Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Elite Pawn & Gun moved into this space after Ole Timey Meat Market. They last listed in the February 2017 phonebook, so I am going to mark the closing date as 2017.

The new tenant is SMP Phone Doctor, a cellphone sales and repair shop. I'm not sure what is going on with all the trucks.

UPDATE 11 July 2019 -- I'm updated the post title with "Moved", as I saw the new location for this place, which is in the old H. Rubin Vision Center closer to town:

I noticed this empty convenience store at the corner of Garners Ferry & Hazelwood roads the other day. A little research shows that it was a Pantry, which became a Kangaroo, which became a Circle K which was finally superceded by a more modern location.

You can see it here on the LoopNet listing with the pictures showing the gas canopy and island (with Marathon branding) still in place.

It's a pretty good location, with a corner spot and traffic light access, so we'll see what happens.

UPDATE 29 March 2023: Updating tags.

I like Dollar General well enough. It's kind of like a slightly down-market drugstore without a pharmacy, and can be easier to zip in and out of than a Wallgreen's and much easier than a Walmart. I'm not sure what the problem here was. It could be that they just want to build a freestanding store in the area as that is what most of their new stores are, and the area is building up. On the other hand, maybe it's not built up enough and they weren't making any money. (In other words: I don't know!).

There are some good exterior and interior pictures of the store in operation here.

(Hat tip to commenter badger)

UPDATE 12 June 2019 -- Adding "Moved" to the post title as it turns out this Dollar General has moved to a new freestanding store per the comments.

UPDATE 11 July 2019 -- Here is the freestanding new location around the corner:

Here's another store caught in the great Mattress Firm bankruptcy apocalypse of 2018. This one is right next to the Capital Bank and shares the same vast open spaces back overlook.

You can see it with the Mattress Firm signage still up here at the LoopNet listing

Here's another Wells Fargo branch closed, this one by the Lexington Medical Center on Sunset Boulevard.

My sister is a WF customer, so she got word early and I took these pictures before it actually closed. Commenter JB later confirmed that it had taken place. Eventually I will get some pictures of the empty building if I can remember.

Here's another closed bank branch, this one on Sunset Boulevard near Target. I like the view out of the back of the lot. Even though the area has built up considerably, there are still large undeveloped areas in Lexington County.

(Hat tip to commenter JamesR)

LoopNet says this old Russell & Jeffcoat building is off the market, but there was still a real estate sign out front when I drove by a few weeks ago. These buildings have such a distinctive look that it always seems odd to see non Russell & Jeffcoat tenants in them.

UPDATE 16 June 2022: Updating tags.

I like Smashburger burgers, and their choice of buns (espically the chipolte one), but the fries are so bad that it's not really a competitor to Five Guys in my mind. Nonetheless, every few months I do eat at the Devine Street location.

This particular location is in the new shopping center that was built after tearing down the old Cherokee Trail Veterinary Hospital. I believe that Smashburger was the initial tenant in this suite, and the first tenant of the strip to exit. (Even its Mattress Firm still survives).

(Hat tip to commenter ED)

UPDATE 17 January 2023: Update tags.

Domino's would not be my go-to for pizza unless I were in a strange city and needed something likely to be acceptable delivered to the hotel. That said, when I've had it, it has largely been OK, and certainly better than some of the other things the boss could order for a working lunch.

This location was in a fairly pizza-ed area of Lexington -- next to a Mellow Mushroom and not far from an Uno. It looks like the new location at 205 Columbia Avenue is also near to a number of other pizza places, but I guess, where isn't these days?

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 12 May 2019 -- Little Caesar's signage is up:

Here is another Sunset Boulevard location of Eagle Cleaners. They also had a location in West Columbia at one time.

Just going by my experiences of getting in and out of Topspin Plaza taking pictures of things, I suspect drop off and pickup might have been somewhat difficult during rush hours.

The sign is referring to the 3010 Rosewood Drive location, which is right beside Dano's Pizza

(Hat tip to commenter Beth)