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Restaurants/Food
Closings

Gary’s Hamburgers down to one store after 42 years

After a temporary closure this Spring and Summer and more than a dozen years in Martinez, Gary Gibson is closing his locally run restaurant due to health and staffing issues. Gary Gibson tells ABD surgeries and physical therapy have slowed him down and haven’t enabled him to recruit employees at a time when it’s harder than ever to compete with other employers, despite nearly doubling his wages in five years. “Before Covid, our starting wage was $8 per hour, and now it’s $14-15 per hour,” said Gibson. He used to

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Neil Gordon August 15, 2025 No Comments
Consumer Stories

New restaurant being built in Evans

A new restaurant is moving in next door to McDonald’s in front of the shopping center bordering the Riverwood Plantation subdivision in Evans. ABD confirmed with the Wendy’s district manager that the fast-food restaurant is set to open around the end of 2025. It will be the 12th location for the franchisee—and at least the second adjacent to McDonald’s. The competitors are side by side in front of the West Town Shopping Center in Martinez. 60-70 employees will open the new design Wendy’s in the center, which also features a

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Neil Gordon August 13, 2025 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Buffalo Replaces Beef

Contractors were working over the weekend to get a restaurant open for the newest franchise in the Buffalo Luke’s chain. The former Cheeseburger Bobby’s location at the corner of the Bobby Jones Expressway and Rose Lane in Martinez is being re-imagined to suit the theme and colors of Luke’s brand. There are currently three other locations in Georgia, with the next two opening at the Martinez site and in Alabama. Cheeseburger Bobby’s opened nearly ten years ago when two CSRA business leaders, Randall and Reagan Williams, brought the concept to

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Neil Gordon August 11, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Popular Restaurant Expands

A popular Columbia County neighborhood bar and grill is adding a second location outside of another Columbia County neighborhood. Ironwood Tavern’s first location is at 5117 Washington Road in a shopping center next to Subway and Publix, bordering the Riverwood Subdivision in Evans. ABD’s confirmed that Ironwood will lease Suites 1 and 2 (far right end units) outside of the West Lake Subdivision in Martinez, in a newish shopping center on Furys Ferry Road developed by Rafy Bassali, co-owner of several Swank retail stores and Escape Outdoors. Swank, Oxygen Fitness,

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Neil Gordon August 11, 2025 No Comments
Consumer Stories

New grocer opens in area ignored by other supermarkets

It’s been more than 15 years since Gurley’s supermarket was open at 464 Greene Street in downtown Augusta. For Kroger at 501 15th Street, it has been more than eight years since it closed. Now, a Broad Street entrepreneur has opened the Downtown Corner Store in a modest 3,000 square foot building. The building at 1018 Broad Street used to be “Flowers on Broad.” It’s in between an art gallery and a gift shop in an eclectic block in downtown Augusta— and a few doors down from the owner’s other

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Neil Gordon August 5, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

Franchise expands more in CSRA

The newest 7 Brew Coffee drive-thru will be opening on Whiskey Road in Aiken. The signs are up, and the next step is clearing the land. The Walton Way Extension store opened in June on the former Smith’s Chevron property. Once the land was cleared, the store opened in less than two months. There is also a Peach Orchard Road location open in the CSRA. Visit the number 7brew.com for menu information.

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Neil Gordon July 17, 2025 No Comments
Awards/Celebrations

Two CSRA restaurants capture national awards

Raise a glass to two of our own that emerged as Award of Excellence winners by Wine Spectator magazine, billed as a leading authority on wine. It’s quite an honor based on the level of competition across Georgia and South Carolina. The Willcox Inn has aged like fine wine, literally. The hotel was built in 1898 in Aiken, considered the Queen of the Winter Colony. Fine dining and drinks by the fireplace have always been a part of the ambiance. This marks The Willcox restaurant’s 11th year receiving the Wine Spectator

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Mitzi Oxford July 6, 2025 No Comments
Awards/Celebrations

Chocolate champion for 20 years

You are invited to the 20th Anniversary of La Bonbonniere this Friday from 4 to 7 P.M. No surprise. Chocolate is on the menu. Really good chocolate. “Starting out in 2005, I never thought the business would grow to the success it is today, and it really is all thanks to the community. “I started out with a small shop with the cheapest rent I could find, and we had a limited chocolate selection of around ten flavors. While ten flavors may seem like a good amount, all the chocolate

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Neil Gordon June 16, 2025 No Comments
Consumer Stories

FREE Coffee for Grand Opening Week

The Gordon’s spent $405 at our favorite store, Costco, but we did get free store samples and a complimentary German Chocolate flavored cup of coffee last weekend. Marketing baristas were out front of Costco letting people know about today’s grand opening of a coffee drive-thru in West Augusta. 7 Brew officially opens today on the old Smith’s Chevron property at 3600 Walton Way Extension. Customers are invited to a free small flavored coffee all week long during “Community Hours” from 8-9 A.M, Noon- 1 P.M., and 5-6 P.M. That promotion

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Neil Gordon June 15, 2025 No Comments
B2B Stories

How Much is That Doggie in the Window?

After a long day at work, you come home. Who else is going to wag their tail upon your arrival? Not your wife or husband, but when your dog hears the door of your car close, he or she is anxiously awaiting you with a tail going nonstop and kisses to boot. Now, there is another way to reward that loyalty. The Woofing Bakery is a mobile pet bakery based in Aiken, offering cookies, cakes, and doggie donuts. They are all made with fresh, pet-friendly ingredients. Owner, Bela Steele, lost

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Mitzi Oxford June 1, 2025 No Comments
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