Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Art Smart Academy has moved from their Broad River Road location to 571 Chapin Road as of November 2024.

LoopNet says it is a 2 acre lot, and the aerial picture shows impressive depth, so I'm sure some sort of commercial future is ahead for the property.

(Hat tips to commenters Gypsie & Tom)

As reported by commenter Matt, Carolina Fine Jewelry has left Forest Acres for the old Dem's location on Lake Murray Boulevard.

As ColaDaily reports, the store has been open in one location or another since 1974. (I'm not sure when they moved into the Forest Drive location, but it's a fairly new building).

(Hat tip to commenter Matt)

UPDATE 15 November 2024 -- Here they are in their new location:

Staying in the same area as yesterday...

BGR8 dojo was the follow-on in this roundish building to at the corner of Broad River Road and Royal Tower Drive to Ed Robinson cleaners. Judging from the state of construction at the site, it has been at least several months since they moved to 130 Hunter Village Drive, so I am just going to put a late 2023 date on this.

As for that construction, it appears that Brooklyn Express pizza is moving from Friarsgate Plaza into this building:

This tire outfitter in Irmo near Friarsgate Plaza closed down at the end of March. I went by one time and saw they were storing a lot of vehicles there and wasn't sure they were closed, but the second time I actually read the note on the door, which announced the closure.

It's not the easiest lot to get in and out of, but I expect someone will take it up before too long.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

This is one of those places that I was never sure if it were still open or not. It certainly appeared not, but there are reviews up until a few months ago.

At any rate, it appears to be closed now, joining a long line of former restaurants in this building on the spur of Bush River Road sometimes known as Old Bush River Road.

This is quite a way from my usual rounds, so I was not really aware that Social Grill existed until commenter Robert mentioned that they were closing down for a QT to be built on the lot. 9 March was their last day, and looking at their Facebook, they have already had an auction for the restaurant equipment.

The owners plan to open a pizza restaurant called Cheesy Pint in the former B's in the Publix Plaza on North Lake Drive.

(Hat tip to commenter Robert)

B's was the follow-on in this location to Beef O'Brady's, and opened in late 2018.

According to their Facebook, 17 December 2023 was their last day, which is not a bad run given a pandemic in the midst of it.

Commenter Andrew reports the space is setting up to be Cheesy Pint Pizzeria.

UPDATE 5 June 2024 -- Cheesy Pint is open:

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew, I believe)

Dems on Lake Murray Boulevard is closing on the retirement of the owners.

According to ColaDaily, they have been in business for 54 years, and that's certainly a very good run. The owners also state they are open to the building continuing as a jewelers with another name and owners, but apparently there is nothing definite on tap.

I remember the place as Dems House Of Diamonds from radio ads growing up, and they were still operating under that name in their Boozer Shopping Center storefront. They moved from that location to the current one in 2004.

There is no definite closing date as it all depends on the inventory, but the ColaDaily piece suggests the closing sale could last into April.

(Hat tip to commenter JohnR)

UPDATE 15 November 2024 -- Now Carolina Fine Jewelry:

I noticed another closed Tripp's location the other day, this one in a nice end-cap at Murray Landing. Streetview says it was open as recently as September of 2022, so I'm going with 2023 for the closing date.

I'm not sure I understand Splurge, which is apparently a vinyl crafts store as that is a hobby I know nothing about and can't really visualize.

What I do know is that in October, they moved from this storefront in Seven Oaks Shopping Center to 1709 Sunset Boulevard, so visit them there and see what it's all about.

(Hat tip to commenter Gypsie)