Expansions/Moves

Chicken Fingers Restaurant is preparing to open its second location on 3909 Washington Road in Martinez. It’s in the former Gary’s Hamburgers restaurant. ABD first told you that Gary Gibson made the difficult decision to close his Gary’s Hamburgers restaurant in Martinez after more than a decade. He told ABD he was unable to staff it. Our article is HERE. Chicken Fingers’ other location opened in May 2017 at 4118 Evans to Locks Road in a shopping plaza in Evans, near the Lakeside Schools. Chicken Fingers restaurant most closely resembles

Southern Financial Corporation and Southern Bank entered into a definitive agreement to sell their Georgia branches to Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union (“Palmetto Citizens”). Palmetto Citizens will acquire the physical locations in Richmond and Burke counties. A little more than $100 million in deposits and loan accounts associated with Southern Bank’s four branches located in Georgia will be transferred upon consummation of the transaction. Southern Bank will continue to operate as an independent community bank. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to customary

A third-generation family member is stepping into the President’s role for a 52-year-old locally owned company serving the manufacturing, supply chain, and technology sectors here and across the country. Baker Edwards Hatcher has been promoted as the next leader of Management Analysis and Utilization, Inc., MAU, Inc. Founded in 1973, MAU is a family-owned workforce solutions company that has been recognized as one of the top 75 largest staffing firms in the United States for 2025. The company includes Manufacturing & Supply Chain (MSC) and 3Ci technology service divisions. Baker represents the third generation of

A Neighborhood Walmart is gearing up for a Grand Re-Opening party by making major changes to its business model and its decor. The Evans store at Furys Ferry and Evans to Locks Road is preparing for expansion in the pick-up and delivery part of its business. The parking lot is being retrofitted to accommodate more customers. Inside, staff members are expanding the customer service/pick-up area. They are also re-imagining the Pharmacy section. Row by row signage will change, while contractors are giving the concrete floors and walls a fresh coat

It was closing day late last week as the Roly Poly Sandwich Shop at 3626 Walton Way Extension passed the torch in a creative way to the owner of Lily Coffee, Tea & Bread. Integra Business Brokers was the liaison for the deal in which Roly Poly sold off its equipment and other restaurant supplies and was removed from its lease. Lily Coffee, Tea & Bread was able to negotiate a new lease with the shopping center owners. Over the next few months, they’ll be in build-out phases, including renovations,

Hollywood Feed is expanding this summer in West Augusta. Now, your pets will be able to come into the store and feel part of the expansion. Managers tell ABD that pet parents will have two self-service bathing stations to keep their “best friends” clean. Contractors are cutting through the side wall of the main store to connect two more storefronts that Hollywood Feed will be leasing. The existing 3,150 square feet store will expand to more than 5,000 square feet to allow for the new pet area and for an

The South Carolina Broadband Office announced a project with AT&T* to expand AT&T Fiber to more than 4,500 customer locations which will include Aiken and Edgefield counties as part of a $19 million project to deliver high-speed internet and help close the digital divide. “AT&T’s investment in fiber infrastructure in Aiken and Edgefield Counties is an important step in continuing to advance economic growth and prosperity in the region. With AT&T Fiber, residents and small businesses will have access to the connectivity they need to connect with one another, access educational opportunities,

The Driven brands of automotive companies is getting ready to add its first car wash facility in the CSRA, after building six oil change shops in a short period of time. Jordan Trotter represented the landowner in a transaction that will allow Driven to build a Take Five Car Wash on a large tract of land on the Gordon Highway. “We operate the world’s largest local car wash conglomerate, washing more than 35 million cars a year through a network of more than 900 locations in 14 countries across Europe,

Southern Smiles Pediatric Dentistry is in the final phases of a build-out in time, just in time for a Spring opening in Evans. Duckworth Development is taking care of the construction and the team at Southern Smiles will only have to move equipment and furniture a half mile or so away. They are relocating to a new building behind the North Belair Road office and center, from which they currently operate. At this time, their neighbors are Cudos and Merit Flooring amongst others and they’ll soon be alongside dozens of

