Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

This attractive stone-accented building up the hill from Columbiana Drive on Lake Murray Boulevard has featured here several times. First it was Atlanta Bread, which closed in May 2008, and then re-opened around September 2011, finally closing again in May of 2014. Next it was Urban Cookhouse, which closed in October 2018.

Seafood Connection, which was a second location for a Charlotte restaurant, opened here in August 2019. The State had the story celebrating the "Lowcountry boil", and "secret spice". They also had the story on the closing, putting in in context with a number of seafood openings, but with no details on the reasons.

I don't see any obvious reason why this spot is not a good one for a restaurant, but history seems to suggest it is not. We'll see what goes in next.

(Hat tip to commenter Mr. Hat)

I think the concept of Urban Cookhouse, as I understand it, is interesting: Fresh cooked meats done over a charcoal grill with fresh local vegetables and bread as well. I'm a little surprised I don't see a burger on the menu; that would seem be be a natural. At any rate, I have never gotten around to an Urban Cookhouse, either this one in the old Atlanta Bread building on Lake Murray Boulevard, or the other one in Shandon.

I still think this is an attractive building, and hope they find something that sticks.

(Hat tip to commenter Heath)

I have been to this strip fairly often for either Moe's or Bruegger's, and I do recall seeing Vacumart here, though I had no reason to visit that store. Commenter Tom mentions that the owner retired early as it was just getting too hard for a local store to compete with Amazon.

I can see that, but about all I can say about vacuum cleaners is If you have an Electrolux, you can pass it down to your children. If you have children..

(Hat tip to commenter Tom)

I'm not a cupcake (or really any kind of cake) fan myself, but if you are: Don't despair. Cupcake Paradise is no longer in this old Piggly Wiggly center at the corner of Lake Murray Boulevard & Columbiana Drive, but they are still around. They moved to 7512 Woodrow Street (Irmo, not Shandon) sometime in the January/February 2018 timeframe and are up and running there now.

(Hat tip to commenter James R)

This little barbershop on Lake Murray Boulevard has closed up shop and has apparently gone from trying to lease all or part to being up for sale. A little sign in back notes that one of the barbers has moved on to a spot on Saint Andrews Drive.

Like Charlie's on Rosewood, this place had one of the now rare motorized spinning barber poles which I've always liked.

(Hat tip to commenter Tom)

You have to love the street name.

I ran across this defunct Irmo daycare center when I was turing around on Lake Murray Boulevard to go back and take pictures of something else (of what, I cannot now recall).

The way the toys are still out, waiting for children who won't return is rather sad.

Commenter Homer notes that this small Chinese restaurant in High Pointe Centre on Lake Murray Boulevard has closed.

He sends in his pictures here and notes elsewhere that the place was a true family operation with a daughter often taking orders and translating them for mom and pop.

I note that at this juncture, the plaza sign and spelling (note the 'e' on Pointe and the British Centre) seem rather more grandiose than the current tenant list warrants.

(Hat tip to commenter Homer)

Here's another of the many restaurants I was completely unaware of. This Irmo spot offered more than the seafood the name would have you expect. Of course, some other reviews make it sound as though the literary meaning of the name may have been appropos from time to time as well.

The space is now open again as Bistro On The Boulevard.

(Hat tip to commenter Becky)

I was unaware of this old tennis club off of Lake Murray Boulevard just west of Saint Andrews Road until commenter James mentioned it.

The place is built on two levels, with the main building and old court surfaces down a steep hill from Lake Murray Boulevard. I would not like to come in and out of this parking lot on a daily basis! The old pro-shop, clubhouse (and probably snack bar I would suspect) is at the back of the parking lot, with level space behind that where there look to have been at least two courts, and in all likelihood several others less discernable now as well.

At the side of the first level, a set of steps leads up the hill to a second level. It's all wooded now, but I suspect there was at least one more court up there. I probably shouldn't have tested the steps on my less than svelte frame, especially given the bushes and trees growing up through them and the raised nail heads, but they were still sturdier than they appeared.

UPDATE 24 August 2013: Commenter Badger sends in a link to this obituary. It seems the owner was Mr Fred Wiles Atkinson, Jr. He sounds like a nice guy, and with his life history, I would not be surprised at all if he and my parents were acquainted. He passed in 2008, so this place probably closed a couple of years before that.

(Hat tip to commenter James)

Here's a heart-themed post for Valentines..

I don't know a lot about Heart 2 Heart (or "♥ 2 ♥" as the sign would have it) other than it was apparently a gift shop, sat in the old Piggly Wiggly Plaza on Lake Murray Boulevard and closed in 2010. The local news site has this and other locations up for comments on what should go there...