Restaurants/Food

Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: McAlister’s Deli via DoorDash

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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Consumer Stories

Home-based vegan bakery opens in Evans

Kim Schortinghuis’s passion for baking vegan desserts was born out of necessity. Schortinghuis’ 3-year-old son Camden, suffers from severe allergies to both eggs and dairy products, so she needed a way to serve him treats that don’t include those ingredients. “I couldn’t get him a cake pop from Starbucks or cupcakes from a bakery,” says Schortinghuis. “I began reevaluating food in general.” Using her experience baking for him, she launched her own vegan and allergy-friendly bakery, The Vegan Turtle, on Sunday, Jan. 30 and quickly received her first order for

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Consumer Stories

Aiken couple celebrates anniversary of their sweet business

Valentine’s Day is less than two weeks away. What are you planning for your sweetheart? Some say it with flowers, others with candy. If you are thinking sweet stuff, Aikenites swear by Cyndi’s Sweet Shoppe. Today begins their 10th year in business. That’s when Dick and Cindy Rudisill opened their downtown shop in Aiken. Business has been booming ever since. Dick worked in the food and grocery industry. Cindy was in the medical field. The Syracuse, New York natives fell in love with Aiken. “Dick suggested opening a candy store

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Consumer Stories

New restaurant to open for Valentine’s Day

Nothing says, “I love you” like Hibachi Steak & Shrimp… to go! Hibachi Express’s second CSRA location is expected to open in time for Valentine’s Day in the former Taco Bell located on Washington Road near the Bobby Jones Expressway. A construction worker was doing some work in the ample parking lot over the weekend. Restaurants like Taco Bell and Wendy’s had challenges getting its customers in and out of their parking lots in a timely manner and eventually closed. Hibachi Express on 1815 Walton Way in Augusta offers half

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Meet you at The Back Porch

Editor’s Note: Wes Hennings is on vacation from eating out this week! He will return with a new restaurant review next Thursday. Yours truly chose a review he did more than three months ago—a bit off of the beaten path. Enjoy! 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

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Consumer Stories

Local franchise helps combat food shortages

According to a recent article from Reuters, the number of out-of-stock items in U.S. grocery stores has risen from 7-10% prior to the pandemic to its current level of 12-15%. If you’ve been to the grocery store lately, you’ve probably seen empty shelves and limited supplies of just about everything (see photo above story), but Addie Strozier gets quality food delivered right to her door. Strozier – a local photographer – has been a customer of Southern Foods at Home for about six months. “We’re about to place our second

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Consumer Stories

Event to showcase Columbia County restaurants

Columbia County restaurants offer diners a variety of culinary options, and an event next week will celebrate many of those restaurants. The Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia County Convention and Visitors Bureau have teamed up to host the second annual Columbia County Restaurant Week, which will be held Monday, Jan. 24 thru Sunday, Jan. 30. Diners will have the opportunity to enjoy special menu items and discounts at eateries throughout the county, including Cork & Flame, The Ironwood Tavern, and The Acorn Restaurant. As of Thursday afternoon,

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Consumer Stories

Local soda shop mixes flavors and fun

It’s not hard to find a local business that serves soda, but it’s rare to find one that offers as many flavor combinations as Sarge’s Soda Shop (see photo above). Sarge’s – located at 5155 Columbia Road, Suite 106 next to Food Lion in Grovetown – celebrated its soft opening on Monday, Dec. 6, followed by a grand opening on Friday, Jan. 14 and Saturday, Jan. 15. “We have about 20 of our favorites, but we can make any drink combination you want,” says Josh Perkins – co-owner of the

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Consumer Stories

Business Lunch Review: Hibachi Express

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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Consumer Stories

Local healthy dessert business to celebrate soft opening

Amber Connor started her healthy dessert business nearly two years ago, but tomorrow she will celebrate the soft opening of her new storefront in Evans (see photo above story). Connor – owner of Sinless Sweets – is opening her store at 4336 Washington Road, Suite B near Pita Pit. The soft opening will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The business sells a variety of tasty treats, such as cookies, brownies, cakes, and lemon bars. While those desserts are typically packed with sugar, fat, and calories, Sinless Sweets

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