Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Catherine's dates back to at least 1960 and started in Memphis in 1960 when Catherine Weaver sold her Catherine's Stout Shop to Ralph Levy..

I remember the name Catherine's Stout Shop, so I suspect they must have operated under that label in Columbia when I was growing up. Along the way it seems there were a lot of buyouts and mergers, and the chain, now more gently named, is part of the Ascena Retail Group along with Lane Bryant & Ann Taylor. The group is now apparently considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. If they go that route, they are considering selling off Catherine's and two other labels.

As far as I can tell though, the closing of this particular store, on an outparcel in the Very's strip mall, had nothing to do with COVID, as they had time to adverise and hold a 40% off sale around February of 2020.

The Barn was the follow-on operation in this Harden Street storefront to Pop's NY Pizza.

The State notes this place's closing in an October 2019 story, and puts it down to the Harpootlian crusade. Ironically in the story they ran to note the opening in February 2017 the focus was on how The Barn would *not* be just another college-catering late night joint.

This LoopNet listing for the property has a picture of The Barn signage still in place.

This one came and went before I had even heard of it.

Sneaky Pete's was the follow-on operation in this below-street suite to longtime Columbia fixture Blue Cactus Cafe.

According to The State, Sneaky Pete's opened in October of 2019, and according to The Free Times closed on 9 December 2019, with the owner stating:

[it was] an environment unsuited for his “family-style restaurant.”

ColaDaily profiled the place during its brief run and gives some interesting information on the theme:

Occupying the former Blue Cactus location, Sneaky Pete’s seeks to evoke an atmosphere of Depression era dining from the art deco sign at the entrance to entrees like Booze Runner Wings, Prohibition BLT, and Tommy Gun Nachos.

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I don't know if COVID-19 contributed to this closing or not, but I suspect it pre-dated all that.

Massey's was the follow-on operation in this storefront to Cabo Fresh Taco & Anthony's Past Time Cafe. If you visit that link, you will see that Massey's basically used the same signage (and name) as Anthony's, so there may have been a transfer of ownership in there somewhere.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

Here's another Long's Drugs, this one in Hopkins not far from Lower Richland High School.

The story is the same for all Long's locations: The chain decided to exit the retail pharmacy business.

I had not realized there was a branch of Richland Library in this strip. I believe it must be the smallest location in the county.

Bridal boutique London and Lace was the follow-on operation in this building to Kicks Shoes, and opened in the fall of 2014.

The announced on their Facebook in February 2020 that they were relocating to Ashville North Carolina. Apparently they got into full operation just as the Covid mess struck, but they seem to be coping with it now and are once again open.

I have noticed this building on Broad River Road for two things over the years. First, there are all the mirrors (and in fact I think it used to have more mirrors on the outside walls than it does now when they are mainly confined to the roofline), and second for the fact that one address did double duty as both a used car lot and a hair salon: One on the outside, and one on the inside.

RealtyTrac says the building was put up in 1987, with seems about right, and LoopNet has a really nice picture that confirms what I was remembering about the mirrors above.

I'm not sure about 2019 for the closing date, but it seems only fairly recently have I noticed the building vacant.

This pebbly building on Knox Abbott was a Sprint cellphone store until apparently late last year (judging by online review dates). If you look closely in the window you can see a sign that says, I think, that they have moved, and to check Garners Ferry or another location that I can't make out. Anyway, since they give two locations, I think it's more of a consolidation than this operation actually having moved.

I have it in the back of my mind that the building reminds me of a chain style I have seen, but I can't quite place it.

Footaction was on the lower level of Columbia Mall at the foot of the winding staircase, underneath the old Lowery Organs location, across from the former Radio Shack and adjacent to the former JC Penny.

According to their door sign, Footaction had initially closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, but rolled that into a permanent closure at some point, and they have already stripped the store. As reported by commenter Rashaad, the other Footlocker brands have also left the mall, and will probably feature here in due course.

As an aside, social distancing is not an issue at Columbia Mall:

(Hat tip to commenter Rashaad)

Commenter Lone Wolf notes this Free Times story on the closing of State Street upstairs loft location of The Cigar Box, which sounds like it was a bar as well as a cigar lounge. They had only moved to this location last September, and as you would expect COVID-19 was a factor.

Commenter Heath noted their move last year, and this Free Times story about it, but I never got around to doing a closing on the stores on Main & Rosewood. I do have some pictures of the wooden fox mural from the Rosewood store that hopefully I will get up sometime.

(Hat tip to commenter Lone Wolf)