Fri, April 24, 2026

Facebook-f Youtube Instagram
Newsletter Sign up
Show Support
Menu

Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: University Hospital 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

Read More »
Wes Hennings February 17, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

North Augusta entrepreneur discovers he’s cut out to create knives

Charles Cypress enjoys turning steel into useful multipurpose tools. As the owner of Cypress Custom Knives, he creates and sells knives for a variety of purposes, such as hunting, fishing, cooking, and collecting. Cypress has a shop in his backyard and a forge near his home in North Augusta. He launched the business about four years ago following his retirement from the South Carolina Highway Patrol. “I start with designs I thought up in my head, and I draw out a knife,” Cypress said. “The forging process is putting the

Read More »
Josh Heath February 17, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Simon Says: Employment in Augusta area inched upward in 2021, led by retail sector

Overall employment for the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area has increased by just 0.3%, or just 600 jobs, from December 2020, according to employment data for 2021 published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). There are currently 239,300 jobs in the local economy. However, some sectors of the economy have done exceptionally well. Retail jobs, for example, are up 11.9% compared to a year ago. There are more than 3,000 additional people employed in the retail sector than a year ago. Other sectors that have more jobs than a year

Read More »
Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Economics Professor February 16, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

CSRA businesses support Masquerade Gala’s Scholarships of Hope program

If you are heading to the Aiken Junior Woman’s Club Masquerade Gala this weekend, you’re in for an evening of masks, music, food, and fun, but the real highlight of the event is the purpose…Scholarships of Hope. The Masquerade Gala is Saturday, Feb. 19, 7-11 p.m. at the Big Red Barn in Aiken. More than 14 companies have lined up to support the event, including Heycon Construction, Reads Moving Systems of Carolina, G&S Computing, and the Cline Group of Meybohm Real Estate. For Kurt Mueller, Wealth Management Advisor with Apollon,

Read More »
Mitzi Oxford February 16, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

SafeHomes Faces Government Funding Cuts, Needs More Local Business Help

A significant decrease in federal funding could force SafeHomes of Augusta to eliminate programs and services for domestic violence victims, unless the local business community steps in to make up the difference. Aimee Hall, the organization’s Executive Director, said all state nonprofit victim services providers will endure 37 percent cuts in federal funding in October. For SafeHomes, that will mean a $173,000 decrease in funding. In the CSRA, the cuts will also affect Child Enrichment, Inc. and Rape Crisis and Sexual Assault Services. “It’s important for the community to know

Read More »
Josh Heath February 15, 2022 No Comments
Closings

Pediatric urgent care clinic to replace longtime furniture business

After more than 20 years in business, The Wicker Barn officially closed its doors on Friday, Dec. 31. But the building will soon be repurposed for a pediatric urgent care business. Wicker Barn, which was located at 3910 Washington Road in Martinez, sold a variety of indoor and outdoor wicker furniture. Glen Martin managed The Wicker Barn for many years. “We had a great customer base, and we just had a great time,” said Martin. Though the store is closed, he’s still working in The Wicker Barn warehouse selling the

Read More »
Josh Heath February 15, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Be My Valentine: Mother-daughter team operates a laboratory of confection

Angela Foreman’s background as a chemist at the Savannah River Site might seem odd for someone who owns a sweet shop. Actually, it’s a marriage made in baking heaven. She and her daughter Hayley, who also has a background in chemistry, operate The Sugar Lab in Aiken. They opened their shop three years ago. Images of scientists, beakers, and test tubes would be a little far-fetched but there is no denying the science of baking. “I spent six months experimenting to develop the recipe for our decorated sugar cookies,” Angela

Read More »
Mitzi Oxford February 14, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Bank donates $25,000 to local hunger relief nonprofit

Between COVID-19 and rising food prices, the demand for Golden Harvest Food Bank’s services has skyrocketed. Bank of America has donated $25,000 to Golden Harvest, which will cover the cost of more than 75,000 meals (like these pictured above) to feed hungry families throughout Augusta’s River Region. Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the bank has donated a total of $131,000 to the nonprofit. “As the pandemic continues to impact Augusta, food banks and hunger relief organizations are experiencing increased demand and higher costs to meet the needs of

Read More »
Josh Heath February 14, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Good Deeds: Companies helping girls for prom

Your company can help make the 2022 Prom a special day for CSRA teen girls. In today’s video minute, ABD Publisher Neil Gordon shares which companies are helping out on “Cinderella Day” and how your company can make a difference.

Read More »
Neil Gordon February 14, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

New Diablo’s location opens in South Augusta

In Augusta’s River Region, you don’t have to drive far to find a Diablo’s Southwest Grill. Diablo’s opened a new location at 3597 Peach Orchard Road on the corner of Tobacco Road, near Sparkle Express Car Wash, on Monday, Feb. 7 (see photo above story). Other locations include Mullins Colony Drive in Evans, Wheeler Road in Augusta and Gateway Boulevard in Grovetown. The restaurant serves a variety of southwestern fare, such as tacos, burritos, quesadillas and salads. Diablo’s gives customers their choice of meat, rice, beans and toppings. “This makes

Read More »
Josh Heath February 14, 2022 No Comments
Load More