Columbia Closings   What’s not in Columbia anymore

Here's a little thrift shop in Lexington, not far from Lexington Arms and Mae's. Interestingly, their logo was not a tree. In fact, I'm not sure what that is.

(Hat tip to commenter James)

I had noticed Lexington Arms a few years ago when I did a closing on the Piggly Wiggly / Ace Hardware across the parking lot.

At the time, just from the rather 1970s look of the place, I figured it was a local hole-in-the-wall and didn't take the effort to find out anything about it. From my web searches today, I was apparently totally wrong, and this was a well regarded European restaurant serving authentic French and German food -- some of which you can apparently make them an offer on..

(Hat tip to commenter Kc)

Judy's was the follow-on operation to Baker Brothers American Deli in this outparcel building at the Target shopping center in Lexington.

I hadn't really checked the building out since dong the Barker Brothers closing, so I wasn't sure when I took the daylight pictures here whether Judy's was coming in or going out -- there was certainly some sort of activity inside.

Commenter Russ later pointed out that it was in fact a closing, and the later nighttime pictures show the place with real-estate info in the windows.

(Hat tip to commenter Russ)

Here's an interesting little restaurant building in Lexington. It was last a San Jose until that operation relocated to 115 North Point Drive, but the building obviously predates that. It has a familiar look, but I can't quite place it. I would say the front extension was not part of the original building.

The building looks a bit forlorn now, but the murals are a nice touch.

UPDATE 22 April 2013: Added Taco Cid to the post title based on the comments and the 1985 phonebook.

Although I didn't realize at the time I did that closing, apparently Mae's On Main in Lexington has moved to the Round Robin location on Devine Street. I'm not sure where Devine Robin fits in -- as of yet, the Round Robin marquee is still up.

The Lexington location has a classic "old retail" look. A lot of interior work is ongoing there, so hopefully something new will go in before too long. Or before the fat lady sings, anyway.

As mentioned in the comments on the Lexington Blockbuster this adjacent old-school Taco Bell moved to a new store a couple of years ago. Personally I like these Southwestern style locations more than the "modern" style they have adopted recently. Several in Columbia have been repurposed recently (though the one on Knox Abbott is still vacant), but this one looks as though it may be too far gone for that.

Well, this has already been talked about enough that I'm not sure who the hat-tip goes to, but I finally got over to Lexington last weekend and got some shots of the Main Street Blockbuster closing down. It was already pretty near the end-days, and as I watched, I saw a guy walk out and hoick a set of display racks into his truck.

I was also in Aiken this week, and the Blockbuster there which closed about this time last year is still vacant despite being in a pretty good spot..

The name Big Thursday refers back to an old Columbia tradition of hosting the Carolina/Clemson game at USC on a Fall Thursday. It was before my time, but apparently was quite the thing and schools would even get the day off. (We used to get a day off for the State Fair too -- go figure). I'm not sure if it dated back to my Grandfather's time, but Thursday or not I know he swore he would never give Clemson one red dime because they made him come to Columbia and sleep in a tent on game day when he was there. (Clemson was basically a military school at the time, I believe).

You have to wonder if naming a store after something that fewer and fewer people can actually remember is a good idea, and in the event, perhaps not as this USC and Clemson memorabilia chain closed shop at the end of last month.

(Hat tip to commenter TahoeChic)

I rather like Schlotsky's and used to go to the Parklane location fairly often when I worked at home, and when it was still open. To my mind, the sourdough buns differentiate their sandwiches from all the sub places in a pleasing way, if that's what I'm in the mood for. And Cinnabon, of course, is pure sticky goodness, one of the few things I used to look forward to in going to airports.

I believe the closing of this store leaves the Dutch Square location on Bush River Road as the last one in the metro area, and I'm afraid it was looking a bit down-at-the-heels last time I dropped by.

(I note that the roadside marquee still lists Jamestown Coffee. And what's up with that balcony?).

(Hat tip to commenter Susie)

Well, sometimes things work out and sometimes they don't. It certainly appears to be the latter case here. This Monterrey is in the strip mall associated with the Sunset Boulevard Wal-Mart in Lexington, and, given the manger scene still not taken down, appears to have closed sometime around Christmas.

(Hat tip to commenter Beth)