Restaurants/Food

Consumer Stories

Local car dealership offers unique restaurant option

Sharon Caskey runs a restaurant that gives new meaning to “drive-in.” The restaurant, At Your Service Gourmet Cafe, is located inside the Jim Hudson Lexus dealership at 3410 Washington Road in Martinez. Caskey was selling cars for Jim Hudson Lexus when its General Manager, Bill Gibbs, told her they wanted to add a food concept to the new dealership and asked if she would be interested in running it. Caskey developed the concept and name, and the café opened in October 2018. If the concept sounds unusual, that’s because it

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Business Lunch: Baldino’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 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

Read More »
Consumer Stories

New pub brings a taste of Ireland to Aiken

Ireland is a small country with a big personality. Spanning generations of cultural unrest – a result of famine, oppression, civil wars, and invasions – it is surprising that the Irish collectively claim a chirpy disposition. Marty Dubber and his business partner, James Anderson, have managed to bundle a menu and the cheerful atmosphere of an authentic Irish public house, named Jameson McDubby’s, almost 4,000 miles away from the Emerald Isle, and put it right in the heart of downtown Aiken at 126 Laurens Street. Dubber grew up in Georgia,

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Texas-based salad restaurant company plans franchises in Augusta locations

A growing restaurant chain plans to expand by launching new franchise locations in Augusta, possibly as early as next year, according to Julie Davis. Davis, Vice President of franchise development for Salata Salad Kitchen, said the Houston-based company already has 10 locations throughout the Atlanta area. But based on market research and Augusta’s demographics, particularly population density and income, she said the city would be an ideal place to expand its brand. Salata is currently looking for franchisees who want to open locations in this area. “We’re looking to connect

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: Full Speed Ahead in Faith: Young businessman tests his faith limits, one ride at a time

Bible stories on faith Tyrique Robinson heard about as a child, he admits, didn’t mean much. Now, as a 20-year-old father of one, businessman, and military veteran, he says his faith means everything.  After all, it is only by God’s grace that he has beaten negative statistics that often plague young, Black men. He wants to share his blessings with others through Dream Luxury Transportation & Limousine Service. “Our motto is ‘Making Dreams Come True,’” said the Augusta native. “Transportation is my skillset, and I already had a trucking company.

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: McNeely’s Place

Editor’s Note: Our regular lunch reviewer, Wes Hennings, is taking a few weeks of paternity leave. While we assume he is still eating something, somewhere, he won’t be writing about it while he’s off duty. Meanwhile, ABD editor, Gary Kauffman will pinch-hit with the reviews of his lunches with a colleague, as a way to advise our business community on the good, the bad, and the tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let the restaurant know where he is going; his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: Catching them before they fail keeps one tutor’s faith from falling

The excuse, “The dog ate my homework” will not fly with one local educator. After all, that may have been one reason some students find themselves under the tutelage of Heather Denson in the first place. At N.E.T. (No Excuses Today) Tutorial Service, she requires more because she sees the potential students don’t see in themselves. From her native hometown of Atlanta to Boston to New York to Augusta, she has seen the power of tutoring change lives and GPAs. “We provide tutoring for all subjects,” Denson said. “I tutor

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Business Dinner Review: Fuse

Editor’s Note: Our regular lunch reviewer, Wes Hennings, is taking a few weeks of paternity leave. While we assume he is still eating something, somewhere, he won’t be writing about it while he’s off duty. Meanwhile, ABD editor, Gary Kauffman will pinch-hit with the reviews of his lunches with a colleague, as a way to advise our business community on the good, the bad, and the tasty across the CSRA. He doesn’t let the restaurant know where he is going; his opinions are his own. He grades the restaurants he

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Chick-fil-A tests CSRA patrons on their appetite for a new product

Chick-fil-A is seeing if the appetites of people in the CSRA will give them the go-ahead to try a new breakfast treat nationwide. Beginning this week, Chick-fil-A launched its new breakfast, Chorizo Cheddar Egg Bites in several test markets. The test markets include nine stores in the Augusta-Aiken areas. “We’ve sold more than we expected to,” said Adam Knight, operating partner of the Aiken Chick-fil-A in the Eastgate shopping center. Chick-fil-A’s goal is to sell about 60 of the four-bite orders per day. Bobby Mussucco, the managing partner of the

Read More »
Consumer Stories

Local baker launches 1950’s-inspired dessert business

Corry D’Alessandro wasn’t alive in the 1950’s, but she’s still inspired by the decade, which she refers to as a simpler time. That’s why D’Alessandro, a New Jersey native and owner of a local home-based dessert business called Mother Truckin Eatz, LLC, has given many of her treats 50’s-inspired names, such as June Cleaver and Susie Q. She offers a variety of American and Italian desserts, such as cookies, cakes, and biscotti. D’Alessandro’s passion for baking can be traced back to her Italian grandmother, who will soon turn 100. Her

Read More »