H&M Surveying has chosen Augusta, Georgia, as the site for its newest office. This decision marks a significant expansion for the company and a testament to Augusta’s growing prominence as a hub for business and innovation. “When we started looking at diversifying our footprint, we decided Augusta was the best place to be for positive growth,” according to Dustin Mills with H & M Surveying. H&M Surveying’s choice to establish an office in Augusta underscores the city’s appeal as a business-friendly environment. With a rich history, a diverse and skilled

Members of the Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority selected an Arizona-based firm to serve as owners’ representatives as they begin the next phase of building a new James Brown Arena. Legal counsel, Ed Enoch presented the authority with a recommendation to hire Nations Group (https://nationsgroup.com) to fill the role that had been held by H.B. Brantley. “They won’t be building it. They will be coordinating between the architect and the builder,” Enoch explained. “And they’ll be putting together the RFP for us to go out and get a builder. That’s part

Ellefson Transportation Group announced they will add redbox+ Dumpsters to their line of options for portable rental containers. According to Butch Holley, senior account manager at Ellefson Transportation Group, the redbox+Dumpsters team of Augusta is the only local combined dumpster & portable toilet solution. For over 50 years, Ellefson Transportation Group has provided moving services in the area through several companies including ADSI Moving Systems, Bestway, Augusta Data Storage, Go MINIS Portable Storage, and CoolIt Cold Storage Rentals. For more information about Ellefson Transportation Group, visit https://etgaugusta.com/. To learn more

North Augusta was seen as a sleepy, small town, a bedroom community for Augusta for decades. Today, change and growth has arrived in North Augusta. According to the U.S. Census in 2010, North Augusta had a population of 21,348. That broke down to 4,764 families and 9,003 households. By 2020, that jumped to 24,379 residents, a 14% increase, 6,461 families, and 9,754 households. The first sign of what was to come happened in 2012, when a developer approached the city with a plan for 25 acres of undeveloped land near

Thomas and Tammi Kamae grew up in Hawaii and have served the flavors of the islands to CSRA diners for nearly 10 years. But they just expanded their restaurant by opening a second location less than a mile from the Augusta National Golf Club. In Sept. 2013, the Kamaes launched Hawaiian Style BBQ located at 1719 Gordon Highway, near the former Regency Mall. They opened their second location at 2801 Washington Road, Suite 105, near Kroger in the Washington Walk Shopping Center on Monday, March 27. “The Gordon Highway location

Anne Dysinger’s business expansion was completed last month, just in time to house its four-legged Masters guests. Dysinger, owner of Paws in Paradise Luxury Resort & Spa located at 4319 Evans to Locks Road in Evans, now has two new 5,400-square-foot buildings that accommodate mostly dogs but also cats. The upscale business offers a variety of services, including overnight boarding, grooming, and dog training. She said the expansion project cost more than $3 million and added about 160 rooms to the facility. The buildings were constructed by GSP, LLC in

An international grocery store chain still plans to bring a new location to Evans, according to Juli Means. Means, Marketing Director for Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate, has confirmed that Lidl will build a store at 4285 Washington Road, next to Waffle House and across the street from Publix. Many ABD readers have contacted us with concerns because the sign indicating the new location is coming has been removed from that property. “We removed it because it had been damaged,” she said. Founded in Germany in 1973, Lidl also has

For years, Bebette Smith’s customers asked her when she planned to open a second location in Aiken, but she has finally made their wish come true. Last Friday, Smith, owner of La Bonbonniere located at 231 Furys Ferry Road, Suite 206B in Furys Ferry Station in Augusta, opened a new shop across the street from the Aiken County Courthouse at 227 Chesterfield St. South. She will celebrate its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Aiken County Chamber of Commerce on Monday, March 20 at 4 p.m. La

