Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Best of Business Lunch Review: The Purple Hull

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday, he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and the tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review”.

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Local politician launches upscale event space

Over the years, Steven Kendrick has heard from many people who wanted a nice, affordable space to hold upscale events in the CSRA, which prompted the former Richmond County Tax Commissioner and mayoral candidate to open his own event space. In Nov. 2022, Kendrick launched Central Station located at 1857 Central Ave., next door to Midtown Tavern in Augusta. The more than 3,000-square-foot space hosts a variety of events, including weddings, meetings, and retirement parties. He said the building, which was previously occupied by various businesses, including Totally Platinum Hair

Read More »
B2B Stories

CSRA coffee biz keeps pouring and growing

A coffee business first spotlighted in ABD in May 2022 as a pop-up coffee cart, then again in October when they opened a brick and mortar is growing again, this time with a drive-thru which opened on June 22. “It’s been a whirlwind to get to this point, but we are excited,” said Mallory Adkison. They have an app so you can order ahead of time and still get to work on time the next day. “It keeps traffic moving smoothly and the employees and customers seem to love the

Read More »
B2B Stories

Creative couple collaborates for business success

She is an event coordinator and bakes custom cakes. He designs and builds wood and metal products. Together, Angela and Glen Dragano are a match made in Heaven. They run two separate businesses, but often work side by side to ensure the success of both. She met her future husband many years ago in Texas. Even though he moved to Aiken, they remained friends. Angela followed him in 2016 and got a job making cakes for MacK’s Deli on Laurens Street. A year later, she and Glen married and last

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Local businesses help nonprofit collect school supplies for CSRA students

Each year, the Augusta GreenJackets partner with a local non-profit organization to collect school supplies for less fortunate students throughout the CSRA. Next Sunday, July 23, the baseball club is asking fans to donate supplies for United Way of the CSRA’s annual Stuff the Bus campaign at its game against the Fredericksburg Nationals, which will begin at 1:35 p.m. “We probably collect a few hundred different supplies for them,” said the club’s Director of Marketing, Catie Jagodzinski. “It’s just a great program to be a part of, and we’re happy

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Best of Business Lunch Review: Oliviana’s

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Thursday, he shares the results of a business lunch he’s had with a colleague as a way to advise our business community on the good, bad, and tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let ABD or the restaurant know where he is going and his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he visits on a 1-5 scale with “5” being outstanding. We call this our “Real Business Lunch Review.” Food

Read More »
B2B Stories

Simon Says: The best places to live

U.S. News and World Report recently announced the best places to live for 2023-2024. According to their list, Green Bay, Wis. is the best, followed by Huntsville Ala., and Raleigh & Durham, N.C. Augusta, GA. made the list at #74. Other Georgia places included Savannah at #37 and Atlanta (#64). In South Carolina, Myrtle Beach (#18), Greenville (#31), Spartanburg (#43), Charleston, (#53), and Columbia (#92) made the top 100. Two colleagues and I have just published a paper measuring whether these kinds of rankings matter to people when deciding where

Read More »
B2B Stories

Local retailers work together to create family-friendly summer camp event

Many parents are looking for family-friendly activities they can enjoy before their kids go back to school, but a group of downtown businesses is offering a creative way to have fun and beat the summer heat at the same time. On Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 12 businesses, including Urban K9, Buona Caffe, Augusta Candle Company, and Mod Ink, will participate in the second annual Camp Soul City hosted by Downtown Soul City, an organization that promotes businesses in that part of the city and encourages downtown visitors

Read More »
B2B Stories

New therapeutic massage and spa could take your stress away

Business owners are the ones who get in early and stay late, sometimes skipping lunch breaks, heading off to meetings, and never getting to the bottom of their inboxes. Sound familiar? The need for relaxation and stress relief is real. Maria Cardona understands that better than most. She worked in the medical field for 21 years, first as a CNA and then as a phlebotomist. During that time, she also had a side job as a massage therapist. “I finally decided to open my own business. My husband has been

Read More »
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

Read More »