Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I'm trying to remember if I was ever in Immaculate Consumption, and I really can't. I kind of doubt it, because if I were in the area, I would probably have ended up at Cool Beans, but who knows? Sometime in the last 25 years? Perhaps.

At any rate, that 25 year run is coming to an end this year due to the building being bought by the usual suspects. I still think the higher-ed crash is coming: Why send chat-gpt to school teach the classes and write the student papers..., but in the meantime the USC Development Foundation has another building.

You can read about it in The State or The Post & Courier.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

This spot, in the Publix plaza on Broad River Road used to be The Fuji Cafe, and probably a number of other things I can't recall. Que! Bueno (sometimes spelled without the exclamation point) had been there at least since 2022 as the Irmo outpost of a local Mexican chain.

My sister was to meet a friend here last Saturday, and they arrived to find the place closed. Judging by Google reviews, apparently this happened within the last week or so, and all the furnishings are still inside. I never ate here myself, but am told it was pretty good. As far as I know, the other locations are still open.

(Hat tip to my sister)

Going for the Chicken-Trifecta, here is the Slim Chickens on Killian Road, across from the Freddy's.

It appears now that the chain's move into the Midlands has failed, and the only stores left in South Carolina are in Florence, Myrtle Beach and Moncks Corner.

The State had the story, such as it is.

The reviews for this wingery which replaced Schlotzsky's which closed in 2024 look to be pretty good, however one of the last reviews which is from around July mentions that the hours are gettin erratic, which is One Of The Signs, so I'm going with July for a closing date. However arguing against that somewhat is the fact that the curb signage is still out which I wouldn't expect to last long past a closing.

Anyway, all I know about the place is that it as part of a chain which is still around, and actually has some non-chicken items I would order.

(Hat tip to commenter Mr. Bill)

I think Columbia may be over-chickened. At least this place (a Walmart outparcel) shared the parking lot with Popeye's, was a block away from Chick-Fil-A, and sat within a mile of a Bojangles. I'm sure that it didn't help that it was a new chain in the Midlands, and that its sister store had already closed.

Anyway, no sign on the door, but the place is locked up with the condiments still on the tables.

(Hat tip to commener Trevin)

The Bent Rod replaced (after a hiatus) the more celebrated Crab Pot Restaruant which closed around 2010. The reviews are mixed, but seem to converge on the positive with a bit of "for in the middle of nowhere" vibe to them. The latest of those reviews say "8 months ago", so I am guessing the place folded sometime early in 2026.

I'm not quite sure what to make of the sign, which if I do my Roman Numerals right is: I Thank You 1945.

As longtime readers know, I don't have much use for seafood, and less use for raw seafood, so I never partook of SakiTumi, but they certainly had their fans, having been in The Vista for 20 years before closing earlier this month. I don't suppose anyone under 60 "got" the joke name, but it did raise a smile for me, and their Facebook goodbye was gracious and heartfelt.

Having seen their street sign from time to time, I just assumed they were in the front corner suite of the building at 807, but in the event, I found them, along with a small parking lot down the alley to the rear. You can read about the closing in The State or The Post & Courier.

(Hat tip to commenter Mr. Hat)

I don't believe I have yet successfully eaten at a Hickory Tavern. The first time I tried, at Woodhill, they had just closed the regular dining room and were serving at hightops only. Since the last time I enjoyed sitting in a high-chair, my mother was feeding me, I declined. The second time, also at Woodhill was during the tail-end of the pandemic when nobody had any staff. I sat on the patio, and after an hour nobody had taken my order, so I just left.

Anyway, they were apparently bought-out in 2025, and the new owners are evaluating all the locations going forward. Apparently this location in The Vista did not make the cut, though with the demolition of the Five Guys building it does now have a nice view of the Capitol dome.

You can see the story at WIS or read about it in The State.

(Hat tip to commenter Gypsie, et al)

Basil Thai in the Whole Foods strip mall is closed "for repairs" with a projected opening date of "Early Fall", which it almost is. They have odd hours (for me), so I have never tried it out, but if & when, perhaps I will.

I ate at this Five Guys a number of times, probably most memorably on a group trip from work to go downtown and buy some decent office chairs. Come to think of it, that may have been the last time I ate here, and that would have been probably ten years ago now. I like Five Guys (though the price is now amazing), but tend towards Columbiana or Forest Drive.

At any rate this one was caught up in the same property buyout that Monterrey was, and is now half demolished. In fact since these pictures are at least a week old, it is probably all demolished now.