Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I was at the Peak Exit Food Lion off I-26 recently, and noticed that the strip's gym, Anytime Fitness had closed and is transitioning to Hitone Fitness in the near future.

I don't believe I ever at at this Applebee's, though I was certainly aware it was there. In general, I find the chain to be a decent late night spot for a good burger though they are a bit stingy with the fries.

Judging from the sign, I guess the Two Notch, Blythewood & Devine Street stores must be under different ownership.

UPDATE 12 May 2020 -- As pointed out by commenter Andrew, this is now Pon.Di.River Caribbean Bistro (assuming it makes the transition out of COVID-19 closure):

(Hat tip to commenter Ken)

Nathan's/Chester's was the follow-on operation in this I-26 rest stop location to Maggie Mae's.

I'm wondering, since the closing sign is somewhat similar, if it were under the same ownership as the Dutch Fork Nathan's. I'm going with late 2017 as the closing date as the place is not yet fully stripped inside.

(Hat tip to commener Frank Mancuso)

UPDATE 30 August 2021: Add a real street address, update tags and add map icon.

This is an interesting little building off Broad River Road just north of the I-26 interchange. It puts me in the mind both of an old A&P (the steeple) and this building on Millwood (though that one is more round).

I don't believe I had ever noticed Royal Tower Drive before. I wonder where the name comes from?

UPDATE 9 May 2023: Now a martial arts dojo:

I was way out on Broad River Road in Irmo, or maybe Ballentine, when I noticed this overgrown little building next to Friarsgate Animal Hospital. I may be wrong on the address. I should have got a closer picture, but I'm almost positive the sign on the front says 10214, but that doesn't make complete logical sense as the vet's is 10216, so by rights this lot should be 10218. I can't really find anything in google with either address, and consulting a few old phonebooks for 1st Choice Homes turns up nothing (locally).

There's been a bit of speculation on Have Your Say about whether D. L. McLaughlin's in Irmo is closed or not. Judging from the signage on the building, both of the practical "For Sale" and the sentimental "Thanks for the memories" type, and adding in the Facebook page, I think I can say that it definitely is.

In the event, I think I only ate here once. I was a fan of the old Sub Cabin in West Columbia, and this was either the follow-on or sibling to that operation, but even though it was good, it was just too far for me to go.

Anyone know the story of the archer on the coat-of-arms?

This much restauranted building, the home of the original Lizard's Thicket, is vacant again.

I'm not sure exactly when this happened as even when I'm pretty sure it was still in operation, it never seemed be be open when I drove by. Interestingly, this is the second time it has been, and has ceased being, a La Fogata. (Although this incarnation was apparently a buffet).

As usual, when I'm trying to shoot against the sun, the results aren't pretty, but this Piggly Wiggly on the Charleston Highway near the I-77/I-26 interchange is on the way out -- in fact, it may actually be closed at this point.

When I took these shots on 3 August 2014, the store was mostly still in full operation. There were a few signs that they were trying to sell off the whole stock, but really, if you had gone for most any normal grocery item, you would have found it and the discounts were pretty modest (I believe most signs said 20%, but only to Pig cardmembers).

With this closure, I'm not quite sure where the nearest replacement store is. There's an IGA in Gaston, but the Reid's which would have been the nearest store in the other direction recently closed as well.

Of course, the new State Farmers' Market is quite nearby for adventurous souls.

UPDATE 21 August 2014 -- The place is now closed:

UPDATE 14 December 2021 -- After seven years, this store is still vacant:

Also adding a map icon.

This Sammi's location was way out on Broad River Road, just across Lykes Lane from the Publix plaza. I took these pictures when I originally thought it was closed, back in June of 2012.

As it turned out, they weren't closed, but just having some work done. They opened again and carried on (with an 'A') until last month.

Now it's Touchdown's Wings & Things.

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Here's yet another closed payday checking type operation. This one is in the plaza at the corner of Broad River & Rushmore Roads, across the street from Rush's. The plaza opened with some fanfare years ago, including the unlikely peregrination of Bum's Bummers from Boardwalk Plaza to here. In fact, if you look at the next to last picture at that link, I believe it is this very unit being constructed.

In recent years, the place seems to have moved down a tier, and to have had a fair bit of turnover.