Some of the most iconic buildings and architectural landscape projects in the CSRA were envisioned and produced by CRANSTON. With headquarters in Augusta, as well as the coastal communities of Charleston and Hilton Head, S.C., the firm has expanded to the outskirts of Aiken to serve South Carolina’s Midlands region. CRANSTON, an engineering, landscape architecture, surveying, and planning firm opened a new office at 1476 Columbia Highway North, just outside of Aiken. “Our vision for regional growth includes an expansion of our practice lines, including transportation, water resource management, land

Chee Ren is expanding his local Asian fusion restaurant, thanks to customer demand. Ren, the owner of Mirin Fusion Kitchen located near Sprouts Farmers Market and First Watch at 630 Crane Creek Drive, Suite 402 in Augusta, plans to open a much larger second location at 925 Ronald Reagan Drive, Building B in Evans. As ABD reported last week, Jordan Collier with Meybohm Commercial Properties, confirmed that the Evans Society Center, a new retail development located behind the Columbia County Performing Arts Center, would be adding more tenants. Mirin’s is

Business leaders broke ground yesterday on a new facility with a simple goal: increase healthy food options at the Augusta Golden Harvest Food Bank. Called the Produce Rescue Center, it will substantially increase the amount of perishable food, particularly produce, the food bank can store. The $5.5 million facility will take about a year to complete. It will increase access to more meat, produce, and dairy products to families across the food bank’s coverage area. Golden Harvest President and CEO, Amy Breitmann said $3.7 million came from a COVID-19 relief

A Georgia-based, veteran-owned clothing company is bringing a new location to Grovetown. Nine Line Apparel will be located next door to Cold Stone Creamery at 284 Meridian Drive in Grovetown. The company sells an assortment of patriotic items, including men’s and women’s clothing, home décor, backpacks, and tumblers. Founded in 2012 by retired Army Cpt. Tyler Merritt, his wife, Angela and brother, Daniel, Nine Line has locations in Savannah, Charleston, and DelRay Beach. Its retail locations also sell Black Rifle Coffee. The Nine Line Foundation supports various veterans’ causes. ABD

After five years of developing Energreen America, Bob Matthews is stepping down to focus on expanding his namesake company, Matthews Enterprises. The expansion includes the launch of a new Paint and Body Operation, specifically for medium to heavy-duty trucks. The company is comprised of Matthews Motors, Matthews Truck Bodies, and Matthews Fleet Solutions, each of which has earned a reputation of integrity combined with excellent service. As part of its growth strategy, the company is pursuing aggressive initiatives in areas of acquisition and market expansion. In late 2022, Augusta Business

Drywall is a dirty job, but Jason Staton ensures his clients’ homes remain as clean as he found them. Staton, owner of Statonez Drywall in Augusta, launched his business in Sept. 2022, but the Illinois native already has 29 years of experience in the industry. For 23 of those years, he has owned a similar business in Chicago. Staton handles renovation and remodeling jobs. The business name is a combination of his last name and his wife’s maiden name, Martinez. She manages most of the administrative work for him. One

While many local businesses are expanding, owners of a Columbia County coffee business have announced they have changed their minds about opening a second location at this time. Heather Needles and her daughter, Ali Kocher, own Rooted Coffeehouse located in the Market at Riverwood at 3116 William Few Parkway in Evans. They had previously announced plans to open a second location at 380 Milledgeville Road in Harlem. Needles and Kocher provided no reason for their decision in their Instagram post, but the new shop would have been located very close

Many people’s New Year’s resolutions involve getting more exercise or losing weight, but Amber Connor’s resolution for 2023 is to expand her dessert business. Connor owns Sinless Sweets located at 4336 B Washington Road in Evans, which sells a variety of treats, such as cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and peanut butter balls that contain less sugar, fat, and calories than desserts sold by other bakeries. Its motto is “Treats Without the Cheats.” She plans to grow the business in three ways: offering more catering services, using the food truck for more

