Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Tati's, headquartered on Broad River Road, were in the process of rehabilitating the old Dentsville Rush's location, but operations seem to have stalled out. I have not seen any progress on the work there over the last several months, and I have not seen the Tati's food truck parked in the parking lot lately either.

At first it seems like this Fatz is well situated, being highly visible from the Interstate, and right next to Gaffney's most famous landmark, but on further consideration, it is quite a long distance down a frontage road that by the time you get to the Interstate exit, you have half forgotten that you were going to get off. Locating in an outparcel of the Hamrick's right at the exit might have in fact been better. In the event it is all moot since the whole chain shut down as we have discussed before, but perhaps not moot at the time as this location apparently closed well before the others, and the note from management hints at some issues.

The building has obviously attracted unwelcome attention, and may be beyond salvage at this point. I'll have to see how it looks the next time I'm in the area, which most likely won't be for a year or more.

Here is the building in happier times.

Not straying too far from yesterday's post, I noticed that the West Main Lizard's Thicket in Lexington is under renovation, and closed for now. There did definitely appear to be work going on, so I think this one will legit be back, which is not always the case when a place closes to remodel.

I noticed this vacant Sonic last weekend in Lexington.

According to The State, it closed around the end of December 2022 in order for the chain to open a new store nearby at 461 Columbia Avenue, a somewhat larger piece of land.

As of yet, there is no new tenant here though it is listed (with a nice picture of the store in operation).

Ratio, the Peruvian tapas restaurant which is a follow-on in this space to Mangia! Mangia! and Shag Bistro has announced that they will be closing after service on 28 June 2025.

The State has the story here.

They are open Wednesday through Saturday, so you have, I believe, 9 more days to catch them.

(Hat tip to commenter Larry)

Margaret's was on the North side of Garners Ferry out past Mr. Bunky's, and I took these pictures in 2018. It appears from the Yelp reviews (which are pretty positive) that the place probably closed in 2020, and in the event I never got to try it out.

In general I have had a fairly positive impression of Hooters. The chain kind of epitomizes the Breastraunt class of chains, is open late, has good scenery and a decent burger. I did feel the Two Notch Store had gone downhill some the last few times I went there. The chain itself filed Chapter 11 in March with the original plan being to reorganize without closing stores. That didn't work, and apparently now they are moving to a franchaise model with the original founders involved somehow.

Anyway, I don't believe I ever visited this store, which moved here from Broad River Road (which I don't recall visiting either), though I have eaten at the neighboring Applebees, where the view isn't as good, but the burgers are a bit cheaper.

(Hat tips to commenters Larry & MJ)

UPDATE 15 June 2025: Folks in the comments have pointed out that this locathion, like the Two Notch one started out as a Hops brewpub, so I have added that to the post title.

Lita's Treats moved to this location from the Dutch Square food court in 2021. On 8 May a car drove into their storefront, closing them down temporarily. Luckily neither anyone in the store nor the dirver was hurt, which definitely was not a given. According to Lita's Facebook page, the damage is more extensive than they originally thought, so it's not clear when they will reopen, though they plan to. In the meantime, they have a store on Killian Road.

WIS has the story.

(Hat tip to commenter Dennis)

Hard Bean was the follow-up in this building to Maurice's Piggy Park which closed in November of 2023.

Hard Bean was here in the summer of 2024 until April of this year when they announced they were moving to Lexington. Apparently the new address will be 129 Cromer Road, which appears to be on the other side of Sunset from the Chick-Fil-A (though back a bit further).

I don't know the reasons for the move of course, but I've always thought this storefront and the next door one are hard to get in and out of, plus of course, there is a Dunkin with coffee right there as well.

(Hat tip to commenter Gypsie)

Well, I am happy to report that the best sandwiches on the Strand are available again. After a fire closed Dagwood's in Surfside back in January, the place underwent a several month rehabilitation, opening again last week as reported on their Facebook.

Here is a WMBF story on the fire. According to the chain's site, this building has been a Dagwood's since 2006. I am pretty sure I recall it being a Shoney's before that, and where we ate Thanksgiving dinner one odd-off year when all our relatives were away.

I look forward to a BLT+ the next time I am on the Strand!