Just across the Savannah River, communities are ready to give Masters Week visitors a taste of Southern hospitality.
“The businesses will be welcoming both guests and locals all week long,” Avery Spears-Mahoney, Director of North Augusta Forward, told ABD.
The businesses dotting along Georgia Avenue offer an eclectic assortment of products. Starting with gourmet foods and olive oils at the Grove Gourmet Market, visitors can stroll to the Pink Dipper for hand-dipped ice cream treats, enjoy handmade baked goods at Shelia’s Baking Company, shop for new and vintage toys at the Orange Otter, and cap off the visit with a beverage from Cavalier’s Coffeehouse.
Spears-Mahoney said Masters Week visitors are very impactful, particularly for North Augusta Forward’s initiatives, including downtown development and expansion and amenities for the Greeneway.
“We apply for the accommodations tax each year, and obviously Masters Week, or the two weeks now that we kind of talk about, contribute significantly to that funding. Each year, that funding is growing, and it just provides more and more opportunity for us to apply for those accommodations tax dollars and turn them right back into positive initiatives for building better quality of life in our community.”
There are new things to explore, including a just-opened access point to the popular Greeneway near the Municipal Building.
“The downtown Greenway connector is new, and that’ll be a really good opportunity for folks to experience both downtown and connect to the Greenway in Hammonds Ferry,” said Spears-Mahoney. “Then that gives an opportunity to also experience Riverside village and Hammonds Ferry businesses as well. Then the art tunnel in downtown, the Greenway at Center Street will also be a great opportunity for folks to see how things have progressed and give them something to look forward to next year.”
Will Williams, Executive Director of Western SC Economic Development, said Masters Week can mean future economic growth.
“There’s intentional focus on making sure we have our best foot forward, because you just never know who’s going to be here and what, what idea they’ll leave with,” he said. “A corporate CEO could fly into the Aiken airport or they could have eaten at one of our restaurants, whether it be in North Augusta or downtown Aiken, had a positive experience, like the vibe the communities give off and say, ‘Hey, we need to look a little more deeply into what else this community has.’”
North Augusta sustained damage from Hurricane Helene that temporarily forced the closing of the Greeneway. It reopened just before Christmas while the city continued clearing streets of storm debris. However, one well-known attraction remains closed.
“The Living History Park is still not open to the public, so it was hit very hard, and that’s probably one of the main areas that is still closed. I believe there’s an area at Boeckh Park that might still be closed as well,” said Spears-Mahoney
North Augusta Tourism has also launched a website, Explore North Augusta (www.explorenorthaugusta.com/), to guide visitors to all the city has to offer.
The home page explains, “Collaborating with the City of North Augusta, North Augusta Forward, and Friends of the Greeneway (FROG), we aim to elevate this charming town into a vibrant and irresistible destination. Let’s join forces and make North Augusta the place to be!”
In the end, Spears-Mahoney simply wants visitors to explore North Augusta and feel welcome.
“Come to North Augusta and see what we have to offer and experience all of the local businesses that pour their heart and soul into our community, day in and day out. And this is just a great opportunity to support that and keep that, that local vibe going, so that year after year, when these people come back, they can continue to experience that and see the growth.”
To learn more about North Augusta Forward, visit https://northaugustaforward.org/
