Family trips across the country introduced generations to the familiar teal roof of Stuckey’s and the magic of their unique brand of candy and novelties. Stephanie is rebuilding the brand through road trips. She stopped in recently at ABD’s Inspire 2024 conference.
While Richmond and Columbia counties have been in the economic development spotlight recently, Aiken County is joining in the economic success. Columbia Vehicle Group, an electric vehicle manufacturer based in Reedsburg, Wis., is moving its manufacturing operations to University Parkway in Aiken. The $12.2 million plant will mark the company’s first location in the Palmetto State. It will create 180 new jobs. “We’ve been investing in great communities since 1947 with Aiken being a superb fit for our continued global expansion of the Tomberlin and Columbia brands. It has been
Food Quality: 5 Service: 4 Business Meeting: 4 Value: 5 Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 I’ve never tried sushi and don’t plan to change that anytime soon, so when a good friend invited me to lunch at Kinki Sushi many years ago, I was less than enthusiastic. This time, I visited the restaurant in Le Pavilion Shopping Center in Augusta for dinner with my wife, Rebecca. I may be too picky to try sushi, but I love Japanese food. I especially enjoy hibachi restaurants, where a chef prepares your
Congratulations to all those owners out there who still have super-low interest rates! You have managed to survive this crazy real estate market unscathed, but why stop there when you can leverage this opportunity to build equity rapidly and position yourself for future financial gains? In this article, we’ll explore savvy strategies to pay off your mortgage loan quickly, maximize your equity, and prepare for a potential surge in home sales and prices when interest rates inevitably come back down. Let’s start with the obvious, making extra payments towards the
Friday’s announcement that GF Casting Solutions will build a plant in the Augusta Corporate Park off Mike Padgett Highway creates a problem for the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA). This is an example that not all problems are bad. GF Casting Solutions has contracted for 147 acres. This plant has pushed the park to near capacity. “We have a 40-acre site and a 65-acre site available. Otherwise, the park is completely full,” AEDA President, Cal Wray told ABD. Wray said they are actively looking for new industrial sites. He anticipates
She’s a former legislator and attorney who bought the rights to her family brand, the iconic Stuckey’s. Eat a pecan log roll for a sugar boost and follow her day from Neil Gordon’s recent chat with her at ABD’s recent Inspire 2024 conference.
The spring’s hottest new release is the sports drama Challengers, directed by Luca Guadanino and starring Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist, and Zendaya in a role that defines the current trajectory of her career. It is a film that drips with sweat, tears, and angst, and finds the poetry in the sport of tennis. The story whips back and forth between 2006 and 2019. At the beginning of this 13-year span of time, junior tournament players, Art Donaldson (Faist) and Patrick Zweig (O’Connor) are spirited pals with shared eyes for Tashi
Barbecue can be a bit messy—but not usually for those running the restaurant. Bobby Boggs, owner and founder of the Pot Smoker, took an unusual step recently to distance himself from the former franchisee of his concept. He temporarily closed his flagship restaurant on Highway 25 in North Augusta. Boggs tells ABD it may be three or four months before he finds the right person to run the day-to-day operations. Boggs took to Facebook and got about 300 engagements from his followers. He said the Aiken restaurant remains open and
Stephanie Stuckey, the granddaughter of the founder of Stuckey’s Corporation, the home of the original pecan log roll and maker of delicious pecan snacks and treats, has set a path for rebuilding the iconic roadside family business. It all started with buying back the brand. Catch the story from ABD’s recent Inspire 2024 conference.
Editor’s note: As Dr. Franza enjoys a couple of weeks out of the classroom, it seemed like a good time to repeat his column from mid-January following the announcement from Alabama Coach Nick Saban of his retirement. It’s timely because Saban’s own succession planning has landed him in the broadcast booth for ESPN’s popular College Gameday show. A week ago today, there was a major shakeup in the world of college football as Nick Saban announced his retirement after 17 years as head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Saban
