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Consumer Stories
Consumer Stories

Former Mexican eatery becomes Japanese steakhouse

Cousins, Oscar and Frank Salsas have spent many years in the restaurant business. Oscar still owns one in New York, but Frank returned to Aiken a couple of years ago where he had lived for 20 years. Both have found success serving Mexican and Japanese cuisine. When Sombreros closed in the fall of last year, Frank said, “This is where we need to be.” A couple of weeks ago, the former Sombreros location at 1695 Richland Avenue East became Okinawa Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bowl, with Oscar as owner and

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Mitzi Oxford May 12, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Another manufacturer heading to the CSRA

While Richmond and Columbia counties have been in the economic development spotlight recently, Aiken County is joining in the economic success. Columbia Vehicle Group, an electric vehicle manufacturer based in Reedsburg, Wis., is moving its manufacturing operations to University Parkway in Aiken. The $12.2 million plant will mark the company’s first location in the Palmetto State. It will create 180 new jobs. “We’ve been investing in great communities since 1947 with Aiken being a superb fit for our continued global expansion of the Tomberlin and Columbia brands. It has been

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 9, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Kinki Sushi

Food Quality: 5 Service: 4 Business Meeting: 4 Value: 5 Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 I’ve never tried sushi and don’t plan to change that anytime soon, so when a good friend invited me to lunch at Kinki Sushi many years ago, I was less than enthusiastic. This time, I visited the restaurant in Le Pavilion Shopping Center in Augusta for dinner with my wife, Rebecca. I may be too picky to try sushi, but I love Japanese food. I especially enjoy hibachi restaurants, where a chef prepares your

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Josh Heath May 9, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Running out of space for new industry?

Friday’s announcement that GF Casting Solutions will build a plant in the Augusta Corporate Park off Mike Padgett Highway creates a problem for the Augusta Economic Development Authority (AEDA). This is an example that not all problems are bad. GF Casting Solutions has contracted for 147 acres. This plant has pushed the park to near capacity. “We have a 40-acre site and a 65-acre site available. Otherwise, the park is completely full,” AEDA President, Cal Wray told ABD. Wray said they are actively looking for new industrial sites. He anticipates

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 8, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

In Challengers, tennis is a relationship

The spring’s hottest new release is the sports drama Challengers, directed by Luca Guadanino and starring Josh O’Connor, Mike Faist, and Zendaya in a role that defines the current trajectory of her career. It is a film that drips with sweat, tears, and angst, and finds the poetry in the sport of tennis. The story whips back and forth between 2006 and 2019. At the beginning of this 13-year span of time, junior tournament players, Art Donaldson (Faist) and Patrick Zweig (O’Connor) are spirited pals with shared eyes for Tashi

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Dylan James May 8, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

BBQ restaurant dispute causes temporary closure

Barbecue can be a bit messy—but not usually for those running the restaurant. Bobby Boggs, owner and founder of the Pot Smoker, took an unusual step recently to distance himself from the former franchisee of his concept. He temporarily closed his flagship restaurant on Highway 25 in North Augusta. Boggs tells ABD it may be three or four months before he finds the right person to run the day-to-day operations. Boggs took to Facebook and got about 300 engagements from his followers. He said the Aiken restaurant remains open and

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Neil Gordon May 8, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

CSRA school districts receive more than $300,000

SRP Federal Credit Union was recently part of local Board of Education meetings to present checks for the monies donated to each district as part of the High School Affinity School Debit Card Program last year. The Aiken County Public School district in Aiken, SC was awarded a check totaling $256,658.70, with nine schools participating in the program. The Columbia County School System in Evans, GA was also presented a check in the amount of $47,797.80, with five participating schools. The Affinity School Debit Card Program began in 2018 to

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Staff Report May 7, 2024 No Comments
B2B Stories

Another major international company coming to Augusta

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced GF Casting Solutions AG, a division of Georg Fischer AG, Schaffhausen will build a $148 million plant. The Augusta Corporate Park off Mike Padgett Highway will be the home to the manufacturing company. “Having met the great team at GF Casting Solutions during our recent mission to Switzerland, we could not be more excited to welcome them to the Peach State. Congratulations to Augusta and Richmond County for securing these jobs of the future for Georgians,” Kemp was quoted in the Friday news release

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Dana Lynn McIntyre May 7, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

New restaurant coming to a familiar CSRA location

The site of a former restaurant in The Plaza at Evans Town Center has been empty for more than a year. Stay. Social Tap + Table operated a unique pour-your-own beer and wine business from a row of taps along the wall and tapas-style food. It won’t be vacant much longer. As ABD previously reported, there was a three-month-long debate over whether Stay received more than 50 percent of sales from food. In December of 2022, following unsuccessful mediation, the doors of Stay were closed and in the following months,

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Mitzi Oxford and Neil Gordon May 6, 2024 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Edgar’s Grille

Food Quality: 5 Service: 5 Business Meeting: 4 Value: 4 Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 People often refer to breakfast as the most important meal of the day, so it always amazes me that so many skip it and wait until lunchtime to eat. But I do understand running late in the morning and having no time to eat breakfast. On those days, when I can’t sit down and have a proper meal, I often grab a granola bar for the road, but it’s never very filling or satisfying.

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Josh Heath May 2, 2024 No Comments
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