Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Augusta airport shares holiday travel tips

If you’re planning to fly the friendly skies this week, and you’re bringing Christmas gifts with you, you may want to wait until you arrive at your destination to wrap them, according to Lauren Smith. ABD spoke with Smith, Augusta Regional Airport’s assistant director of marketing and public relations, about travel tips for this holiday season. She said wrapped gifts can cause problems during screening by the Transportation Security Administration. “They suggest you don’t wrap them, but if you do, just be aware that you may have to unwrap them,”

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Consumer Stories

Local business owner sees decline in donations for troops

This year, Operation Handwarmer collected fewer items than it did in previous years, but Burt Sappenfield is still pleased with the community support the cause received. Sappenfield, the owner of Majestic Floor Care, LLC in Evans, said the charity collected about 6,000 items, which will be sent to U.S. troops stationed overseas. “I delivered the items to Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, and the chaplains will be distributing those items to the troops overseas,” Sappenfield said. He said he expected to receive fewer items this year and blames much of

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Consumer Stories

Local chef’s business takes flight at Augusta airport location

Lance Smith has owned a food service business for nearly three years, but on Monday, his new brick-and-mortar location took off at the Augusta Regional Airport. Smith owns Bearded Chef, which operates a local food truck that specializes in smash burgers and provides both catering and private chef services. He officially launched the business in January 2020. Smith’s airport restaurant, located in the baggage claim area, specializes in soul food, such as fried chicken, fried cornbread, and macaroni and cheese. “We rotate specialty items,” he said. “We bring in a

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Consumer Stories

Local entrepreneur sells two companies, opens a new one!

Michael Hinson previously owned two CSRA businesses, and after selling those, he decided to use his interest in electronics to jump into the growing Bluetooth speaker business. In October, Hinson launched Big Dog Speakers, an online business that sells high-quality speakers that are much less expensive than those of his competitors. He said the waterproof, 40-watt speakers can reach a maximum volume of 105 decibels but still produce a clear, crisp sound. They can be connected to other devices, such as TVs and gaming systems, and used to charge cell

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Augusta Mall Food Court

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

North Augusta restaurant offers customers unique outdoor dining option

A local restaurant wants to give you the chance to enjoy outdoor dining no matter how cold it gets. Last month, Salt + Marrow Kitchen located in the Crowne Plaza North Augusta, unveiled its new dining domes, which seat up to six guests and require a minimum spending limit of $75 per person for a two-hour reservation, according to the restaurant’s AM/PM Supervisor, Hope Gresham. Gresham said so far, the domes have been a hit with customers. “They’re selling like hotcakes,” she said. “It’s easy to spend $75 here with

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Consumer Stories

Local liquor business opens superstore in Evans shopping center

A local liquor store has expanded with a much larger second location in Columbia County. Beverage Outlet just opened a new store located at 660 Mullins Colony Drive next door to Belk in the Mullins Colony shopping center in Evans. The more than 20,000-square-foot store sells a wide variety of wine, beer, and liquor items. The business’s original location is at 248 Bobby Jones Expressway near Walmart. According to its website, the store offers free tastings on a weekly basis. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m.

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Consumer Stories

Local businesses help make Christmas merrier for others

Chandler Brewer understands the sacrifices military service members make to protect our freedom, which is why the local business owner decided to give back to them this Christmas season. Last month, Brewer, owner of Elevate Auto Lab, along with Eva Cotto with Riley’s Paint + Body in Martinez, donated 27 bikes to the Fort Gordon Christmas House, a nonprofit that helps to provide toys for children in military families. He said the bikes cost $75 to $100 each. “They have a bike drive leading up to the first week of

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Consumer Stories

Local entrepreneur hopes to hit target with mobile axe-throwing business

Some business names aren’t very memorable, but that certainly can’t be said about the provocative name Jeremy McRae has chosen for his new business. McRae, the owner of CSRA Kayak Rentals, just launched Kiss My Sexy Axe, a mobile axe-throwing business. He originally wanted to call it Kiss My Axe, but he discovered that name was already being used by businesses in other states. When McRae first heard about mobile axe-throwing, he was interested in the activity for strictly personal reasons. “I was thinking about something fun to do at

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Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: Augusta Pastor writes leadership book

All of us have the choice to build barriers or bridges with our lives and talents. Carolyn Moore, the founding pastor of Mosaic Church in Evans, has chosen to be a bridge builder and break down barriers. She oversees a church that started in her living room and is now celebrating 19 years of weekly worship. While in seminary, she became deeply interested in exploring what the church should really look like and how it functioned best. Her research connected her with the Church of the Savior in Washington, D.C.

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