Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I did not get around to getting pictures of this Sparkleberry Square Firehouse Subs location (sometimes known as Firehouse Subs Spring Valley) until all the signage was down and the building was fenced off. It seems likely to me that it is to be torn down though there are no signs up for whatever is to come.

(Hat tip to commenter Thomas)

UPDATE 28 January 2022 -- The canopy for the forthcoming Kroger gas station is up:

UPDATE 22 February 2022 -- Well the Kroger gas station is up and running. That was pretty quick!

This is yet another downtown place of which I was unaware. While I was unlikely to be in the market for a casserole, looking at their web site and menu, it appears I could have had a very nice lunch there.

The last message on their Yelp page is from 26 October 2020, so they made it through the start of the pandemic, but apparently not to the end of the year.

I like the brick facade, glass bricks and columns on this building, though I am not sure that the "eye in the pyramid" topwork really suits the rest of it.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

I tried to get a daytime shot of The Pita Pit, but ended up with no parking and someone on my bumper. Actually, there was still no parking even at night, but at least I could stop for these two shots.

Pita Pit on Main, and apparently another location in Five Points, closed on 16 March due to COVID-19. I'm not sure about the Five Points store, but this one is now up for sale, so it won't be coming back.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

UPDATE 9 June 2022: Changing the post title and text to remove "The" from in front of "Pita Pit".

I don't mind Subway in a pinch, though the last time one was convenient to me, they kept it so cold I couldn't stand to eat there. This one was in the Publix plazza on Hardscrabble, on the far right end. I know I did a closing for a restaurant on the far left end once, but I can't find it now, so perhaps it got lost in the great database crash of a few years ago.

(Hat tip to commenter Bethany)

UPDATE 17 June 2022: Updating tags.

I am a little surprised that this storefront has a Bush River Road address, as it clearly fronts onto Colonial Life Boulevard, and is quite removed from the part of this strip mall which does face Bush River (though that part doesn't have a turn-in from Bush River either). Anyway, that aside, I'm afraid I never visited this Blimpie, and can't recall visiting any Blimpie. I certainly like sandwiches, but to me Dagwood's in Surfside is the gold standard here, and it's more table service than fast food.

(Hat tip to commenter Barbara)

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I never ate at this Sub Station II. In fact I've only eaten at the chain twice that I can recall. I find that Jimmy Johns is my go-to sub place these days (unless I'm on the coast when it is Dagwood's). I'm not sure exactly when this place closed. They did post a new picture on their Facebook page on 10 December 2019, and a commenter there notes that as of 9 January 2020 they were closed, so I'm going with "December 2019.

What I find kind of ironic is that I have been notified at least three times that neighboring WG's Chicken Wings is closed, and each time I drive out there, I find it chugging along just fine..

(Hat tip to commenter Robert)

UPDATE 31 March 2022: Updating tags.

I like Jimmy John's, and I go there every now and then for the JJBLT. I do wish they had nicer booths, and let you keep the bread core they trim when hollowing out the rolls, but it's a decent sandwich. I was recently in Pensylvania for work, and ate dinner at an Indian restaurant that was a former Jimmy John's and still had the whimsical (and mildy risque) plaques in the men's room -- wonder what the customers actually from India who might not have recognized the branding made of that..

This location replaced a Quiznos in 2013. I honestly thought it was more recently than that. I'm not sure exactly when it closed, but there are reviews from the last few weeks, so it was either last month or this. The place is currently being gutted, so perhaps something new is already on the way.

(Hat tip to commenter Matthew Benjmain)

UPDATE 28 September 2022: Updating tags.

Places in the Vista come and go before I even hear about them. All I know about Newk's is what Google has to say

Regional chain offering a menu of salads, pizzas & sandwiches in a casual setting.

It sounds like something I might have liked, but I'm not sure when I last ate lunch in the Vista.

The State has a few more details, and it looks like the only Newk's remaining in South Carolina is in Summerville.

(Hat tip to commenter Judy)

As I have mentioned before I have a number of problems with Which Wich, the biggest of wich is I can't frequent a place that doesn't have fresh brewed ice tea.

Regardless of my issues, it does seem that this shopping center has problems keeping restaurants.

(Hat tip to commenter Lone Wolf)