Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

I first wrote about this lot when the round building ceased being Shandon Florist, so there are some older pictures at that link.

My sister told me last year how this whole corner block was going to be razed for a Starbucks, so I got some pictures of everything last October. The final demolition was around 20 June 2020, and when I took the second set of pictures, the buildings were all gone though some clearing equipment was still on the lot.

Here is a story on the project from WIS:

Millwood Avenue is one step closer to becoming the future home of a Starbucks franchise after the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception permit allowing a drive-thru in the development plan.

The proposal offers a development complete with a Starbucks in the 3000 block of Millwood Avenue, just up the street from Dreher High School. In doing so, several local businesses, including the Birdhouse, Revente’s Second Chances, Columbia’s Cleaners, Ron’s on Millwood, Groomingdale’s and Koru Group Fitness.

The businesses are all leased by the same landlord, who owns the property and is looking to sell, according to several business owners. Most said they plan to relocate if they are forced to close, but remain open while talks continue with the city about future development.

Here is The State on the same subject.

In the event, it appears to me that:

Birdhouse has relocated to 2730 Millwood (see the last picture).

Groomingdale's has relocated to 919 True Street Suite E.

Revente's has closed after an attempted move.

Koru Group Fitness has moved to 2773 Rosewood Drive.

I'm unsure about Ron's On Millwood & Columbia's Cleaners.

I'm not sure what was in the two story brick building.

Read the rest of this entry »

Bridal boutique London and Lace was the follow-on operation in this building to Kicks Shoes, and opened in the fall of 2014.

The announced on their Facebook in February 2020 that they were relocating to Ashville North Carolina. Apparently they got into full operation just as the Covid mess struck, but they seem to be coping with it now and are once again open.

I didn't go there too often, but I liked Earth Fare. It was kind of in between The Fresh Market (one of my main go-tos) and Whole Foods, but without being obnoxious like Whole Foods.

As The State reported, the chain announced on 3 February 2020 that they were going into liquidation and closing all stores:

In a news release Monday, the Asheville-based company pointed to “challenges in the retail industry” that have kept the company from expanding and improving and have hindered “its ability to refinance its debt.”

“As a result, Earth Fare is not in a financial position to continue to operate on a go-forward basis. As such, we have made the difficult, but necessary decision to commence inventory liquidation sales while we continue to engage in a process to find potential suitors for our stores,” the company said in its release.

As of yesterday (16 February 2020), the store was still open, but I did not go inside to see how picked-over it was.

UPDATE 14 August 2020 -- The new owners are apparently about ready to reopen. The shelves are stocked with non-perishables, and they are hiring:

UPDATE 20 August 2020 -- Open again:

I noticed this empty storefront in the Cantina 76 building driving by on Christmas Eve. A bit of googling established that by that date, the spa had been gone for over a year. They have moved towards Five Points to 2901 Divine, right next to Publick House.

I believe the next most recent tenant in this spot was Hardcore Tennis and before that it may have been Ben & Jerry's. (A chain which surprisingly still has yet to come back to Columbia).

Tallulah was the follow-up operation to Dianne's On Devine, which closed in 2013. I'm afraid I never stopped by, and by all appearances, it was probably a bit more tony than the places I frequent anyway. From what I see googling around, it did get pretty good reviews.

Of course, good reviews don't necessarily fill tables, and this Free Times story indicates that may have been a problem.

I do have to admit, I could never see the name without thinking of this Van Morrison song:

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)

I think I have a picture of this building standing.. Somewhere. Anyway, apparently the buildings at 2801 & 2835 were originally owned by Continental American which was bought out by Aflac in 2009. At some point after that, Aflac moved their all their operations to either Laurel Street or Huger Street depending on which report you read.

In 2016, the property was sold to Devine Station LLC, apparently for

mixed-use development that includes apartments and retail space

I guess they are now getting started on that.

Rose Bud was the follow on operation in this location to Kiddie Korner. Possibly at some point in between, it was also Ectax Services. I don't actually know when Rose Bud closed, but Kiddie Korner was about 2009, and when I took these pictures in November 2017, it looked to have been vacant for a while.

RealtyTrac says the building was built in 1958, which I can believe looking at it.

Rose Bud was behind (or in front of, depending on your point of view) Pizza Man and as commenter Andrew notes both those buildings have now been razed.

Devine Foods was unfortunately a place I only got to once or twice. Spanakopita is my go-to Greek dish and as I recall, theirs was quite good. My problem was that they closed quite early both for lunch & dinner making it difficult to fit into my eccentric schedule.

Here is a story from The State on the closing, and an appreciation from The Free Times

UPDATE 8 May 2018 -- This place is being razed to the outer walls:

To a first approximation, Pizza Man on Woodrow seemed like the kind of place I would like: Open late & serving pizza.

In the actual event, I only ended up going there once. The pizza was a style I didn't really care for, and was a bit overcooked, and the place was so dim that I could hardly see a page while I waited for my order. I probably should have given it another chance, but in the end never got around to it.

Here is a State story on the (then upcoming) closing, and here is a story on the final auction.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin & co)

Read the rest of this entry »

According to The State and ColaDaily, this Shandon gallery started out in this nice little house as a fine tea emporium in 2000, gradually adding other, art and botique, items. I was still living in Aiken in 2000 otherwise I might have heard and stopped in as I certainly like my tea. In the event, I missed out, but 17 years is certainly a very good run.

(Hat tip to commenter Justin)