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)

Flour Power Cooking Studios is apparently a national chain, with their Columbia location being in the back building at Forest Village by the former Village Idiot.

Looking at their Google reviews, it appears their main business was kids' birthday parties, something that seems to have gone over well on the whole. Their Facebook closing message doesn't really give any reasons, but I wonder if the inflation in food prices over the past year or so made it a long reach for a lot of parents..

(Hat tip to commenter Larry)

There isn't any sign on the door that I can see, but google agrees with commenter Justin that The Carousel A Chic Kid's Botique in Forest Village is closed. I believe this space would once have been part of The Happy Bookseller, so probably 2009 is the earliest they could have opened.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

Years ago, my niece was enrolled in tumbling at The Little Gym in its old location on Beltline and had a good time. As I recall, the move to the old Sounds Familiar location came after a fire at D's Wings and damage from the water used to put it out.

This time the culprit is 2020's scourge COVID-19. As ColaDaily reports:

Angie Brazell, owner of The Little Gym of Columbia, announced Thursday that the facility will be closing Oct. 24, due to lack of revenue prompted by COVID. Despite new families joining the gym, Brazell said it is just not enough under the new way they have to operate in order to keep guests safe.

UPDATE 9 October 2020: Fixed mistaken Devine Street in post title address with Rosewood Drive.

I wasn't aware of this location of The Little Gym though my nieces have been happy to attend the one that is now on Rosewood over the years.

The papered over streetside sign makes it look as if Kristin's Cafe is in the spot now, but looking at the storefront itself, that does not seem to be the case.

I would say if you are going to try to get your Yeti engraved, you probably *should* have your guns & knives ready as well.

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

Kids' art studio, Tag It Art closed on 9 January 2015. You can see the classy farewell message here.

Forest Village is the little two-strip plaza that I still think of as the home of The Happy Bookseller though The Happy Cafe now occupies that spot.

(Hat tip to my sister)

In my recent closing on the Lexington Monkey Joe's, I mentioned that I thought the Northeast location was still open. Well, I was wrong about that, and commenter Andrew set me straight, pointing out that commenter Miz Terry raised the issue of the Northeast closure right here, and that commenter badger had confirmed it.

Somehow I completely forgot those comments..

At any rate, the Northeast Monkey Joe's was on Newland Road, which is off of Clemson just south of I-20 (near the big flag car dealership). Although the building is now Awaken Church, you can look at it and immediately tell who the first tenant was.

(Hat tip to commenter Miz Terry)

I think we're all Bozos on this bus.

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Kids' exercise and gymnastics center The Little Gym has moved out of the suite on Beltline adjacent to the old Sulley's and over to the Sounds Familiar location on Rosewood. As of today, they are open:

The follow-on business in the Jack's Shoes building, Leapin' Lizards,

Columbia’s only Parent-Friendly Inflatable Play Center

has closed down. Looking at the (archived) link above, it does appear to me that it would indeed be a lot of fun for those in the bouncy-castle demographic (and future Wipeout contestants have to come from somewhere :-).

This closing follows that of the somewhat more elaborate Monkey Business in Lexington by about two years, and, I believe follows the re-opening of the nearby Little Gym which was damaged during the D's Wings fire.

(Hat tip to commenter JohnBom)

UPDATE 22 April 2012 -- Here are some more and better pictures, including the still extant Forest Drive sign: