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Consumer Stories

Local restaurateur to launch experimental dining concept

Ramiro Galvan owns a local Mexican restaurant, but he’s about to launch a new, experimental dining concept in Augusta. Galvan, owner of Taqueria El Rey in Martinez and Grovetown, hopes to open The Munchies Lab located at 1022 Walton Way, Suite A next to Diablo’s Southwest Grill next month. The new eatery will feature an eclectic menu that includes sushi, hot dogs, and even provocatively-shaped waffles (see the lower right corner of the menu). He got that idea from a restaurant in California. “There are a lot of people who

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Josh Heath May 12, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Disputing a website’s ranking of Augusta’s affordability

GoodHire has just released its list of the most affordable cities to live and work in 2022 (https://www.goodhire.com/resources/articles/americas-most-affordable-places). They analyzed data from 155 cities with a labor force greater than 150,000. Top of the list is Sioux Falls, S.D. and Los Angeles was bottom. Georgia cities are represented by Atlanta (11), Savannah (47), and Augusta (117). What?! Atlanta is more affordable than Augusta? Something doesn’t seem right, so I looked at their methodology and the data they used. They used data from seven factors to establish their ranking. Wage growth

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Economics Professor May 11, 2022 2 Comments
Closings

Retirement leads to the end of one dry cleaning franchise, and the start of another

After 70 years in the local dry-cleaning business, Brickle’s Cleaners & Laundry has closed its stores, paving the way for Lapels Cleaners, a national franchise, to take over one of its locations. In April, business partners, Frank Booker and Christopher Westbrook opened a Lapels franchise at 4296 Washington Road between Taco Bell and Mattress Man in Evans, the former home of Brickle’s, whose owners retired earlier in the year. Brickle’s opened its original location on Walton Way in 1952. The business name on the front of the building is currently

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Josh Heath May 10, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

State representative discusses gas tax and other legislation to help businesses

By now, you’re familiar with the phrase, “pain at the pump.” Small businesses throughout the state have been hit hard by rising gas prices, but the Georgia General Assembly has passed legislation signed by Gov. Brian Kemp to suspend the gas tax through May 31, according to State Rep. Jodi Lott. Lott, who represents District 122 in Evans, was one of six local legislators who attended the Post-Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce on Friday, May 6. The others were Reps. Barry Fleming, Rob Leverett, and

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Josh Heath May 9, 2022 No Comments
Top Story

Gerald Jones Auto Group to buy Johnson Motor Company

Sometime in late May, Andy Jones hopes to be driving some hard bargains in Aiken County, while Duncan Johnson Jr. will be riding off into the sunset. Representatives of the Gerald Jones Auto Group confirmed to ABD that an agreement is in place for the sale of Johnson Motor Company’s Aiken location to Gerald Jones. The closing is expected to occur in late May. The deal, when completed, will give the Gerald Jones Auto Group a chance to sell two new brands – GMC and Buick – and an opportunity

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Neil Gordon May 6, 2022 No Comments
Awards

Local staffing company selected for Georgia’s Rock Star small business award

When you think of rock stars, names like Jon Bon Jovi, Axl Rose and Paul McCartney may come to mind. But the Georgia Department of Economic Development has selected its list of 2022 Small Business Rock Stars award winners, and Loop Recruiting, a local staffing agency, has been included on that list. To commemorate Small Business Week (May 1-May7), six businesses throughout the state have been chosen to receive the award based on their local impact and community service. Each company was founded in Georgia and has fewer than 100

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Josh Heath May 5, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

Familiar Japanese restaurant moves to new location

A Japanese restaurant that has served the area for 15 years has a new home. Yosko’s is bringing familiar menu items and new ones to the former Flying Biscuit Cafe location in the shopping center outside the Riverwood subdivision in Evans. The restaurant opened in late April. Yosko’s once served its hibachi-style food in the current Laziza’s building in the Publix Shopping Center in Evans and most recently in the Fairway Square Shopping Center. New items include Sukiyaki Steak. Yosko’s version is sirloin steak cooked with a soy ginger and

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Neil Gordon May 5, 2022 No Comments
Consumer Stories

North Augusta artist offers rainbow of services for children and adults

Art store owner Erica Price is much more interested in helping kids have fun and feel special than discovering the next Picasso. Price, owner of Rainbow Factory located at 1367 West Martintown Road, Suite 3 in North Augusta, opened her storefront on Friday, April 1. She offers birthday parties, art camps and classes, as well as adult paint parties. “I like to offer fun, unique parties you won’t find elsewhere,” Price said. These parties allow kids to create jewelry, crafts and even slime. She also hosts mobile parties and face

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Josh Heath May 5, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Simon Says: Numbers don’t always match the words spoken about them

I am sometimes a little skeptical of some numbers bandied around by politicians and economic development folks, but I do understand they are cheerleaders and need to present information in the best light. So, it was with interest that I read in Augusta Business Daily last week that Pat Wilson, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, said Georgia had added 35,000 jobs in the Fiscal Year 2022. The state fiscal year began in July 2021. I looked up the job numbers on the Federal Reserve Economic Data website

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Dr. Simon Medcalfe, AU Economics Professor May 4, 2022 No Comments
B2B Stories

Masters Tournament 2022 numbers return to normal levels

After two pandemic years, local merchants and hotels were glad to see crowds and income on par with pre-covid years. It was standing room only at TBonz during the 2022 Masters Tournament, according to Henry Scheer. The restaurant drew much larger crowds than it did in 2019 and 2020. Scheer, co-owner of the well-known restaurant located just blocks from the Augusta National Golf Club, said he was very pleased with the turnout for the first full tournament in three years. The crowds were so large that customers had to wait

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Josh Heath May 3, 2022 No Comments
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