Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I can honestly say I had never been on Barr Road before in my life -- this site has certainly taken me places. Commenter Andy mentions that this Jet Fuel convenience store in Lexington has recently closed and cites a protracted local battle over the place due to its plans to sell alcohol. Well, driving up from US-1, I can certainly say this is a well-churched area, so I guess that's not too surprising.

The place finally did open, obviously, but commenter Andy says it had gone downhill lately.

The State had a story on the controversy back in 2015

(Hat tip to commenter Andy)

When the Hardee's co-located with this S-Mart closed last year, I figured it was some sort of issue specific to that franchaise, or Hardee's in general, but with the closing of the S-Mart as well, it seems more like perhaps the restaurant lease was just up first and there are plans to re-purpose the whole property.

Looking at the work going on, it appears to be an extensive re-model, but not a demolition and re-build.

(Hat tip to commenter Ed)

UPDATE 4 February 2020 -- Now open as a 7-11/Exxon/Burger King:

UPDATE 2 October 2023: Updating tags.

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Some time ago commenter April Blake reported that this former drycleaner in West Columbia was setting up to be a King's Pizza location. Like the one slated for the former Chickadee's location, that seems to have fallen through and the place is currently for rent.

What I can find out is pretty scant, but it has been a dry cleaner, a used car dealership (how many cars could they actually fit under that canopy?) and a locksmith. The locksmith does have a (good) review from 2017, so I'm using that as the overall date.

Clicking streetview on the map icon is interesting, as it shows a now demolished glass-box office on the canopy side of the building.

UPDATE 10 AUgust 2019: Adding Amoco to the post title based on the comments.

I noticed today that the One Stop / Shell at the corner of Gervais and Harden streets is remodeling. A lot of Circle Ks have been doing this recently -- I don't know if this is to compete, or if it was just time.

UPDATE 26 November 2019 -- Open again:

I noticed this empty convenience store at the corner of Garners Ferry & Hazelwood roads the other day. A little research shows that it was a Pantry, which became a Kangaroo, which became a Circle K which was finally superceded by a more modern location.

You can see it here on the LoopNet listing with the pictures showing the gas canopy and island (with Marathon branding) still in place.

It's a pretty good location, with a corner spot and traffic light access, so we'll see what happens.

UPDATE 29 March 2023: Updating tags.

The State says this store opened in January of 2016, giving it just a three year run. The company states they gave it a

thoughtful review process

which I take to mean it was losing money hand-over-fist given they could not have paid off the initial investment in that period and would, I suspect, have stayed if there were a reasonable prospect of doing so in the near term.

Given how long it has taken to re-purpose other buildings on Broad River Road, I see this building as an empty white elephant for years to come.

(Hat tip to commenter Dustin)

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I first did a closing for this site when it had just finished being Nicks Citgo as can be seen in the first picture above. After that, it reopened as an Exxon without a name on the marquee at all, at least at first. At any rate, by the time it was torn down in November 2018, it was Quick Stop & Go III. Now the building has been completely razed (along, I believe, with the adjacent Seven Oaks Auto Repair & Tires) and is apparently being rebuilt as a Circle K.

UPDATE 17 April 2019 -- Construction continues:

UPDATE 19 August 2019 -- The Circle K is now open:

The first seven (excellent) pictures here are provided courtesy of commenter Heath.

This Circle K location first stuck in my mind some years ago when I stopped and noticed that the Subway restaurant in the back was clearly built in what was once a automated car wash slot, complete with a guide lane now leading nowhere.

I am a fan of the current round of Circle K rebuilds. The new stores are attractive inside and not at all cramped, plus they have nice bathrooms, which works in their favor on long drives. My cousin was touting Florida's Wa-Wa stores at Thanksgiving, and I think that is the kind of thing the new Circle Ks are targeted at. Of course, some of the older plots won't be large enough to do it.

(Hat tip to lots of folks, possibly commenter Arthur was first. And big thanks to commenter Heath for the pictures!)

UPDATE 17 April 2019 -- Construction is continuing apace:

UPDATE 13 February 2020 -- Open again:

UPDATE 29 March 2023: Updating tags.