Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

There seems to be a little online confusion about the address here, but I'm pretty sure it's 7735 Broad River Road, as that is what the real estate listing and LoopNet say, regardless of what google thinks otherwise.

As you can see from the first two shots (from the Ed Robinson closing) this old-school convenience store was still in operation on 20 February 2018. At some point between then and 28 May 2018 when commenter Andrew reported it, the place closed and had the pump island and canopy torn down (and excavated).

Although I have seen places with two ongoing Circle Ks across the street from each other, most likely this one closed when the more modern one at 7710 Broad River Road came online just a bit nearer to the I-26 intersection:

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 23 June: Adding Kangaroo Express & KC Express to the post title based on the comments.

UPDATE 25 June: Adding The Pantry based on the comments.

UPDATE 29 March 2023: This property has been sold as of December 2022 to MaxLiving which

Focuses on chiropractic and a natural, holistic approach to help people better understand and manage their current and long-term health.

Also adding map icon and updating tags.

UPDATE 9 May 2023 -- The place has been gutted in preparation for the new MaxLiving incarnation:

UPDTATE 5 June 2024 -- MaxLiving is open:

Not great pix, but here is another Rite Aid which has the misfortune to be directly across the street from a Walgreens (the one at 7412 Broad River Road). It's a decent location, perhaps CVS could move in. Their nearest store is at Saint Andrews Road, so that's really another market. Of course the Publix in the strip behind the store has a pharmacy as well, so there is still a bit of competition there.

The end here is slated for 18 June 2018.

Well, it seems that whenever I have gotten by this Widewater Square Harveys lately, I have either been shooting against the sun, or it was dark. You can see some slightly better pictures of this store in the closing for the Bi-Lo it replaced. (In fact, I don't actually have any pictures of the Bi-Lo there at all).

I don't have anything special to say about this store, just that it is part of the general closing of Columbia's Harveys locations, and that I have heard no plans for the future of the building. Of course it is early yet for that.

UPDATE 17 April 2023 -- Commenter Homer sends this picture of the new storefront for the upcoming WorldFood Marketplace (as discussed in the comments):

Also adding the map icon.

I noticed the other weekend that this Broad River Road gas and convenience store, which was a Circle K when I originally did a closing on it, has now reflagged again, dropping the El Cheapo branding for CK Mart.

It does not appear that they did any digging or construction this time.

Well, one less now..

(Hat tip to commenter Toby)

UPDATE 29 October 2018 -- As noted in the comments, this place is again open:

UPDATE 13 December 2019 -- As of 30 November, this place was closed again:

UPDATE 23 January 2020: This store is once again open.

UPDATE 7 February 2023 -- I think I may have missed one open/close cycle, but this place is closed again, and it looks permanent this time:

Update 9 October 2023 -- The ongoing Interstate construction is spilling over onto this lot:

This is an interesting little building off Broad River Road just north of the I-26 interchange. It puts me in the mind both of an old A&P (the steeple) and this building on Millwood (though that one is more round).

I don't believe I had ever noticed Royal Tower Drive before. I wonder where the name comes from?

UPDATE 9 May 2023: Now a martial arts dojo:

I noticed back in May 2017 when I did the Smart Choice closing that piercing salon Knotty Heads was closed for remodeling. I see that as of early October, it still is.

UPDATE 31 August 2018 -- Took the "temporary" off the post title. It now appears to be Sirius Sage and/or Dogon:

I was way out on Broad River Road in Irmo, or maybe Ballentine, when I noticed this overgrown little building next to Friarsgate Animal Hospital. I may be wrong on the address. I should have got a closer picture, but I'm almost positive the sign on the front says 10214, but that doesn't make complete logical sense as the vet's is 10216, so by rights this lot should be 10218. I can't really find anything in google with either address, and consulting a few old phonebooks for 1st Choice Homes turns up nothing (locally).

Also in Friarsgate Plaza across from the currently closing Bi-Lo was this Dollar General.

They list in the February 2017 phonebook, and have a Yelp review from 15 April 2017, so I'm going to say they probably moved around May of 2017. The new, freestanding, location is 7812 Broad River Road which is a bit closer to I-26 exit 101 and on the other side of the road.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 20 June 2017: Changing the closing date from May 2017 to "2016" based on the comments. The phonebook is apparently wrong.

Well this has been pretty ventilated in Have Your Say for a while now, but the Bi-Lo at Friarsgate Plaza will be closing soon. Unlike some of the other local Bi-Lo's, this one will apparently not be becoming a Harvey's.

Googling around, I see that a lot of other Bi-Los have closed recently as the chain continues to fare poorly, though I have always been happy enough with the stores whenever I happened to stop in at one.

In this particular case, the venue does not help as Friarsgate Plaza does not seem to be thriving. You can see one indication of such by looking at the plaza marquee, which continues to tout Monterrey, which featured in a closing here six years ago.

(Hat tip to commenter ED)

UPDATE 12 June 2017 -- Still open. Pretty picked over, but still some good staples. Mostly 40%off:

UPDATE 30 September 2021 -- Now a CubeSmart self-storage place:

Also updating tags and adding map icon.