Fri, April 24, 2026

Facebook-f Youtube Instagram
Newsletter Sign up
Show Support
Menu

Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

Military family settles in CSRA, opens retail/production center

The busy holiday pet season is helping to spur on Bretta Farina’s puppy pet-collar growth plan, accelerated by hard-working women. She’s just moved into a 2500 square foot space at 261 Meredian Drive in Grovetown across from the Wal-Mart near Gateway Square. DC Lawrence Real Estate represented Farina’s Puddle Jumper business in the lease. Farina will be opening part of the space as a retail store and using leftover space for production. Farina’s husband is a military veteran and they moved to Augusta so he could accept a position with

Read More »
Neil Gordon September 9, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

$100,000 later, Martinez salon is still helping local families

Robyn Kelley says God has called her to serve others, which is why she holds an annual fundraiser that’s donated more than $100,000 to families of sick and injured children. This year will be during another pandemic. The effort and results will still be the same. For more than 10 years, Kelley – owner of Trendz Salon located at 3670 Riverwatch Parkway in Martinez – has held a fundraiser called a cut-a-thon to raise money for these families. (Photo from above is from first event that helped the Asselin family)

Read More »
Josh Heath September 9, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

A taste of Europe in the CSRA

In the past few years so many excellent restaurants have opened in Aiken that it becomes difficult to distinguish oneself with a name. When Lou and Stephanie Giusto (photo above) opened their oasis of flavors at the historic corner of Park Avenue and Laurens Street in Aiken two years ago, their application for an alcohol license was not approved for whiskey. That was fine. The Giustos are wine people anyway, so they named their rather intimate culinary retreat “Solo Vino” which in Italian means “Only Wine.” It’s a sophisticated sounding

Read More »
Stephen Delaney Hale September 8, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Riverwood Shopping centers are sold-out!

Marcella’s Cigars is out and Postal Annex (see above left) is in. The old adage seems to be “you snooze, you lose” is fitting with the rate of speed in which vacancies are being turned into new tenants at either the Riverwood Plantation Shopping Center, owned by Echo Realty/leased by Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate (the part connected to Publix). “We have Swank going into the former Madison’s Closet space and Vampire Penguin (ice cream/dessert shop) which is going into the (former White House) dry cleaner space,” said DJ Snead,

Read More »
Neil Gordon September 7, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local gym climbs to the top by offering unique workouts

Chris Watson turned his passion for climbing into a job he loves. Companies are even getting involved with team building exercises. Watson serves as general manager of Active Climbing Augusta located at 631 South Old Belair Road in Grovetown (not far from Belair Road Food Lion). He visited the 18,000-square-foot rock climbing gym the first day it opened in 2016 and fell in love with the sport. Watson began working for Active Climbing that same year. Climbing is “for people of all ages and skill levels”, he says. Despite one’s

Read More »
Josh Heath September 7, 2021 No Comments
B2B Stories

Pandemic derails start-up restaurant in Evans

Shemp and Petey’s restaurant on Washington Road opened in the summer and didn’t make it to fall—closing on August 28th. The restaurant offered up unique sandwiches and homemade pasta dishes with a local flair. The restaurant took over for a pair of eateries that closed in the same spot such as The Garlic Clove and J.T Yesterday’s. “Sorry everyone, we tried to stay open, but we got hit pretty hard starting off and were not able to overcome it,” wrote one of the co-owners announcing the close on their Facebook

Read More »
Neil Gordon September 3, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local bridal boutique opening before wedding season

Location. Location. Location. Co-owners Jessica Baskette and Jennifer Grubbs of Lace and Veil Bridal Boutique carefully picked the storefront to open this November. It’s in the Petersburg Shoppes at 500 Furys Ferry Road, just a few doors from “Final Cut” (former site of Bi-Lo). “We are in love with our location for a number of reasons. We are nestled in the heart of Columbia County and surrounded by other great, small business owners. Also, our brides will find it easy to locate our boutique,” said Ms. Grubbs. Jordan Trotter Commercial

Read More »
Neil Gordon September 3, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Real Talk Real Estate: Home inspection vs. appraisal

When you are in the position to buy a home, make sure you have a home inspection. A common misconception that I hear from buyers regularly is that they are planning to rely on the appraisal inspection. Buyers who are getting a VA loan seem to be the largest population of buyers who believe the VA is inspecting their home. It is very important that as a buyer, you know the difference between a home inspection and an appraisal. An appraisal is almost always a requirement if you are getting

Read More »
SHAWNA WOODWARD, RE/MAX REINVENTED EVANS September 3, 2021 No Comments
Biz Sectors

New female-focused businesses part of downtown Augusta growth

Brianne Martin and Danielle Harmadi – a pair of sisters originally from Wisconsin – recently launched their own business in downtown Augusta. Martin and Harmadi (see photo above) opened Freshwater Design Co. – located at 1022 Broad St. – on Thursday, Aug. 5. Freshwater sells a variety of handcrafted leather and acrylic jewelry and accessories, such as bracelets, keychains, and earrings, as well as drinkware, pennants, and wall art. “We are a studio and shop,” says Martin. In the studio, the sisters and their staff create these products for their

Read More »
Josh Heath September 2, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local baker juggles busy schedule to pursue her dreams

Nicole Norman has baked cakes since she was a teenager, but it wasn’t until the pandemic began that she decided to pursue her dream of becoming a full-time baker. Norman – owner of a baking business called Chasing Simone for the last five years – typically spends about 35 hours a week taking orders and baking cakes and other desserts for various occasions, such as weddings, birthday parties, and baby showers. In addition to her baking, she also works full-time in billing for ADP but eventually hopes to open her

Read More »
Josh Heath September 1, 2021 No Comments
Load More