Consumer Stories

B2B Stories

Changes to Augusta’s Masters Week traffic plan

Augusta’s traffic engineering division is ready to launch the traffic plan for Masters Week 2024. Assistant Director, John Ussery held a media briefing and outlined the plan. Much of it is familiar, steps created to improve traffic flow for the roughly 30,000 vehicles trying to access and depart the golf course. This year, however, the plan includes two major changes. A traffic light was installed at Washington Road and River Ridge Road. It is necessary because the Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC) purchased the former Electrolux building and turned it

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B2B Stories

CSRA businesses help military spouses looking for work

No one would argue that military life is hard. It’s a commitment like few others. While service members know that no matter where they are sent, they will have a job, it’s very different for their spouses. A comprehensive Military Family Lifestyle Report (the largest annual study of military families, conducted by Blue Star Families) found that 20% of military spouses in the labor force are unemployed and actively seeking work. For perspective, the unemployment rate in Augusta/Richmond County is 4.4%. In partnership with Fort Eisenhower, the U.S. Chamber of

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Consumer Stories

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire: Are We Really Doing This?

Ivan Reitman’s Ghostbusters is the latest film to get both the reboot and franchise treatment in Hollywood, with its newest installment, Frozen Empire, opening this past week. The 1984 fantasy comedy is a classic in American blockbuster and the new film is another in a series of these nostalgia-based re-vamps (see the never-ending Star Wars and Jurassic World films), begging the question, why can’t we leave these film properties alone? Frozen Empire follows Afterlife (released in 2021), and retains the cast from that film; Paul Rudd, Carrie Coon, Finn Wolfhard,

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B2B Stories

We’re paying for JBA construction starting Monday

If you’re among the tens of thousands of people who buy goods and services in Richmond County, you will begin paying an additional half-penny sales tax on Monday, April 1. Money collected will cover the cost of building a new James Brown Arena. Demolition of the existing arena is expected to begin in July. The $250 million bond issue was approved by voters in November 2023. Mike Harvey, Vice President of Project Design with Nations Group, owner’s representative for the Coliseum Authority, told ABD they are ready to bring in

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Consumer Stories

Real Restaurant Review: Doc’s Porchside Transformation

Editor’s Note: We’re bringing back our Business Lunch reviews! Temporarily, former ABD reporter, Josh Heath will write a fresh, weekly column beginning NEXT Thursday. Wes Hennings will return in the near future to continue what he started! Today, we are re-running a restaurant review on Doc’s Porchside, which has stood the test of time—open now for almost three years. Hennings’ review took place in August 2021. 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

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Consumer Stories

Are CSRA real estate commissions changing?

As the Bible says, separating the wheat from the chaff on real estate commissions. The October 2023 ruling on a class action lawsuit regarding commissions paid to real estate agents has had people buzzing about the impact. The lawsuit that started in Missouri alleged an anticompetitive agreement that resulted in sellers paying inflated commissions to real estate agents and brokers. The defendants, including the National Association of Realtors, denied the allegations and the court has not decided the defendants did anything wrong. At issue is the allegation sellers or buyers

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Consumer Stories

Restaurant and Retail update in North Augusta

The #1 item on the wish list for North Augustans has been more restaurants. It’s about to come true later this year. ABDs learned that at least three new eateries have signed on to be part of the new Beacon Bluff’s development adjacent to North Augusta’s Municipal Building. “Melty,” a national franchise features cheesy melt sandwiches like grilled cheese, burgers, French dip, Ham and Swiss, and much more. Visit www.lovemelty.com to see the full menu of items coming to North Augusta. Beacon Bluff’s management team was not able to name

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Consumer Stories

Clean up as the CSRA takes center stage

As the CSRA welcomes thousands of visitors from across the country for horse events this month in Aiken and guests on both sides of the river for the Masters tournament in a couple of weeks, it’s time to shine. The City of Aiken Parks, Recreation, and Tourism is looking for some helping hands to create a clean, welcoming entrance to the CSRA. The economic impact of these events is well over a quarter of a million dollars. It’s also inevitable as ABD has previously reported that some of the visitors

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Awards/Celebrations

Five Augusta business leaders named top influencers in the state

The online magazine James has released its annual list of the most influential business leaders in Georgia. There are names who are familiar across the state and across the country, including AFLAC CEO, Dan Amos, Home Depot co-founders, Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus, Chick-fil-A CEO, Andrew Cathy, and UGA football coach, Kirby Smart, but five Augusta business leaders also made the cut. “As an Army Signal Corps veteran, Dr. Clark was the perfect choice when Ft. Eisenhower became the home base for the U.S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence. He

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B2B Stories

New Medical Practice reunites Doctor with family in the CSRA

Three siblings. Three Augusta doctors. Three different specialists at three different practices. Dr. David Squires (far left) is the oldest sibling, who is an oncologist at AO Multi-Specialty Clinic and is a proud big brother. “I am thrilled that my brother and sister chose to practice medicine here in Augusta. When I refer patients to them, I am confident they will receive exceptional care,” he said. Cynthia Murray, Family MD practices a few doors down from her brother, David at Urgent MD—Med Now. In November 2023, Dr. Stephen Squires opened

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