Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

This Harbison Court storefront has been a number of things over the years. Most recently previous to Fresh Poke, I believe it was Yoghut.

Judging from their Facebook, this location packed it in around last Thanksgiving, though there are other locations int the Midlands. I don't believe she's tried the poke, but my niece likes the bubble-tea at the Forest Acres location.

(Hat tip to commenter Gypsie)

Commenter Ellen reported this Harbison salon to be closing on 11 November 2023, and it is definitely closed. I do see some google reviews from after that date, so I'm not sure if it ended up staying open longer, or people were just tardy in sharing their thoughts.

Looking at their Facebook, it appears that at least some of the staff are continuing on at other venues.

(Hat tip to commenter Ellen)

As far as I can tell this former Harbison Hess store is notable only for having a $300,000 lottery winner in 2021. I am pretty sure I never stopped there, and couldn't even remember where the place was the first time I went out to get some pictures. I know a number of local Speedway stores have closed recently, but if I had to guess, I would say in this case there was a specific plan for the property rather than the company having issues, or at least that's my assumption as the property is already fenced with demolition having started, I would not expect this spot to stay vacant for long.

(Hat tip to commenter Gypsie)

The Harbison Panera Bread has closed in advance of its move to the 2nd & Charles plaza. The new location notably has a drive-through which the Bower Parkway one did not.

Here is (an oldish) State story on the move.

My experience is that this location, along with Garners Ferry & Percival has not been stellar. I find Killian to be the best run of the local stores.

The State says that Yamato was established here in Columbia in 1975 and moved into this building sometime during or after 2000. From what I have been able to tell, the original location was 736 Saint Andrews Road in St. Andrews Shopping Center.

There doesn't seem to be a reason for the closing given either by the restaurant, or by The State, but folks in the comments have speculated on SC ongoing restaurant liability insurance problems. I will note that the opening of Miyabi some years back just a block or so away on the same street can't have helped.

(Hat tip to a commenter Andrew [not the usual one])

Urban Air was to open a trampoline & "adventure" park in the old H.H. Gregg & Steinmart spaces in Columbiana Station on Bower Parkway sometime in the Winter of 2019/2020. You can see the announcement on the company site here and the coresponding story in The State here.

Well, these things always run a bit behind, and as it turned out, early 2020 was possibly the worst time since the Depression to open such a venture, and it never happened, although they were still trying as late as 2021.

There is still a Facebook page for the proposed attraction, but looking inside the two storefronts, either nothing has happened (which seems unlikely), or all the infrastructure has been ripped out. In the meantime, Altitude has opened on Garners Ferry, and Stars & Stripes on Lake Murray Boulevard, so I don't hold out much hope for anything happening here.

(Hat tip to commenter Lone Wolf)

UPDATE 31 August 2023: Found two pictures with the branding on the storefront and added them in positions 1 & 2.

Tuesday Morning had a bad time during the Covid crisis and entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May of 2020. After coming out, they continued to do poorly and refiled on 14 February 2023. As of today (2 March 2023), their bid to get refinancing from Invictus has failed and they are in talks with Gordon Brothers Group, and I take it from the linked article, are still planning to come out of Chapter 11, although Gordon Brothers have "liquidators" in the description given of them.

At any rate, they are closing around half of all their stores, and this one is part of that group. The closing sale has started, so get there soon.

UPDATE 15 June 2023 -- Gone:

(Hat tip to commenter Todd Miller)

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)

I ate in this building a number of times when it was Chili's, but not since then. Krab Hut was part of the wave of crab-themed restaurants that has washed over Columbia during the past few years, leaving us, I suspect, a bit over-crabbed. (In fact, the Harbison Ryan's also became a crab eatery). Judging by the Google reviews, I think this place closed at the end of August, and is already setting up to be a Korean hot-pot & barbecue restaurant: Kpot.

(Hat tip to commenter Heath)

I've never been to a Del Taco, and had it in my mind that I would try this one someday. In the event, as happens all too often, I did not get around to it before it closed. The place has already been completely gutted, and is in the process of setting up to be a Taco Bell (which I will almost certainly not be visiting). The building was actually fairly new, with Del Taco being a completely new build after the Clear View Car Wash building was razed in 2014.

I see from Wikipedia, that Jack In The Box bought Del Taco, finalizing in March of this year. My guess is that closing this location probably has something to do with JITB's strategy for the chain.

(Hat tip to commenter Heath)

UPDATE 26 January 2023 -- Taco Bell is now open in this spot: