Look ahead for a striking building with bold blue and ivory bands, a sleek glass block wrap, and a tall, retro sign that once sported a neon greyhound racing above the entrance on Blanding Street.
Now, picture Columbia in 1939-the roads busy with travelers, the air full of suitcases thumping and engines rumbling as buses roll in and out of this very spot. The Greyhound Bus Depot was the city’s modern gateway, gleaming in the latest Streamline Moderne style, thanks to architect George D. Brown. With its curving corners, gleaming glass blocks, and those glossy Vitrolite panels, it looked ready for a rocket launch rather than a road trip. For nearly 50 years, hopeful passengers gathered here, maybe to reunite with family, ship off for adventure, or just escape Aunt Mildred’s “famous” tuna surprise. The sign above-the “running greyhound”-lit up the night, promising speed and freedom at the flick of a neon switch.
When the buses pulled away for good in 1987, the building wasn’t about to retire! In marched Lexington National Bank, turning ticket windows into teller stations-it’s a transaction transformation. Then the bank departed, and the place sat empty and dreaming. In 2005, the depot was reborn as a plastic surgeon’s office-so these days, it’s more about facelifts than bus schedules! Through it all, the exterior has kept its distinctive wrap of blue, glass, and drama, even if the famous greyhound logo called it quits. Today, it stands as an artful landmark in the Columbia Commercial Historic District-a time capsule of streamline style right in the heart of town, with just a hint of mystery about who might be slipping out looking… a little younger than before!
