Thu, April 23, 2026

Facebook-f Youtube Instagram
Newsletter Sign up
Show Support
Menu

Consumer Stories
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
Consumer Stories

Area Restaurants & Coffee Shops Cut Hours, Raise Prices, Scramble For Staff

Gary Gibson is getting ready to raise prices again. He has no other option. He’s already thin on labor expenses. “My food costs are up 30%,” said Gibson, who owns the Gary’s Hamburger Restaurants in North Augusta, West Augusta, Martinez and Evans. There are times his restaurants may be out of catfish or other products. “This is so against the way I’ve run restaurants for 38 years. I have a hard time telling customers we can’t get something”, added Gibson from his flagship restaurant on Georgia Avenue in North Augusta.

Read More »
Neil Gordon August 31, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Popular Mexican restaurant to relocate from Augusta to Martinez

Evan Luda lives off Fury’s Ferry Road in Martinez and is excited at the prospect of a local Mexican restaurant relocating to that area. ABD has learned the rumors are true—Mi Rancho Mexican Restaurant – located at 3064 Washington Road next to Chick-fil-A – will soon relocate to 407 Furys Ferry Road in Furys Ferry Plaza – the former home of St. Louis Original Hamburgers. The burger restaurant has been closed, and the building has remained vacant since 2014. A construction worker at that site stated Mi Rancho will move

Read More »
Josh Heath August 31, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Real Restaurant Review: Doc’s Porchside Transformation

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings never met a meal he walked away from and is an opinionated eater! Each Monday 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 the 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”.

Read More »
Wes Hennings August 30, 2021 No Comments
Load More