Drayton Oswald has more than quintupled his client base by buying out his competition. Oswald launched Spic & Span Georgialina Cans in the spring of 2022. The company cleans outdoor trash cans and just bought Brighter Bins from Andrew Tyson and Chase Lord. Oswald said Tyson and Lord, owners of MEGAH SoftWash, a pressure washing business, wanted to get out of the trash can cleaning business and offered to sell Brighter Bins to him. He declined to disclose the price he paid for the business. “It wasn’t for them, I

Premier Networx, at 116 Cooper Drive just off River Watch Parkway, is expanding by building out an additional 2,500 square feet of its existing facility. The extra space will be used to build a dedicated network operations and security operations center, according to the company’s President and CEO, Chad Harpley. “We were going to lease that out, but things have gone so great that we’re having to build that space out for us,” Harpley said. He said the new center will house an additional 14 employees. Construction is expected to

About a week ago, Timms Harley-Davidson of Augusta Inc. held a ceremony to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new, much larger dealership in Augusta. The 40,000-square-foot facility will be located at 129 Mason McKnight Jr. Parkway near Gander RV, CarMax, and Northern Tool + Equipment. Construction is expected to be complete by December 2023, according to the business’s Marketing Manager, Hannah Barrs. Barrs said the current location at 4200 Belair Frontage Road is 31,000 square feet. “It’s incredibly modern with glass windows from floor to ceiling,” she said. “It’s a

A former Savannah River Site (SRS) employee has announced that his company has entered into contracts with Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS). Keith Willingham, who started his career at SRS 35 years ago, is now the Vice President and General Manager of Aecon-Wachs, a U.S.-based corporation providing single-source solutions for virtually every aspect of nuclear industry construction, refurbishment, maintenance, and decommissioning. Aecon-Wachs recently entered into two contracts with SRNS, valued at $100 million, to complete decommissioning-related work on the SRS Site. Aecon-Wachs will support the transition of the Building 226-F

ABD wondered how many millions of dollars in acquisition or renovation costs Chick-Fil-A paid to expand its store to include the old Mi Rancho property. The operators didn’t want to discuss those numbers or how many millions in increased sales they believe is possible. Chick-fil-A, 3066 Washington Road, celebrated its grand re-opening yesterday morning. The new store has a larger parking lot, a fully updated kitchen, patio seating, two drive-thru lanes, and a drive-thru door instead of a window, according to franchise operator, John Powell. “Employees won’t be leaning out

An Aiken-based business is saddled up and ready to ride to a new location next year, according to Meybohm Commercial Properties. Custom Saddlery, which is currently located at 127 Hedge Road, will move to 390 Croft Mill Road, an 8,100-square-foot facility on a seven-acre property. Founded in 1992, the international company provides a variety of services to its customers, including designing, fitting, and repairing custom saddles. Besides Aiken, Custom Saddlery also has locations in Europe. For more information, visit mysaddle.com or call 803-649-2766.

An Augusta company plans to build a new plant that will bring 600 jobs to the area and help electric vehicles drive farther on a battery charge. Last week, the federal government announced that Solvay Specialty Polymers, an international company with a facility in Augusta, will receive $178.2 million through the infrastructure bill passed earlier this year by Congress. Solvay plans to use the money to build a new plant in Augusta that will create about 500 construction jobs and about 100 skilled manufacturing jobs. The new facility will be

Helping people isn’t new to David Parks, he’s been a firefighter in Augusta for 30 years. Incidentally, dogs have been a mascot for fire departments for centuries. Perhaps, Park’s passion for his pet waste removal business is part of his first responder DNA. If you own a dog, you probably love them like family. We pamper our pups with grooming visits, buy them toys, and feed them, sometimes the freshest gourmet dog food money can buy. But what goes in, must come out. You can scoop the poop yourself or

