Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Well, this seems to be the end of local fast Mexican stalwart, Taco Cid. This is a chain that once had a presence as far abroad as both Greenvilles, though it was recently down to one, non-custom-built, storefront location near the airport (having moved from the Charleston Highway in the summer of 2014).

I used to frequent the Decker location from time to time as part of a pre-roadtrip ritual, and thought it was pretty decent. In recent years, the chain has gotten some negative publicity over an edgy ad campaign, and some people have said here that they also lost their longtime sauce recipe to a change in food service vendors.

At any rate, while a sign inside the closed Platt Spring Road location offers some hope for the future, it appears that at this time, the Taco Cid website is down and the Taco Cid Facebook page has been closed.

For now, you can see the final cached version of that facebook page, announcing the closing, here.

(Hat tip to commenter Kc)

UPDATE 30 August 2022: Updating tags, adding map icon.

UPDATE 8 June 2023 -- Now Taqueria La Poblanta:

Well, I was going to wait until I got over to the area again to get some pictures of the abandoned old location, and the new location in operation, but that didn't happen this weekend, and there's been a lot of Taco Cid talk here lately, so I'll go ahead with what I've got.

Longtime local Mexican fast-food restaurant Taco Cid has moved from their Cayce location near Piggy Park and out to Airport Tec Plaza at 3313 Platt Springs Road.

They have moved into the old Marino's Bistro location and are now open, though they have not yet replaced the Marino's marquee.

(Hat tip to commenter Mike)

UPDATE 21 August 2014 -- Here is the Charleston Highway location after closure:

UPDATE 10 March 2017 -- As mentioned by commenter Andrew, this building is going to pot:

UPDATE 30 August 2022: Well, color me surprised. I thought the Charleston Highway Taco Cid building was beyond salvage, but somebody has managed it, and it is now open as Perry's Gourmet Flaming Grilled Chicken!

(Also updating tags and adding map icon).

Here's an interesting little restaurant building in Lexington. It was last a San Jose until that operation relocated to 115 North Point Drive, but the building obviously predates that. It has a familiar look, but I can't quite place it. I would say the front extension was not part of the original building.

The building looks a bit forlorn now, but the murals are a nice touch.

UPDATE 22 April 2013: Added Taco Cid to the post title based on the comments and the 1985 phonebook.

UPDATE 29 NOvember 2017 -- as mentioned elsewhere by commenter ED, this building has now been razed:

UPDATE 30 August 2022: Updating tags and adding map icon.

UPDATE 25 January 2023: Add tag.

Sammi's Deli still has a Broad River Road location in Irmo near the Publix plaza, but this one in front of the old Intersection Center has changed hands and will become a Nick's.

Nick's seems to be using the Lizard's Thicket "hermit crab" strategy of moving into buildings which were already set up as restaurants. This will be the third new location they have opened or will open over the past year. They have already opened in the old Taco Bell location on Decker and appear close to opening in the old Tony O's Pizza on Saint Andrews.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 17 September 2012 -- The comments have reminded me this used to be a Taco Cid so I have added that to the post title. I have also copied commenter Melanie's matchbook scans here:

UPDATE 30 August 2022: Updating tags and adding map icon.

Taco Cid is a local (a fact I didn't know until just now) Mexican fast-food chain. Well, I say chain but from their web site, they are down to one location, on the Charleston Highway, at present.

When I first became aware of them, they had at least three locations. The one on Charleston Highway, one on Broad River Road near Intersection Center, and this one, on Decker Boulevard just up from Decker Mall. At that time, I was just starting to sample Mexican food, and I was never a steady customer, but I had this odd custom that whenever I was going to drive to Charlotte (usually for the Heroes Convention, but sometimes for other reasons), I would hit the Decker Taco Cid for lunch first (I will rarely start any voluntary trip before noon!). I'm not sure exactly why this was. The food was better than Taco Bell, but not spectacular, and before the Completion of I-77 to Percival, Taco Cid really wasn't on the way to Charlotte in any meaningful fashion. Even now that connection is tenuous since you can only get on I-77 going the wrong way if you use Decker, but I would drive down Decker to Parklane to 277 and tell myself that made sense.

The Decker location was the first to close though it predated the total collapse that happened to Decker later. The Broad river location lasted years longer. I don't know exactly when it went under, but I don't think it has been more than 5 years ago.

The vet's office moved in a few years after Taco Cid vacated the building, and has been a steady presence there ever since as Kroger, Target, The Olive Garden, Red Lobster, and most recently Zorba's have crashed and burned around them.

UPDATE 15 Aug 2009: Added scans of Taco Cid matchbook provided by commenter Melanie.

UPDATE 18 April 2013: The building is to be Atlantic Seafood.

UPDATE 30 August 2022: Updating tags, adding map icon.