Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

If you look closely, you can see the Walgreens directly across the street at 423 West Main Street that put paid to this Rite Aid location.

I'm not sure how the other locations are doing it, but it appears this one closed for two days (13 & 14 June) to get ready for a liquidation sale on 15 June. I'm marking that as the closing date, though I suppose it could last several days.

Not great pix, but here is another Rite Aid which has the misfortune to be directly across the street from a Walgreens (the one at 7412 Broad River Road). It's a decent location, perhaps CVS could move in. Their nearest store is at Saint Andrews Road, so that's really another market. Of course the Publix in the strip behind the store has a pharmacy as well, so there is still a bit of competition there.

The end here is slated for 18 June 2018.

As I was driving through Greeleyville recently, I decided to see if the road by the high school cut back through to US-521 rather than just staying on 521 all the way. As it turns out, it doesn't quite, but comes close enough to see where you have to go to get back on the main route. At any rate, while I was doing that, I noticed this vacant grocery store. It was plainly an IGA at one time, but ended up as a Super G Foods (or Foo as the sign would now have it).

Google Maps suggests the address may be 21 C E Murphy Boulevard -- that's certainly the street name.

This article puts the closing date as bfore September 2013, and has pictures of the store in slightly less decrepit shape. It also notes that this was the only grocery in Greeleyville (which Wikipedia suggests had 375 souls in the 2009 census) and that residents must now drive to Kingstree for a real grocery store, which is a shame.

I tend to end up at Roof about once a year, as it it my go-to place for watch batteries and watchbands. According to The State they will be moving to Four J's Plaza on Forest Drive sometime this month.

From my point of view, this is about a wash, location-wise as both addresses are fairly convenient for me. It is another hit for Dentsville though.

As predicted before, this Garners Ferry Rite Aid has closed due to its closeness to the Walgreens at 7801 Garners Ferry. For a big square building, I think it looks rather nice because of all the brick. There is growth in the area, but I'm not sure I can think of anything that might go into the building. Perhaps a medical office or Family Dollar type store as I have seen both in old pharmacy locations.

I was on this section of the Charleston Highway today, and noticed that the Thrift Store in the Mr. Bingo plaza was closed. There appeared to be some work going on inside, but whether it is to re-open, or they are setting up for something else, I don't know.

As mentioned by commenter ED a while back, this Bi-Lo in Spring Valley Commons is the only one in Columbia currently slated to close and re-open as a Food Lion.

The process has now started, and while the shelves are getting rather bare, there are definitely some good deals to be had, as everything seems to be at least 40% off. I do find it rather curious that they have eschewed the normal Closing signs here. I was not in fact sure the clearance had begun because there is no indication in any of the windows. The closest thing is a small paper sign posting reduced hours, but not saying why.

It will be interesting to see how much work Food Lion does on the interior here.

(Hat tip to commener ED)

As we discussed earlier those Rite Aid locations which have been purchased by Walgreens and are close to an existing Walgreens location will be closing. The process has started now, and this store, at the west corner of Two Notch & Rabon Roads will be closing on 13 June. I didn't have a chance to go in, and these pictures through the rain aren't that great, but you can see that signs are up.

How close is this store to a Walgreens?

Directly across the road:

(Hat tip to commenter Megan)

I have noticed for the past few months that Tire Kings on Two Notch near Fontaine is preparing to move.

Their new location will be 2230 Two Notch Road, which is by the AARO Rental Center. I hope they keep the crown logo sign which is nice.

UPDATE 13 June 2018 -- The move is complete:

I have been noticing this place on Screaming Eagle Road, about halfway between Percival Road and US-601, for years. I always thought I would stop someday, but had never got around to it. The last few times I went to the coast, it seemed like it might be closed, so I finally did stop to take a closer look, and it is in fact closed. Since the last newspaper on the stack is dated 28 February 2018, I'm guessing it happened in early March.

There was a story in The State from a few years ago about their fried, burnt, bologna sandwiches which mentions that the owner was in poor health. I certainly hope this was not the reason for the closing, but whatever reason, it is always a shame to see these unique little local stores close.