Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

The Gap location in Columbiana Centre closed this week, leaving the brand with no locations in the Midlands.

Here is The State on the story, and The Post & Courier weighs in here. In particular, the P&C story mentions the mall shooting, about which I had already forgotten, which took place in the corridor outside the store -- I don't know if that were a factor in the closing as the chain has plenty of problems overall, but it can't have helped.

(Hat tip to commenter Lone Wolf)

Sumter based Willie Sue's was the follow-on in this building to breastaurant The Tilted Kilt, which was the follow-on to Huller's Black Forest, which was the follow-on to Sticky Fingers, which was, I believe, the first tenant.

These pictures were taken on the closing day, 18 September 2022, and I have to say they went out with a bang, as the parking lot was quite active.

Their Facebook announcement simply cites "circumstances beyond our control", and the story at The State doesn't really give any more information.

(Hat tip to commenter Ellen)

This BB&T is on an outparcel of the Total Wine & More shopping center at the intersection of Harbison and Columbiana. I'm not exactly sure when they closed, but the last google review is from November of 2020, so I'm going with "Late 2020" until I hear differently. Although I do not have a BB&T account, I do have their Visa for the tenuous historical reason that a bank chain they once bought had a branch near my apartment in Fayetteville. It's always been well handled, and I don't think I've ever had the occasion to step into one of their branches. I certainly hadn't been to this one.

I believe this brings the number of fairly recent Harbison area bank closings to three, with this one, Region's Bank, and Wells Fargo.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 19 September 2022 -- The building is gone and apparently a carwash is setting up:

UPDATE 26 January 2023 -- The carwash is coming along:

M Kitchen was built on the site of the old Steak 'n Shake after razing that building, and is part of the peripatetic Myio's empire.

As of 27 June 2021, this location is closed, with the staf moving to Bower Parkway

(Hat tip to commenter Mitch)

I have to admit I've always thought Regions Bank is a pretty lame name, though it sounded less derivitive after NationsBank reflagged to Bank Of America. That aside, I know nothing about the chain, other than, like most, it is shedding branches.

I got these pictures of the Harbison location back in September -- I'll try to remember to follow-up with some pictures of the vacant building when I'm out there in the daytime again.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 19 September 2022 -- Now Founder's Federal Credit Union:

Casa Linda in Forest Acres is one of my go-to places, but I don't think I've ever eaten at any of the other locations. I have eaten in this *building*, back when it was a D's Wings. Casa Linda set up shop there probably around 2013, and lasted until the end of 2019.

Actually commenter Heath mentions that this closing was more like a tidy ownership change, with El Patron quickly setting up there after year's end.

I'll note that the plaza marquee still touts the comics shop that closed in 2017.

American Deli replaced Burger King in this slot in the Columbiana Centre food court sometime around October of 2017. I'm guessing that it probably closed at the start of January 2019, as that would be a logical month/year boundry for a lease, and commenter Matthew Benjmain reported it closed as of 11 January 2019.

It looks like there are two remaining American Deli locations in the Midlands, one on Garners Ferry Road, and one on Decker Boulevard.

(Hat tip to commenter Matthew Benjmain)

I'm not a cupcake (or really any kind of cake) fan myself, but if you are: Don't despair. Cupcake Paradise is no longer in this old Piggly Wiggly center at the corner of Lake Murray Boulevard & Columbiana Drive, but they are still around. They moved to 7512 Woodrow Street (Irmo, not Shandon) sometime in the January/February 2018 timeframe and are up and running there now.

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

So fare there are no signs advertising big closings savings at the Toys 'R' US Columbiana Mall outparcel site in Harbison, but it's just a matter of time as the firm officially threw in the towel last week and says it will not emerge from bankruptcy.

I missed the golden age of Toys 'R' Us, and in fact don't think I've ever been into a store. For us, the big thing was the Sears Christmas Wishbook with wonders on every page, here's an appreciation from someone who was not too old for the golden age, along with some reminders that Toys 'R' Us has been in and out of trouble for a long time.

The funny thing is that while TRU doesn't sell as many toys as it used to, it still sells a *lot* of toys, and you have to wonder how bad the debts must be if you have bankruptcy protection and can't come up with a viable plan for the way forward while you are still selling lots of toys.

A few links:

According to CNN, the timing of closing sales and the final closing have yet to be determined.

A trademark collector may be bringing KB Toys back as popup stores due to the TRU bankruptcy.

Amazon may buy some of the stores though I wouldn't hold my breath for the Columbia area.

I have to say this store does not look appealing to me. It looks a bit run down, boxy and not 'fun'. I realize there are limits to what you can do with stodgy Columbia codes, but to me something like *this* says TOY STORE!

And finally, thanks, guys, for that whole backwards 'Я' thing. Not.

Here's another Wells Fargo branch "pruning", this one on Columbiana Drive at Afton Court. (And next to the former Monterrey Mexican).

You may also bank at any Wells Fargo location that is convenient for you.

Well, that's big of them.

(Hat tip to commenter Tom)

UPDATE 1 May 2019 -- Added map icon, updated tags.

UPDATE 19 September 2022 -- The building has been razed, and something else is going up there now:

UPDATE 10 May 2023 -- A Valvoline Instant Oil Change operation is now on this spot: