Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Here's another Hardee's closed, this one on Dutch Fork Road. I'm starting to think there is something going on with the chain, as it seems quite a few have gone dark over the last year or two.

I see they just named a new CEO last week, but it's a press release, so there is no analysis there. (I will note that the corporate-speak is so thick there, that they think a paragraph like:

"We are excited to welcome Brandon to our talented Leadership Team. His entrepreneurial spirit, strong finance focus and results orientation will be perfect complements to our team," says Chief Executive Officer Ned Lyerly. "Brandon's proven track record in dynamic, multi-unit food service environments will be on display as we build on our momentum and create value for stakeholders in our business."

sounds reasonable..)

(Hat tip to commenter Heath)

This Hardees on US-1 in Batesburg-Leesville apparently closed sometime in 2017. I see some reports that it moved to a new location, but not where that actually is. As of three or four years later, there is still no new tenant. The glassed in dining area on the west side (right side in these pictures) is interesting as I don't recall that from Hardees. It looks like it could be very nice or way too bright depending on the time of day and season.

It seems to me that quite a few Hardee's have closed recently. This one was actually fairly new, part of the Killian's Crossing build-up. As far as I can determine from google reviews, it was open as recently as two weeks ago, so I am calling the closing at mid-June 2021.

From the way this place is being totally gutted, I would guess they already have the next tenant lined up.

(Hat tip to commenter Bethany)

It seems to me I have blogged an unusual number of Hardee's closings recently. I'm not sure if that says anything or if it's just coincidence or local conditions, but here's another.

This store is on Parklane, basically in a Columbia Mall outparcel, and not too far down from the local McDonald's. I'm not sure how long it was in this location, but it's been at least since the mid-90s. I do like this google review for the place:

Once got a burger that looked just as good in the ads.

That *shouldn't* be high praise, and yet..

Are there any Red Burrito locations of Hardee's left in Columbia?

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

UPDATE 19 June 2021: Adding tags.

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Back in the days of Speedy McGreedy & Gilbert Giddyup, Hardees was our goto place on road trips because unlike McDonalds or Burger King, they had "chewy" ice in all their stores. That changed sometime in the 70s or 80s, and with them adding chicken, and with me hating the smell of Chicken, I don't think I have eaten there after breakfast in 30 years or so.

This store was co-located with a convenience store/gas station at the I-20/US-378 interchange, and you can still get your burger on there, as both McDonald's and Chili's are still at this exit.

I like the glass blocks, btw.

(Hat tip to commenter Steve)

UPDATE 19 June 2021: Updating tags and adding map icon.

Mostly I knew Silver City from their old location at 906 Knox Abbott Drive. When I was a graduate assistant every Wednesday (I think it was Wednesday..) when the new comics came out, I would drive from campus to there and peruse the weekly haul.

They moved to this old Hardee's building closer to the river while I was living out of town. I did stop by several times, but by that point, I was getting my fix through a mail-order subscription service, so it wasn't quite the same, though the staff was quite pleasant and I did pick up some stuff.

According to their Facebook page the store's last day was 2 December 2017. When I took these pictures, I had a brief chat with the building owner who said that they were looking for a new tenant in the building as is rather than taking it down and starting over. I was glad to hear that, as these old Hardee's buildings are pretty thin on the ground now. After the razing of the one at Eggroll Station, this is the last in the Columbia area, and I believe the owner said there were only one or two elsewhere.

(Hat tip to commenter Thomas S)

UPDATE 12 October 2021 -- Now The Modern Locksmith.com:

Also adding map icon.

UPDATE 13 August 2022 -- Here is a picture from commenter Jimmy Freeman of the roadside sign for this building when it was a Hardee's:

Noticed this abandoned Hardee's on South Lake Drive/SC-6 at the I-20 intersection the other day. From what I can tell, Hardee's of Red Bank has relocated to 1910 South Lake Drive, inside a service station. I'm not sure when this happened, but judging from the codition of the building, it was a good while ago.

It sits on a surprisingly large lot, LoopNet says 2.09 acres of which apparently 1.6 acres is included with the building (which, would, I think, have to be razed at this point).

UPDATE 13 March 2018 Updating the closing date in post title from 2000s to Circa 2005 based on the comments.

UPDATE 21 July 2018 Updating the closing date again.

UPDATE 19 August 2019 -- Some new pictures in advance of the tear down to build a truck stop:

UPDATE 19 June 2021: Adding tags.