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Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

Five Keys to Hosting a Successful Internship

Many CSRA companies and organizations were honored in the 2020-21 school year for their partnership in hosting Hull College of Business interns including “National” type companies in Augusta like Augusta National, ADP and John Deere—financial institutions such as Queensborough National Bank and Trust, SME CPA’s, The Cleveland Group and TaxSlayer and cause oriented groups like Augusta Locally Grown and Shepheard Community Blood Center. Please read the employer advice and consider contacting Jennifer below. The fall internship season has just begun for many students as they embark on their experiential learning adventures!

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Jennifer Mansell, AU Hull College of Business Career Advisor August 19, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Covid causes catering business to pivot to new business model

Blue Collard Catering took on the Covid-19 pandemic and so far, they are winning. In a decades-old house at 113 Waterloo, just off Richland Avenue (U.S. Hwy. 1), is a most unusual “food store,” the dream child of a most unusual Aiken native. First of all, there are no Blue Collards, except in the imagination of owner Christian Carlisle. But his busy fine foods take-out business specializes in the best lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, cakes, guacamole, sausage made in their kitchen, goat cheese logs, jalapeno burritos, tomato and

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Stephen Delaney Hale August 18, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local business makes impossible product… possible with expansion efforts

Imagine a hamburger made from plants that looks and tastes just like one made from meat. While that may sound impossible, Angel Everett and her husband, Danny, have developed a 100% vegan burger. Everett – co-owner and director of Dawg! That’s Vegan – founded the business in February 2021 to offer customers a healthy alternative to the traditional hamburger. “We use beets to make it look red and coconut oil for fat,” says the U.S. Army Reserve veteran. “We cook all of our ingredients in olive oil.” They even add

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Josh Heath August 18, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Several new businesses to open near I-20 exit

A variety of new retail and construction businesses are coming to North Augusta. Brighter Side Roofing – founded in 2002 – plans to open a second location at 726 Edgefield Road in North Augusta, according to Samuel Leverette, the business’s owner. “We hope to break ground on construction by the end of the year,” says Leverette. “It’s no rush.” He explains Brighter Side previously had a location off West Avenue in North Augusta for seven years “Until we outgrew that location.” Leverette says he’s currently trying to find a general

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Josh Heath August 17, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Competing brands go head to head in Evans shopping center

DJR’s Water Ice Company is moving into one side of the shopping center outside of the Riverwood subdivision. Less than 50 yards away in a different part of the center, Vampire Penguin’s Shaved Snow and Desserts is also getting ready to open. Next to DJR’s is Ocean Nails. Near Vampire Penguin is Sky Nail Salon. How could this happen? Both ends of the shopping center are owned and managed by different companies and even called by different names—one the Market at Riverwood and the other the Riverwood Town Center. That

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Neil Gordon August 17, 2021 No Comments
B2B Stories

New owner promises change at unconventional CSRA convenience store

A popular store in Aiken County now has a new owner. Andrew Siders – vice chairman of the Aiken County Council – bought Dave’s Grill & Grocery convenience store on Thursday, Aug. 12. Dave Golding – the previous owner – just retired after running the business for 38 years. Located at 3286 Wagener Road in the small town of Couchton, Dave’s Grill & Grocery is no ordinary convenience store. “We have a full grill,” says Siders. They serve a variety of meals, such as barbecue, chicken, hamburgers, and hot dogs.

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Josh Heath August 16, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Real Business Lunch Review: Sunrise Grill

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”.

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Wes Hennings August 16, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local manufacturing company offers job training for young adults

David Ray wants to inspire and encourage local students who have considered dropping out of high school. Ray – co-owner and general manager of Cyber City Circuits located at 1001 Walton Way in Augusta – says many young people tell him they don’t need a diploma to work at McDonald’s. He would like to teach electronics classes to the community to show these students another career option. “All they have to do is graduate,” states the West Columbia native and United States Marine Corps veteran. “They really limit themselves when

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Josh Heath August 13, 2021 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Value-priced Augusta retailer to replace trendy store in West Augusta

A new dollar store location will replace another long-time business in West Augusta. Dollar Tree will open the new location at 267 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway in the Augusta Exchange shopping center – the former home of Pier 1 Imports, which closed all its stores last year after filing for bankruptcy protection in February 2020. (Thanks to ABD member Lance Danko for spotting this and the photo). The dollar store chain has multiple locations throughout the CSRA, including stores on Augusta West Parkway, Cabela Drive, and Washington Road in

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Josh Heath August 13, 2021 No Comments
Closings

Medical Spa replacing Evans boutique that closed

The new owners of a medical spa are hoping business will be better for them than a trendy boutique in the Market at Riverwood at 3118 William Few Parkway. Crystal Reynolds will be building out the 1200 foot space vacated by the owners of the Shelvie Jean’s boutique (see above photo), which sold women’s clothing and accessories for a couple of years in the center. Her next door neighbor is Oceans Nails & Spas, which serves a similar customer base. Reynolds body contouring spa will offer non-surgical options to get

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Neil Gordon August 13, 2021 No Comments
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