Restaurants/Food

Consumer Stories

Columbia County family celebrates 15th Anniversary in the hospitality biz

In 2007, Renee Meyer Dean and her family took on the daunting task of turning a then more than 120-year-old single-family home in Harlem into a bed and breakfast, restaurant, and event space. It took Meyer Dean, her sister, Lee Ann Meyer, and parents, Ken and Murl Meyer, months to renovate the house and get it ready for guests. They named their business Red Oak Manor, which is located at 410 North Louisville St. It also includes The Acorn Restaurant, which serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It was built in

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Consumer Stories

New Mexican eatery coming to Augusta

Miguel and Lupita Chavez are no novices when it comes to owning and operating a Mexican restaurant. The couple plans to launch their newest business venture in Augusta next week. The Chavezes, along with their sons, Brandon and Diego, are opening Lokos Tacos, which will be located at 2825 Washington Road in Fairway Square between B.B. Vape Co. and Mooney’s Shoes. It will replace Yosko Japanese Steakhouse, which is now located in Riverwood in Evans. Lupita said they opened their first restaurant, Habaneros Mexican Grill in Thomson, in 2010 and

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Waffle 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 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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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch: New China 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 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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Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: One local woman is making fairytales come true for all children

The phrase representation matters, the concept that people want to see and interact with others who look like them, takes on new meaning for Doriane Skales. Growing up as a little Black girl in Tucson, Ariz., she didn’t see Disney princesses with brown skin or kinky coils like hers. In fact, it wasn’t until 2009 when Disney’s The Princess and the Frog hit the big screen that the 33-year-old was able to gaze upon someone as if she was seeing herself in the mirror. After several decades, Princess Tiana suddenly

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Tacocat

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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Consumer Stories

National restaurant chain to open Augusta location

If you like a Bloody Mary with your shrimp ‘n grits, a new eatery coming to Augusta has the brunch you’ve been craving. Another Broken Egg Café, a national restaurant chain, is bringing a new location to 2801 Washington Road near Kroger and Alexander Drive. The café serves a variety of breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes, such as omelets, pancakes, and French toast, as well as biscuits and sandwiches. Another Broken Egg also offers a wide selection of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Founded in Louisiana in 1996, the company

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Consumer Stories

New Filipino food business joins local shared kitchen space

It’s not hard to find Chinese or Japanese restaurants in the CSRA, but that’s not the case with Filipino restaurants, according to Roy Publico. Publico, whose parents were born and raised in the Philippines, is excited about Yaya’s Philippine Cuisine, which just opened in Martinez. Yaya’s is the newest business to join OPP Kitchen, a shared kitchen space located at 359 Furys Ferry Road. The business sells a variety of Filipino dishes, including chicken adobo, barbecue sticks, and lumpia, which are spring rolls filled with pork and vegetables. “Yaya’s opening

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Consumer Stories

Local baker to launch Evans storefront this week

Arielle Page hasn’t opened her dessert shop yet, but people have already stopped by to let her know they follow her on social media. This week, Page, owner of Arie’s Confectionaries, plans to open a storefront located at 1202 Town Park Lane, Suite 106 in Evans near Takosushi. She sells full-size and mini cheesecakes in various flavors, including key lime, Oreo, red velvet, and strawberry. Arie’s will also offer a flavor of the week and seasonal flavors, such as pumpkin and salted caramel apple, as well as tea, coffee, and

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Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: A miracle gave Simbia Thomas new sight on God’s mission for her career

Simbia Thomas was barely out of kindergarten when she realized the power of entrepreneurship. Having become a “shampoo girl,” someone who performs shampooing-only duties at a hair salon, alongside her aunt, a master cosmetologist, she was amazed at the amount of cash flow for providing a service women loved. She was 6 when she asked her aunt a question that would change the trajectory of her life, “How can I make that kind of money?” “I was making $5-$10 a head just shampooing!” recalls the native South Carolinian. “My aunt

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