Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

This spot on Main has had trouble keeping a tenant the last few years. It was Mac's On Main for a long time, but the next incarnation CW's didn't last too long, and neither did Savalis, which I think was there about a year.

The signs indicate that a tenant is still needed, but apparently ceiling work has already started in advance of anyone moving in.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 1 October 2014: Added the first picture of Savalis in operation.

For some reason I was convinced I had already done this closing and some time ago at that, so when commenter jonathan mentioned recently that it was closed, I searched my list and found out that in fact I had done the location before when it was Quizno's, and had *that* stuck in my mind.

J. Gumbos is apparently a Cajun chain with locations in a number of states with this one being the only South Carolina location. It was about 6pm when I took these pictures, and I was still unable to find a place to park without walking farther than I had time to do. I suspect this is a challenge for the spot, though there are certainly a good number of workers withing walking distance during the daytime.

Personally though I like spicy foods, I never really got into Cajun cuisine, though curiously, I did find a great Italian place in New Orleans once.

(Hat tip to commenter jonathan)

Commenter Mr. BO notes the passing of ANDeli's in Richland Mall sending in the last two pictures and noting that:

They were exhibiting several of the Signs
that they were about to close

1) Not maintaining regular business hours
2) Regular employees not there
3) Running out of routine things.

ANDeli's was actually one of the few recent stalwarts to move into Richland Mall. As you can see from their closing sign, they opened circa 2012, while the first shot above, taken on 13 July 2008, shows the storefront was vacant on that date with the original tenant being already long gone. The second shot is from 26 April 2013 and shows the place in operation.

(Hat tip to Mr. BO, obviously)

UPDATE 19 September 2014: Added 26 April 2013 shot.

UPDATE 22 September 2014: Added Great American Cookie Company to the post title based on the comments.

There seems to be some dispute whether this building is at 109 Woodland Hills Road or 788 Saint Andrews Road. The yellow pages listing and the '109' on their mailbox settles it for me as the first. There's also a bit of a discrepancy between the "closed for remodeling" signs at the front door, and the realty sign by the curb. I believe in this case the bigger sign wins, and this building is now on the market.

As you might guess just from the 'look', this rather large and rambling faux tudor building once housed one of Columbia's two Steak & Ale restaurants.

(Hat tip to commenter Arthur)

UPDATE 14 September 2015 -- As noted by commenter Andrew, this is now Tokyo Buffet:

Cletus' Roadside Grille was the latest restaurant to try to make a go of it in the old Whale's Tail spot. I'm not sure what their menu was, but the name puts me in the mind of down-home Southern cooking. I like the colorful, retro logo too.

(Hat tip to commenter Ralph Hightower)

UPDATE 28 August 2017 -- Now a La Fogata:

Commenter Sidney reported the McDonalds in The Crossings
at the corner of Hardcrabble and Clemson closed for renovations some time ago, but I only finally got out there after it re-opened.

Although I don't remember exactly what it looked like before, my impression is that this store has *not* been remodeled along the same lines as other recent McDonalds revampings (here, for example). In particular, the new style subtle arch cap-pieces and drive-through styling are not present, and the boxy glass playroom, which has been removed in other stores, still is.

UPDATE: Oops! Commenter Sidney says the remodeling hasn't happened yet. Looking at how fresh everything looks, I was sure it had, but now these can serve as "BEFORE" pictures.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

UPDATE 7 August 2017 -- I still have yet to put the construction and "after" pictures up. I have them. Somewhere. Anyway, the place is open again.

I'm not exactly sure when this little Two Notch spot closed, but the last Facebook postings are from October 2013, so I'll go with Fall 2013 even though I suspect it was later than that. Judging from the wall signs, they had a wider menu than I might have expected.

Apparently the building is being sold fully equipped.

Well, I was going to wait until I got over to the area again to get some pictures of the abandoned old location, and the new location in operation, but that didn't happen this weekend, and there's been a lot of Taco Cid talk here lately, so I'll go ahead with what I've got.

Longtime local Mexican fast-food restaurant Taco Cid has moved from their Cayce location near Piggy Park and out to Airport Tec Plaza at 3313 Platt Springs Road.

They have moved into the old Marino's Bistro location and are now open, though they have not yet replaced the Marino's marquee.

(Hat tip to commenter Mike)

UPDATE 21 August 2014 -- Here is the Charleston Highway location after closure:

UPDATE 10 March 2017 -- As mentioned by commenter Andrew, this building is going to pot:

UPDATE 30 August 2022: Well, color me surprised. I thought the Charleston Highway Taco Cid building was beyond salvage, but somebody has managed it, and it is now open as Perry's Gourmet Flaming Grilled Chicken!

(Also updating tags and adding map icon).

"Rolls or cornbread?"

I snapped these two pictures driving by Lizard's Thicket on Beltline; perhaps I can get some better later. At any rate, the chain is renovating this old Shoney's building, and it will be closed until that is done.

I believe the nearest other Liz is the one on Forest Drive, also in a former Shoney's.

UPDATE 9 April 2019 -- I don't have a picture, but this location has been open again for a good while.

UPDATE 24 July 2020 -- Closed again, due to COVID-19 staffing problems as is the Airport Boulevard location:

UPDATE 10 February 2021 -- Open again, again:

UPDATE 31 January 2022: As mentioned in the comments, closed again for staffing issues.

UPDATE 5 July 2023 -- Now Moctezumas:

UPDATE 6 July 2023 -- Daytime pictures:

UPDATE 17 June 2025: Updating tags.

I have had my eye on this location of Carolina Wings & Rib House because the chain has been cutting its Columbia operations to the bone, and I figured this peripheral coastal location wouldn't last much longer. In fact, the place was open for the Memorial Day weekend, but by the time I went by again in late July it had apparently (from the state of things inside) just closed.

This location was in Litchfield Beach, in an outparcel of what was the Litchfield Piggly Wiggly shopping center (but which is now the Bi-Lo shopping center. Although I suspect that the general troubles for the chain were the biggest problem for this location, I also note that it is not visible from US-17 which can't have helped either.

UPDATE 20 April 2020: Add tags and map icon.