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Restaurants/Food
Consumer Stories

Best of Business Lunch Review: Groucho’s Deli

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 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”. Food

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Wes Hennings June 28, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local cookie dough franchisee, coffee shop open dual business

For nearly two years, Jen Harpley has wanted to open a dessert business across the street from Evans Towne Center Park, but as of last week, her wish has finally come true. Harpley, who serves as a COO for a CSRA business, owns the local Alumni Cookie Dough franchise at 7025 Evans Towne Center Blvd., Suite 213 in The Plaza at Evans Towne Center, which is owned by Meybohm. The space was previously occupied by Roll On In and Buzzed Bull Creamery. Alumni share its space with Rooted Coffeehouse’s second

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Josh Heath June 27, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Military rallies around restaurant grand opening

For 25-year veteran, Kelly O’Neal (pictured above) and his retired Naval vet wife, Tiffany, a new mission begins this morning with a ribbon cutting and this afternoon with a radio remote. Their new “mission” is to rally thousands of military men and women from the CSRA and “regular folks” who enjoy good food and drinks at their Rally Point Grille restaurant. “I retired with top secret clearance at Fort Gordon,” said Kelly O’Neal. Now, he must re-earn the trust of people following a decorated military career. They are “accidental restaurateurs,”

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Neil Gordon June 26, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

CSRA native launches casual restaurant, bar in familiar location

Maguire Welsh grew up in Augusta, graduated from the Academy of Richmond County, and worked as a server at local restaurants before moving away seven years ago. When Welsh moved back to town last year, he decided to open his own casual dining restaurant and bar. In late May, Welsh opened Midtown Tavern located at 1855 Central Ave. near Buona Caffe, which was most recently occupied by Soul City Pizza. The restaurant serves a variety of meals, including smash burgers, grilled salmon, and chicken tenders, as well as beer, wine,

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Josh Heath June 26, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Local restaurant owners request community support to stay afloat

In June 2022, Georgia Alexander opened a vegan restaurant in Augusta, but just one year later, she and her mother and co-owner, Diane Francis are struggling to keep the business afloat, thanks to mounting debts and rising food costs. Alexander and Francis own Soca Vegan Kitchen, which serves a variety of Trinidad-inspired dishes and is located at 630 Crane Creek Drive, Suite 103, near Sprouts Farmers Market. Alexander recently started a GoFundMe with a goal of raising $500,000. As of Friday, she had received 10 donations totaling $735. “We are

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Josh Heath June 25, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Upscale restaurant serves made-from-scratch magic

He came from the land of “Leaf Peepers” aka Barrington, New Hampshire, and settled in the “Winter Colony” aka Aiken. The path to opening a restaurant was at the end of a long and winding road for Samuel O’Lone. “My degree is in theology. I worked for eight years at a food service company which taught me a lot about food, but not cooking, and then I worked in student housing in Athens, GA. My sisters were into riding and showing horses and they would come to Aiken during the

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Mitzi Oxford June 25, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

BEST OF RESTAURANT REVIEW: Business Lunch Review: Mosh Pit Eats

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 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”. Food

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Wes Hennings June 21, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Takosushi founder starts another specialty restaurant

Kevin Goldsmith is at it again. He started Takosushi more than a decade ago and it’s become a local and regional success. The European native is celebrating 50 years in the food and beverage industry. Trattoria Polipo is an ode to his childhood, when he enjoyed the understated, affordable neighborhood restaurants that were gathering, eating and drinking spots for family and friends. Most meals are $18.50, plus a little more for meat or shrimp, which includes a house salad and freshly baked bread. The restaurant is open for dinners beginning

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Neil Gordon June 19, 2023 No Comments
B2B Stories

Local business owner creates edible works of art

Kim Holland thinks of herself as an artist, but instead of paint, her palette includes gourmet meats, cheeses, fruits, and crackers. Holland owns Van Goat Grazing Co., which specializes in creating and selling charcuterie boards, boxes, and grazing tables for weddings, parties, and other events. She currently creates her boards and boxes at OPP Kitchen, located on Furys Ferry Road in Martinez, but soon, Southern Willow Market, which is right around the corner from that business, will sell some of her items. Besides charcuterie, she also bakes miniature Bundt cakes

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Josh Heath June 14, 2023 No Comments
Consumer Stories

BEST OF RESTAURANT REVIEW: Business Lunch Review: Hildebrandt’s

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.”

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Wes Hennings June 14, 2023 No Comments
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