Openings

B2B Stories

Putting empty Augusta buildings back to work

Augusta-Richmond County will soon see a series of vacant buildings finding new life for different purposes. The most recent is the former Rite Aid/Eckerd Drugs store on Walton Way at 15th Street. It re-opened on Feb. 8 as a retail store and training center for Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA. That came on the heels of Goodwill turning the former Georgia Federal Bank on Washington Road at Furys Ferry Road into its welcome center for Helms College. Both locations had been commercial tracts, generating property taxes for

Dana Lynn McIntyre February 12, 2024 1 Comment

Consumer Stories

Revitalizing the Downtown Augusta/Medical District area

A building on one of Augusta’s main thoroughfares has been re-purposed and was re-opened for business on Feb. 9, while work is underway at a well-known building on Broad Street. Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA have converted the former Rite Aid/Eckerd Drug store on 15th Street at Walton Way into its newest Goodwill Retail Training Store and Donation Center. “We commend the Goodwill organization for their work and workforce development, job skills, training, and hospitality, all of which are represented in their retail stores and their donation

Dana Lynn McIntyre February 11, 2024 No Comments

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

Mitzi Oxford February 11, 2024 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Ex- Law Enforcement leader making headway in business

Safety first. Headway Collision is now open at 3682 Washington Road in Martinez. If the owner’s name Scott Peebles sounds familiar, it’s because he just wrapped up a 32-plus-year career in key leadership positions with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department and the Marshal’s Department. “I’ve always cared about taking care of people in their time of need. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial interest and like putting a team together,” he said from their second-floor conference room. Peebles added Tracy Bryant (Left) who’s worked in management roles at several CSRA Collision

Neil Gordon February 6, 2024 1 Comment

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.

Mitzi Oxford February 4, 2024 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Popular furniture brand to open store in the CSRA

Broad River Retail, one of the largest and fastest-growing independently owned and operated Ashley Store licensees, is bringing Ashley Furniture to Aiken. Next to Target in the Aiken Exchange Plaza, the new Ashley will occupy the former Aiken Furniture Company. The 25,230-square-foot showroom will showcase Ashley’s latest 7.0 store concept. The showroom is curated to provide shoppers with the newest product offerings inspired by today’s trends. The 7.0 store design features a contemporary open floor plan, an expanded sleep gallery, and stylish interior design elements. The Aiken Ashley represents Broad

Staff Report January 31, 2024 No Comments

B2B Stories

Multi-million dollar contract for a company with an Augusta office

A Virginia-based company with more than 100 offices nationwide has been awarded an $889 million contract with local impact. The contract will support the U.S. Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) and its mission partners. “The ARCYBER contract showcases the multi-faceted ability of Peraton to support the integration of cyberspace-related operations with EW, IO, and other IAE activities to provide information advantage,” said Tom Afferton, President, Cyber Mission sector, in a news release announcing the contract. The company opened an office in Augusta in 2020, located in the Georgia Cyber Innovation and

Dana Lynn McIntyre January 30, 2024 No Comments

B2B Stories

Multimillion-dollar CSRA business gets help from local college and foundation

The inventory value of horses and their equipment in Aiken County is $68 million. The horse business includes stabling, saddles and bridles, feed, workout rings, riding apparel, and farrier fees, not to mention the visitors who spend money attending polo and steeplechase events. This fall, Aiken Technical College partnered with the Aiken Horse Park Foundation to create a new equine technician course through the College’s Office of Continuing Education. The inaugural cohort of students were recognized during a completion ceremony yesterday at Great Oaks Equine Assisted Programs location, 1123 Edgefield Highway

mitzi-oxford December 6, 2023 No Comments

B2B Stories

Forecasting the economic future of the CSRA

While it may seem that the economic picture for Augusta is about as clear as the muddy banks of the Savannah River, there are a few signs of hope for 2024. One of the sure bets is learning the ups and downs of the Labor Market Index (LMI), Leading Economic Index (LEI), measuring the value of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), among many other contributing factors, and how those will impact your business in 2024. Dr. Simon Medcalfe is a Professor of Economics and Finance at the James M. Hull College of Business at

mitzi-oxford December 5, 2023 No Comments

Consumer Stories

CSRA Executive dips his toes in unchartered waters

Neil Gwynne was more known in the CSRA in a suit and tie leading 130 managers and 3,500 associates for Amazon, including at the fulfillment center in Appling. This spring and summer, you may see him work a bit more in swim trunks during his first full season as a PoolWerx franchisee. Gwynne feels like a whole new person and was candid recently during a franchisee spotlight that PoolWerx distributed nationally. “Eventually, I got tired of being in the corporate world, I really wanted a better work-life balance. Amazon isn’t

neil-gordon December 4, 2023 No Comments

Putting empty Augusta buildings back to work

Revitalizing the Downtown Augusta/Medical District area

Sweet smell of baking success

Ex- Law Enforcement leader making headway in business

Behind the Red Door lies a new Asian restaurant

Popular furniture brand to open store in the CSRA

Multi-million dollar contract for a company with an Augusta office

Multimillion-dollar CSRA business gets help from local college and foundation

Forecasting the economic future of the CSRA

CSRA Executive dips his toes in unchartered waters

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