Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Here's another Fashion Place closing. I don't know anthing about Avenue other than that they sold women's clothes. Perhaps Ross coming to the old Staples location across the plaza was a factor here.

I guess the writing was on the wall after this Staples cut their hours way back recently.

This was probably the Staples I went to most often over the years (with the Devine Street location a close second). In general it seemed to be a well stocked and run store, and I picked up my share of printer paper, hard drives, computer media, headphones, ethernet hubs, pens, post-its and other office and computer paraphernalia. The only knock on it I can think of is one that seems to be general to Staples as a whole: It always seems to take a bit longer to check out than it should.

Although they have posted a closing sign, there is not a sale going on, and the various "inventory" tags inside the store make me think they will be relocating the merchandise to other stores rather than doing a clearance.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

This Latin church set up in the old spot of Redwing Rollerway on Decker in the wake of the closing of KNC Trading.

Like KNC, they made the most of the old Redwing sign.

It appears to me from google and their Facebook page (though I don't read Spanish) that they have moved to 2401 Decker, which would be the old Forest Lake Bible Church location. I will have to look the next time I drive by.

UPDATE 10 August 2022 -- Now setting up to be City Shoppe:

Also adding map icon.

I believe at one time this hole in the wall rib joint in an old house on Decker may have updated its slogan to Slap Yo Mama Good! but I can't verify it (and I suppose they were lucky Mick Jagger never drove by..). This was apparently a one man operation, and got pretty good reviews on Yelp, though apparently there was no indoor seating.

The Free Times reports that Pho Viet closed on 28 March of this year, something that I had not noticed.

I have only had Pho once, and it was here. I thought it was quite good, but I didn't care for the fact that they only allowed one tea refill.

This building was originaly a Burger King, and after that, it was a Zesto. In fact, you can still see the Zesto influence on the drive-through and Thank You signs.

The Free Times also reports that this is not the end for Pho Viet but that they are moving to 9308 Two Notch Road. This is the former site of Farm Bureau Insurance, and in fact that building was setting up to be a restaurant called First Class Bar & Grill which never came to fruition, but which probably cut down on the prep work for Pho Viet.

On a semi-related matter, there is apparently some type of major construction going on in this plaza, judging from the storage containers all about. I have seen a number of Food Lion stores being upfitted recently, so perhaps that is is, though I did not see any evidence of construction at Food Lion itself.

UPDATE 18 December 2019 -- Now Submarine Crab, one of the inexplicable wave of new crab restaurants in town:

UPDATE 14 May 2020 -- The new Pho Viet location at 9308 Two Notch is open (or at least was open before COVID-19):

I used H & R Block when I was living in Aiken, and finally gave up on doing my own taxes (which is a sad commentary on something). They seemed pretty good, and the process wasn't too painful as long as I had my ducks in a row. I never used this office, but I expect it was about the same.

The pictures are awful, both shot against the sun, and through the windows. Sorry about that!

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

Here's another Harveys, this one on Decker. As with all the other Harveys, this one used to be a Bi-Lo, and I did a closing for that here.

The strip mall anchored by this storefront is High Point On Decker, and it is about at the top of the hill. Just down the hill from here is another strip mall with both a Food Lion and a Rite Aid, so I'm not sure another grocer will want to locate here.

UPDATE 17 May 2018 -- This store is now closed:

Not long after closing the Forest Drive store, Bi-Lo continues to make changes in the Columbia market. As mentioned by commenter James R, and explained in this State story, three of Columbia's Bi-Lo's are being reflagged as Harveys. That brand is still associated with the chain, but targets a more value-conscious shopper. To me it seems a little awkward to admit your flagship stores aren't value-conscious, but there you go.

This store in High Point On Decker is already fully converted, with a new facade and even a marquee on the High Point street sign tower. Though I could have sworn I drove that stretch very recently without noticing any work.

According to The State, the other two local stores switching over are the one at the top of Saint Andrews Road and the one, which I can't bring to mind at all, on Monticello Road.

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

I noticed this empty storefront on Decker the other day. Judging from their Facebook page, it seems this church may have wrapped up operations in 2014, although the door sign suggests it might have been as recently as last month.

It appears to me that this litle gift basket shop in one of the many strip malls on Decker is gone. According to a probably no longer available cached page, it was a mother/daughter operation specializing in gift baskets, trinkets and keep sakes.

The follow-on operation is Superior Scentz.