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B2B Stories

Initiative to help local business owners address problems with homeless population

For 20 years, Diane Tribble owned a successful hair salon in Augusta, but about a month ago, she made the difficult decision to close her business, thanks to mounting problems with the city’s homeless population. On Tuesday, Tribble, former owner of Diane & Co. located at 3128 Washington Road, was one of many local business owners who spoke about her experiences at a town hall discussion on homelessness led by Richmond County Sheriff, Richard Roundtree, who unveiled a new initiative called the Property Owner Response Team. The initiative, which has

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B2B Stories

New build-for-rent community breaks ground

Crews have broken ground on West Park Townhomes on Wheeler Road, across from Doctors Hospital. Ivey Group and Batson Cook are developing the 262-home community and both companies have extensive experience in the Augusta market. The Ivey Group is one of the region’s largest homebuilders, and BCDC (Batson-Cook Development Company) is a real estate development investor. West Park Townhomes is their first joint-venture partnership. The 262-home build-for-rent townhome community will be on a more than 29-acre site on Wheeler Road. The project is located near the intersection of Interstates 20

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Closings

Another national retailer announces plans to close all its locations

It’s been a tough year for corporations and another major retailer has announced it won’t make it to Christmas 2023. Christmas Tree Shops is joining a growing list of companies, such as Bed Bath & Beyond and buybuy BABY, that are closing all their locations nationwide. All three stores are currently in the Augusta Exchange shopping center. ABD reached out to the Augusta store located at 239 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Parkway, next to Target for more information. Signs at the store advertise sales of up to 50 percent off

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Closings

International grocery store chain to close CSRA location this weekend

Jennifer Sparling has been a loyal Lidl shopper ever since the grocery store location opened in North Augusta in Sept. 2017. But now that the German retailer has announced it will close that location on Sunday, Sparling isn’t sure where she plans to buy coffee, bread, and other staples for her family. The store is located at 417 East Martintown Road. “I’ve always been a proponent of frugal living, so I love their reasonable prices, and they’ve helped to keep me and my family fed without struggle,” Sparling said. She

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B2B Stories

Local young professionals honored for professional, community service

As a local business owner, Patricia Galvan Fuentes enjoys giving back to the community. Galvan Fuentes, who co-owns three CSRA restaurants with her family: Taqueria El Rey, La Cocina Del Rey, and The Munchies Lab, has been selected by the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Augusta Magazine as one of the 2023 Top 10 in 10 Young Professionals to Watch. The honorees were recognized at the Chamber’s Member Economic Luncheon last Thursday, July 29. ABD asked Galvan Fuentes about her plans for the next 10 years. “I hope to

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B2B Stories

Local business owners offer fun alternative to traditional painting

For many people, painting is a way to relax, hone their craft or express their creativity, but a new business opening today in North Augusta will allow both children and adults to create fun, unique paintings that require no artistic talent. Chris and Brandy Gunsolus own The Splatter Place located at 614 East Martintown Road, Suite C, across the street from Krystal and next door to Aishi Steak & Wings. The business gives customers the chance to throw ultraviolet blacklight reactive paint at a variety of canvases, including hats, T-shirts,

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B2B Stories

Expert presents optimistic news regarding economic outlook

When experts speak about the economic outlook, the news is often grim. But according to one economist, there are many reasons to be optimistic about future growth in the U.S. economy. While many predicted a recession in 2023, Dr. David Altig, Executive Vice President and Director of Research for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, said there’s currently little evidence to support that prediction. Yesterday, Altig served as the keynote speaker for Augusta Technical College’s third annual Mid-Year Economic Outlook. “The U.S. economy is much stronger than we predicted, and

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B2B Stories

Passport backlog jeopardizing travel plans for business and leisure

Summertime is traveling time and if you are venturing abroad, be aware there could be a big hitch in your plans. Whether traveling for business, pleasure, for students involved in international studies, or for church groups visiting other countries for ministry work, the new rules will apply. The standard passport renewal process, which typically takes a few weeks, can now take up to 13 weeks, not counting mail time which could add two or three more weeks. Even expedited service could take up to nine weeks. For a couple of

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B2B Stories

Military rallies around restaurant grand opening

For 25-year veteran, Kelly O’Neal (pictured above) and his retired Naval vet wife, Tiffany, a new mission begins this morning with a ribbon cutting and this afternoon with a radio remote. Their new “mission” is to rally thousands of military men and women from the CSRA and “regular folks” who enjoy good food and drinks at their Rally Point Grille restaurant. “I retired with top secret clearance at Fort Gordon,” said Kelly O’Neal. Now, he must re-earn the trust of people following a decorated military career. They are “accidental restaurateurs,”

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ABD Extra

Hitting the road with Georgia’s film industry

Georgia Entertainment News has scheduled the Georgia Unscripted Roadshow to crisscross the state and highlight the impact the entertainment industry has on the Peach State. The organization advocates for Georgia’s entertainment industry and kicked off the road trip on June 22 in Athens. It will continue on its nine-city journey through the state, which includes a planned stop in Augusta on August 23. “We’re advocacy media, we’re a publication that covers the industry,” said Randy Davidson, President of Georgia Entertainment News. “Our editorial pages are pro the state investing further

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