Evans resident April Berry decided to pose a question on the Connect Augusta Facebook page March 2 and got more responses than she ever expected.
She asked people what the top five businesses and/or services they thought Augusta needs. Within 24 hours the question received more than 700 comments.
Berry said she likes to travel and notices great things in other places while she sees businesses closing down in her hometown. Thinking about starting a new venture, she is curious about what type of entity might flourish in the area.
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The top response by Facebook readers was Trader Joe’s, she said of the grocery store that sells food and drinks from around the globe. A water park and water lake activities also topped the list.
There is a “Bring Trader Joe’s to Augusta” Facebook page. Readers of Connect Augusta page are not the only ones who want to see the company set up camp in the CSRA. The page boasts more than 5,000 followers.
Commenters may get their water-park wish if Richmond County residents vote to reimpose a penny sales tax. The next SPLOTST package includes $5 million towards a water park attraction at Diamond Lakes.
“The Cheesecake Factory was another one that was a popular request,” Berry said.
One commenter said she wanted to see a family-type restaurant in Augusta’s Southside.
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“I hate having to drive all the way to Washington Rd to eat in a nice restaurant, and I’m sure there are plenty of people that live here that feel the same way,” she wrote.
Another woman made a traditional request.
“A barn dance for families,” she wrote. “No alcohol, no cursing, just a pure family fun place to go and take the little ones, plus the old ones, with food, games and music.”
Some of the suggestions were off the beaten path. Jason Simmons suggested a zipline that stretches from South Carolina to Georgia and provides patrons with a rope bridge to return.
“I was happy to see so many responses,” Berry said and added that people want to see more in Augusta in both Richmond and Columbia Counties. “It has the potential to be so much more.”
Shellie Smitley is a staff writer for The Augusta Press. Reach her at shellie@theaugustapress.com
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