Columbia Closings   What’s not in Columbia anymore

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)

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 don't have a street number and so couldn't find out the name, but this little vacant lot adjoining Sunset Court was a used car operation in the not too distant past, though as you can see, their stock is now rather limited:

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)

While I agree in theory that flame cooking burgers the way Burger King (and now Cookout) does is superior to griddle-frying them, for some reason that has never actually translated into my liking BK, or at least hasn't since I was in middle school or so. Perhaps I should give them another try as its been probably twenty years or so since I've had a burger there. At any rate, that won't be an option at this store on Sunset Boulevard by the Waffle House and I-26. Unlike the many remodeling BKs in Columbia, this one seems gone for good.

(Hat tip to commenter William)

I noticed this "stuff for the holes in your house" store driving on Sunset last weekend. They are listed in the February 2012 phonebook so apparently they closed up shop sometime last year.

Presumably they meant "Vista" in the scenic sense as they aren't really close to the Congaree Vista..

Driving back from Moe's in Lexington recently, I noticed that Exotica International in the strip mall at the corner of Sunset & Mallard Lakes Drive, is having a retirement sale. Well, retiring someplace sunny sounds like a good plan this time of year. I'm not sure when the final closing will be, but I would expect them to plan for Black Friday and the shopping season, so am going to guess December though of course they may sell out earlier.

UPDATE 13 March 2013: Articles in The State mention that the owners, Governor Haley's parents, have retired. The store remains open, presumably under new ownership.

I've driven by Jamestown Coffee Company a good many times on my way to Pizzeria Uno, but on my way there, it would be a bad time to stop because I was about to have a meal, and on my way back, it would be closed.

Now they have moved from their Lexington-ish location to downtown Columbia. As story in The State details, they have reopened inside Cromer's on Huger Street.

The story mentions losing their lease as the precipitate cause, but you have to wonder if the drive-through espresso kiosk across the street wasn't a factor as well.

(Hat tip to commenters Andy & Matt)