Consumer Stories

Fireworks entrepreneur launches Augusta store

Brent Munnerlyn has opened a new fireworks store with a familiar name, just in time to help you light up the night sky for your July 4 celebrations. Munnerlyn recently opened Joe Dirt Fireworks located at 1090 Claussen Road near River Watch Parkway and next door to Candlewood Suites Augusta. Joe Dirt was a 2001 comedy starring David Spade. The 5,000-square-foot store sells a variety of products, including sparklers, Roman candles, and artillery shells. “We are excited about this location and how visible it is from I-20,” he said. “Our

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Consumer Stories

Augusta shopping center gains three new tenants

A local shopping center is gaining three unique businesses, according to Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate. Furys Ferry Station at 229 Furys Ferry Road is already home to many retail businesses, such as Fleet Feet Augusta, San Jose Mexican Grocery, and La Bonbonniere. Two new businesses are coming to the center soon: Wine & Design and Lux Beauty Lounge. The Curiosity Cottage is already open. Wine & Design, a North Carolina-based company, hosts paint classes for many occasions, including baby showers, birthday parties, and team-building activities. Stores allow customers to

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Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: It’s all faith, no strings attached for violinist JaVonne Jones

The hymn writer penned part of the lyric in the song, Amazing Grace, that says, “…how sweet the sound.” When JaVonne Jones takes to the strings of her electric violin, that is all anyone hears: sweet sounds. But the former public school educator wasn’t always making music. She says fear held her back. In 2020, though, at the height of the global pandemic, she resigned and decided to take a leap of faith. No strings attached. “Faith is knowing it’s going to happen even though you have no clue how

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B2B Stories

Thoughts from the General: Thoughts about Top Gun: Maverick

First of all, Top Gun: Maverick is a great movie and will remain a classic for many decades in the future. Like the first movie, it will be a great recruiting tool for anyone interested in military aviation in the United States and nations throughout the world. The first Top Gun movie was first-rate but Top Gun: Maverick is better. Here are some areas of accuracy, some questionable areas, and some areas of total nonsense. Accuracies  Pulling 9 Gs will cause most pilots to black out. The air-to-air film in

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch: Dave and Buster’s

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”. Food

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B2B Stories

Nonprofit director encourages business leaders to help the next generation

In 2020, Shanteka Glover was selected as one of the Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch and Georgia Trend Magazine’s 40 under 40 award recipient. Glover, senior IT technical and business analyst for Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, attended this month’s Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce Member Economic Luncheon yesterday. She has a passion for helping the next generation of business leaders. “If our youth can see, they can be it,” Glover said. “We must allow them to stand on our shoulders to reach greater achievements.” The luncheon honored

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Consumer Stories

Local entrepreneur’s sweetest dream comes true

Before Alice Garner launched her home-based bakery business, she often donated desserts to local schools, churches, and other organizations. But she’s about to launch her own shop in the Augusta Mall. Garner, owner of Garner’s Sweet Dreams, will celebrate the grand opening of her storefront soon. It’s a free-standing shop located on the lower level of the mall between Macy’s and Bath and Body Works. At the grand opening, she’ll have ribbon-cutting, free samples, and raffles. Garner also plans to accept donations for the Macedonia Church of Grovetown’s food pantry.

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Consumer Stories

New dance studio to waltz into Columbia County

For many years, Cara Woodward has envisioned opening a studio that focuses more on performance than the competition. In about six weeks, she will bring that type of studio to Columbia County. Woodward, who has taught dance for eight years, will open Free Movement Dance Studio at 4536 Washington Road, Suite 4, just past the Evans Walmart. The studio will offer classes in various types of dance, including jazz, tap, ballet, and lyrical, for children ages 2 to 18. Classes will begin on August 13, and the average class size

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: First quarter labor stats look good for Georgia, up slightly in Augusta

Data through the first quarter of 2022 suggests that the Georgia economy remains strong. The Labor Market Index (LMI) for Georgia increased by 2.4 percent in March 2022 from March 2021. The corresponding number for the fourth quarter of 2021 was 2.2 percent. Savannah saw the largest year-on-year increase at 3.6 percent. All metro areas, except Hinesville, saw improved labor market conditions in the first quarter of 2022. The LMI for Augusta increased by 0.8 percent. Employment has increased by 2,300 over the last year and the unemployment rate has

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