Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Apprently this move took place sometime around June of 2020, but I never noticed it until quite recently. Rice Music House moved from their old Devine Street location to near the traffic circle at Sandhill in 2012, and have now moved an additional block or so to 486 Town Center Place, Suite 1.

As you can see above, as of yet there is nothing in the storefront they vacated.

This old-school hardware store on Broad River Road between Bush River & Greystone, has started its final closing sale.

I think it's interesting how this one fairly small strip has three totally different facade styles. I like this one the best; the ziz-zag roof-line puts me in the mind of the 60s.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

Anyone know what is going on with Lowes Foods at Sandhill? They are apparently having a two day closure this week for some reason. The store has only been open a few months, it seems kind of early for a remodel.

I've only been in this charity thrift store once that I can recall. I needed a replacement VCR for one that had given up the ghost, and it was some years since they were a common item. I was pleased and surprised to find a whole shelf of them here, paired with the correct remotes. I picked up one and we got several years of good service from it.

I'm not sure if this closing is COVID related, or if they are remodeling or what, but the signs announce that they will return.

UPDATE 27 August 2021: Commenter Andrew reminds me that this was the former site of Spring Valley Ace Hardware, something I had completely forgotten, despite having done a closing on it.

Frankly, I had no idea at all what kind of place Kirkland's is. Looking at their web site, it appears they are a home decor store, something which comes onto my radar with vanishing rarity.

This particular store was in the new strip creating by redeveloping the old Kmart complex. They seem to have closed without fanfare -- I can't find any stories about it online, and google seems to think it is still there.

According to their store locator, there are still two locations in the Midlands, one in Harbison, and one on Two Notch Road.

(Hat tip to commenter Joe Shlabotnik)

This convenience store and Exxon station at the edge of Shandon was formerly the full service Branham's Exxon. It had already done a remodel from that era to do away with the service bays, but the current tenant Gaz-Bah (also an Exxon) has temporarily closed to do another remodel.

As you can see from these pictures, the place has been completely gutted, and looks a good way from reopening.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin S).

As you can see from these two sets of pictures, the Circle K at the corner of Two Notch Road & the Trenholm Road Extension is closed, the pumps have been demolished, and apparently the storage tanks have been dug up, or that is the next step.

The store here was much smaller than the current Circle K style, and to me the lot does not look big enough to put in one on their new standard lines. In the case of a similar situation on Bethel Church, they removed the pumps and tanks and then put the building on the market. I expect they will do the same here, unless they go as far as razing the building entirely.

(Hat tip to commenter Thomas)

UPDATE 28 February 2023 -- As mentioned again by commenter Thomas, this building has now been razed:

UPDATE 29 March 2023: Updating tags.

UPDATE 16 January 2024 -- Now a Valvoline Instant Oil Change:

I never stopped at this Market Express though I do remember noticing it from time to time. While the property light poles aren't quite the kind of gull-wing fixtures I really like on vintage buildings, they are a bit better than most current ones.

Commenter Larry suggests that the lot is to become a car wash which seems like poor siting to me, but then I don't drive that stretch too often.

(Hats off to Larry)

UPDATE 11 Aug 2021: Forgot to put a date on the initial post. I'm guessing "Spring 2021" and have added that.

This mailbox store was the end unit in the venerable Jimmy's Mart strip on Two Notch Road. I noticed a few weeks ago that it is now vacant.

Somewhere in this area was a auto-carwash which seemed to vanish almost overnight, but I can't quite place it.

Some time ago, the Toyota Center franchaise moved from Airport Boulevard to Sunset Boulevard and branded as Fred Anderson Toyota. As reported by commenter Alan, the franchaise is now Peter Boulware Toyota. I can't find any media stories about this online, but it apparently happened around May of 2021. Fred Anderson appears to still have dealerships in at least Charleston & Raleigh.

(Hat tip to commenter Alan)