Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

As noted by commenter Andrew and others, Stein Mart filed for Chapter 11 on 12 August 2020 and is expected to close most or all of its 281 stores across the country.

This story focuses on the Trenholm Plaza store, pictured above. A list of all of the announced store closings is here.

To the best of my recollection, I have never been inside this store, at least as Stein Mart. It is hard to say after so many years and upfits, but I believe this is the space once occupied by Tapp's Twig, a "smaller than a branch" storefront run by storied local department store Tapp's. If so, I would have been inside a number of times growing up.

Looking at the store closing list, I see the other local store is in Lexington, and I will try to get by before it is gone. In the meantime, the closing sale is already on, so we'll see if this location lasts into September.

(Hat tip to commenter Andew)

According to The State, today was the last day for Gwen Rawls in Trenholm Plaza. Not being a woman or in need of Italian shoes, I was only vaguely aware of this place, but it is in the same wing of the plaza that 32 Degrees was (though about as far away from Rosso as it is possible to get).

It does seem odd to have three storefronts close fairly close together in time like that, but on the other hand, plaza management continues to bring in new businesses like BLD Diner. We'll have to see what happens.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

Well, this is a shame. Rosso was the follow-on operation in this corner of Trenholm Plaza to Tuesday Morning, and as you can see from the shots above, the space was completely gutted and remodeled in preparation for Rosso's arrival.

The place was a bit more upscale than I am, but over the years I liked to sit on the patio and have the Margherita Pizza (they didn't really have "normal" pizzas) while reading and watching the people go by. They often did have very good soups as well. If they had any weaknesses, it was that the bread was often some sort of rolls rather than something fresh baked and that they liked to monkey around with the Creme Brulee: No I don't want raspberry lemon-peel Creme Brulee or whatever, I want Creme Brulee Creme Brulee.

The place sold a few years ago, and went slightly more upscale with individual cloth towels in the bathroom. At that point, it also exhibited one of the warning signs, when the hours were changed to a significantly earlier closing. After that, I was rarely able to make it any more though I was hoping I would get a chance to revisit sometime during the Spring. Hopefully they will find a new spot.

(Hat tip to commenter Beth)

There's a little confusion on the name of this place in Trenholm Plaza. First of all, it is clear that the actual name of the place includes a degree sign as in 32 °. Second the current signage calls the place 32 ° Soft Serv while the original signage (and current posted closing note) calls it 32 ° a Yogurt Bar. Also, the current marquee (which is not really readable in the night shot above) also calls out custard in a subheading, which I wish I had noticed before they were slated to close.

At any rate, 32 °, which opened in 2010, replaced Hair Cuttery which closed at the end of 2008. I believe I noticed that the adjoining storefront was papered over, though for some reason I did not get a picture, so perhaps the plaza has something new and larger in the works for this wing.

(Hat tip to commenter Matt)

Update 4 February 2019: The Free Times puts the actual closing date as 27 January, so I have updated the post title from "February 2019" to reflect that.

Hmm. When I saw the signs being changed out at this NBSC driving by Trenholm Plaza today, I assumed that the bank had been bought out recently and I just had not heard of it (I don't bank there, so in general, I wouldn't).

As it actually turns out, according to Wikipedia, NBSC has always been a local nameplate for Synovus (nee: Columbus Bank and Trust Company), which operated under different names in different states and

In early 2010, Synovus consolidated their thirty separate state charters into one Georgia state banking charter and is transitioning to operate as a more centralized single bank.

I guess they are doing South Carolina now.

UPDATE 21 June 2018 -- Check the comments for some details, but apparently the Wikipedia info about is, at best, imcomplete. NBSC was apparently originally a local bank and not part of Synovus until (historically speaking) recently.

Then here is where your money is going:

A pair of old sewer lines are being replaced by a single, larger sewer line. It will run between Forest Drive and the Quail Lane sewage pump station, near Little Lake Katherine.

Not a closing, and not a complaint, I just wondered what was going on behind Trenholm Plaza, and that's the answer. I had thought perhaps it was the start of a greenway or something.

The State reports that lulumon athletica (which apparently is spelled without capitals) has closed this Shandon showroom, of which I was completely unaware, and will be opening a full store in Trenholm Plaza on 18 November 2016, apparently in this slot:

which featured here back in August.

There is something going in the corner of Trenholm Plaza by Chico's. One of the waitresses at Rosso thought it might be a small garden courtyard, but nobody really seemed to know. That might be nice, but losing several more prime parking spaces in the often full lot will hurt.

UPDATE 19 August 2016 -- More pix:

Should also mention that Michael's has moved over as you can see above and that the old Hooligan's space has been gutted and is also under construction:

I was out driving on yesterday and noticed a For Lease sign in the window of Corma's, which shared a building with Ed Robinson (just re-opened) near Gills Creek on Forest Drive.

A look at their website confirms that unfortunately they will not be coming back after being caught in the Great Flood. They had moved to this building in 2008 after leaving nearby Trenholm Plaza. Interestingly, their old location, though actually nearer to the creek is somewhat higher and did not flood.

Commenter mamarose notes the upcoming closing of Jack and Jane Sport in Trenholm Plaza.

I have to admit that since I don't like clothes shopping and since nobody has ever mistaken me for someone who does sports, I couldn't place this storefront in my mind and had to drive around the plaza looking for it. In the event, it turns out to be in the suite formerly occupied by La Bag Lady which closed in 2012.

It appears to be chilly in there.

(Hat tip to commenter mamarose)