Groundbreaking begins next week for the Camellia Event Center adjacent to one of North Augusta’s oldest homes. Lookaway Hall is steeped in history as tall as the hill upon which it sits. Built in 1895 from the fortunes of James Jackson, the city’s founder, and his brother Walter, manager of North Augusta Land Company, Lookaway provides a magnificent view across the river into Augusta. When the Jackson fortunes dwindled, the home fell into a sad state of disrepair. Over the years it was resuscitated by various owners including Dr. Henry

Construction is underway at Paws in Paradise to keep up with the growing demand for pet grooming and boarding in Columbia County. Paws in Paradise Luxury Resort and Spa, 4319 Evans to Locks Road, Evans, is adding two new buildings next to its current facility. Anne Dysinger, the business’s owner, said between the two buildings, they will have an additional 170 rooms. That will give cats their own soundproof room that’s completely separated from dogs. Construction began in early June and is expected to be completed by March 1. “We’ll

The closing of one Asian restaurant in Evans has led to the expansion of another. In May, Sally Chan, owner of Fuji Asian restaurant in the Evans Village Shopping Center on Evans to Locks Road, announced her retirement and closed the restaurant. But Manuel Ortiz, owner of Thai Kitchen, bought the restaurant as a second location – and one that promises a true Asian fusion experience, complete with sushi. “I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to have a bigger place where my customers could be more comfortable,”

Yesterday, the Augusta Commission voted to approve Pedal Pub Bar & Patio’s plan to launch a new location in Augusta, according to Commissioner, Brandon Garrett. The business is coming to 305 12th St. based on a Facebook post from the Downtown Development Authority of Augusta. A Pedal Pub is a multi-passenger party bike that looks like a mobile bar, but the bike has no engine. Instead, the passengers move it by pedaling. The bike also has seats for those who don’t want to pedal. Pedal Pub Augusta’s Facebook page describes

Inflation has affected not only local businesses and nonprofits like Golden Harvest Food Bank, but also CSRA families struggling to put food on the table. Golden Harvest has broken ground on phase one of a renovation and construction project that will help to provide more meals for those families. The organization’s President and CEO, Amy Breitmann, said the first phase will involve renovating the corporate office and adding several new features to the existing facility, including a volunteer center, lobby, and conference room. The new building will be 6,790 square

Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate just retrofitted the old Dawson Taylor Insurance office on 3510 Wheeler Road, not far from First Baptist Church at Walton Way Extension. The partners, Trey Jordan and Dennis Trotter started in 2013 with very humble beginnings. “Nine years ago, JTCR started in a sparse 800 square foot office with no employees but a lot of motivation,” according to a newsletter the firm released to clients, prospects, and those involved in construction. We’ve grown steadily over those years and appreciate the trust our clients have put

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

Matthews Motors of Augusta recently announced that it has become a distributor of Dennis Eagle Proview refuse collection trucks. This adds to Matthews Motors company’s already extensive product line of truck sales, maintenance and up-fitting, and automated fleet management services. “We are extremely excited to become part of the Dennis Eagle family,” said Bob Matthews, CEO of Matthews Motors. “Dennis Eagle is the industry leader for quality and durability with some of the most innovative chassis designs in the industry.” “We’re delighted to have Matthews Motors on board as a

Walton Options for Independent Living and the Walton Foundation for Independence have officially opened their new Center for Disability Rights and Resources in downtown Augusta, thanks to support from several local businesses and individual donors. The non-profit organizations celebrated the grand opening of the $2 million, 6,500-square-foot Center located at 948 Walton Way with a ribbon-cutting hosted by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and an open house on Tuesday, July 26, the 32nd anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. To help fund the project, Walton

A few weeks ago, Aiken Saddlery packed up and moved, but you won’t have a hard time finding their new digs at 1090 E. Pine Log Road, a short distance from their original place. The main difference is a much bigger location and even more equipment for horse lovers and their four-legged friends. “We just outgrew the footprint of our old place,” owner, Amy Hebert explained. “The additional space here will allow us to offer even more products.” Aiken Saddlery has been in business since 1979. Hebert has been the

