Augusta Business Daily

Fri, September 22, 2023

Closings

Closings

CSRA restaurant closes for now

Editor’s note: As ABD reported last week, more than 25 restaurants have closed in the past year. It’s a tough business and the reasons vary for shutting the doors. Some had been opened for a year or two, and others like Villa Europa have been serving customers for 50 years. As we reported, they will close but are looking for a new location. There is now yet another restaurant scouting for a new place to call home. Munchie’s Lab served their last meal on Friday, September 15. Their closing date

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Closings

Where have all the restaurants gone?

Editor’s note: This is the second part of stories about restaurant closings in the CSRA. Yesterday, we reported on the upcoming closing of Villa Europa which has served German and Italian cuisine to families for 50 years. Today, we delve into the “why” behind the closings. More than 25 restaurants in the CSRA have closed since this time last year. Some were popular local businesses which served the area for many years, including Betsy’s Round the Corner, DiVino Ristorante Italiano, and The Bee’s Knees. A few were franchises affiliated with

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Closings

50-year-old restaurant in the CSRA will close

Memories have been made between the walls of Villa Europa, from hosting business functions to families for weddings, birthdays, and anniversary celebrations. The stories could fill a book. Now, instead of building on those chapters after almost 50 years in business, it’s now day-by-day for the restaurant known for its German and Italian fare. The family-owned restaurant is in South Augusta at 3044 Deans Bridge Road. Despite all the happy memories, like most buildings of that era, it’s made well, but nothing lasts forever without some TLC. “It would have

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Closings

A final farewell to Steak and Shake in Columbia County

An online auction on Sept. 5 marked the final farewell to a popular restaurant on Belair Frontage Road. Vanish Auctions, a Florida-based company that specializes in online auctions, handled the sale of equipment and furniture from Steak and Shake. The auction included tables and chairs, artwork, and kitchen equipment. A viewing period was held prior to the start of the noon auction. Several people were there when the doors opened at 9 a.m. “I am looking for some things actually to build out our church kitchen and to get them

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Closings

The CSRA will be a little less sweet without Cyndi’s

Ten years ago, Cyndi’s Sweet Shoppe opened on Laurens Street in downtown, Aiken, S.C. What started out as her husband Dick’s idea for a nostalgic candy store, soon also became hers. She loved the area because they were surrounded by other wonderful shops. Social media has weighed in heavily on the fact that Cyndi’s is closing. This was her post on her Facebook page to her loyal customers. With great sadness, Cyndi’s is CLOSING, it is true. After 10 years of being in business, our landlord, the former owner of

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Closings

Steak N Shake abruptly closes; auction set for furniture/equipment

Steak N Shake, which started strongly in 2012 with a local franchisee group and 130 employees —suddenly closed last week for good, according to the franchisee and an auction house overseeing the sale of 103 pieces of furniture and equipment left behind. “I brought this to Augusta. I loved the product myself with great steakburgers and milkshakes, said franchisee, Preston Moss, who closed down the operation with partner, Andy Pye last week. He said it was time due to many economic factors and that he is busier than ever with

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Closings

Fuse restaurant fizzles out

One of the CSRA’s most popular eateries is closing. Comments have poured in on social media in the past few days. In response to inquiries, Chef Chris Najmola sent a message to customers through the Fuse Facebook page. Aiken, It has been a pleasure serving you and the team here at Fuse has so much to be proud of, but it does not look like we can keep going. There are so many things about Fuse that made it very literally, a dream come true. We’ve helped you celebrate so many

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Closings

Family issues and business obstacles lead to closing

Things were upbeat and happy in May 2022 when ABD’s Gary Kauffman profiled a local family living a dream of running Sarge’s Soda Shop, next to Food Lion in Grovetown. Just a year later, family squabbles led to the permanent closure of the place with the fun, 1950’s vibe. A former vendor said that the “cool,” hang-out spot is closed permanently. “It was part family issues, road construction, and staffing issues,” the vendor said. Three brothers and sisters couldn’t all come together to make it work, plus time running the

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B2B Stories

CSRA roadside café set to close

On the edge of Aiken County, almost close enough to throw a rock to the Barnwell County line, Almost There Café opened for business last fall. Owner, Dawn Redmon and her cooks served up good ole Southern fare fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, cornbread, and a variety of other dishes that soon became favorites. The building at 245 White Pond Road in Williston had been a donut shop, a chicken joint, and a mercantile over the years. It wasn’t a big place, but locals seemed to love the food.

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Closings

Another national retailer announces plans to close all its locations

It’s been a tough year for corporations and another major retailer has announced it won’t make it to Christmas 2023. Christmas Tree Shops is joining a growing list of companies, such as Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY, that are closing all their locations nationwide. All three stores are currently in the Augusta Exchange shopping center. ABD reached out to the Augusta store located at 239 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway, next to Target for more information. Signs at the store advertise sales of up to 50 percent off

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