Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Well I don't have a lot to say about 5 Points Roost, having never been in. The place is another casualty of Dick Harpootlian's liquor license enforcement project.

I suspect the most fondly remembered operation in this spot remains Frank's Hotdogs.

Cellar On Greene is on the West side of the Claussen's building, and adjacent to another restaurnt under the same ownership, Mr. Friendly's. I have never been by, but google says:

Creative pub plates are doled out in a chic space with wines, craft beers & a retail wine shop.

The owner says the place will probably become a catering operation, Fat Beagle Catering. The State has the story here.

To the best of my memory, I have only eaten at the Korean/Southwestern Blue Cactus Cafe once, probably in the late 80s, when it lived up to its reputation of being quirky and slow, but with good food. Since then, it has changed ownership within the family, and has now finally closed.

The Free Times has the story.

The storefront is in an interesting location: A sort of sunken walkway along the front (back?) of a large building with many other tenants. It's not hard to get to, other than the usual Five Points parking issues, but if you are just driving by, you would never know it was there.

(Hat tip to commenter ED)

As I was getting pictures of the Pour House, I noticed this vacant building more or less across the street from the Five Points Post Office.

My first assumption is that this Ultra Tan location had moved into the Food Lion complex on Harden Street:

but looking in my old phonebooks, apparently the two locations were open at the same time, so I guess not.

UPDATE 14 July 2017: Added Open Fire Grill based on the comments.

This Five Points bar (in the former Frank's Hot Dogs location on Harden Street) has been in the news a good bit lately. As The State said in May:

The Pour House bar in Five Points bar has agreed to give up its business license later this month and to close by 2 a.m. until then.

Columbia police announced the agreement Friday, saying owner Daniel Wells has “voluntarily relinquished” his license as of May 22.

Police Chief Skip Holbrook last month declared the bar a nuisance, citing a history of fights and other problems at the bar, including underage drinking and serving alcohol later than permitted by city law.

And later:

A former owner of the Pour House, a popular bar in Five Points that was closed down after police called it a nuisance, is asking a Richland County court to throw out portions of a USC student’s lawsuit against him, saying they exist only to humiliate the owners, tarnish their reputations, raise passions and inflame the media.

As I recall, I was only in the place once, probably sometime in the 90s, to see The Impotent Sea Snakes, who had just been in the news for outrageousness. In the event, they had to tone down their show, and weren't good enough musicians to make up for that -- or that was my opinion at the time.

I just noticed that I did a Pour House post, when it was closed temporarily for remodeling. I think that's when the monkey decor went away.

It's always good when a place has time to plan and leave a thank-you to the customers before closing shop, as Tavern On Greene has done. Of course the phrasing does lend itself to certain very old punchlines, but it's a nice touch.

This place is slightly up the hill from Papa Jazz and just below Blue Cactus. It's a part of Greene Street without much parking, as I noted when I had to park a block away to take these pictures. Of course if you're walking into Five Points from campus it's one of the first spots you hit, so perhaps that evens out.

(Hat tip to commenter Midnight Rambler)

Commenter MikeJ points out that The Pour House in Five Points has been closed since June, though it is scheduled to re-open soon.

I suppose it's been The Pour House for quite a while now, but to me this spot will always be Frank's Hotdogs.
(Hat tip to commenter MikeJ)

As if all the street work in the area weren't enough, the USC Wendy's on Assembly Street next to the CVS is being partially torn down for renovation.

In these pix from 3 December, you can see that they have totally opened the building to the air, though the walls are still standing. Apparently they have a rush order on the worlk as the crew was still on the job despite it being night, and raining.

Commenter Andrew spotted the work, and commenter Terry found this explanatory story from WIS.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

Update 28 March 2014 -- Here is The State story on the re-opening of this store (and the closing of the Beltline store).

UPDATE 30 April 2014 -- Here's the remodelled restaurant open again for business:

Read the rest of this entry »

I noticed this building a few weeks back as I was coming out of the USC credit union on Pulaski Street. You can see a smallish picture with the Harrison sign still up in this Loopnet listing. It also notes that the facade is stucco.

This Allpages listing says the firm was in the "Hydraulic Equipment & Supplies, Hydraulic Equipment Repair & Service, Tools & Hardware Supplies" business.

Finally, this listing includes an aerial shot, and notes that the property is

located in the heart of the Innovista Master Plan

which to me at this point is rather like saying it is located convenient to Hard Rock Park..

UPDATE 14 July 2014 -- This building has now been demolished: