PJA

The 67,000 sp. ft Academy Sporswear will have its grand opening on September 27.

Here's the details on a new store coming to North Augusta.

The Aiken County town of New Ellenton has expressed interest of having a Sam's built there if they are unable to have it built in Aiken. Here are the details.

Another restaurant comes downtown. The Aiken based New Moon opens it's second location in downtown Augusta. Here's the article on this interesting eatery.

Moe's Bar & Grill in the Mullins Crossing Shopping Center and Sticky Fingers in the Augusta Exchange are now open.

Another Starbuck's is coming. The old Pier One in front of Toys R Us and the Augusta Mall is being converted into a mini-retail strip. Two of the confirmed tenants are Starbucks and Cingular Wireless. Here are the details. That will be the closest free standing Starbucks where I live. Now if they can just put one in South Augusta.

Here's an article on some of the improvements going on at the Savannah Rapids Pavillion. I've attended a couple of events there and it's a very nice place but I always thought more could be done. I'm glad to see that there will be.

I thought I would post about this here instead of creating a new thread. What do you all think of them ending the city buses runing on Saturdays? I know a lot of people who have vistited here say that Augusta has one of the worse public transportation systems already but this will make it worse. I've never used the bus system here but I would hate to be someone who is depending on it. Here's an article.

Here's an article talking about the growth of the Greenbrier area in Evans. It's becoming it's own little community. Projects include a medical complex and the Riverwood Plantation neighborhood (which is still adding homes) would like to include a grocery store and a 25,000 to 40,000 sq. ft. retail village.

I found an interesting article in the Metro Spirit about the proposed Sam's Club expansion on Bobby Jones Expressway. Sam's is going to have to move due to the Bobby JOnes & I-20 interchanged being reconstructed. The new interchange will cut off some of Sam's parking lot. The owners of the shopping center want Sam's to be relocated next door to Tractor Supply and Sportman's Link but the owner of Sportman's Link doesn't want to move. Here's the article. It's rather interesting. I see both sides of the story. I think it would be beneficial for Sam's to stay in the shopping center because if not they would probably move to Columbia County. At the same time I wouldn't want to be forced to leave a location especially if I had a lease.

Here's an article about a building downtown http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/082606/bus_94026.shtml Downtown is really booming.

Martinez may be getting a few major improvements. Here's the details.

Yeah they will still be open on Laney Walker. They also have a catering buisness located inside Enterprise Mill and a store in Evans.

Fat Man's Cafe will be coming to Fort Discovery on the Riverwalk. They will be located in the old Gorin's restuarant area inside Ft. Discovery.

Another thing is I think that locally owned restuarants have a better chance downtown. like you said if a Macaroni Grill or another "chain" italian restaurant opens close to Luigi's in Evans, it will decrease business. As of right now there aren't that many chain restaurants close to downtown.

I see your point but people have got to realize that there are going to be problems everywhere. Besides things are really looking up for downtown. Now would not be the right time to leave.

Here's an update on the the airport construction update

Here's an article about a North Augusta group who is trying to get the word out about commerce in their city. the article

Here's an update on the Martinez Wal-mart expansion. update

The Imperial Theatre is set to install a new 160,000 dollar marquee. Here's the story.

A second Avondale Mills plant in Graniteville is expected to be sold by next Friday, saving 100 more jobs. As mentioned about a month ago, one of the plants was already sold which saved 250 jobs. The other plants in Graniteville are still being marketed to potential buyers.

Tony Wilson, the guy whose band backed James Brown at the festival, has come up with a plan to create a billboard on the expressway that would invite people to come downtown and have take a picture with the James Brown statue. I think it's a good idea that would drive more travelers downtown, espcially those that just drive through Augusta without ever getting off of I-20.

Here's an update on the University Hospital expansion update

The Blue Horse will be bringing a lot of traffic to downtown. Their first event was very successful from what I heard.

Despite Graniteville's huge loss, they are getting a few major developments in the near future. Aiken County has been named the hottest real estate market in South Carolina and that is helping Graniteville out. Here's the article.