Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Well, that was quick! We've had some general discussion about the chain shutting down and all stores closing, but I expected I would still see a final sale going on when I went out to Sandhill today. In the event, not only was the store already closed -- it is already up for lease. (Though I do note that the branding is still up).

I meant to check out the Grand Strand locations recently, but did not quite get around to it.

Well, it's back to Sandhill for this one. I did a closing for Rice's longtime Devine Street home in 2012, and another when they moved from the Sandhill center court in 2020.

Now they have moved one final time from this location to 125 Outlet Pointe Boulevard as part of closing down the business for the owners' retirement. According to their web site they are now selling at 15 to 70 percent off, so if you need a piano, this might be the time to pounce.

UPDATE 12 November 2024 -- Got an interesting circular ad in the mail a few weeks ago:

It looks like perhaps Rice has sold their name & good-will to Steinway.

I'm not sure what's going on at Village At Sandhill, but quite a lot of it is cordoned off for construction with Enter At Your Own Risk signs. The blocks still having shops have walkways to the doors, but some buildings look completely encased...

I'm pretty sure I've shopped at Rack Room Shoes a time or two, but never at this location, just down from Belks. The signage is already down and the place pretty throughly stripped, so I'm guessing it was probably gone by mid-April at the latest.

(Hat tip to commenter Local Reader)

I took these pictures on 20 January 2024 after commenter Mall Guy predicted on 16 January that this location was closing. I haven't been back since, but at some point I will get shots of the closed store.

I like Cracker Barrel fine, but it doesn't come up on my rotation often, and I don't believe I ever actually ate at this location. I do know that I bought several gift items at the attached store. This Village At Sandhill outparcel seems like a decent location. It doesn't fit with the chain's Interstate preference, but there is a good bit of traffic on Two Notch, and with the growth of Killian Road, and the widening of Clemson Road to four lanes all the way to I-20, it's not too far off the Interstates..

However, both the media stories I see report the chain saying this store just wasn't making the numbers. You can check those out at WLTX & The State.

(Hat tip to commenter Mall Guy)

UPDATE 9 May 2024 -- Some post-closing shots:

This highly visible spot at Sandhill has housed a several restaurants over the years. It started as Atlanta Bread Company, and was then a Panera until that operation moved to Killian Road.

Esther's opened in August of 2021, and so was there just a bit shy of two years. According to the place's Facebook, the chef will be doing pop-ups and other projects in the future, with one coming up on 25 June 2023 at Polo Park.

The State noted the closing here.

(Hat tip to Mr. Hat)

UPDATE 15 June 2023 -- Here's the interior and closing sign:

2011:

August 2022:

To the best of my memory, I've never been in a Wild Wing, even to get a burger, largely because I don't like the smell of chicken.

I did enjoy their radio campaign which leveraged The Troggs "Wild Thing!". The first set of pictures above is from 2011, with night shots presumably taken while I was on the way home from the movie theater. The next set are from this month, and post-closing.

The State has the story, but I'll fancy my pictures have a more complete one.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

UPDATE 9 May 2024 -- Now KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot:

I stopped by Lowes Food in Sandhill the other day, and noticed that the Wild Birds Unlimited outlet there has moved from the left side of Lowes to the right side at 110 Forum Drive Suite 12. I'm not sure what the motivation was as both storefronts look to be about the same size. Perhaps there's a more foot traffic closer to the Lowes doors. Anyway, you can see a better picture than any of these (taken against the sun) here.

Commenter Andrew point to this ColaDaily article about the closing of the Village Artists gallery in Sandhill.

Apparently the site had been open since 2009 and had the use of their space at no charge as long as no paying customer needed it (an instance where the general situation at Sandhill was actually a plus). In the event, somebody finally did want to rent the space for expansion, so the gallery had to close.

I had noticed the place a number of times over the years, generally when I was going to Atlanta Bread Company/Panera, but for one reason or another never actually went inside.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

As reported by commenter Russell, this former AT&T location in Sandhill is to become a Substation II, the signage for which is already up. ColaDaily has the story.

(Hat tip to commenter Russell)

UPDATE 5 May 2022: Added Cingular to the post title.

Apprently this move took place sometime around June of 2020, but I never noticed it until quite recently. Rice Music House moved from their old Devine Street location to near the traffic circle at Sandhill in 2012, and have now moved an additional block or so to 486 Town Center Place, Suite 1.

As you can see above, as of yet there is nothing in the storefront they vacated.