The Augusta National Golf Club has found a new purpose for a longtime fast-food restaurant. Local Wendy’s franchisee, Mike Iezzi leased the location at 2738 Washington Road next to Olive Garden from a company called Meadows Inc. from 2007 until a few years ago, when Augusta National purchased the property. Iezzi said he’s been paying the golf club monthly rent to operate the busy franchise location. According to Golf Magazine, the restaurant property was purchased for $3.4 Million by AGNC. Iezzi added that Wendy’s will close permanently on Sunday, July

Robert Steele runs a business that provides fun, safe entertainment for children, teens, and families that is seeking a new home. Steele owns Level Up Game Center, an arcade that recently announced it’s moving from a 3,700-square-foot building located at 3837 Martinez Blvd., Suite 1 in Martinez to a 7,000-square-foot building attached to the Thomson Family YMCA. The Martinez location closed its door over the weekend. But he said those plans have been put on hold because the Y wanted his business to pay the cost of renovating the building.

When companies are deciding where to locate, the main considerations focus on workforce development opportunities including affordable housing, cost of living, quality of schools – and healthcare. The recent addition of a new primary care facility and a soon-to-open freestanding emergency room to the North Augusta area should help check those boxes for prospective employers. The Aiken Physician Alliance opened its fourth location in Aiken County last month, at 336 Georgia Avenue in North Augusta, where a variety of basic services will be offered. “We recognized the need for primary

Cliff and Amanda Jennings have endured a serious setback in their efforts to launch a second fitness center located in Columbia County. ABD previously reported the couple, owners of Endurance Fitness in North Augusta, had spent several months preparing to open the new location at 4099 Riverwatch Parkway in Evans, but the project fell through. While Cliff is unable to provide specific details about what happened, he released a statement. “Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond our control, we will not be able to open our facility in Evans at this

Next week, an Augusta-based business information technology company will celebrate the grand opening of its new location in west Augusta. IntelliSystems, which provides a variety of services for its clients, including telecommunications, cybersecurity, and security camera systems, is relocating from 1115 Greene St. in downtown Augusta to a newly renovated and updated building located at 3687 Wheeler Road near Doctors Hospital. The building was previously occupied by two other companies: John Deere and Medac. IntelliSystems will hold an invitation-only, drop-in celebration on Wednesday, June 15 from 4 p.m. to 6

Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA are planning to breathe new life into the former Georgia Bank & Trust building in front of its complex on Furys Ferry Road, according to Karen Lee Davis. Davis, the non-profit organization’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations said the building, which has been vacant for many years, will be transformed into a welcome center that will house the Helms College admissions office, the CEO, and the marketing team. “It will really pull together everything we have happening on this campus,” she

Matthews Motors of Augusta has expanded its service reach with the recent acquisition of Padgett Truck Bodies of Graniteville, S.C. This acquisition also helps in the launching of Matthews Truck Bodies. “Matthews Truck Bodies fills a void in the Augusta area by allowing us to help both new and existing customers with their fleet needs,” said Aaron Matthews, CEO of Matthews Truck Bodies. “In addition to what we currently offer to our customers from the service and parts side of the truck bodies, we will add multiple well-known brands to

When developer Tracey Turner returned to his birthplace of North Augusta, it was like coming home in more ways than one. After serving in the Navy, Turner worked as a programmer for IBM, as a Project Manager for the Transportation Security Administration, and as a Project Manager for FEMA. Along the way, he rehabbed houses in Washington, D.C., and started a development company. The nation’s Capital became home to his company’s headquarters, but Turner had an eye on the potential for development back home in North Augusta. “I never thought

A global mining company has invested $44 million in expanding a Grovetown company, which will have a major economic impact on not only the CSRA, bus also the region and state, according to Robbie Bennett. Bennett, Executive Director of the Development Authority of Columbia County, helped to celebrate the grand opening of the newly expanded GIW Slurry Pump manufacturing plant at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday. “GIW has shown its commitment to this community,” he said. “They’re a huge economic driver with hundreds of employees.” Slurry refers to a liquid

