Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

Cod Tail (a name, which I've said before, I really do not at all like) was the follow-on in this space to Rush's, which closed in 2019. Cod Tail opened sometime after February 2021, meaning it lasted a bit over a year.

Since I don't like seafood, I never checked the place out, but judging by the sign on the drive-through, they were having issues before they actually shut down. It appears that the Charleston location is still open, or at least the web site still works.

(Hat tip to commenter Haley)

Now Cabanas Restaurante with Honduran & Mexican dishes:

Cabanas was the follow-on in this longtime restaurant storefront to La Poblanita, and opened in 2016. I'm not absolutely sure there wasn't another restaurant in between Cabanas and the new tenant, but anyway, as of now this space is occupied by Tacos Locos.

I don't really have any information on this Decker Boulevard hair salon other than it seems to have been open into the spring of 2021 and got generally good reviews. I thought I might have noted previous business in this storefront, but that appears not to be the case, although several in this strip mall have featured here.

Sally Beauty Supply in Fashion Place on Decker has closed. One google review of the place suggested that it was moving to "Garner", which I would take to be Garners Ferry, but I did not see any sign on the door, nor any listing on the company website

However, I do note that the Two Notch location at Sparkleberry Square is still in business.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)

Commenter Thomas notes that this location of Pep Boys is transitioning away from auto parts, and into a garage only busines model and is running a closeout sale during the interim.

This turns out to be a chain-wide thing, as the stores have been struggling of late after having been bought out by Carl Ichan five years ago.

According to the linked story, some stores are trying to work a deal for a different parts operation to take over the retail space, but I don't know if that applies to this location. There are already a number of parts stores in the Dentsville area, so I'm not sure how attractive such a deal would be to another chain.

I guess I am the demographic the change is aimed at, as I have never bought parts there, but have had minor work done a number of times. In particular, I found that when I could not get same-day service at places like Goodyear or Firestone for things like punctures, batteries or headlights, this Pep Boys could get me in and out in an hour or so.

(Hat tip to commenter Thomas)

Well, I could be wrong, but it appears to me that despite the banner Submarine Crab, the follow-on in the old Pho Viet, Zesto, Burger King location on Decker is gone. I have driven by there a number of times in the past week or two, and have never seen the place open, so I suspect they have succumbed to the COVID-19 curse, though I suppose the current over-crabbing of Columbia didn't help.

UPDATE 26 August 2020 -- It's official now, the banners are gone, and there's a realty sign:

Boeshreen is the follow-on operation to Northeast Market & Coffee House in this much restauranted storefront on Decker. I ate there once, and found the food to be good though the layout was a bit confusing, and I couldn't make it a regular stop because there was no fresh-brewed ice tea.

I noticed recently that they have added Sammi's Deli branding to their operation (after also adding a sno-cone setup). It may be time to stop in again.

UPDATE 22 July 2020 -- Here are some better pictures I just ran across:

However, based on a more recent drive-by, I think they may have dropped the Sammi's branding at this point.

To the best of my memory, I ate at this Rush's sometime shortly after it opened, which is the only time I have been in one of their stores. I'm not sure why that is, as it was fine, and I was impressed with the state-fair-like presentation of the fries in a paper cup.

I admit to being a bit surprised at this closing, as I figured with the county takeover of Decker Mall, they would have a steady lunch business of civil servants crossing the parking lot for a bite.

The State says however that it was a 40 year old building that had age and maintenance issues and:

“At some point you just have to let it go.”

The stonework facings are definitely of another era, though not quite as distinctive as the old Popeye's buildings.

This closing makes two vacant restaurant buildings on the Decker Mall property, which seems odd. As I said with the county office workers (and law enforcement) nearby, I don't see why the site couldn't support a new restaurant, though perhaps either building would have to be razed and rebuilt.

(Hat tip to commenter Tom)

UPDATE 18 December 2019: Added the first picture from 2 November 2019, the actual last day of operation.

UPDATE 4 February 2021 -- To be Cod Tail Seafood & Chicken, a Charleston outfit. I really do not like that name!

Here's another Fashion Place closing. I don't know anthing about Avenue other than that they sold women's clothes. Perhaps Ross coming to the old Staples location across the plaza was a factor here.

I guess the writing was on the wall after this Staples cut their hours way back recently.

This was probably the Staples I went to most often over the years (with the Devine Street location a close second). In general it seemed to be a well stocked and run store, and I picked up my share of printer paper, hard drives, computer media, headphones, ethernet hubs, pens, post-its and other office and computer paraphernalia. The only knock on it I can think of is one that seems to be general to Staples as a whole: It always seems to take a bit longer to check out than it should.

Although they have posted a closing sign, there is not a sale going on, and the various "inventory" tags inside the store make me think they will be relocating the merchandise to other stores rather than doing a clearance.

(Hat tip to commenter Sidney)