Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

$5,000 Scholarship from area business

Last year, Aaron Hudson of Augusta received a $5,000 scholarship to help him at the Augusta Technical College and his transition to Augusta University. Who will win this year’s Sandy Mazur Scholarship from Spherion Staffing and Recruiting? Applications are underway for this Georgia award that celebrates leadership, excellence, and the next generation of community leaders. The scholarship awards up to $5,000 to individuals pursuing higher education who demonstrate leadership, academic achievement, and a commitment to bettering their communities. Applications are open now through April 30, 2026. The scholarship is open

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Trend for retail spaces in the CSRA

Service-based tenants leased over half of the total retail space in 2025 for the first time, according to CoStar.  There are a few examples in local shopping centers. (See below) Crunch Fitness replaced the goods-based Bed Bath & Beyond in the Augusta Exchange shopping center. In the Village Plaza at 270 Bobby Jones Expressway, a former Electronics and Appliance store is getting replaced with a service provider. Nail salons and Botox (medical) bars are also increasingly located in retail real estate. These trends show up in local employment numbers for

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Consumer Stories

Nonprofits benefit from companies’ kindness

About 15 different sponsors kicked in money to cover many of the expenses incurred by two different non-profits at yesterday’s 30th Annual Triple Crown Golf Classic at Woodside Country Club. In keeping with the “30” theme, Aiken Regional Medical Center sponsored the hole-in-one competitions, which featured two $15,000 prizes. Amongst other sponsors, lunch was handled by the local Chick-Fil-A and beverages at the cart were sponsored by Security Federal. Stokes Hodges Ford was one of the golf cart sponsors. 200 golfers helped raise more than the goal of $30,000, which

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B2B Stories

Can TSA agents handle influx of golf fans?

The first wave of golf fans will begin arriving in Augusta on Tuesday to attend the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA). That kicks off the arrival of thousands of air travelers coming to Augusta for the Masters Tournament, ANWA and Drive, Chip and Putt. Funding for TSA agents is entering its second month of uncertainty. Leadership at Augusta Regional Airport (AGS) is helping agents as the airport braces for its busiest time of year.  “We are concerned about the current shutdown and how it affects the TSA employees at Augusta

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B2B Podcasting

Huge grand opening for one restaurant; another one planned soon

One of the largest CSRA ribbon cuttings in recent memory kicked off a big weekend for a new West Augusta restaurant, while its neighbor to the far left expects to open within a few weeks. Dave’s Hot Chicken leaders told Augusta Business Daily its soft opening did very well the day before, on Thursday, March 28th. With a nod to the upcoming Masters tournament, DHC provided a golf simulator (far right) and a mystery envelope giveaway for the first 500 guests on Friday. During the weekend, several schools, first responders,

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Consumer Stories

Upscale retailer moving into high-end plaza

Swank will have a new neighbor this summer in Evans. It’s a retail shop the owners are quite familiar with. The third Posh Tots children’s boutique is 1300 square feet and will open next to Swank in the shopping center with anchor store Publix at 5117 Washington Road, outside of Riverwood. It replaces the Madison Julia hair salon, which closed. The Bassali family owns both Posh Tots and Swank, and has paired them together before. Posh Tots and Swank are also part of that newish West Lake Commons shopping center.

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Consumer Stories

Fat Man’s Hospitality Grows Again

ABD’s learned that the Fat Man’s Hospitality Group is trying to open Bradley’s BBQ around May 1st and then begin plans to open a new event center. These are just a few nuggets learned while putting together THIS video on Brad Usry, that played at the Junior Achievement Hall of Fame ceremony last week.  If you used to go to Fat  Man’s Forest, you HAVE to watch this for some old-time video and photos.

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B2B Stories

Searching for the ultimate work-life balance

A new so-called generation is emerging, joining baby boomers, GenX, millennials, and GenZ, and it is primarily a female demographic. Many women are juggling multiple roles, including careers, raising children, managing their households, and increasingly, caring for aging parents. They are becoming known as the Sandwich Generation.  The North Augusta Chamber of Commerce sponsored “Caught in the Middle: Women of the Sandwich Generation.”  Leading the discussion was a panel of women with diverse backgrounds: Yvette Harris, Co-owner, Horizon Motor Coach Amy Hane, Owner, Long Term Liaisons Jennifer Turman, HR Manager,

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B2B Stories

March Mini-MBA: Good Service vs. Bad Service

Publisher’s Note: There are so many reasons to love what Chick-fil-A does. The Gordons go to the Mullins Crossing location weekly. I found this photo from 2 years ago! From the time I get “in line” until I have the food, it’s maybe 10 minutes! Great food. Great service. Every time. RICK: As consumers visiting an establishment for a service, we often find ourselves waiting in line. Whether it is at a drive-thru for a fast food restaurant, placing an order at a fast casual restaurant, checking out at the

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Consumer Stories

The Indomitable Spirit of Humankind

Publisher’s Note: Israel Ayettey was away at school in Macon when Hurricane Helene ripped through the CSRA. Here is his guest column on the spirit of our neighbors called “The Indomitable Spirit of Humankind.” The wind howled through Augusta that night, rattling windows and uprooting trees like weeds in a garden. It was a night that we, the residents of Augusta, will never forget as long as we live.  When the sun rose, so did our sorrows as we looked around at the destruction left behind. I’ll never forget seeing

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