Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Sometimes I lose track of all the names a storefront in Five Points has had, and whether I have done a closing on it, but it appears I have never done one for any incarnation of 711 Harden Street.

Cover 3 was another one of the local bars caught up in the rule tightening last year, and decided to close when their permit ran out on 31 August rather than continue to contest the new restrictions. The Post & Courier has the story, along with a nice photo of Cover 3 in full operation. The State has basically the same story.

I note that the place has now been vacant for over a year, which to me argues that the city has allowed itself to be shot in the foot. Of course, once the pandemic hit, probably it was going to remain vacant for a while in any event.

I was unaware of Bricktown Bistro until commenter Sidney mentioned that it was closing, so I can't say a lot about it other than it is gone. (These pictures were from the final day of operation).

I do notice that the roadside marquee perpetuates the confusion between Hardscrabble & Hard Scrabble that came up here a week or so ago.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

Commenter ED pointed out this COVID related closing saying:

it is doubtful it is a location you would stumble upon

and that is definitely true. This place is way past The Flight Deck on Old Chapin Road on a peninsula in Lake Murray on the way to what looks to be a private island. The area is rural and quite nice looking to me.

I really like the wood paneling in this building too.

(Hat tip to commenter Ed)

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.

Uncle Louie's in The Vista has closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. They have been closed on a temporary basis since 17 March, but today made it permanent. Commenter Lone Wolf provides the news, and this Coladaily link:

Representatives from Uncle Louie's, a popular bar in Columbia's Vista, announced Wednesday that the business will be closing permanently, effective immediately. The bar had already closed March 17, at the time as a temporary closure, due to COVID-19.

Management posted on the business Facebook page:

"We are sad to say that March 17th was our LAST last call. When we opened 20 yrs ago we never imagined the time we would have. Without a great staff and the best regulars in town it never would have been possible. Thanks for letting us serve you and for the friendships we made along the way. Please continue to eat and drink local, tip your bartenders, and be good to each other. Cheers!"

I took these pictures some years ago when I got an incorrect report that the place had closed at that time.

As a general note, I echo Lone Wolf's sentiments that something has got to give. Every death is tragic, but at some point the harm being done by destroying people's livelihoods just becomes too overwhelming for this to go on.

(Hat tip to commenter Lone Wolf)

This old Hardee's building has had a number of incarnations over the years. I apparently totally missed the Top Shelf Tavern phase which commenter Andrew pointed out in the Hardee's comments, but now the follow-on operation to that, Home Team Tavern is also gone and the place back on the market.

Judging by the Facebook Page, they were still doing events on 15 February 2020, so I'm marking the closing as "Mid February".

UPDATE 15 September 2020 -- As mentioned in the comments, this place is working to open as Amora Sports Bar & Grill:

Commenter Lone Wolf called this back in August:

Might want to keep and eye on Flying Saucer. They've just implemented some "changes", allegedly at the mandate of the Home Office in TX. From the "Signs Your Favorite Restaurant is About to Close", one will note several bad signs.

Saucer just hacked their menu from 1 page (front and back) to five items. Monday thru Thursday, they're no longer open for lunch. If you sit on the deck, all food and beverage orders must be placed inside, at the bar. As no one will be waiting on you on the deck, waitstaff has been reduced, or quit because their hours were cut.

I *do* hope they can right their ship. But, I don't agree with these changes.

Unfortunately, even with that warning, I didn't manage to get pictures before the closing, a combination of being both busy and absent minded. I finally did get by the other day, but the signage is already down and the place is listed for rent. The building seems to be thriving otherwise, so I expect something will move in before too long.

The State has the story here.

(Hat tip to commenter Lone Wolf)

The WordPress blog editor has a button called "Save Draft", which is, I suppose, appropriate to this post, as The Casual Pint is no more.

The Free Times noted the opening on 22 July 20 2016 of

the fastest growing franchise in the craft beer industry

and also noted the closing on 2 November 2019.

The only remaining SC location for the chain is 217 Saluda Springs Road in Lexington, which looks to be on the block behind the Mellow Mushroom.

Here is a State story on the Dupree Building of which The Casual Pint was a tenant. It's a nice looking place. I should have checked the entrance to see what's upstairs.

(Hat tip to commenter Heath)

To me this building looks like a former convenience store. The LoopNet listing (which shows a nice shot with the Darrell's branding in place) says it was built in 1971 which seems about right.

I know nothing about Darrell's Place other than a google search turns up a State article detailing a three person stabbing at the place, while mentioning in passing an earlier shooting.

I will say the Yelp photos are unexpected. (If you go left or right from that link, you may hit something NSFW).

The current branding is for WFP which I can find out nothing about, though it also appears to be defunct.

Leash The Kraken!

I thought I had done a closing for The Kraken the first time it closed, a few years ago, but I cannot now find it, so either I'm just wrong, or it got lost in the database crash a while back.

Anyway, I'm afraid I know very little about the place other than it had a cool name and was in a neightboorhood I don't normally associate with restaurants.

Here is a take from The Free Times and one from The State.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)