Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

This State story about the opening of a House Of Raeford plant near Aiken, with the possible closure of the "Chicken Plant" in West Columbia as a possible knock-on, made me think of the now vacant Capitol Square shopping center again, and of the fact that I had noticed that the House Of Raeford office space there had moved shop back when I was checking on Jin Jin.

The new location is 630 Sunset Boulevard, so presumably the workers from across the street won't have to go too far to get up with someone.

Personally, I wouldn't be too sad if the plant closed as the smell can be teriffic at times, but I understand they do make an effort to help people in recovery and with other issues into the work-force, so I hope nobody loses a job if it happens.

I remember when this store was on Main Street, and actually did a closing for that location, but kind of forgot about it and lost track after it moved to Capitol Square in West Columbia, though I must have seen it many times in passing as I drove by.

Seventy Five years is one heck of a run.

As I mentioned in the closing for Jin Jin, this plaza is now entirely vacant.

I was not aware of Jin Jin tucked away here in the struggling Capitol Square shopping center, but they apparently closed on 2 December according to their facebook. As far as I can tell, this closure brings an end to any activity at the plaza. Since their note mentions that their lease was ending, I can't help but wonder if the owners have been getting everybody out in advance of redeveloping the property which abuts an up-and-coming area (with the only negative being the chicken plant when the wind is wrong..). Given that even the plaza's roadside marquee sign has been let to go to pot, I suspect something like that is happening.

The other thing about the property which strikes me, aside from it being all vacant, is the number of payphones, mostly not vandalized (though not currently connected) along the walkway. I mean, I suppose '3' is not a high number historically, but it's the most I've seen in years.

Here is the strip's real-estate brochure, which mentions none of this, but does show a number of former tenants, and the roadside sign.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 18 December 2023 -- Here is the plaza sign in happier times circa 2016:

Longtime Main Street stalwart the Army Navy Store has moved into the old ReStore location in Capitol Square at 463 Sunset Boulevard.

This story in The State when the move was just a possibility recounts some of the store's history including:

But the store soon became known for more than just military surplus.

"When Michael Jackson was in town and his car pulled up out front and he came in shopping for jeans," Zalkin said, "I remember you couldn't even see the sunlight coming in through the front windows of the store for all the faces that had crowded around for a look in at him."

This story at Cola Daily describes the actual move.

The Main Street building was bought by Agape Senior, headquartered across the street.

UPDATE 18 December 2023: Note that I was wrong about the storefront in Capitol Square into which the Army Navy Store was moving into. It was actually to the left of Restore & Jin Jin, and has now closed. Also updating tags and adding map icon.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

As nearly as I can tell, this Bi-Lo closed in 2006, leaving Capitol Square without an anchor store.

The space is now Habitat For Humanity's ReStore. I believe the closest Bi-Lo to this spot is now the one on US-1 near the Wal-Mart.

Capitol Square is across Sunset Boulevard from the Chicken Plant, and more or less adjacent to the old Dairy Queen.

I don't know much about Decor & More other than it presumably sold decorative home accessories and closed around 2006.