Restaurants/Food

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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Consumer Stories

Faith Friday: Sweet tale of retirement to proprietorship gives local woman new outlook of purpose

The logo of one local business depicts a cheerful, apron-donned woman whose head is in the shape of an icing-drizzled Bundt cake. However, for Katrina Golden, baking homemade goodies from scratch is not only in her head but also in her heart. The 52-year-old retiree is now taking her heart’s desire to the masses through Lil Mama’s Sweets and Treats. “My husband and son operate the business with me and we also have a small staff,” Golden said. “We started this business after I retired from the Social Security Administration

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: First Watch

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

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Consumer Stories

Local entrepreneurs celebrate the grand opening of a shared kitchen, retail space

When you think of a food court, large corporations like Chick-fil-A and Auntie Anne’s probably come to mind. But Onnie Sanford has launched her own food court featuring only local businesses. Sanford, the owner of Paleo Num Yums located at 359 Furys Ferry Road, has turned her shop into a new shared kitchen and retail space called OPP Kitchen, LLC. OPP stands for Other People Prepping. She now shares space with four other businesses: Angelino’s Street Tacos, PJ’s Snacky Sack, Uprooted Vegan Cuisine, and ZipChef. Sanford and the other entrepreneurs

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