In the age of digital books and Amazon, a bookstore may seem quaint and old-fashioned. But bookstores remain popular, enough so that The Book Tavern recently relocated to a more spacious location at 978 Broad Street, about half a block from its previous location in the J.B. White’s Building. The Book Tavern opened in its new location on April 1 but a Grand Opening with special events is planned for April 30 in conjunction with Independent Bookstore Day. The move is the culmination of several years of seeking a new

Columbia County residents will soon have a new place to pick up a cup of Joe before heading to work. The owners of Rooted Coffeehouse, Alison Kocher and Heather Needles plan to open a second location at 380 West Milledgeville Road, near IGA, in Harlem this summer. The original coffee shop is located at 3116 William Few Parkway, Suite 1 in the Market at Riverwood shopping center in Evans. “We’re excited about having a new community to reach,” said Needles, Kocher’s mother. “It’s a small town, so we’re excited about

Business is booming at a local family-owned pediatric therapy business, which has prompted its owner to expand the company. Founded in 2018, Therapy Trails which has offices in Grovetown and Evans, offers a variety of services including speech, physical and occupational therapies. Business owner, Elizabeth Peavy plans to open a third location in a new development called Brighton Landing at the corner of Whiskey Road and John Huffman Way in Grovetown. “Building a new facility for Therapy Trails is definitely our goal,” Peavy said. “We’re still in the financing/planning/predicting phase.”

Golden Harvest Food Bank took the first step toward expanding its building to better serve the community by awarding phase one of the building project to RD Brown. The first of a two-phase project will be a renovation that will add nearly 5,000 square feet of volunteer space, as well as a welcome area and much-needed conference, meeting, and office space. The expansion will allow Golden Harvest to increase its impact in its 25-county service area. Golden Harvest received a $3.7 million grant in December, which will cover 75 percent

A local orthodontist will soon give Columbia County residents another reason to smile. Dr. Lee Andrews II of Rogers & Andrews Orthodontics, whose office is located at 3545 Wheeler Road in Augusta, plans to expand his practice by opening a second location just off I-20 Exit 190 in Grovetown. Andrews and his staff held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site located at 785 Gateway Center Blvd. near Home2 Suites on Thursday, March 10. Alison Andrews, the orthodontist’s wife, said a construction crew has already begun grading the property, and the

A popular downtown florist has announced he will relocate his business in late spring or early summer. Brent Slagle, owner of Flowers on Broad, will move his shop from its current location at 1018 Broad St. to 1030 Greene St. (see photo above story). The shop sells and delivers floral arrangements for a variety of occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and Valentine’s Day. According to the Flowers on Broad website, the business delivers these arrangements to seven cities and towns throughout the CSRA. “We are super excited about our

If you’re like most people, you have a sweet tooth that only a decadent dessert will satisfy. A local dessert shop is expanding by opening a second location in Columbia County. Whipped Creamery Gourmet Frozen Treats, located at 514 Oxbow Drive near Patriots Park in Grovetown, will open the new location at 353 Furys Ferry Road in the Centre at Furys Ferry in Martinez, according to a news release from Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate. Other tenants include Ladybug’s Flowers & Gifts, Casella Jewelers, and Paleo Num Yums. Whipped Creamery

A local construction company is preparing to move into a 106-year-old building in downtown Augusta. Allen+Batchelor Construction, Inc. is relocating its operations from 1063 Franke Industrial Drive to 1118 Jones St., the former home of Simkins Seed Company (see photo above story) and a few doors away from Ubora Coffee Shop. Allen+Batchelor is currently renovating its new location, according to a news release from the company. “We look forward to planting Allen+Batchelor’s headquarters in the middle of the bustling and vibrant atmosphere that Broad Street offers,” the release states. “We

