Columbia Closings   What's not in Columbia anymore

As noted by commenter Andrew, the Aaron's on 12th Street in Cayce has closed. The sign pitches it as a move, but I'm pretty sure both of the locations mentioned were already in existence.

I'm not sure what this building was built for, but given that the right hand part looks like former automotive bays, I'd guess some sort of repair operation.

(Hat tip to commenter Andrew)

When I was in Triangle City a couple of weekends ago, and trying to turn around and go back for some pictures of a place I had just driven past, I noticed this empty building on C Avenue. Some googling suggests it was an interior design operation. The website is still active here. Since their picture shows the Metanoia signage, I guess that was the DBA name.

I noticed this former garage in Triangle City on the Charleston Highway last weekend. I can't say exactly when it closed, as I don't see any phonebook listings for it, at least under the marquee name, although Google suggests it might also have been Southern Diesel Truck & Trailer Repair, or a Meineke Car Care location.

I was driving towards Triangle City a few weekends ago, and noticed a blank business sign in front of a nice brick house fairly near the intersection of Charleston Highway and Knox Abbott. As usual, when I actually get out and about, it was a good ways into the afternoon, so I was shooting against the sun, and it's a poor shot.

As best I can determine the only business here in recent times was Griffin Homes & Properties. Perhaps before that, it was still a residence.

The current location of Bogart's in West Columbia has been purchased, and the building will be torn down to furnish more parking for the adjacent Zesto. According to West Metro News, the owner is looking for another location, but as of late August had not found one.

This building in Triangle City as been a number of different automative service operations, as I noted here. Automotive Tekniques moved in at the start of September 2011, and seems to have lasted until late last year. I think I had some photos of the place in operation, but I can put my hands on them right now.

Currently a zoning sign on the property suggests it will be changing from C-1 Intensive Commercial to C-2 General Commercial. I'm not sure what that actually means, but to me it suggests a future retail operation.

(Hat tip to commenter tonkatoy)

UPDATE 17 September 2016 -- This is now STS Auto Sales & Repairs. Cola Daily says they opened on 25 September 2014 and that the name stands for Sales To Service:

I remember going to this Doctor's Care, in Triangle City right next to the former First Citizens sometime back in the early 2000s for something or other. It was perfectly fine, and they set me up with a prescription with a minimum of waiting.

I had noticed it was closed sometime ago, but never got around to getting any pictures until recently. When I did, I found that it actually is *not* closed -- they actually moved shop to 2836 Augusta Road where they still are. I don't recall any issues with the building, so I'm guessing they simply get more visibility and drive-by traffic at the new location.

I already did a closing on this building on Meeting Street in West Columbia near Triangle City for when it was Bell's Hamburger Drive-In, but I noticed a while ago that the follow on operation (which was not the immediate follow-on!) Chiva Auto Sales is now gone as well.

That gave me a chance to get some more shots of this place, without all the cars parked outside, and the guy wondering what the heck I was doing sitting inside. However, the place is tightly fenced off now, so I still can't get any close shots through the building windows. It will be a shame if the next owners tear down the building and marquee which absolutely scream of a certain era, but I can't imagine it being suited to much other than used-car office these days..

UPDATE 3 December 2014 -- This building has now been razed. See the pictures at the Bell's Hamburger Drive-In closing.

This little building sits on C Avenue in Triangle City just west of the Charleston Highway, and has apparently most recently been a cellphone, game console and computer repair operation called iTecRepair. I believe this was the last tenant, as they booked an oline ad as recently as 30 January 2012.

I am unsure if Cdn Communications was a totally different operation, or just a different DBA name for iTecRepair.

Before the newfangled stuff, the place was one of those urban staples, a bail bonding office called Get U Out Bail Bonding (some google hits give it as Get U Out Fast, but I think that was just their slogan, as pictured in this real estate listing).

There are still some Maryland Fried Chicken restaurants on the Grand Strand, but they seem to have abandoned the Midlands sometime between the February 1976 phonebook (above) and the February 1985 one. This building, in Triangle City, is still standing, and still a restaurant, but now it's True BBQ. You have to love the pigs, and the sauce names.

UPDATE 5 April 2012: Added Rockingham's and Triangle City Diner to the post title based on the comments, and google.