Openings

B2B Stories

Local auto group opens much larger CSRA dealership

The former Kia of Augusta recently moved across the river and has been replaced by a state-of-the-art dealership that’s three to four times the size of its predecessor, according to Greg Hodges II. Hodges serves as platform manager for Stokes Hodges Kia, which opened for business on Monday, May 1 at 5425 Jefferson Davis Highway in Beech Island. On Thursday, May 18, he and his staff celebrated the grand opening of the more than 46,000-square-foot dealership with a ribbon cutting hosted by the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce. Hodges said

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Consumer Stories

Experienced local cook launches new restaurant

As a child, PJ Ware began cooking with his parents and never stopped. Over the weekend, he launched a new restaurant in Augusta. Ware owns Kitchen Kings located at 1370 Gordon Highway, at the corner of Doug Barnard Parkway and across the street from X-Mart. He serves a variety of dishes, including Lowcountry boil, crab legs, fried pork chops, and macaroni and cheese. On Saturday, Ware celebrated the grand opening of his restaurant, which shares space with Natta’s Sweet Treats, a bakery owned by his girlfriend, Renatta Early. Early, who

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B2B Stories

Local dental practice to expand, move to larger office

A local dental practice plans to begin construction on a new, larger office in Augusta this summer. Summerville Dentistry, which is currently located at 1450 Anthony Road at the intersection of Wrightsboro Road, will move to 3013 Walton Way, near Langford Middle School, possibly early next year, according to its office manager, Melissa Wingard. “It will have more patient rooms, support staff space, and parking spaces,” said Wingard, the wife of Dr. Scott Wingard, who opened the practice on Monte Sano Avenue in 1999. “We’ve been here since 2008, and

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B2B Stories

Local auto glass entrepreneur makes windshields clearer

Jose Pringle has always been interested in cars, but he never thought he would enjoy working in the auto glass industry, until he tried it for himself. In March, Pringle launched Let’s Get It Clear Auto Glass, LLC, a mobile business that repairs and replaces damaged windshields caused by rocks, break-ins, and even domestic violence situations. “I’ve been in the car industry for over 15 years, and I started off as a car washer,” the Miami native said. He worked his way up to jobs at dealerships and body shop

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B2B Stories

Local handyman launches mobile business

Jonathan Lechner’s business provides so many home services that listing all of them is a challenge. Last Monday, May 8, Lechner launched Lechner Home Services, a mobile handyman business.  He performs a variety of household tasks, such as assembling furniture, repairing drywall, installing toilets, changing lightbulbs, and mounting TVs. Lechner said he started by performing many of those services for his friends and family. “I was getting so many requests that I decided to make a business out of it,” he said. “I have a long history and background in

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Consumer Stories

Local wellness studio owners offer holistic approach to common ailments

A few years ago, Jamie Cressend battled a chronic health problem and traditional medical treatments offered little relief, so she decided to try a holistic approach to healing. When Cressend, co-owner of Synergy Studio located at 7013 Evans Town Center Blvd., Suite 203 in Evans, discovered scalar light therapy, she found rapid relief from her pain. Cressend and her business partner, Amy Iseman held their business’s soft opening on Tuesday, May 2, and its grand opening on Saturday, May 6. Scalar light therapy refers to the use of light waves

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B2B Stories

Bagel business heating up in the CSRA

It’s a bagel lover’s dream. A few weeks ago, Straight Outta Brooklyn opened in Aiken, and now Oh Mie Stella Bakery is open for business as of May 6. For the record, Oh Mie Stella is Italian for Oh My Stars, thus the name. Italian bakers are known for their unique baking techniques and passion for the art and craft of breadmaking. Crissy Kuhl didn’t start out as a baker. Her background is in law enforcement and as a project manager for the Savannah River Site. But she was bitten

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B2B Stories

Local photographer takes shot at business success

When she was in high school, Savanna Sorrells became interested in photography, but more than 10 years later, she turned her hobby into a business. In March, Sorrells launched Shots by Sav, a home-based photography business. She takes various types of photos, including professional headshots for local business owners, maternity sessions, and graduation sessions. “I love capturing memories and special moments for people to have the rest of their lives,” Sorrells said. She wishes she had her baby pictures, but they were destroyed in a house fire when she was

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Consumer Stories

Unusual motivation for new CSRA business

Christopher Davis, Jr. found an unusual source of inspiration for rebranding one of the services his business offers: his divorce. Davis, who just moved to Augusta from Hinesville a few days ago, owns CRXWN Home & Lawn Improvement, which he established in Feb. 2022. A couple of months ago, Davis rebranded his handyman services as Husband 4 Hire, which handles a variety of household tasks, including interior painting, flooring, drywall repair, and even dishes and laundry. “It was kind of a joke at first,” he said. “If I couldn’t be

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Consumer Stories

Local business owners make party decorations with a purpose

After creating elaborate balloon decorations for events at their church, Nicki Carnes and Terri Mullis decided to launch their own party supply business. Last month, Carnes and Mullis opened Saving Grace Events, a business that provides decorations for a variety of celebrations, including graduation parties, birthdays, and baby showers. They create various types of decorations, such as banners, floral arrangements, and centerpieces. “Both of us enjoy decorating, and I do all the decorations for the church,” said Carnes, women’s connections director for New Passion Church, located next door to Timms

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