A local pet bakery and grooming business will soon have two locations in the CSRA. Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming is relocating from 2907 Washington Road, Suite 204 in the Washington Crossing Shopping Center near Bonefish Grill to 2701 Washington Road in the National Hills Shopping Center. The new location was formerly occupied by the Legends Club and Simon’s Formal Wear. Summer Bennett – Manager and Co-owner of the local franchise, says she and her business partner, Dean King, plan to complete the move by the end of December. “We

ServPro just moved into a larger facility and they are celebrating with a tour and refreshments this afternoon at 4. The restoration company moved recently to 683 Commerce Court in Evans and is holding an Open House. ServPro’s been around for 50 years and has several CSRA locations that all focus on restoring homes and businesses suffering water, fire and storm damage along with damage from mold. The remediation company will give a tour of their growing warehouse, where large equipment is stored along with precious and sentimental contents preserved

You’re invited at 4:30 this afternoon to the unveiling of some big changes at Floyd and Green at 515 Silver Bluff Road in Aiken, where they have spent the last 15 years. The first 15 years the jeweler was in the Centre South area. “The store’s interior and exterior have been completely renovated,” said owner Tom Williams. “Our goal is to be the best, and that required us to make this kind of significant commitment to our community.” Floyd & Green’s renovations include: A modern, updated façade with enhanced English

Business is booming on Washington Road—starting with a new—used car franchise set to open and continuing towards Alexander Drive in West Augusta. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUSXnl4_LvM

Classic Collision with three CSRA locations and more than 150 nationwide is partnering with a company that’s been successful in other markets doing mobile auto glass repair. “All of Atlanta stores offer this and we’re starting to offer these services in the CSRA, “said Tracy Bryant who oversees the Augusta, Grovetown and Aiken stores and several more in the Southeast. Classic is partnering with Ultimate Auto Glass (see photo above with Tracy Bryant on far left) and now any Augusta area customer with windshield, back glass or door glass repair

A local family well known for catering and event planning has now expanded its business empire to Evans. The Usry family – owners of Enterprise Mill Events & Catering, Fat Man’s Café, The Southern Salad, and Sno-Cap Drive-In – recently took over the fourth floor of The Plaza at the Evans Towne Center located at 7025 Evans Town Center Boulevard near the Columbia County Performing Arts Center. The Fourth Rooftop Venue – a 3,000-square-foot space with a balcony overlooking Lady A Park and the pavilion – can now be rented

ABD first told you yesterday that a deal was struck and Advanced Services for Pest Control was sold to Turner Pest Control, a company with service to 14 cities in Florida and one in Coastal Georgia. Today, we are learning more about the transaction from the leaders of both companies. “The vision and values of Turner Pest Control align with ours, and their sharp focus on their employees and customers was extremely attractive to us,” said Dena Thomas, the president of Advanced Services. “When the opportunity to join forces with

The former Bi-Lo grocery store at 4460 Columbia Road will be sub-divided into several spaces with Harbor Freight committing to be the first retailer. JH Cleveland Construction cleared out the inside of the store to make way for new opportunities. (photo by Neil Gordon) If remodelers of the closed Bi-Lo in Columbia County need some tools or accessories for a new build-out—they can turn no further than the first official tenant—Harbor Freight, which will expand from its current stores at 3435 Wrightsboro Road in Augusta and 2270 Whiskey Road in

Southern Beverage CEO David Byrd in his Appling conference room with a few of his popular friends. (Photo by Neil Gordon) David Byrd is proud of the fact that CSRA TPS stores sell his bottled Springtime water for just $.59. Byrd likes that his family-owned Southern Beverage bottling company is a little fish swimming in a big water pond—populated by Nestle’s Deerpark, Coca-Cola’s Dasani, and Fiji Water amongst others. Why is Springtime water at a lower price point? “We don’t run million-dollar Super Bowl ads,” said Byrd from his humble