We’re tuned in to a CSRA economy slowly shaking loose of COVID-19-related closings, both temporarily and permanently, and new businesses are starting to crop up across the area. It’s a net positive step for Augustan business owners who could experience at least a small boom with “limited” Masters patrons set to arrive in less than two months.
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The New York Butcher Shoppe in Surrey Center is celebrating its second fifth anniversary. After closing in 2011, the restaurant and meat market re-opened in a new storefront at the Highland Avenue shopping center and has thrived since. In addition to providing choice cuts of meat, constant dinner specials are advertised on the store’s Facebook page, enticing potential diners with Angus steaks and chicken parmesan. More information can be found by calling (706) 303-8286 or visiting their website at https://www.nybutcher.com/
While the Butcher Shoppe celebrates another five years open, I <3 Mac & Cheese is a newcomer to the Augusta dining scene. Located across from Costco off Riverwatch Parkway, it’s the newest franchise of a business created about two years ago with locations in a handful of states. An Athens franchise popped up recently, and Augusta’s spot just opened in the last few days.
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Brandie Taylor, a veteran and mother, finished her military service and decided the restaurant business was her next mission. She’s found great success so far and Augusta diners seem to always give new entries a shot.
One of Augusta’s cinemas is closing its doors permanently. GTC Masters Cinemas has been forced to unplug the projector for the final time after almost a year of empty seats proved to be too much for the discount theater.
The doors closed initially in March 2020, briefly re-opened in September, but had to close again in November due to lack of new movies to screen. Masters opened in the late 1970s, shifting eventually into a discount theater screening new releases weeks after their initial run at majorly-reduced prices. GTC’s Evans location and newer Riverwatch location are open on select days, and Regal Cinemas’ location in the Augusta Exchange has been fully closed since October 2020.
There’s a new activity center for kids opening in Augusta, but not a jump house or arcade. Code Ninjas is an educational center for kids that focuses on coding, one of the building blocks of computer programming. There are nearly a dozen franchises open near Atlanta, and the CSRA’s focus on cyber education and jobs should see Code Ninjas’ Augusta location having immediate interest, especially as ways to occupy the kids are in short supply these days.
Tyler Strong is the Business Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach him at tyler@theaugustapress.com
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