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Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

Local school helps curb nursing shortage with new program

South Carolina is among five states projected to have the biggest nursing shortage in the U.S. by 2030 and will need more than 10,000 new nurses to fill the gap. As ABD has reported, Aiken Regional is offering $25,000 sign-on bonuses for qualified nurses. Now, Aiken Tech School of Nursing will take a step to address the demand for nurses in the CSRA by offering evening classes. The new program creates another path for licensed practical nurses (LPN) to become registered nurses (RN). Aiken Tech’s nursing school has seen success

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Mitzi Oxford March 5, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Evans nutrition business to celebrate grand opening

Michelle Lemmons opened her Columbia County nutrition business in July 2022, but she’s celebrating the grand opening of that business this weekend. Lemmons owns The Vibe Nutrition located at 4446 Washington Road, Suite 6, near Shane’s Rib Shack in Evans. The business offers a variety of meal replacement shakes, fat-burning teas, protein coffees, and workout supplements. Her shake flavors include salted caramel, Almond Joy, and Captain Crunch, and all contain protein, vitamins, minerals, and greens. The grand opening will be held Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and include

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Josh Heath March 2, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

New military-friendly coffee shop to open in May

Starbucks has a specific reason for bringing a new store to Martinez near Fort Gordon, according to a company spokesperson. Last week, ABD ran a story about the location coming to 421 South Belair Road next to Popeyes and has learned more details from Starbucks about that location. The company plans to open it on Friday, May 5. “The new location will employ approximately 30 partners (employees) and will be a Military Family Store,” the spokesperson said. “These stores are located near major military bases and are designed to hire

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Josh Heath March 1, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

New coffee shop opens near Meybohm retail center, other tenants coming soon

The closing of two Evans restaurants last year created vacancies in the Plaza at Evans Towne Center, but Meybohm Commercial Properties is working to fill those vacancies, according to Jordan Collier. ABD contacted Collier, the company’s director of commercial development, for an update on the center located in front of the Columbia County Performing Arts Center at 7025 Evans Town Center Blvd. He specifically addressed the units formerly occupied by Roll On In, a sushi restaurant, and Stay. Social Tap + Table. “We have fully negotiated and executed a lease

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Josh Heath March 1, 2023 No Comments
Restaurants/Food

Business Lunch Review: Giuseppe’s Pizza and Italian Specialties

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”.

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Wes Hennings March 1, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Downtown Aiken business promotion begins today

Every year, the Aiken Downtown Development Association hosts an event designed to promote businesses in that part of the city. This year, 25 businesses will participate in the Downtown Aiken Spring Sidewalk Sale, which begins today and lasts through Saturday, according to the Association’s Executive Director, Haley Knight. These businesses include Ginger Bee Boutique, 3 Monkeys Fine Gifts, Bravefriend Apparel & Design and TumbleWeed. Knight said shoppers will find a variety of items at the event, including clothing, embroidery, home décor, kitchen items, and equestrian products. “The purpose of the

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Josh Heath March 1, 2023 No Comments
Openings

First vegan/vegetarian restaurant opens in Aiken

After starting nine different restaurants over the years from Colorado to South Carolina, when Andrew Kraull moved to Aiken a year ago, he circled back around to his roots with a place offering a mostly plant-based menu. He has a master’s degree in nutrition and recently opened the Veg Out Café at 1619 Whiskey Road. “At first, I had a food truck but based on the popularity of vegan and vegetarian dishes, I knew a brick-and-mortar was what we really needed. I stumbled across the health food store that was

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Mitzi Oxford March 1, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

GreenJackets install cashless payment system

When you attend an Augusta GreenJackets game this season, you won’t have to stuff your wallet full of bills. The GreenJackets are going cashless. Instead of using cash, you’ll be able to pay for items like items from the gift shop and concessions with all major credit cards, debit cards, and phone cash apps like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. The cashless system will be used throughout the stadium and the parking decks. The decision to go cashless was made to provide faster service. According to a news

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Gary Kauffman February 28, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

HobbyTown owner to relocate to larger retail space

Prior to becoming a business owner, Dusty Germo worked as an engineer at John Deere for 12 years and pursued various hobbies in his spare time, but he now helps his customers enjoy their hobbies. Since July 2022, Germo has owned the Augusta franchise location of HobbyTown, which is located near Furniture Outlet at 266 Bobby Jones Expressway, Suite 110 in Augusta. The 3,000-square-foot store has been open since 1993. He’s moving the business to a 9,000-square-foot building, which is currently under construction at 4107 Riverwatch Parkway, Suite 4 at

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Josh Heath February 28, 2023 1 Comment
Consumer Stories

New businesses coming to North Augusta

A well-known convenience store chain has opened a new location in North Augusta, while a Kansas-based fast-food restaurant is preparing to open its first-ever location in Aiken County. QuikTrip has opened at 930 Edgefield Road, the latest business to join the growth continuing in the area around exit five off Interstate 20. This is QT’s second location in Aiken County. It had an existing store off Bettis Academy Road in Graniteville. “We bring our signature commitment to quality and friendly customer service, and over 20 new, good-paying jobs to the

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Dana Lynn McIntyre February 27, 2023 No Comments
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