Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: From white collar to blue collar: Faith powers Larry Jones’ plumbing business

The year was 1985. A young Larry Jones was wearing a suit and tie daily to work as an account specialist at the Medical College of Georgia. He was also burning the midnight oil, as the adage goes, helping a friend’s father with his plumbing. He says those service calls to help others with their plumbing needs and repairs brought him more joy than the corporate world of crunching numbers. “I enjoyed it, and when there was an opening at MCG for a plumber, I applied and trained,” he said.

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Consumer Stories

Augusta University men’s basketball coach speaks at a local business meeting

When the Augusta University men’s basketball team made it to the 2022 NCAA Division II championship tournament and finished the season with a 33-4 record, some assumed they had an easy season, according to head Coach, Dip Metress. He spoke to a group of local home professionals at this month’s CSRA Home Connections meeting. At the meeting on Wednesday, Metress discussed the 2021-2022 season, which he said wasn’t easy for him or his players. “Everybody wants to see the end product,” said Metress, who has led the team for 18

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Shawna Woodward

Free Access: Real Talk Real Estate: Investors, get ready for foreclosures

According to Finance Buzz, Georgia is ranked in the top 10 highest foreclosure states. They have reported that, based on data from ATTOM, one of every 1,702 housing units was foreclosed on in Georgia in the first quarter of 2022. Flippers and investors have been patiently waiting on the day when they could get back in the game and that day is close at hand. Why does Georgia always have so many foreclosures? The answer is pretty easy: We are a non-judicial foreclosure state. This means that the bank doesn’t

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Consumer Stories

GreenJackets get new owner, little change expected

The Augusta GreenJackets have a new owner, but it will mostly be a case of the new boss being the same as the old boss. Last December, the GreenJackets had come under the management of Diamond Baseball Holdings, an organization formed by Endeavor Group Holdings. Diamond Baseball Holdings (DBH) owns and manages nine other minor league clubs as well. Earlier this week, Endeavor sold DBH to Silver Lake, a technology investment company. The sale is expected to close later this year. “We are excited to partner with Pat, Peter, and

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B2B Stories

Washington Road antique shop to relocate

Mema Had One has been an Augusta landmark for more than a decade, but the antique shop will soon move to a new location. The shop’s current location at 2328 Washington Road will close on Wednesday, Aug. 31, and reopen at 135 Davis Road near Inner Bean Café. Co-owner, Pam Hayes said she and her business partner, Candice Lee, aren’t sure yet when Mema Had One will reopen in its new location. Hayes said the business is moving because the Washington Road property was sold, leaving them with the choice

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Consumer Stories

Repurposed gas station pumps out cool treats in Warrenville

Fill ‘er up takes on a whole new meaning at the former location of a Golden Pantry gas and convenience store in Warrenville. On a hot summer day, when the humidity is so thick you can cut it with a knife, Frozen Delights can probably offer instant relief. Owner, Anthony Simpkins serves 21 different flavors of a unique version of Italian shaved ice that’s straight outta Philly. He hails from the City of Brotherly Love, where the water ice confection is as popular as popsicles and ice cream cones and

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B2B Stories

Local IT firm to host an open house at new Augusta location this afternoon

This afternoon, a local IT company that serves business clients throughout the CSRA will celebrate the opening of its new state-of-the-art facility in Augusta. Premier Networx and the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house at 116 Cooper Drive off River Watch Parkway from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Attendees will have the chance to tour the building and meet Auggie, the Augusta GreenJackets mascot. The business will also serve light hors d’oeuvres, beer, and wine. “We’re excited for our clients, partners, friends, and

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: O’Charley’s

Editor’s Note: Our regular lunch reviewer, Wes Hennings, is taking a few weeks of paternity leave. While we assume he is still eating something, somewhere, he won’t be writing about it while he’s off duty. Meanwhile, ABD editor, Gary Kauffman will pinch-hit with the reviews of his lunches with a colleague, as a way to advise our business community on the good, the bad, and the tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let the restaurant know where he is going; his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he

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Consumer Stories

National real estate firm to unveil newly renovated apartment complex

Next week, a national real estate investment and property management company will unveil its newly renovated apartment complex in Augusta. Broad Management Group and the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Broad on the Green located at 3122 Damascus Road on Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m. A complex employee said the units have new flooring, appliances, and countertops, among other improvements. The event will include tours, raffles, and entertainment. “We at Broad Management Group are excited about the transformation this property has undergone,” said Director

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B2B Stories

Paine College will benefit from the grant for cyber education

Paine College in Augusta is one of several Georgia Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) that will have more funds available to train students in cyber, thanks to a recently passed Senate bill. The bipartisan bill, the Cybersecurity Opportunity Act, was sponsored by Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff. The act establishes the Dr. David Satcher Cybersecurity Education Grant Program, to expand cybersecurity training programs at HBCUs, tribal institutions, minority-serving institutions, and other colleges and universities that serve a high proportion of Pell Grant recipients in Georgia and nationwide. Satcher was a

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