Restaurants/Food

Closings

A final farewell to Steak and Shake in Columbia County

An online auction on Sept. 5 marked the final farewell to a popular restaurant on Belair Frontage Road. Vanish Auctions, a Florida-based company that specializes in online auctions, handled the sale of equipment and furniture from Steak and Shake. The auction included tables and chairs, artwork, and kitchen equipment. A viewing period was held prior to the start of the noon auction. Several people were there when the doors opened at 9 a.m. “I am looking for some things actually to build out our church kitchen and to get them

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B2B Stories

Is there “Fuse”-ion between the restaurant and a food truck?

ABD reported recently that Fuse in Aiken was closing. When Chef Chris Najmola posted on Facebook that the restaurant couldn’t go on, hundreds of loyal customers and even restaurant competitors weighed in with reactions of support. Then, two days later came this Facebook post from Fuse Mobile food truck owners: “We, Kevin and Tylené Matson, own Fuse Mobile. We will still continue business as usual. Finally, thank you all for your support, and thank you, @fuseaiken, for giving us our roots.” As it turns out, there is no connection between the

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Closings

The CSRA will be a little less sweet without Cyndi’s

Ten years ago, Cyndi’s Sweet Shoppe opened on Laurens Street in downtown, Aiken, S.C. What started out as her husband Dick’s idea for a nostalgic candy store, soon also became hers. She loved the area because they were surrounded by other wonderful shops. Social media has weighed in heavily on the fact that Cyndi’s is closing. This was her post on her Facebook page to her loyal customers. With great sadness, Cyndi’s is CLOSING, it is true. After 10 years of being in business, our landlord, the former owner of

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Closings

Steak N Shake abruptly closes; auction set for furniture/equipment

Steak N Shake, which started strongly in 2012 with a local franchisee group and 130 employees —suddenly closed last week for good, according to the franchisee and an auction house overseeing the sale of 103 pieces of furniture and equipment left behind. “I brought this to Augusta. I loved the product myself with great steakburgers and milkshakes, said franchisee, Preston Moss, who closed down the operation with partner, Andy Pye last week. He said it was time due to many economic factors and that he is busier than ever with

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Closings

Fuse restaurant fizzles out

One of the CSRA’s most popular eateries is closing. Comments have poured in on social media in the past few days. In response to inquiries, Chef Chris Najmola sent a message to customers through the Fuse Facebook page. Aiken, It has been a pleasure serving you and the team here at Fuse has so much to be proud of, but it does not look like we can keep going. There are so many things about Fuse that made it very literally, a dream come true. We’ve helped you celebrate so many

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Restaurants/Food

Best of Business Lunch Review: I ♥️ Mac and Cheese

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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B2B Stories

CSRA roadside café set to close

On the edge of Aiken County, almost close enough to throw a rock to the Barnwell County line, Almost There Café opened for business last fall. Owner, Dawn Redmon and her cooks served up good ole Southern fare fried chicken, mashed potatoes with gravy, cornbread, and a variety of other dishes that soon became favorites. The building at 245 White Pond Road in Williston had been a donut shop, a chicken joint, and a mercantile over the years. It wasn’t a big place, but locals seemed to love the food.

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Consumer Stories

Best of Business Lunch Review: Carolina Ale House

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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B2B Stories

Local environment-friendly food shop to open next month

Alexia Gonzalez wants to provide food for people in downtown Augusta and protect the environment, so she’s opening a business that will allow her to do both simultaneously. At the end of September, Gonzalez plans to open The Earth Pantry at 1026 Broad St., the former home of Sew Co. The business, which she refers to as a sustainable refill store, will sell a variety of dry goods, including rice, pasta, and candy, as well as some of her homemade items, such as cleaning products, soap, and shampoo that don’t

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Consumer Stories

Best of Business Lunch Review: Fat Man’s Café

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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