Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Local entrepreneur launches Columbia County spiritual wellness business

Much like churches, there seems to be a CBD store on every corner. But Stephanie Carter didn’t want to open just another CBD store, so her business offers many other products and services. Carter launched Purple Bloomz located at 4158 Washington Road, Suite 3 in Evans on Friday, Aug. 12. Like other such local businesses, she offers a variety of CBD products designed to ease stress, depression, and anxiety, among other common ailments. Some products contain THC, while others don’t. One product Carter sells is THC-O, a strong THC product

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Consumer Stories

Local nonprofit launches coloring book project to help downtown businesses

Jeremy Rueggeberg has found a creative way to help businesses in downtown Augusta. Rueggeberg, the co-founder of Beautify Augusta and former publisher of Medical Professionals Augusta magazine, has developed the idea for a downtown coloring book project and is currently looking for businesses interested in participating. Beautify Augusta is a non-profit organization devoted to funding public mural projects in that part of town, such as its recent restoration of the Pink Slips building on Jones Street. The idea is to use the murals to draw more people to downtown Augusta.

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Consumer Stories

Local watersports business to host a community event on the river Sunday

Dayon Walker wants to provide a day of fun and education for the local community, which is why he’s hosting the second annual Cooler Fest on Sunday. Walker, the owner of Reserve and Ride Watersports, which offers guided jet ski tours of the Savannah River, said the all-day, family-friendly event will also include food, music, horse rides, as well as water slides. It will be held at 105 Riverfront Drive in Augusta near the Boathouse Community Center. He’s offering free entry for anyone donating book bags or fall/winter clothing, which

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Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: Full Speed Ahead in Faith: Young businessman tests his faith limits, one ride at a time

Bible stories on faith Tyrique Robinson heard about as a child, he admits, didn’t mean much. Now, as a 20-year-old father of one, businessman, and military veteran, he says his faith means everything.  After all, it is only by God’s grace that he has beaten negative statistics that often plague young, Black men. He wants to share his blessings with others through Dream Luxury Transportation & Limousine Service. “Our motto is ‘Making Dreams Come True,’” said the Augusta native. “Transportation is my skillset, and I already had a trucking company.

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Consumer Stories

Augusta home prices expected to increase next year

Patti Ellis’s husband is retiring in December, so the couple would like to sell their home and buy a smaller house in the Augusta area. But because local home prices have skyrocketed, she said every home they’ve viewed has cost much more than they want to spend. The couple currently lives in a two-story house in the Tudor Branch neighborhood in Grovetown. Ellis said they should be able to get between $450,000 and $475,000 for that home. She said they would like to sell it and make a very large

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: McNeely’s Place

Editor’s Note: Our regular lunch reviewer, Wes Hennings, is taking a few weeks of paternity leave. While we assume he is still eating something, somewhere, he won’t be writing about it while he’s off duty. Meanwhile, ABD editor, Gary Kauffman will pinch-hit with the reviews of his lunches with a colleague, as a way to advise our business community on the good, the bad, and the tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let the restaurant know where he is going; his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he

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Consumer Stories

Augusta Transit plans job fair next week

Augusta Transit Management will host a job and career fair on Sept. 7, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at 2844 Regency Blvd., Augusta. Augusta Transit operates the city bus lines and is looking for bus operators. It is offering sign-up bonuses and benefits and will hire walk-ins with the proper licensing. The U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded Augusta Transit with a $6.25 million grant to purchase five battery-electric buses from Gillig. They will replace five diesel buses. Augusta has been testing various electric buses for the past year. For more information,

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Consumer Stories

Regional blood center to open Augusta donation site

Doctors Hospital will have an easier time getting the blood it needs, thanks to a blood bank coming to Augusta. The Blood Connection, a non-profit organization that supplies blood to Doctors, plans to open a new donation center less than a mile from the hospital at 3156 Perimeter Parkway, Suite 201. For hospitals, maintaining a steady blood supply is critical, as it’s often needed for surgical patients, accident victims, and other medical necessities. The center will be TBC’s second Georgia facility; the other is in Savannah. The nonprofit, which was

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Consumer Stories

Arts in the Heart looks to return to pre-pandemic levels

Augusta’s annual Arts in the Heart festival will be back in full swing in a few weeks and there is optimism that the first post-pandemic event will draw a big crowd. This year’s Arts in the Heart of Augusta Festival will be held Sept. 16-18 in the Augusta Common, as well as the 600-900 blocks of Broad Street. The annual festival, which is hosted by the Greater Augusta Arts Council, is now in its 40th year. This year’s sponsors include Durty Gurl Cocktail Mixers, TranterGrey, and SRP Federal Credit Union.

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Consumer Stories

Health and wellness: Entrepreneurs launch two side-by-side downtown businesses

Dallas Hooks and Rodney Wells recognized the need for health and wellness businesses in downtown Augusta. That’s why the business partners have launched two complementary businesses: VTS Nutrition at 226 Eighth St. and SOE Studio next door at 230 Eighth St. VTS stands for Vibes. Teas. Shakes and SOE stands for Studio on Eighth. Both businesses celebrated their grand opening on Saturday, August 27. Hooks estimates they occupy a combined 2,000 square feet. VTS serves teas in a variety of flavors, including Coconut Cove Tea Me and Shirley Temple Tea

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