Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Places in the Vista come and go before I even hear about them. All I know about Newk's is what Google has to say

Regional chain offering a menu of salads, pizzas & sandwiches in a casual setting.

It sounds like something I might have liked, but I'm not sure when I last ate lunch in the Vista.

The State has a few more details, and it looks like the only Newk's remaining in South Carolina is in Summerville.

(Hat tip to commenter Judy)

Well, this is, I don't know, not ironic exactly, but a little odd: I was on the 700 block of Gervais Street today, getting pictures of Newk's & Tin Lizzy, and when I got home, I saw on The State that Le Peep had closed Wednesday.

While I was down there, I looked at the place several times, but somehow did not notice any sign on the door, and didn't take any pictures. The picture above, from the grand opening, will have to do until I get down there again.

I like breakfast food, but rarely get to have it as I do *not* like early mornings. One day I may get to try Le Peep at Sandhill, Famous Toastery or Eggs Up, but it will probably be a while.

The Free Times reports that Moriarty's on Gervais is closed for good. The Irish bar, in the old Wild Hare location (for which I was sure I had done a closing, but in the event apparently not), opened in March of 2016.

Sherlock Holmes was unavailable for comment.

(Hat tip to commenter Steve)

I have to admit that I was not aware that The Wired Goat existed before it closed. There are some signs on Gervais Street, as you can see in several of the pictures, but the place was down an alley, and basically not visible at all from the main drag.

The Free Times says the owners are (or perhaps at this point were) considering reopening somewhere with more parking. At any rate, given that all the fixtures are still in place, it does not appear that the space is on the market yet.

(Hat tip to commenter Summer)

Wet Willie's on Gervais has been mentioned in the comments lately, so I decided to swing by there after leaving Mellow Mushroom this evening to see what the state of the place is.

As reported, it is in fact closed, but the door sign leaves some hope that it may be back by 1 March 2016 after "sprucing up", although the web site given on the sign does not, in fact, have any relevant information that I can see.

I really like that building, by the way..

(Hat tip to commenter Dustin)

UPDATE 8 February 2018 -- The place did reopen some time ago:

UPDATE 9 January 2023: Well, after re-opening as described above, this location has now decided not to renew their lease as reported on their Facebook. The timing seems a bit odd, as I would have expected the lease to run to the end of the month, but perhaps they want some time to get their stuff out of there.

WLTX also has the story.

I'll get some new pictures soon, but in the meantime here is a 2010 vintage one I don't believe I have posted before:

Also, as long as I'm updating this, I'll edit the tags and add a map icon.

(Hat tips to commenters Jimmy, Gypsie & Heath)

UPDATE 3 February -- The building with the signage down:

By this point, the fact that Jillian's in the Vista has closed their doors has been pretty extensively discussed in Have Your Say. I believe I had been there twice: Once for a class reunion, and once for a Swimming Pool Qs show. We were supposed to have a family event there about two years ago, but it turned out to be too crowded, and we ended up at Mellow Mushroom. About all I can recall from the times I was there was that it was too loud and busy to ever be a regular spot for me.

The State lays the closing at the feet of the Great Flood of 2015, saying that the 10 day closing and coverage denial by business interruption insurance sealed the deal. Commenters here tend to favor an accumulating straw theory in which the one which broke the camel's back would have come soon one way or the other.

(Hat tip to commenter April)

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Salsarita's is one of the Moe's-like Mexican chains that I have not tried. There's no particular reason for that, just that there weren't and aren't any in my usual haunts. TCBY I have visited many times over the years, though not at this location. They make a perfectly fine frozen yogurt, though I'm afraid that's something of a commodity at this point.

I'm no fan of Chipolte, but I have to think that the location opening down the hill from here at 619 Gervais Street cannot have helped matters.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 10 June 2021: Adding tags and map icon.

I've noticed Traditions Elder Day Care at the corner of Woodrow and Gervais Streets a number of times over the years as I've kept an eye on the little plaza the building is in, but missed the fact that it was recently closed until my sisterer pointed it out to me. The building is now being remodeled into New York Butcher Shoppe

(Hat tip to my sister)

The Greyhound Station on Gervais Street moved earlier this month, and now the buildings on the lot (which included the Chapman Dodge building) have been razed. Unlike the old art deco station downtown on Sumter Street, this one was nothing special, and I'm not sorry to see it gone.

I had a chat with the project manager for the site, and he said the whole block that the station sat on will become apartments.

The new station is at 710 Buckner Road, which is the I-20 frontage road between Monticello Road & US-321.

I think there have been a few mentions of Chapman Dodge here over the years, but I have absolutely no memory of it, despite the fact we must have driven past the lot often. Currently all that seems to be left is the faded name painted on the back of the building abuting the lot (which I presume was the repair shop).

While this lot has been vacant for many years, it's not uncommon for temporary truck-based businesses to pull in and set up shop for a weekend.