In this premiere business column, let’s say “hello” to some businesses and “goodbye” to business leaders who have either retired, moved on to other markets, or switched careers.
Since I cannot title this column, “Buzz on Biz” — as I sold the brand to Morris — or “Scuttlebiz”– since Damon Cline coined that phrase at the Augusta Chronicle, I’ll keep it simple.
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My esteemed Editor-in-Chief, Debbie van Tuyll, chose Monday as our weekly appointment together, so I chose the moniker of “Money Monday.” (You’ll learn I like alliterations, alright)?
All of my Biz Briefs (hmmm that could have worked as a title!) will have some reference to money or the economy etc…
So, with that bit of housekeeping out of the way, let’s say “hello” to…..
Ashley Furniture…. moving into the former Kroger on Wrightsboro Road across from the Augusta Mall. A very thorough salesperson at the Robert C. Daniel Parkway store told me how excited he’s getting for their Grand Opening around May 2021.
This will be built out as a “Premiere” store model and be the nicest and one of the largest in the 24 store franchisee chain, owned by the Broad River company .
The old Kroger location is 8,000 square feet larger than the existing store and as one door closes… another one opens…and CSRA shoppers will benefit.
“We will have a clearance store closing on Robert C. Daniel about a month-and-a-half before Grand Opening,” said my sales guy.
….
Good Vibes Yoga… re-opened Jan. 1 at the entrance to the extended part of the Riverwatch Parkway at Old Evans Road. It’s in the old Food Lion Shopping Center in Martinez.
The studio’s co-owner is Bethany Roley of “Bethany’s Bootcamp” and “Fierce Fitness” fame. She partners with Michele Guest.
They announced in December they were closing for good after pausing for a few months during the pandemic. They made the decision to close permanently at the time because so many clients didn’t come back due to COVID-19 fears.
“It bothered me to close because the silent effect of the pandemic is anxiety and depression,” said the 15-year fitness business owner. “Yoga can really help, and we were the only yoga studio left in Columbia County,” added Roley.
The shopping center owner is based in Maryland, owning several restaurants and businesses affected by COVID-19. As a fellow female business owner, she empathized with Roley’s plight and gave her an offer she couldn’t refuse.
“We are getting a couple of months without rent in order to try to rebrand and rebuild our membership,” said Roley.
Nice.
The downward dog continues.
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Starbucks… outside of the Riverwood subdivision in the Publix Plaza in Evans.
The coffee shop giant is set to open in the summer of 2021 in a standard size of 2500-square feet.
Should be end of story, right?
Starbucks opens. Drive through line forms. Baristas knock out lots of lattes. Company makes big bucks. Not so fast!
Neighbors in some of the nearby subdivisions are loyal to the local, mother/daughter team that opened The Rooted Coffeehouse a few years back—despite some service issues.
I explored this “David vs. Goliath” story more fully in yesterday’s paper.
It’s time now to say goodbye professionally to……
Bryan Haltermann, one of the “grandfathers” of the mixed-use development of Broad Street in downtown Augusta. His lane since 1988 has mostly been leasing commercial space on the bottom floor and loft apartments on the upper floors.
The 67-year-old is ready to do something else and retired from real estate on Jan. 1.
After selling some of his buildings in 2019 and 2020, he’s hired Vireo Property Management on Broad Street to lease out space in his remaining portfolio of 15 buildings.
“On one hand, we’ve come a long way, as we used to only have a few restaurants. It’s much better now on Broad Street. Retail has a meager presence. We have a long way to go,” said the upstate New York native.
He says downtown Augusta is on an upward trajectory of being cleaner and safer, and he’ll still come to his Augusta office to work on other projects— just not real estate.
Halterman says he is ready to focus on his creative side. He’s working on writing his second book—about the landscape of Augusta, and he’s ready to pick up his camera to do more videography and photography.
“I like to interview elderly people and like learning about what it’s like living in Augusta for them and important things in their life,” he added.
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Damon Cline, the long-time business editor of the Augusta Chronicle was one of at least three full-time employees who took a buyout from Gannett in December 2020.
Cline’s gone to work for Will Rogers of Ameriprise Financial.
Cline’s role is as a para-planner to help manage Roger’s client load with about 80 percent of his time and help with marketing the other 20 percent.
This is the second time the humble ex-journalist has left the daily newspaper for greener, PR Pastures—once taking a communications role for AU—working for the controversial Dr. Ricardo Azziz.
Luckily for Cline—this Will Rogers also never met a man he didn’t like. I first interviewed the financial adviser about 30 years ago on Channel 12, and he’s still on the tube there doling out advice.
Cline’s excellent, weekly “Scuttlebiz” column is the inspiration for our weekly visits in this space.
Since this is the first column for Augusta Press, I thought it’d be good to end in prayer on a few spiritual leaders who have moved on. Their salaries were paid by the generous contributions of church goers and radio listeners, so they made the “Money Monday” column.
Safe travels to Jeff Bumgardner, the former DOVE award-winning music ministry leader of North Augusta’s First Baptist Church. He and his family have relocated to Texas so he could take a similar ministry position for a larger church.
“We are so grateful for the past eight years with the amazing people of North Augusta,” he wrote on his Facebook page in the midst of about 300 kind comments.
The Bumgardners and Gordons share a sad connection— each having lost a child. I hope they continue their non-profit honoring Ella, named after their 9-year-old daughter who passed away.
Steve Swanson and his wife Susie retired from North Augusta’s 88.3 WAFJ radio as of Jan. 1.
Many CSRA companies and employees used the free job board he instituted years ago and appreciated the calming influence of his on-air talent and contemporary, praise music.
A few days ago, he and I had lunch together—something we used to do regularly before COVID-19.
He’s been my trusted, moral compass in business for many years.
There are many lessons any of us can learn from someone like Steve. For me, it was always to be “intentional” in our actions and to follow through and to set goals.
To that end, I pledge to you that I will come armed with these types of “Business Bits” each Monday in this space. In my younger years, I used to have eyes in the back of my head. I know my limitations now and can use your help from time to time!
My criteria is pretty simple. If you know of a business that is going in or out of business, expanding, reaching a significant milestone or winning an award please email me.
Neil Gordon is a business contributor with The Augusta Press. Reach him at neil.gordon@theaugustapress.com
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