Consumer Stories

Consumer Stories

When God Allows U-turns

When Kimberly Gordon began working at the Georgia Department of Driver Services, it was to pay her bills as a single mother to two children. She couldn’t understand why she was placed in the Commercial Drivers License (CDL) area. Furthermore, she was mandated to become a licensed driver instructor and licensed CDL driver. She had just graduated from Augusta Technical College with a business degree and no clear path to success just yet. However, within a short time, it all began to make sense. “As a young girl, I had

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Consumer Stories

One automotive business moves out; another moves in

Count the Car Bazaar as another covid casualty – unable to get inventory in a crowded automotive field. After some new construction, Take 5 Oil Change will be moving into that spot at 4240 Washington Road, Evans, near the intersection of River Watch Parkway, across from Street and Trail Motorsports. Construction is well underway for the three-bay center. “We should be finished by late summer,” said Rob Clifton, CEO of Clifton Construction, hired for the project. Take 5 Oil Change is known for bringing customers a bottle of water before

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Consumer Stories

Local restaurateur to launch experimental dining concept

Ramiro Galvan owns a local Mexican restaurant, but he’s about to launch a new, experimental dining concept in Augusta. Galvan, owner of Taqueria El Rey in Martinez and Grovetown, hopes to open The Munchies Lab located at 1022 Walton Way, Suite A next to Diablo’s Southwest Grill next month. The new eatery will feature an eclectic menu that includes sushi, hot dogs, and even provocatively-shaped waffles (see the lower right corner of the menu). He got that idea from a restaurant in California. “There are a lot of people who

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Consumer Stories

Promotional products business gives a shirt about local artist’s cause

With help from Showpony, local artist Leonard “Porkchop” Zimmerman is one step closer to his goal of raising $100,000 to restore and repaint the water tower on the JB Whites Building. Showpony, a promotional products business and sister company of Wier / Stewart, has relaunched its “We Give a Shirt” Campaign to support Zimmerman and Project Happy Water. The company has released limited-edition T-shirts in either yellow or light blue. Project Happy Water Vice President, Pierce Legeion said they have raised $14,000. The non-profit hosted Happy Water, its kickoff fundraiser,

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Willie Jewell’s

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

Discount liquor store to expand with second Columbia County location

If you need alcoholic drinks for an after-hours business event, Beverage Outlet probably has what you need. The local discount liquor store is expanding by building a new, even larger second location in Columbia County. The 20,000-square-foot store will be located in Mullins Colony next to Belk in Evans, according to Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate. RW Allen is handling construction. Located in Duffie Plaza at 248 Bobby Jones Expressway near the Martinez Walmart, the more than 12,000-square-foot store carries a wide selection of products, including wine, craft beers, and

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attic-treasures-sign
Consumer Stories

Harlem thrift store surpasses $1 million in giving back to the community

You’ve probably never thought donating your old couch or shoes you no longer wear could help someone in financial distress. But at Attic Treasures, it can. Since opening in 2008, the Harlem thrift store has given away more than $1 million to the local community. To celebrate this achievement, the business located at 575 West Milledgeville Road, will host a customer appreciation event on Saturday, May 21 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The free event is open to the public. Attic Treasures will provide hot dogs, chips, and drinks.

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Closings

Retirement leads to the end of one dry cleaning franchise, and the start of another

After 70 years in the local dry-cleaning business, Brickle’s Cleaners & Laundry has closed its stores, paving the way for Lapels Cleaners, a national franchise, to take over one of its locations. In April, business partners, Frank Booker and Christopher Westbrook opened a Lapels franchise at 4296 Washington Road between Taco Bell and Mattress Man in Evans, the former home of Brickle’s, whose owners retired earlier in the year. Brickle’s opened its original location on Walton Way in 1952. The business name on the front of the building is currently

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Consumer Stories

Thanks to CSRA businesses, non-profit makes changes

A CSRA nonprofit that supports cancer patients has a new name, but its mission hasn’t changed. As of April 29, The Lydia Project is now Cancer Support Services, thanks to Powerserve, a local advertising agency that helped with the rebranding effort free of charge. The Lydia Project was founded in 2004 to provide female cancer patients with hope and encouragement by distributing free tote bags created by volunteers, which contain a journal and other items. Patients also have the option to receive supportive cards, emails, or phone calls monthly for

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Consumer Stories

SRP opens new branch in Aiken at a former branch location

What’s old is new again. SRP Federal Credit Union recently celebrated its Grand Opening of a new branch at 3559 Richland Avenue. If the address sounds familiar, it’s the same site of the branch that closed during the covid pandemic. The original building was torn down and the new branch revealed some updates at a Chamber ribbon-cutting ceremony last week, including innovative technology with several Interactive Teller Machines that serve as both ATMs but also provide personal service. With the press of a button, a live SRP teller is available

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