Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I noticed the other evening that this florist, on Two Notch near Spring Valley Antique Mall was gone. I go to florists probably less than once a decade, and never went to this one, so there's not much I can say. I do find the name a bit curious, as it sounds more like a nursery than a flower shop.

I believe I first photographed this strip back in 2008 when Hollywood Video closed, and this unit was a Nationwide insurance office. Google suggests that at some point between then and now, it was
Alter Ego Hair Salon. Streetview for 2018 shows the slot already vacant, so doing a blue-sky guess (not confirmed by any phonebook) that that closed in the 2016 timeframe.

When commenter Sidney tipped that this store was closing on the 19th, I thought I would have the whole day to get out there and get some inside pictures. In the event, I think they closed for good at 5, and I got there around 6. I have to say that just from what I can see through the doors, it does not look as picked-over as I expected.

This store was part of the initial troubles faced by Sandhill, as the chain went bankrupt during the great recession, along with another Sandhill anchor (Sofa Express iirc) leaving the shopping center hurting for rent income. Bi-Lo eventually came out of bankruptcy, though it certainly has not had smooth sailing since then. I have forgotten all the details about who bought whom for all the Bi-Lo locations , but the plan is for this one to become a Lowes Foods.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

UPDATE 14 October 2020 -- That was fast! This place is now open as a Lowes:

Apparently we have another COVID-19 casualty here. New York & Company announced on 28 July 2020 that:

store closing sales have begun at all New York & Company retail locations across the United States. The firms are conducting liquidation sales across approximately 380 store locations in connection with the recent bankruptcy filing of New York & Company's parent company, RTW Retailwinds, Inc. ("RTW").

New York & Company is a specialty women's fashion retailer which offers modern, multi-functional wear-to-work apparel at affordable prices. As part of the sale, customers can expect initial discounts of up to 60% off original prices for all in-store merchandise including women's clothing, accessories and shoes.

USA Today provides a bit more detail:

"The combined effects of a challenging retail environment coupled with the impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic have caused significant financial distress on our business, and we expect it to continue to do so in the future," Sheamus Toal, RTW Retailwinds CEO and chief financial officer, said in the release.

So, things weren't great before the plague, but that was the tipping point.

Frankly, I was not aware this store, or the chain, existed, so I can say very little else about it. It is definitely another hit on Sandhill, which really does not need any more problems.

I don't think Victoria's Secret is officially bankrupt, but apparently a planned buyout fell through leaving the chain in desperate straits. Of course the COVID-19 crisis didn't help any either, and they are now in the process of closing 250 some stores.

This Sandhill location apparently closed in June as reported by commenter Bethany, but when I drove by then, the signage was still up, and the merchandise was still inside -- the "Lock the doors" order must have come down very quickly. When I got back in early July, the storefront was cleaned-out and blank.

I see from the label-scar that they were neighbors with a maternity store called Motherhood which pre-deceased VS and for which I never did a closing.

(Hat tip to commenter Bethany)

Well, they door signs only call out a temporary closing due to the crisis, but with the real estate sign by the road, and the LoopNet listing, I'm afraid we can chalk up another casualty of COVID-19.

I have been in this antique mall many times over the years, but not in the last several years for some reason or another. I'm trying to think if I actually bought anything there, and I can't bring anything to mind, though I do specifically recall looking for old phonebooks there (and not finding any -- they are surprisingly rare). With the closing of Ole Town Antique Mall and Columbia Antique Mall, this leaves Old Mill on State Street as the only sizable area antique mall I can think of.

UPDATE 10 July 2020: Commenter Dennis offers that this building was once a "Brown Sign With The Sewing Machine In The Corner" Factory Outlet, so I have added that to the post title. See also here for the Factory Outlets. Also adding the map icon, which I forgot.

Catherine's dates back to at least 1960 and started in Memphis in 1960 when Catherine Weaver sold her Catherine's Stout Shop to Ralph Levy..

I remember the name Catherine's Stout Shop, so I suspect they must have operated under that label in Columbia when I was growing up. Along the way it seems there were a lot of buyouts and mergers, and the chain, now more gently named, is part of the Ascena Retail Group along with Lane Bryant & Ann Taylor. The group is now apparently considering Chapter 11 bankruptcy as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. If they go that route, they are considering selling off Catherine's and two other labels.

As far as I can tell though, the closing of this particular store, on an outparcel in the Very's strip mall, had nothing to do with COVID, as they had time to adverise and hold a 40% off sale around February of 2020.

There is a major remodel going on at Sesqui Center right now. Looking at the first picture, taken several months ago, it appears that perhaps the store next to the Professional Barbers (whose sign you can barely see behind the dumpster) might be a tattoo operation.

The "before" picture doesn't seem to show this section in any worse condition than the rest of the strip mall (which is reasonably well kept up), so I don't know if there was a fire here or what.

At one time, in a vanished building, this address hosted Mammy's Shanty restaurant.

The current building has been a number of car related businesses. Brooks Automotive and The Auto Club, Inc. were follow-ons in this spot to Prestige Hitech Autowerks. From this Facebook post, I think I can say that Brooks opened early in 2015. The inflatable Carfox caught my eye in May of 2015, which is when that set of pictures dates from. I assume, since they appear to have been co-located and presumably related, that The Auto Club dates from the same period.

I noticed on 1 March of 2020 (a rather dreary day) that they were gone as well.

I would expect another car operation to move in at some point, but not, I'm sure, until the current mess is sorted out.

As reported by commenter Andrew, the Food Lion in Polo Plaza has upped shop and moved to the old Bi-Lo in Spring Valley Commons.

This move leaves not a lot in Polo Plaza, which Domino's having moved last year.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

UPDATE 2 May 2020: Changed the move date from March 2020 to June 2019 based on the comments.