Georgia’s unemployment rate is at a record low, creating a tight labor market, and Coca-Cola offers another new flavor – Augusta Business Daily by Mike Petchenik.
Kelsie Mellott, owner of Hey Honey! Cakery loves to experiment with unusual flavor combinations, such as jalapeno cheesecake, made with cheesecake filling and jalapeno jam. While that may sound strange, many of her customers have raved about the taste. “I enjoy creating different things,” Mellott said. “We sell unique cakes.” Mellott opened Hey Honey! Cakery, located in Furys Ferry Station at 229 Furys Ferry Road, Suite 129 in Martinez, on Jan. 29. But before that, she ran the business at home for eight years while also working as a stay-at-home
If you’re a parent, you’re familiar with this common scenario: you buy your kids clothes, and a few months later, they need new ones because the old ones no longer fit. With the current inflation rate at 8.5 percent, parents want to pay less for kids’ clothes. Many have turned to consignment shops, such as Kid to Kid, for not only clothing but also toys and baby items. Shannon Unger owns two Kid to Kid stores in the CSRA: one in National Hills and another on Washington Road near Goodwill
Angie Hood is shaking up the CSRA catering world. Charcuterie boards typically contain a variety of meat, cheese, fruit, and crackers. But Hood adds her own signature dishes, such as homemade Brussels sprouts and bacon bite-sized pizzas and stuffed dates with honey, paprika, and goat cheese, to her boards. The owner of Blooms, Boards & More, launched her home-based business one year ago after being laid off due to Covid. She also makes other foods, such as cheesecakes and pound cakes, as well as vegetable wreaths and fruit platters. “I
A new structure being built at the corner of Furys Ferry and Evans to Locks roads will be a liquor store. The building is being built by Peter Patel, who also owns several Dunkin Donuts franchises in the CSRA. The liquor store will be owned by Sam Patel. Duckworth Development is overseeing the construction of the building. There was no information available about the planned opening date of the liquor store.
The staff of the SRP Federal Credit Union Branch in Barnwell, S.C., decided they wanted to do something special for the disabled and elderly in their rural community for Easter. To do so, their team visited the local Barnwell Pruitt Health Residential Facility with a small gift for each of the approximately 45 residents. The SRP team members visited the residents on Wednesday to deliver Bunny Boxes filled with plush chicks or bunnies, a toothbrush, hand sanitizer, facial tissues, hand cream, chocolate eggs, and a chocolate bunny. Some of the
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
Two years from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, employment in the Augusta MSA in February 2022 is more than 6,000 jobs below the level in February 2020. Employment in the state of Georgia in February 2022 is 1.2 percent higher than in February 2020. Over the past two years, three sectors of the local economy have seen employment surpass pre-pandemic levels: manufacturing (up to about 200 jobs), retail (up to 3,000 jobs), and transportation and utilities (up just less than 1,000 jobs). The state of Georgia also sees higher
The local labor shortage has forced small business owners to find creative ways to hire and retain employees, including offering sign-on bonuses and remote work options. But some owners have decided to close their doors permanently. Kim Kitts, the owner of Balanced Body Spa, recently announced on Facebook she is closing the business on April 26 after 16 years. Located at 2916 Professional Parkway in Augusta, the spa provides a variety of therapeutic massage services. In the Facebook post, Kitts cited staffing issues as the reason the business is closing.
A North Augusta man has been named South Carolina’s 2022 Technician of the Year by the South Carolina Pest Control Association. David Hubbard, a long-time employee of Terminix Service in North Augusta, recently received the annual statewide award. Hubbard is a veteran pest professional with a 27-year career with Terminix Service, Inc. A resident of North Augusta, Hubbard currently serves as a branch supervisor and possesses expertise in pest issues commonly found in the warm South Carolina climate. “I feel blessed for 27 years with Terminix Service,” Hubbard said. “This
