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Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

Charcuterie demand leads to “Graze Craze”

Nothing says, “I care about you” like one of those tasty, trendy charcuterie boards! New franchisees, Clint and Cheryl Hardy are hoping for many Valentine’s Day orders when they open “Graze Craze” in early February in the Shoppes of Blue Ridge on 4118 Evans to Locks Road. Graze Craze will be in the same center as the popular “Chicken Fingers” restaurant and near Lakeside schools. The center is managed by Jordan Trotter Commercial Real Estate. At Graze Craze, highly trained charcuterie experts known as Grazologists™ design arrangements that feature fresh fruits and

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Neil Gordon December 1, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

$54,000 CSRA business gift supports veterans’ families

A major fundraising event for two local Fisher Houses was originally scheduled for September, then rescheduled to October before being canceled because of Hurricane Helene. It seems fitting as we approach Thanksgiving, sponsors told event organizers, “Keep the money.” The Augusta Chapter of the Association for the United States Army (AUSA) organized the event to support the area’s two Fisher Houses, one on post at Fort Eisenhower and the other at the Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center on Wrightsboro Road. “Fisher Houses provide free lodging for families whose loved ones

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Dana Lynn McIntyre November 26, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Ray Ray’s opening second location in 2025

Ray Carnes, the founder of the Recteq grill is living proof that “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” Carnes had a public spat in 2023 with former Columbia County commissioner/Sparkle car wash owner, Gary Richardson over his desire to build a competing car wash near Washington Road and the Riverwatch Parkway. Carnes got his plan approved after originally being denied. Carnes got an attorney involved and appeared on the Austin Rhodes program on WGAC and spoke to ABD. Carnes told us that construction is in full swing

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Neil Gordon November 26, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Future Augusta film producers have a Top 50 school option

Augusta is now a popular location for movie producers and now CSRA creatives have a top 50 film school within 90 minutes of Garden City. The Wrap, a leading publication in the media and entertainment industry, has added the UGA Master of Fine Arts in Film, Television, and Digital Media (UGA MFA) to its list of the Top 50 Film Schools in the U.S. UGA MFA debuts at number 43. It joins Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) at #37 and Morehouse College at #41. This is the first

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Dana Lynn McIntyre November 25, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Countdown to Downtown Small Business Shopping Event

After families gather on Thursday for Thanksgiving and hit the stores for Black Friday shopping, next up on the calendar is Downtown Augusta’s Small Business Saturday Crawl. Look for the stars at participating shops on November 30, between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. You can start the experience with Augusta & Co., 1010 Broad Street. They’re giving the first 150 shoppers complimentary locally designed canvas totes and Crawl maps. Each of the sponsoring businesses is also donating items and gift cards for gift baskets. Participants can enter to win a

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Mitzi Oxford November 25, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

CSRA Christmas campaigns see greater needs this year

The Salvation Army of Augusta has kicked off two familiar campaigns as Christmas shopping goes into high gear. After Helene, the requests for help are substantially higher. The Angel Tree campaign provides toys and clothing to children who might otherwise receive little or nothing on Christmas Day. Janelys Villalta, Marketing and PR Manager, told ABD they started taking applications for Angel Tree during the time of Hurricane Helene. She said last year, they served about 1,000 children. They’ve seen a big spike in requests this year. “We’re at about 1,400

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Dana Lynn McIntyre November 24, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

How to SCORE More Holiday Shoppers

As the holiday shopping season approaches, small businesses are gearing up for one of the busiest times of the year, from Black Friday to Small Business Saturday and beyond. SCORE, America’s largest network of volunteer, expert business mentors, offers entrepreneurs practical advice to make the most of the season. Plan for the Holiday Rush Reflect on last year’s performance. Did you meet your sales goals? Use your previous data to forecast sales, set promotional strategies, and manage staffing needs to provide outstanding customer care. “It’s about more than just sales; it’s

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Staff Report November 24, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

One-stop Shop Opens in CSRA

Just in time for the year’s busiest shopping season, a new retail store has opened in North Augusta. After a few months of operating a mobile boutique, Autumn Grace Boutique opened on November 16 at 401 W. Martintown Road in the North Hills Shopping Center. “The reception for our Grand Opening was wonderful. Customers loved the many brands of clothing we stock for men, women, and children,” said owner, Alicia Byars. Those brands include Fieldstone, Roost Waterfowl, Southern Strut, Zenana, Risen, and Southern Down Outfitters. Autumn Grace Boutique also carries

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Mitzi Oxford November 24, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

SRS Building the Future with Apprentice Program

The Savannah River Site (SRS) Apprenticeship School at Aiken Technical College celebrated the Nov. 18 start of National Apprenticeship Week. Joining the celebration were Augusta Technical College and Denmark Technical College, both of which are partners in the school. There are approximately 100 students enrolled in the apprenticeship school. It provides training in several fields, including Facility/Production Operator and Maintenance Mechanic. “I’m here mostly for professional growth and providing for my family and just making a difference in the community,” Auston Prather, 33, told ABD. “I grew up in this

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Dana Lynn McIntyre November 21, 2024 No Comments
Residential Real Estate

Real Talk Real Estate: Will Homes Finally Become Affordable in 2025?

The question on everyone’s mind is whether 2025 will bring relief to homebuyers struggling with affordability. While recent fluctuations in mortgage rates have added uncertainty, many industry experts predict a gradual decline in rates next year. However, don’t expect rates to plummet too quickly. The powers that be, believe a sudden drop could trigger a wave of buyer demand that might erase inventory gains, potentially driving prices back up. I am awaiting, hopefully, a drop to the 5.5% range so I can refinance my own mortgage. In 2023, I got

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Shawna Woodward, Re/Max Reinvented Evans November 21, 2024 No Comments
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