Consumer Stories

B2B Stories

How health (good and bad) impacts your business in the CSRA

Are employees in the CSRA unhealthy? That’s a big yes from a recent study by WalletHub. Not one single southern city made the list for healthiest places to live, but almost all the unhealthiest locations were in the southeast including two in Georgia. Columbus came in at #4 and Augusta was #5 in the Top 10 unhealthy cities. WalletHub’s analysis used 43 metrics to rank the cities, including the cost of medical care, residents’ diets, levels of physical activity, and access to green space. Improving our unhealthy ranking has the

Mitzi Oxford April 18, 2023 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Local restaurateur to relaunch food truck for both eateries

Since 2020, Ramiro Galvan’s local Mexican restaurant has had its own food truck he uses at various events, but he now also plans to use it for his other eatery located in downtown Augusta. Galvan owns both Taqueria El Rey located on Washington Road in Martinez and Munchies Lab on Walton Way in Augusta. He started El Rey on Wheels, which serves a variety of Mexican fares, such as tacos and burritos. But people now have the option of getting other menu items, including hot dogs, hamburgers, and even provocatively

Josh Heath April 18, 2023 No Comments

ABD Extra

Simon Says: Staffing Strategies

The labor shortage continues to be a concern for many businesses. The Augusta metro area employment level is still 4,000 persons below pre-pandemic levels and the labor force is almost 8,000 people fewer. A new survey of businesses conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates how firms are trying to attract more applicants. The most popular strategies were increased advertising and higher starting pay. Nationwide, 5.4% of establishments have increased advertising, with 11.8% of accommodation and food services and 9.7% of health care and social assistance increasing advertising. The

Simon Medcalfe April 17, 2023 No Comments

ABD Extra

More seats, more events, more tourism for CSRA

A $150,000 grant has opened the door for changes to seating capacity at the Sharon Jones Amphitheater in North Augusta. The grant is through the Undiscovered South Carolina program in the state’s Parks, Recreation, and Tourism department. Karl Waldhaur, superintendent of Facilities and Programs in the North Augusta Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Department briefed council members during the April 10 study session. “The purpose is to highlight places in South Carolina that have less than $900,000 of accommodations tax revenue,” Waldhaur explained. “So, the purpose is to kind of highlight

Dana Lynn McIntyre April 17, 2023 No Comments

ABD Extra

Mondays with Rick: Nine Days of Top-Notch Workforce Development

As you are learning from this special weekly newsletter, economic development is critically important to Augusta and the CSRA, as it is to most cities and regions. As I noted in my initial column for this newsletter, the state of Georgia and this area have been particularly successful in attracting new and existing businesses in recent years. While there have been many reasons for this success, I have learned from Cal Wray, our outstanding President of the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA), that as we move forward, the number one

Dr. Rick Franza April 17, 2023 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Local community provides financial support for former business owner

It’s one thing to lose a business, but quite another when devastating family health issues weigh in on the emotional, mental, and physical aspects that have developed recently for Stay. Social Tap + Table owner, Renee Hajek. The local community has rallied around Hajek and her family who are grappling with serious financial and health issues. She owned Stay. Social Tap + Table in Evans until December, when the restaurant closed its doors after she lost her license to serve alcohol. Just as Hajek was selling items from Stay, such

Josh Heath April 16, 2023 No Comments

Consumer Stories

New cycling studio to spin into the CSRA this summer

Many people want to lose weight and get in shape, but don’t think they have the strength or stamina to take a spin class. A new cycling studio coming to Evans will offer workouts for people of all fitness levels. This summer, CycleBar plans to open a new location at 4218 Washington Road, Suite 6 near Academy Fitness + Outdoors. “We’re expecting to open in July, and construction will begin in the next two weeks,” said Amy Peel, the General Manager for CycleBar Evans. “We’re tailored for everyone; you do

Josh Heath April 13, 2023 No Comments

Restaurants/Food

Business Lunch Review: BJ Country Buffet

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 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”.

Wes Hennings April 12, 2023 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Birdies for Boobies tees off for a great cause

There are no green jackets involved in the 2nd annual Birdies for Boobies golf tournament but for the breast cancer survivors who benefit from the money raised, it’s a crowning achievement, literally. The tournament is hosted by the Boobie Queen Company, a nonprofit founded by cancer survivor, Whitney O’Connor. She was diagnosed with breast cancer six weeks after getting married and just a week before her 30th birthday. She wore a crown made of a decorated bra during a breast cancer fundraising walk which inspired the Boobie Queen brand. Now,

Mitzi Oxford April 12, 2023 No Comments

Consumer Stories

Progress preserves history with new bank location

The new branch of Security Federal Bank features all of the banking’s modern technology but its home is a part of Augusta’s history. The landmark structure at 1109 Broad Street has been restored, repurposed, and improved to serve the residents and businesses of downtown Augusta and the cyber district. The project’s significant community investment and attention to detail serve as a suitable celebration of Security Federal’s 100-year history as a local community bank. Constructed in 1924 as the “Uptown Branch” of Georgia Railroad Bank and Trust, the new full-service Security

Staff Report April 11, 2023 No Comments

How health (good and bad) impacts your business in the CSRA

Local restaurateur to relaunch food truck for both eateries

Simon Says: Staffing Strategies

More seats, more events, more tourism for CSRA

Mondays with Rick: Nine Days of Top-Notch Workforce Development

Local community provides financial support for former business owner

New cycling studio to spin into the CSRA this summer

Business Lunch Review: BJ Country Buffet

Birdies for Boobies tees off for a great cause

Progress preserves history with new bank location

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