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Consumer Stories

Two retailers opening in shopping center in Martinez

A clothing boutique and spa are moving into a popular shopping center on Furys Ferry Road near the Publix Supermarket.  Forevermore is replacing Garden City Pet in The Centre at Furys Ferry. Kennedy Nine Sammons, the boutique owner, is relocating to the Centre from a shopping center on South Belair Road and is currently doing a moving sale of her curated fashion pieces. Her business is a tribute to her late grandfather, who inspired her entrepreneurial spirit.  (See ABD’s second anniversary story from last August) Joining Forevermore is Face to Face

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Neil Gordon March 13, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Expanding hope in Augusta with your help!

Almost $15 million down and about $1 million to go. With your help, construction of a new Center of Hope can begin. The overall cost of the project is $15.7 million. To meet its goal, the Salvation Army has started the public phase of its Standing Together – Restoring Hope capital campaign. The Augusta chapter wants to replace the existing center, currently on Greene Street. It has been in use since 1974. At that time, homelessness in Augusta was predominantly a male issue. “Now we have more women and children

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Dana Lynn McIntyre March 13, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Fundraiser plants hope on property at huge CSRA employer

Thanks to $150,000 and with Walton Way as the backdrop—AU is starting to look whole again. “I remember when the hurricane came across our community, it reshaped the campus landscape, and for many of us, it was something that we could not have imagined or even planned for,” said Dr. Russell Keen, President of AU. “But today is not a story about loss. Today is a story about hope and renewal in a community that was hit by a storm but didn’t stay down. A community that came together, rose

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Dana Lynn McIntyre March 12, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Augusta Topgolf nabs a big star for Masters Week

After Rounds 1 and 2 at Augusta National, Topgolf hopes you’ll make the one-mile trip to Riverwatch and Alexander Drive to see a famous, flamboyant golfer mix ‘n mingle. It will be a busy week for John Daly. During the day, Daly will set up golf goods for sale at the Top Dawg Tavern, since Hooters closed recently. From 6-9 P.M on Thursday and Friday night, Daly will hang out with fans as they tee off at Top Golf. “This week has always been about the fans as much as

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Neil Gordon March 12, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Mini-MBA: Managing Inventory

Publisher’s Note: Do you have a Costco membership off the Riverwatch Parkway? The Gordons do through our company. My wife loves it, and though I enjoy the experience—there is a certain level of frustration. Dr. Rick Franza continues his “Mini-MBA” lesson with a look at how the pros and cons of a Costco membership are tied to the all-important inventory juggle. Welcome to the second weekly lesson in the “Mini-MBA” I promised you in this column for the month of March. We kicked off the Mini-MBA last week with a

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Dr. Rick Franza, AU Hull College of Business Professor March 12, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Selling your business to the big crowds in Augusta

A national organization said major events can give small businesses the opportunity to get their product in front of a large crowd. Georgia has two such events this year, including a spring tradition in Augusta (Photo courtesy: www.visitaugusta.com) SCORE, the organization of retired business experts, recently held an online seminar to share advice on best practices to tap into those unique customer bases.  Mark Dobson, a SCORE mentor and President of the investment and development company Eight-Four, LLC, pointed to some of the largest upcoming sporting events, including the Indianapolis

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Dana Lynn McIntyre March 11, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Major economic news for 2 CSRA Counties

Organizations whose mission is to create partnerships and advance economic development are celebrating financial windfalls. Entrepreneurs and start-ups are right in the middle of it. Economic Development Partnership of Aiken and Edgefield Counties, Inc., better known as Western SC, learned it is one of 14 groups chosen for 2026 Relentless Challenge grants. Collaborating with Western SC are the South Carolina Research Authority and the Aiken Chamber of Commerce. “Our organization is looking for job creation and capital investment opportunities,” Will Williams, President and CEO of Western SC, told ABD. “The

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Dana Lynn McIntyre March 11, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Good Deeds: Benefactors List Released

Publisher’s Note: On Monday, our Dana Lynn McIntyre reported on a story about different organizations and companies providing $260,000 in scholarships that were distributed by the Aiken Technical College Foundation to 200 students. ATC provided the list of benefactors to ABD below. Aiken County Community Association (ACCA) Aiken Lions Club Aiken Masonic Lodge 156 AFM Aiken Newcomers Club Aiken Performing Arts Aiken Sertoma Club Alfred F. Endler, Jr.  Endowment Angela Crosby Wicker Endowment Ashley J. Little Family Endowment Aiken Technical College Aiken Technical College Faculty Aiken Technical College President Aiken

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Neil Gordon March 10, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

New Business Alert: Combining event planning with vintage china

Patti McGrath has worked in the CSRA in marketing and handling event planning for many years.  Now, she can add business owner to her resume. When she decided to open her own company, she decided to focus on creating events that celebrate the moments that make our lives memorable instead of large corporate affairs. She also wanted to offer vintage china to help others add the elegance of a bygone era to their table. Her event planning and vintage china business, Simply Social Events and More, LLC, opened for business

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Staff Report March 10, 2026 No Comments
B2B Podcasting

Simon Says: Progress on CSRA home buying experience

In the last month of February, the interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate mortgages dipped below 6% for the first time since fall of 2022. That, coupled with a key affordability study, is providing some good news to potential homebuyers. This decline in interest rates should provide some relief to potential homebuyers who have found housing increasingly unaffordable over the last three to four years. Housing is defined as unaffordable if housing costs (principal, interest, tax, and insurance) are greater than 30% of median income.  The graph below, which comes from

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Hull College of Business Economics Professor March 10, 2026 No Comments
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