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Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

Holiday shopping inflation pressures

The National Retail Federation (NRF) released a look at how they expect consumers to shop for this holiday season. NRF said that holiday shopping runs from this weekend to Dec. 31. NRF Chief Economist Mark Mathews and Vice President of Industry and Consumer Insights Allison Zeller looked at the recent NRF holiday sales forecast and expectations for consumer spending. Their findings were announced in a webinar ABD attended. “In our consumer study, we see 56% are reporting that the economy and the state of the economy will impact them negatively

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Dana Lynn McIntyre October 30, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Business Compromise Honors an Augusta legend

The Godfather of Soul’s daughter feels vindicated after a decision on a new name for the Augusta Entertainment Complex, which includes the Bell Auditorium and a new arena under construction. The new name will recognize Augusta’s connection to the Hardest Working Man in Show Biz. The Augusta-Richmond County Coliseum Authority has voted unanimously to change the name to the James Brown Entertainment Complex.  Deanna Brown Thomas, Brown’s daughter who fought for more than a year to preserve his name, posted a reaction on her Facebook page. “The Augusta Coliseum Authority

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Dana Lynn McIntyre and Neil Gordon October 29, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Barbershop NOT Closing as Bakery Opens on Property

A bakery will be joining a longtime barbershop in Martinez in the same center. Russell’s Corner Barber Shop had been next to McDonald’s at the corner of Washington Road and Davis for more than 35 years. Soon, the Suga’ Buzz Bakery will open there. The owners spent almost 20 years perfecting thousands of cakes from a home kitchen, while selling them at local venues. She posted in a Columbia County FB group that she’ll invite a few other entrepreneurs to share her space. Expect old-fashioned, custom cakes with edible decorations

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Neil Gordon October 29, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Calling on business support for Border Bash

A long-enjoyed rivalry college football game is back in play, thanks to a change in the football schedule. The Georgia-South Carolina game will be played Sat., Nov. 21. Although the game is set for Williams-Brice Stadium, its return also means the revival of a celebration in metro Augusta.  Border Bash is returning this year with a free concert at the Sharon Jones Amphitheater in North Augusta on Nov. 20, and an inaugural 5K run on Nov. 21. The activities will benefit the Salvation Army of Augusta and construction of the

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Dana Lynn McIntyre October 28, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

New Urgent Care Center coming to Evans

The land between Advanced Auto Parts and Bojangles in Evans is getting cleared to make way for a practice’s 2nd Urgent Care Center in the CSRA. ABD’s learned that Peachtree Immediate Care will build on this parcel of land that used to be a U-Haul Center. Contractors are very busy prepping the land for an Atlanta area construction company. According to Zillow, the land is 1.33 acres and is assessed at a little more than $1 million. The address is 4548 Washington Road. Sewell Demolition & Abatement, Chattahoochie Construction Company,

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Neil Gordon October 28, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Trump vs. Biden and Augusta’s Economy

Publisher’s Note: The views expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not represent Augusta University. Simon Says: I read a recent article in The Wall Street Journal comparing the economy under President Trump compared to President Biden, and I thought it would be interesting to examine the local economy under the same lens. To do so, I compare the 20 months of data we have under the Trump presidency with the last 20 months of the Biden administration. The chart below provides the average rate

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Hull College of Business Economics Professor October 27, 2026 No Comments
B2B Stories

Addressing growing demand for trained engineers

While Aiken Technical College is on the frontline of workforce development with programs designed to upskill students for immediate placement, USCA is playing the long game. The largest employers in the County are helping out. The recent announcement that the Savannah River Plutonium Processing Facility (SRPPF) has been greenlit to begin construction is just the latest major project announced in Aiken County. At USCA, leaders have watched demand grow for trained personnel, particularly in the engineering field.  Dr. Bethany Fralick in the USCA Department of Computer Science, Engineering and Mathematics

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Dana Lynn McIntyre October 27, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Positive Job News

The news is good in the Augusta area for keeping more residents on the job. The seven-county Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area saw labor force, employment, and job gains over the month of September, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. The numbers are positive across the board. The unemployment rate fell to 4.0%, down from 4.2% a year ago. The labor force in Augusta was up by 2,064 over the month and by 6,635 over the year, reaching 282,992. Augusta finished September with 271,808 employed residents, up 2,343 over the

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Neil Gordon October 27, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Businesses can keep the dream alive this Thanksgiving

A local salon owner is leading efforts to encourage business leaders to help provide Thanksgiving dinners for the community.   Robyn Kelley, owner of Trendz Salon on the Riverwatch Parkway in West Augusta, says this year is more important than ever to buy turkeys and fixings. “Normally at the Dream Center on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we have a communitywide meal where we feed upwards of 500 people.  This year we can’t do that because the Dream Center is in the process of being remodeled, so they still wanted to give

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Neil Gordon October 26, 2026 No Comments
Consumer Stories

County Delayed in Announcing Trader Joe’s Application

While Columbia County Economic Development leaders wait for Trader Joe’s to formalize its transaction to build in Evans, ABD is learning more details about the timing of TJ’s application and the size of the store IF the deal closes. On Tuesday, October 19th, Columbia County Commission Chairman Doug Duncan announced Trader Joe’s completed its construction permit application. A review of the document indicates that initial engineering and structural reports were filed on behalf of TJ’s before September 14th. TJ’s contractor Scott Belcher, from Atlanta-based Belcher Construction, completed his application 10

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Neil Gordon October 26, 2026 No Comments
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