Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Car wash business opens two new locations in the CSRA

A local car wash with multiple locations is currently building two more, one in Augusta and the other in Aiken. LuLu’s Express Car Wash currently has six locations, including Bobby Jones Expressway in Martinez, Jackson Road in Augusta, Edgefield Road in North Augusta, and East Pine Log Road in Aiken. The company’s new conveyor car washes will be located at 2212 Gordon Highway in Augusta and 3001 Whiskey Road in Aiken. LuLu’s is owned by Mammoth Holdings, LLC, an Atlanta-based private equity firm that owns and operates car washes in

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Consumer Stories

Evans golf course scheduled to reopen renovated clubhouse

A restaurant at a Columbia County golf course is temporarily closed due to flooding that occurred in late December, which caused hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of damage, according to its owner, Jason Page. Page, owner of Bartram Trail Golf Club located at 470 Bartram Trail Club Drive in Evans, said when he visited Tavern on the Trail on Christmas, he discovered water throughout the building, including the kitchen, bar, and dining area. “A pipe burst in the kitchen,” he said. Around that time, many people and businesses throughout

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Panda Express

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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Consumer Stories

New Martinez gym helps women reach fitness and weight loss goals

For many women, particularly those who haven’t exercised in years, visiting a traditional gym can be an intimidating experience. But one local gym was designed to take the fear out of fitness. PLUM Metabolic Fitness opened last month at 3830 Washington Road, Suite 16, next door to Taqueria El Rey in the West Town Shopping Center in Martinez. PLUM stands for Planned Use Management, which combines exercise, nutrition counseling, and motivation to help women lose weight and get in shape. Prior to the gym’s grand opening, another women’s gym, Pulse

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Consumer Stories

USC Aiken receives donation to support veterans and active service members

The University of South Carolina Aiken’s Office of Veteran and Military Student Success was recently presented with a $2,000 check from the North Augusta Cultural Arts Council. The donation supports the office’s mission of education and transitional support for veterans, service members, and their families. The center helps ease the transition back to civilian life for active and former service members and their families by connecting them with academic and financial resources, professional and vocational support, and a community of students with similar backgrounds and experiences. “We’re honored to receive

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Consumer Stories

Nurse and entrepreneur establishes scholarship in memory of her son

Lakeya Collins has found a unique way to honor her son’s memory on his birthday and help a local student at the same time. In 2022, Collins, a registered nurse and owner of Robert’s Angels Scrubs established the Robert Ballard Scholarship. Ballard was a 16-year-old football player at Greenbrier High School who drowned in Clarks Hill Lake in April 2016. The scholarship was designed to help one CSRA college student each year. Last year, the amount was $500. This year, she hopes to double that amount by raffling off a

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Consumer Stories

Retired Capt. chooses Grovetown for 5th location

Retired Army Cpt. Tyler Merritt started his clothing business in his garage and now has four store locations, about 200 employees, and a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Savannah. Merritt serves as CEO of Nine Line Apparel, which has store locations in not only Savannah but also Charleston and Delray Beach. He said the company is expected to open its fifth location at 284 Meridian Drive next door to Cold Stone Creamery in Grovetown on Monday, March 6. ABD previously ran a story about the company, which sells a variety of

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Employment

Augusta University career fair draws more job seekers, employers than previous events

On Friday, for the first time since Feb. 2020, Augusta University hosted its annual career fair in person, according to Julie Goley. Goley, director of the university’s Career Services office, said about 400 people attended the fair, which was open to students, alumni, and community members. Attendees had the opportunity to speak with representatives from 89 organizations, including Piedmont Augusta, Sig Cox Heating and Air Conditioning, and the National Security Agency. “Employers were up about 15 percent and job seekers up 25 percent from the 2020 event,” she said. “There

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Consumer Stories

Downtown business undergoes rebranding, revitalization

Tonya Boswell’s downtown business was only open for six months when she decided to close and rebrand it. Boswell is the owner of Urban K9, which was formerly called Fetch 501, located at 501 Broad St. Fetch opened in July 2022 and closed in December. Urban K9 opened its doors on Tuesday, Jan. 24. Rebranding a new business may sound unusual, but she had her reasons. Boswell opened Fetch with her cousin and business partner, Jonathon Anderson, who left to accept a job at the Savannah River Site. “The partnership

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Consumer Stories

Floyd & Green Jewelers show love to local charities

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Today and every day leading up to the holiday earmarked for sweethearts has been super busy. But owner, Tom Williams and staff stopped long enough to present a donation that is indicative of their love for the community. Last week, Floyd & Green Fine Jewelers donated a check for almost $13,000 to local charities. The money was raised in November during the 22nd annual Weekend of Giving Back, in which customers designate the charity of their choice to receive 10 percent of their purchase. “I always

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