Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

It looks like the follow-on restaurant to Macs On Main, CW's Grill has closed.

I was never actually sure that they had opened, as they never replaced the Mac's signage, but apparently they did, and it lasted a bit over a year.

The State story on the closing of Mac's mentioned that the owner wanted to concentrate on his cobbler business, and the sign on the door now proclaims Opening soon: World famous cobblers & catering, so it would seem that he must have kept ownership of the building.

And will, I presume, avoid this mistake:

(Hat tip to commenter Homer)

OK, let's enlarge that one and turn it around..

I had never been back in this little office/industiral plaza off of North Main/Wilson at the I-20 interchange. It's a bit hard to figure out how to get down in there at first, but once you do, the place is fairly non-descript, though it does seem to have a pretty high vacancy rate. I can't find an actual street address, but the over all complex is 20/21 Business Center.

From what I can tell, Spirax Sarco is a steam technology company that moved to SC from Allentown after a union dispute back in 1998. Then in 2011, they bought a building in Blythewood and are now located there.

S & S moved from Rosewood to Main a few years ago, and set up shop in the Mast block. Unfortunately, if I recall a couple of articles about the place correctly, the volume of people willing to come to Main Street to purchase art supplies just wasn't there, and they closed the shop with the year.

LoopNet says this building at the corner of North Main & Summerville Avenue was a grocery and dates from the early 1940s. I'm pretty sure it hasn't been a grocery in my memory, but I can't bring to mind anything that it *was* either.

I have to say it's kind of a grim looking building. Perhaps it would look more cheerful with fresh paint, but I don't think so.

UPDATE 9 June 2016 -- Now Royal Priesthood Ministry Center:

The original home of the Miyo's empire, Miyo's On Main (in the old Dr. Feelgood's building) closed this month. The closing sign cites ongoing plumbing problems, but you have to think that was probably just the final straw.

I don't know that it is a direct replacement for this location, but Miyo's is building a new restaurant at the old Stean 'n Shake spot on Columbiana Drive. (Though as of yet they don't seem to have broken ground for that).

Commenter Michael asks if the Roll Call Deli on Main across from the Capitol in the old Fever location is closed.

The answer seems to be "yes for now", or at least that was the case as of last weekend.

The sign did not photograph well, but says Closed for maintenance, so hopefully they will be back soon.

UPDATE 17 January 2014 -- As commenter Bob notes, it is now obvious that this is a permanent closing, and I have taken the "temporary tag off the post title:

UPDATE 31 March 2014 -- For sale:

(Hat tip to commenter Michael)

After eating at Moe's last week, I noticed that Universal Copies in the little bi-level University Corner strip-mall, is closed and papered up.

Then, when I went to make this post, I looked back on the University Corner post and realized that I had missed the closing of the place before Universal: Bits & Pizzas.

Interestingly, while I never really heard of Mac's On Main (I was vaguely aware it was there in the Walker building), the upcoming closing of the place was big enough news to make both The State and The Free Times, with The State story apparently one of their most popular for the last few days.

Clemson Road eatery CW's Grill will be opening their second location in the Mac's building while Mac's owner (whose name is "Barry", not "Mac") will be concentrating on his fruit cobbler and catering businesses.

I first was aware of this restaurant space in the Adesso condos at the corner of Main & Blossom Streets when it had just closed as Baker Brothers American Deli (although I got the space conflated with the Yoghut suite which is in the same building). After that, I kind of lost track of it.

To be specific, I had no idea there was ever an Italian operation called Brioso Fresh Pasta there. In my defense, as far as I can tell, it didn't last long: The Feb 2012 phonebook has the only listing. The reviews are extremely mixed.

After that, I was somewhat aware of Tropical Grill though I never considered stopping there. My impression was that it was an Asian buffet, but I'm not positive about that. At any rate, they only listed in this year's (Feb 2013) phonebook, and I started seeing construction for the new pizza operation Maddio's Pizza Joint some months ago (I have pictures somewhere, but can't lay my hands on them now and it would seem that they have now started operation.

(Hat tip to commenter Payne for reminding me about this).

Here's another place with the old sign turned around in the sign-box to keep the weather out. It's not something I had ever noticed before starting this blog, but something I've seen many times since then.

I think I've used Hertz a few times at various airports around the country and they were fine (not that there's much to differentiate the big rental outfits). Personally, I hate driving a rental. I've got my car aged to perfection, and set up like I want it, and nothing else really fills the bill.

I'm guessing at a 2009 date here. Earlier phonebooks have them at 744 West Main, and later ones don't have them at all, but I happen to be missing the actual 2009 book.

I really like the "stained glass" on the side of the building.