Entrepreneurs

B2B Stories

Brews, bites, and barks

Sometimes, business dreams are worth waiting for. When Andrew Phifer, an engineer, and his wife, Rachel, an accountant, found themselves more apart than together because of their jobs, they started thinking of what they could do together that both would enjoy. With inspiration from their own “good girl” Kate the rescue dog, the idea for Good Girl Brewing Company was born. In 2021, they found the perfect spot at 880 Banks Mill Road in Aiken, next door to Citizens Park and the former location of Found Treasures, an antique and

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B2B Stories

New restaurant answers the call for country cookin’

Greg Pierce has his finger on the pulse of the CSRA when it comes to food. He already owns The Feed Sack in Aiken which opened a couple of years ago. A year later, he opened the second location of the popular eatery in North Augusta. Two weeks ago, Pierce opened a new restaurant, The Proper Plate, at 119 Laurens Street in Aiken. “Everybody kept telling me there is no longer an option for country cooking around town or a meat and three as many folks call it. So, we

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B2B Stories

Learning if owning a franchise is right for you

Be it a side hustle, second chapter, or primary income, owning a franchise gives individuals a chance to be their own boss. Volunteers from the Aiken office of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) provide workshops to help interested people navigate becoming a franchisee. The most recent was March 26 in North Augusta. The workshop was led by SCORE volunteer, Bill Reichardt, a franchising consultant since 2013. “The main thrust of this presentation is going to be to educate you on basically what a franchise is, which some people don’t

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B2B Stories

Young entrepreneur turns passion for cars into profession

Angel Rodriguez has always been a “car guy.” When he was a teenager and began driving, he wanted an immaculate car inside and out. In May of 2023, at 22 years old, he turned that pride for a clean ride into 803 Mobile Detailing and Wash and now serves the CSRA. “I decided to go all out and bought the equipment and van to be able to provide a convenient service without the hassle of traveling to a brick and mortar, waiting in line, or trying to arrange for transportation,”

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B2B Stories

Veterans open CSRA business to serve and protect your biggest lifetime purchase

After more than 20 years of military service in the U.S. Army, Jeremiah Adell and his wife, Maria are serving again, this time with a home inspection business. Last month, their family opened a Pillar to Post Home Inspectors franchise. “I’m from Rochester, New York, but Maria is from Augusta. When we bought our house here, I was still deployed, so the Pillar to Post Home Inspectors business seemed a great fit for us. The company has a checklist that takes the mystery out of home inspection whether a spouse

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B2B Stories

New eatery provides a business bite to go

Two years ago, Eric Emedoh moved to North Augusta from the Bronx, where bodegas line every street corner. If everything goes as planned, there will be many of the small restaurants across the CSRA as well. Bodega means a storehouse for wine. In New York, bodegas are like small convenience stores selling products including milk, eggs, and meats. Le Bodega at 1696 Knox Avenue in North Augusta doesn’t have wine and the ingredients they offer are cooked up in some delicious handheld sandwiches. Perfect for a busy businessperson to stop

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B2B Stories

Challenges get the best of local restaurant and take-out business

Editor’s note: The best part of my job is writing about new businesses. During the interview process, the excitement is palpable. The hardest part is telling the story of the ones that close. Telling those stories brings a different set of emotions to the table. Like most entrepreneurs, Jennifer Steller, owner of A Steller Kitchen, followed her dream which was to open a restaurant. Along the way, she endured some big challenges, including opening her doors in the midst of Covid and later her husband was diagnosed with two brain

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B2B Stories

Enoch Tarver Business Law Firm Mourns Loss of Partner

The following was a late Friday afternoon statement Augusta Business Daily received from Ed Enoch. For many years, Partner Ed Tarver collaborated with Enoch on various legal matters, including complex business contracts and discrimination lawsuits from their law offices on Wheeler Road. “Honorable Edward Jerome Tarver, former United States Attorney, and State Senator, died this morning from complications following surgery in December. Ed’s wife, Carol and I appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have already received from the community. Ed was a significant and important figure in our

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B2B Stories

Sweet smell of baking success

With her husband’s encouragement, Angela Dragano started her own business three years ago, La Vita Bella, which means ‘It’s a beautiful life.’ Indeed, it’s been beautiful for this entrepreneur who has mastered custom cakes, catering, and event coordination from setup, to decorating and food. Last week, she moved her commercial kitchen from her home to a new location, 908 Dougherty Road in Aiken. La Vita Bella’s hours will vary depending on their custom catering and cake orders. The days and times the new shop will open to the public will

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B2B Stories

Behind the Red Door lies a new Asian restaurant

Less than a month ago, Red Door Sake Bar & Kitchen opened with the tagline, “Little Restaurant, Big Asian flavor.” The partners behind the business are familiar restaurateurs in the CSRA, including Alexandrea Kneece, Dumpster Depot founder, Norman Dunagan, and Chef Chad Jajczyk. Their other establishments include Whiskey Alley and The Tap Room in Aiken, and the Draft Society in Augusta. The partners talked about growing together, thus, the new Asian restaurant opened on January 12. “Our Executive Chef, Chad is the reason we settled on the Asian flavored food.

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