Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

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 this empty Food Fare north of the Wal-Mart on Dutch Fork Road today. I'm not actually sure of the closing date, but it hasn't been closed long enough to be completely stripped inside or for the pumps to either be taken up or vandalized yet long enough for the carwash to have been tagged. I'm just going to say '2017' unless someone knows different.

I don't know what the issue for it was, but I do note that it's a little hard to get in and out of as the suicide lane goes away at this point in Dutch Fork and traffic can be pretty heavy.

As commenter Andrew noted, another McDonald's is undergoing an upfit. This one, at the corner of Saint Andrews & Ashland Roads is apparently not going to be razed and completely rebuilt like the Forest Drive store.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 26 March 2018 -- Open again:

As mentioned by commenter Justin, and documented in this sale notice here, Hannah Piano in Seven Oaks Shopping Center is closing after 42 years as the owners are retiring.

The Liquidation Sale will offer new and used pianos of all sizes, finishes, and price ranges, digital pianos and all print music. Deep discounts will be offered over the coming weeks and the store will close their doors when everything is sold.

Unfortunately, the keyboard under my fingers now is the only kind I ever had an affinity for..

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 23 March 2018 -- The closeout is over and the place is now closed:

Gina's was the follow-on in this building to Little Caesar's & Custom Pizza. As far as I can tell from the Yelp reviews, they must have closed some time between June and late August of 2017. I never partook as I don't do take-out, and it's way away for me, but the reviews are pretty good.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

Commenter Homer sends in these shots of the Meineke across from Seven Oaks Shopping Center. This is right next to the Former NAPA that moved into the shopping center, although when I was doing that one, I somehow managed to take the long shots to completely miss this building except for this one:

and pretty nearly in that case too.

(Hat tip, obviously, to commenter Homer)

UPDATE 23 March 2018 -- Now Minnie's Auto Repair:

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).

This former daycare is well back from the road around where Old Bush River splits off from Saint Andrews road.

It appears to have been part of a chain of such centers, with other locations remaining open.

There is always something especially sad about an abandoned playground.

(Hat tip to commenter IrmoJeff)

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.

Northern Style Pizza replaced Touchdown's Wings & Things in this little Broad River Road endcap location, which had previously been a Sammi's Deli and probably a few other things before that.

The last Yelp review is from June of 2016, so I'm going with a "Summer 2016" closing date. The replacement operation, Papa Gio's, is also a pizza & Italian restaurant. Their sign says "Established 2007", so they must have moved here from another location, but not one I am familiar with.