on Have Your Say the other day about Church's Chicken, so I thought I would bring out these Church's pictures from Aiken. They were taken on a fairly recent visit this March, but I believe the restaurant has been vacant since before I left Aiken around 2005 or so. The place is on the stretch of US-1 (York Street) between I-20 exit 22 and downtown proper. Or perhaps you can consider Hampton Avenue to be the start of downtown (and Aiken's weird double streets). LoopNet says the building is in the city limits proper. (They also seem to be saying it can be reused, but the current state is a good bit more decrepit than the picture they use, and I have my doubts).

Sulley's was the follow-on operation to D's Wings after that moved out to Sparkleberry. They opened in late June or early July of 2013, so they were there for about a year.

This was another place that was on my "eventually" list, that I never got around to visiting in time. I don't know why that is, as it is fairly close to me, and when D's was there, it was a comfortable spot for a leisurely meal.

(Hat tip to commenter John)

UPDATE 22 October 2014 -- The upfit for the next tenant, J Peters Grill & Bar is well underway and they are hiring:

UPDATE 17 November 2014 -- J. Peters is now open:

Wing Nuts was in the old Sesame Inn slot in the Outback plaza on Harbison. (I used to call it the Barnes & Noble plaza). Online reviews were not.. overly positive, but then nobody goes online to leave a good review.

Interestingly, the place has been on the market as a turn-key running business since last October (October 2013), as can be seen in these two LoopNet listings, here and here listings. That apparently did not work, as the place is now fairly gutted.

(Hat tip to commenter Ellen)

8 September 2013:

15 June 2014:

This place, by Yoghut in the Adesso building at the corner of Main & Blossom Streets was apparently a sister operation to Peppers House Of Pizza on Garners Ferry, and continued on several months after that one closed. If it were going to close, I guess the timing is not surprising. This building is right across from USC, and I imagine that anytime school is out is hard on the restaurants in this whole little strip (especially given the problematic parking for non-locals).

(Hat tip to commenter Payne)

UPDATE 28 June 2019: Add map icon.

Bangkok Thai-Chinese restaurant has moved across Garners Ferry from its old home in the Southern Salvage plaza to the Wal-Mart outparcel plaza. This is the former site of Larry's Subs and Steve's Subs. It was also the site of Japan Grill about which I need to do a closing.

(Hat tip to commenter Badger).

If you look closely at the three pictures above (especially the last one), you can see China Max in operation at the (second) Richland Mall food court.

Commenter MrBO sends in the next two pictures, showing that China Max has now moved shop from the food court to Harden Street. I believe this leaves the food court completely empty, possibly leading some of the call center folks to actually try the pizza at the Barnes & Nobel cafe.

This is another in a long series of blows to the mall, which would be bad enough, but management adds to the problem by adopting an air of defeat, as in, for instance, turning off the elevator fountains and pool, retiring the Christmas singing bears and more recently, closing off the upper level entrance and walk-through for Belk's:

(Hat tip to commenter MrBO)

15 July 2014 -- added an additional picture, though it doesn't really add much value.

Commenter Bobby notes that this McAlister's Deli at the corner of Sparkleberry Lane and Graces Way will be moving down Two Notch soon to set up shop by Hobby Lobby.

If I am reading this historical listing right, then the property has been sold once in the last couple of years already. (If there's a more current listing, google is not making it obvious to me).

As I think I have mentioned before, I have never really warmed up to this chain, possibly because you have to go to the counter to beg for drink refills.

(Hat tip to commenter Bobby)

UPDATE 27 October 2014 -- The move is now complete:

Here's an older house set up as a restaurant on Lexington's South Lake Drive. I try to keep tabs on local pizza, but this one is not really local to me, and I'm afraid I had never heard of it before they closed up shop. The place kind of sits on a little hill, and I think it would have been nice to eat on the deck and look over the comings and goings on the road.

According to their sign, they are moving, but to where is not clear. Commenter Brian notes that the main chef has moved to All Star Pizza Company at 2001 Augusta Road.

(Hat tip to commenter Brian)

UPDATE 20 May 2018: The State says this will open as the second location of Cafe Strudel on 21 May 2018.

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