Red Robin, Vacant Corners, Fast Pizza and Bull Street

Red Robin to Columbiana. I ended up at Columbiana this weekend and noticed that the old Spinnakers is being converted to a Red Robin. I’m not surprised that a seated dining is making a return to Columbiana. A little surprised that it’s Red Robin, though. I’ve never seen a Red Robin in a mall. But there are very few locations left around Harbison for a stand alone restaurant so this might have been their best option.

The State talks corners. If you’ve spent any time in downtown Columbia, you’ve noticed that numerous corners at major intersections are undeveloped or underdeveloped. The State gets to the bottom of it. I’m not sure the “city needs to add parking to spur development” argument makes a lot of sense. Basically, until these landowners decide to develop, we’ll have parking lots at major corners.

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza. The State reported this week that Harbison will be getting a new pizza restaurant endorsed by LeBron James. It’s over near Academy and Guitar Center. Never heard of the franchise, but it sounds interesting.

Recruiting business for Bull Street. I’m more optimistic than most about the Bull Street Development than most. I stumbled across the Lennar Commercial retail recruiting site for Bull Street Commons. They are promoting the baseball team, the University and the downtown professional crowd to help sell the property. My guess is that this will be mostly bars and restaurants first, with retail following. They’ve said in the past that they are lining up retail partners that are first in this market and some that are first to the state. We’ll see. It would make a logical place for a P.F. Chang's…

I'm going to start posting a Wanted in Columbia update every Monday. Check out past posts, and the top 10 list, at my Wanted in Columbia page.

Costco to Piney Grove? →

The State is reporting that Costco is in negotiations (again) to move into the 17 acre location off Piney Grove Road near Harbison. This is the same location they were close to securing a few years ago, but a disagreement with Richland County about who would pay for needed road upgrades sidetracked the plans. I had heard rumors that a few other locations were in play as well, but it looks like this is where they want to be. It really is the option in Columbia that best fits their typical store size and location. Will be interesting to see if it really happens this time.

RIP Radio Shack

It looks like Radio Shack is finally done. 

I have fond memories of TRS-80 computers in elementary school. But really, for me, Radio Shack was the place I went to get the random wires, cables, batteries, adapters and assorted junk that I needed to connect the random pieces of tech I had collected. And back when I had Commodore computers, component stereo systems and more, Radio Shack was the key to connecting everything.

The last time I walked in a Radio Shack was four years ago. I needed a cable – an odd cable – and so I stopped by the Radio Shack near my work. I walked in and worked my way through all the cell phones to the back corner where they had a limited selection of cables. When I couldn't find the cable I needed, one of their associates recommended that I try Best Buy or Amazon.

You might think this tale shows they lost focus. That they somehow lost their way. But in reality, the market they created doesn't exist anymore. They knew that. 

At some point – obviously too late – Radio Shack realized they weren't going to survive selling cables and accessories and so they branched out. Consumer electronics systems have gotten simpler and the places that sell them – like Best Buy and Target – sell all the cables and adapters you need. The specialty stuff, you can order from Amazon.

No one needs to make a special trip to a second store to buy cables. So basically, they tried to reinvent themselves to be a cross between a cell phone sales center and a mini Best Buy. Give them credit... they tried to change. But Best Buy has a hard enough time making money even at its scale. Radio Shack never really had a chance.