Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

Former NBA dancer opens Martinez dance studio

Jaleah Roscoe began dancing at age 3 and always dreamed of dancing for a National Basketball Association team. Her dreams came true when she was selected as a dancer for the Atlanta Hawks. After dancing for the Hawks for four years, Roscoe returned to her hometown in Augusta and launched The Vault Dance Complex in September 2021. She taught classes in a friend’s mom’s daycare center until she moved into her own 1,800-square-foot studio located at 4332 Wheeler Road, Suite 103 in Martinez last month. In her new space, Roscoe

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Consumer Stories

Local restaurateurs pivot and launch new restaurant concept

Last summer, after facing a possible suspension of its liquor license, Southbound Smokehouse on Central Avenue closed its doors. The business’s owners have now teamed up with another local entrepreneur to launch a new restaurant concept in the same building. Brian Brittingham and George Claussen own Southbound, which is now located in SRP Park. The pair, along with Andrew Crumrine, who owns the building located at 1855 Central Ave. near Buona Caffe, opened Soul City Pizza in mid-February 2022. “I thought we needed a local pizza place,” said Crumrine, who

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Consumer Stories

Vegan restaurant uproots to join others at OPP Kitchen

Uprooted Vegan Cuisine is the latest CSRA food business to join the unique shared prep concept of OPP Kitchen. As ABD’s Gary Kauffman reported last week, the new space was started by Onnie Stafford, owner of Paleo Num Yums, to save her own struggling business. OPP (Other People Prepping) will give other food-based small businesses a chance to grow their craft and sell their products under one roof. For Jenn Kraus, owner of Uprooted Vegan Cuisine, the partnership was a perfect fit. She’ll be sharing space there at the beginning

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Consumer Stories

Local baker delivers sweet treats

If you need gourmet cookies for your next corporate gift and don’t have time to pick them up, a new bakery business can save you time and gas by delivering them right to your client’s door. Wesley Mayton, who has worked as a pastry chef for more than 25 years, has launched Chef Wesley’s Cookies. The business is licensed by the state of Georgia. Mayton offers five flavors: chocolate chip, oatmeal golden raisin, peanut butter, snickerdoodle, and sugar. The cost is $25 per dozen. Customers can also order a half

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Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: Like a Good (Thy) Neighbor: One Insurer Ensures Purpose Before Profit

Eddie Bussey can tell you, he’s heard God’s voice. In 2001, Eddie Bussey – State Farm, was a fledgling enterprise. It was a low point in his personal life as well. He says he belted an anguished cry. Almost as instantly as in the biblical story of the Saul-to-Paul conversion, he made a promise to God. “I was under so much pressure and the momentum was not what I wanted or to be for the business,” he said. “I found myself praying out loud by myself in the office late

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Consumer Stories

Businesses help local nonprofits collect school supplies for students in need

When local schools start in less than a month, students will have the supplies they need, thanks to a CSRA nonprofit and its business partners. This month, the United Way of the CSRA will hold its annual Stuff the Bus campaign, sponsored by several companies, including SRP Federal Credit Union, Solvay Specialty Polymers, and WOW! Internet, Cable & Phone. “Our goal is to maximize student learning this year and every year, and we’re proud to step in once again to help families in need,” said United Way President and CEO,

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Consumer Stories

A busy business owners’ best friend?

Running a business is sometimes stressful and time-consuming. Downtime, otherwise, known as R and R is a valuable commodity. When you are facing a long Honey-Do list on your weekend time off, who are you going to call? Perhaps, Mr. Fix It, Dominick Cottone. He provides Aiken and surrounding areas with an extensive list of services that reads like the yellow pages, including electrical work, plumbing projects, painting, and automotive work. “In the past couple of months since I started my business, I’ve installed ceiling fans, repaired garbage disposals, faucets,

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Consumer Stories

Local businessman brings old items back to life

If you’re looking for a hard-to-find VHS tape of your favorite horror movie or a classic 1980’s toy, Angel Zapata probably has you covered. Zapata owns Dead Media Collectibles, a packed 500-square-foot business located at 2128 Central Ave. in the heart of Summerville. He sells a variety of items, such as DVDs, toys, comic books, and other collector’s items he buys exclusively from local customers, flea markets, and estate sales. Prior to opening his shop at the end of 2017, Zapata sold items at the Barnyard Flea Market in Augusta

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Monterrey Mexican

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

Texas-based roofing company expands with a second location in Augusta

Local attorney, Charles Rollins (pictured above) and his family, live in a 100-year-old house on Kings Way in Augusta. When two hailstorms earlier this year caused substantial damage to their home, carport, and shed, Rollins hired a roofing expert to repair the damage. On May 6, a storm dropped golf ball-sized hail on homes throughout the CSRA, including his historic house. He said the insurance company’s initial damage estimate was $25,000, but he thinks that amount will be closer to $40,000. “It punched holes through nine windows and scared my

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