Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Somehow I spent my whole life without ever seeing such a thing, but apparently it's not uncommon:

A 22° halo is an optical phenomenon that belongs to the family of ice-crystal halos. Its form is a ring with an apparent radius of approximately 22° around the Sun or Moon. When visible around the Moon, it is called a moon ring or winter halo. It forms as direct sunlight or moonlight is refracted in millions of hexagonal ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere.[1] The halo appears large; its radius is roughly the length of an outstretched hand at arm's length.[2] A 22° halo may be visible on as many as 100 days per year – much more frequently than rainbows.

Somehow I still doubt that "more frequently than rainbows" part..

Another casualty of Covid-19, World of Beer closed their Vista location on 16 November according to The Free Times. Hopefully there is some light on the horizon, as this can't go on much longer.

(Hat tip to commenter Lone Wolf & then commenter Dustin)

UPDATE 8 December 2020: Add missed hat tip to Lone Wolf

As mentioned by commenter Zach, Paul's Barber Shop in the strip at the corner of Lexington Drive & Platt Springs Road has moved. The new locaiton is 2361 Augusta Hwy Suite E, Lexington, SC 29072.

I mostly know Airport Tec Plaza as the final resting place for Taco Cid.

(Hat tip to commenter Zach)

As noted by commenter Heath, Nooch & Lalo Mix Mex Food & Drink in the Flight Deck complex in Lexington has closed. ColaDaily has the story and says:

The announcement via social media names "devastating family issues" as a factor as to why the closure was the best decision. Co-owners and partners Jose "Lalo" Parra and Nicholas "Nooch" Kole will be moving to Mexico to start a new chapter, according to the announcement[.]

This place was the follow-on operation to Arkos and opened in November 2019, closed earlier in 2020 and announced the permanent closing in mid-November 2020.

(Hat tip to commenter Heath)

Well, this is a bit disappointing. This credit union with ATM in the Big Lots plaza has been one of my go-to places in this area for no-fee Co-Op ATM withdrawals. It is one of the places I mentally marked as "safe", as it does not unexpectedly give $50 bills (which nobody wants, why does anyone do that!).

The new location seems quite a ways from here, and I don't see how it will be convenient for the members who use this branch.

I last wrote about this spot when it was (no longer) Premier Plus Motors.

Since that time, a Hertz rental resale lot set up operation there, and that may or may not be permanently closed now. All this is part of Chapter 11 for the company, something I had not heard about:

Hertz announced plans to temporarily close all 87 car sales locations in the U.S. on Wednesday.

Several individuals involved with the car rental giant said the company told employees of the news via a conference call on Tuesday. Representatives on the call detailed plans to cease operations at the locations on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Hertz said in a statement, "As part of our Chapter 11 process, Hertz has been working to right-size our fleet to align with current demand and meet the requirements of our lenders."

"Hertz has recently met its target to sell approximately 180,000 vehicles, and as a result is pausing the car sales program including temporarily closing corporate retail locations. Hertz has maintained the licenses for these locations and will evaluate its car sales program as it replenishes its fleet with new vehicles in 2021," the statement continued.

The report does not mention COVID-19, but that has to have been awful for car rentals.

(Hat tip to commenter ARTHUR P)

If you look in the left corner of the second picture (which was taken for Tripps Fine Cleaners), you can barely see St. Francis Catholic Shop still in operation. As commenter Tom mentions, their website shows them as having closed on 19 September 2020 (with a nice little message of hope and faith).

Looking at the sign for St. Andrews Square, I can't help but notice they don't update it very often. The St. Andrews Newsstand has been gone for many years, Tripp's has been gone nearly a year, and now Catholic Shop. I haven't done an inventory on the rest of the marquees, but it wouldn't surprise me if more are out of date.

(Hat tip to commenter Tom)

This chocolate & pecan gift shop was on Sumter north of Elmwood, not too far from the former Citta del Coton pizzeria. I was not really aware of it, but looking at their web site there is some tasty looking stuff there.

Neither their facebook nor twitter has a post explaining why they closed the physical store, but given the 'conditions what prevail', I certainly suspect COVID-19 played a part.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

I tried to get a daytime shot of The Pita Pit, but ended up with no parking and someone on my bumper. Actually, there was still no parking even at night, but at least I could stop for these two shots.

Pita Pit on Main, and apparently another location in Five Points, closed on 16 March due to COVID-19. I'm not sure about the Five Points store, but this one is now up for sale, so it won't be coming back.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 9 June 2022: Changing the post title and text to remove "The" from in front of "Pita Pit".

I had not realized that Flo's Place in Murrells Inlet was closed until I drove by recently and saw a different sign. I never ate there myself, not being a big seafood fan, but an aunt did, and declared the place "fun". Last week I was able to google up a news article to the efect that the owners were retiring, but today I can't find that information. I do see a listing for an auction of the quirky decor, which took place in early 2019, leading me to put the closing date as late in 2018 (and there are reviews up through September 2018).

Here is a 2017 Sun News article on Flo's in operation.

The space is now American Steak & Oyster Bar.