Consumer Stories

Awards

Downtown businesses win holiday decorations contest

After all the votes were counted, Tiffinie Bleu Bridal Boutique was selected as the winner of the People’s Choice Award for her business’s window display in the fourth annual Making Spirits Bright Downtown Decor Crawl. This year, 32 businesses throughout downtown Augusta participated in the month-long event, sponsored by the Downtown Development Authority of Augusta and Augusta & Co. “I had such a fun time planning and decorating for the Décor Crawl,” said Brandy Gibson, owner of Tiffinie Bleu. “It was really nice that people appreciated it in choosing my

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Consumer Stories

Army medical center plans hiring fair for medical professionals

The Eisenhower Army Medical Center is looking for a few good medical professionals. The medical center is holding a hiring fair, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., on Jan. 12 at the Double Tree Hotel, 2651 Perimeter Parkway. The Army Medical Center provides health care for soldiers and their families at Fort Gordon, as well as military retirees in the CSRA. The hospital is seeking health technicians, medical support assistants, nursing assistants, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, practical nurses (LPN), registered nurses (RN), occupational therapists, occupational therapist assistants, and physical therapist assistants. Applicants must bring

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Closings

Columbia County eatery closes its doors

There’s another empty spot at the former Jones Creek Golf Course. After nearly eight years in business, Katerwerks Grille left its restaurant operation in the Clubhouse at Jones Creek. ABD has learned the restaurant closed in July because its owners were unable to renew their lease. Mark Herbert, who owns the Clubhouse, said he plans to move another tenant into that building, but declined to provide any further information at this time. The restaurant offered a variety of American-style menu options, including sandwiches, salads, steaks, and seafood. It was open

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Consumer Stories

Local Mexican restaurant expands with second location

A local Mexican restaurant has expanded by opening a second location in Augusta. Taqueria El Patron located near Applebee’s at 3107 Washington Road (see photo above) opened a second restaurant, Taqueria El Patron #2 at 3435 Wrightsboro Road, Suite 1130, next door to Great Chow Buffet & Grill last Wednesday, Dec. 21, according to one of its employees. “Business is slow because it just opened,” the employee said. Both locations serve a variety of dishes, including burritos, fajitas, quesadillas, and tacos. Taqueria El Patron #2 is open Monday through Wednesday

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Fat Man’s Café

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

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Consumer Stories

AU Health, Wellstar Health System form partnership to serve more areas of Georgia

A new partnership between Augusta University Health System (AUHS) and Wellstar Health System should result in expanded healthcare access across Georgia, including a hospital and medical center in Columbia County. AUHS and Wellstar signed a letter of intent to form the partnership earlier this week. Wellstar employs about 24,000 people statewide, including top doctors and nurses. The partnership will also include the Medical College of Georgia. The partnership is expected to concentrate on three main areas: Expanding digital health offerings to create more convenient access to care and provide more

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Consumer Stories

Former Aiken Golden Corral to be demolished, replaced with new Olive Garden location

In Aiken, a former buffet-style restaurant is being demolished to make room for a popular Italian eatery. Chaplin and Sons Clearing and Demolition in Augusta has been hired to tear down the former Golden Corral Buffet & Grill located at 2265 Whiskey Road near the Aiken Mall, according to a post from the company on LinkedIn. That building will be torn down and replaced with a new Olive Garden Italian Restaurant location. ABD reached out to Darden Restaurants, which operates many restaurant chains throughout the United States, including Olive Garden,

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Closings

One Columbia County fitness center closes facility

While many gyms are gearing up for their busiest time of the year, one local fitness center is closing its doors permanently. ABD has learned Burn Boot Camp’s Grovetown location at 953 Branch Court closed on December 22nd after four years in operation. The owners of that franchise location also own and operate the Evans location at 4490 Washington Road, which has been operating for six years. Burn Boot Camp offers group workouts called Camps that combine strength training and high-intensity cardiovascular exercise. “It was a tough decision, but we

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Consumer Stories

CSRA limo companies and the holidays

Late December is a very busy time for Harley Napier’s limousine drivers. Napier owns Celebrity Limos of GA, Inc. in Augusta. He said they transport their clients to many Christmas and New Year’s Eve events and celebrations. “People are going to see Christmas lights and attending dinners and formal events,” Napier said. Of course, Celebrity Limos also takes people to events throughout the year, including graduations, weddings, proms, and bachelor parties. Unlike Napier’s business, an employee with C&C Limousines located at 3701 Peach Orchard Road in Augusta said the company

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Education

Augusta Technical College reveals plan to build technology training center in Columbia County

Augusta Technical College plans to grow the future workforce by bringing a new advanced manufacturing and engineering technology training facility to Columbia County. This plan involves building a state-of-the-art manufacturing simulation center that will include classrooms and labs for engineering, robotics, chemical technology, and machining, according to an article from the college. The article said the college’s current facilities are insufficient to train its students for jobs in these STEM fields, and these industries employ more than one-third of the region’s workers. “The establishment of the facility in Columbia County

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