Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

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.

There's been a bit of speculation on Have Your Say about whether D. L. McLaughlin's in Irmo is closed or not. Judging from the signage on the building, both of the practical "For Sale" and the sentimental "Thanks for the memories" type, and adding in the Facebook page, I think I can say that it definitely is.

In the event, I think I only ate here once. I was a fan of the old Sub Cabin in West Columbia, and this was either the follow-on or sibling to that operation, but even though it was good, it was just too far for me to go.

Anyone know the story of the archer on the coat-of-arms?

The Rssell & Jeffcoat buildings have a distinctive style, and I have noticed several of them vacant recently. It turns out, according to The State, that the firm was purchased last year by the parent of Coldwell Banker, and if you squint, you can see the "We have moved" sign under the Coldwell Banker branding in the first picture.

UPDATE 16 June 2022: Updating tags, adding map icon.

Another Irmo area note from commenter Homer today:

It's not every day that I need a vehicle serviced so I had no idea that
this business had closed. Tony, the owner, passed away in October and
the family decided not to keep going. I didn't realize it but they had
been in business for 40 years. These guys were top notch when it came to
auto repair. I used to take my old Corvette in there for service and
Tony, Woody and all the guys there always did me right. A lot of people
are going to miss this place!!

I remember a shop in Fayetteville that clearly hadn't even looked at the reason I brought the car in when they called me to pick it up. Always nice to find someone who knows what they are doing!

(Hat tip to commenter Homer, of course)

Today's post is for a place of which I was totally unaware and comes from commenter Homer:

[This] is a group of pictures from Cotton House Seafood at 7777 St.
Andrews Rd. in Irmo. The story is....

I don't know when they actually closed but the last Facebook post on
their page is from May and from the looks of the deck I can believe it.
The sign on the door states that there were robberies and thefts and
that they will be closed until further notice. I guess Irmo's finest was
too busy setting up speed traps or hanging out at the Circle K to notice
any of this going on. Well, today I noticed the for sale sign next to
the road. Doesn't look like they will be reopening any time soon.

(Hat tip to commenter Homer, obviously)