Augusta, GA
Downtown Augusta grows as new businesses open their doors
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – As winter gives way into spring, more and more people will be looking for a fun place to head after work and on the weekends — whether to grab a drink or a bite to eat.
And a growing number of businesses coming to the area are providing plenty of options.
Craft beer and wine shop “Tip Top Taps” just opened its doors on Thursday after relocating from Evans to Augusta.
The business cut the red ribbon, marking the start of a brand new journey as a place to hang out and grab some beer, wine or champagne. They even have free popcorn and an atmosphere that mimics a backyard.
They are just one of the latest examples of how downtown continues to grow.
It was a big day for Marty Koger as he cut the ribbon on his new tap house.
“Augusta’s got another dynamic and it’s got some of the best restaurants in the CSRA and we want to be part of all of that and part of those success stories,” said Koger.
They are just one of the latest examples of how downtown continues to grow.
They’re a success story just like Nacho Mama’s, which is located in the heart of downtown Augusta.
But it’s a journey Berry Blackston says hasn’t always been easy.
“We’ve seen downtown go from street lights turning off at five in the afternoon to the inability to find a parking space at any given time. So we’ve seen a lot of change,” said Blackston.
Margaret Woodards with the Downtown Development Authority says a lot of the foot traffic is coming in from the entertainment district and soon will be downtown living.
“You’ve really gotten there when you have a downtown living population because it gives you that 24/7 feel of people living downtown. They tend to work downtown and then play downtown,” said Woodard.
She says more foot traffic calls for more expansion.
“We’ve seen a tremendous net gain of businesses over the last five years. I believe in 2021, it was 53 new businesses opened up last year was 47 new businesses opened up and something amazing like 11 expansions, businesses expanding,” said Woodard.
As empty buildings on Broad Street breathe new life, Woodard says the goal is to always have something new to do in the Garden City.
“There’s more for people to do now. You can come downtown and eat, go look at the bookstore, then go have a beer somewhere or go have a specialty cocktail at Vance’s Bakery Bar. They’re just so many great things to do,” said Woodard.
Right now, the DDA is still tallying up how many new businesses have opened up from 2023 until now, but Woodard says more restaurants are coming to lower Broad Street this year.
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Golden Harvest Food Bank is partnering with local legal organizations for the 15th Annual Georgia Food Frenzy.
The fundraising competition is held in partnership with Feeding Georgia, the Office of the Georgia Attorney General, the State Bar of Georgia, and the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia.
The two-week competition runs from April 20th through May 1st, and every dollar raised stays local, supporting Golden Harvest’s work across the state of Georgia.
Groups can register at www.galegalfoodfrenzy.org/sign-up, and registration will remain open throughout the competition.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Georgia gubernatorial candidate Geoff Duncan campaigned in Augusta ahead of Election Day, making stops at two churches and meeting with local faith leaders.
The former lieutenant governor visited Good Hope Baptist Church on Cedar Street, where he spoke with the Greater Augusta Interfaith Coalition’s “Music to the Polls” group.
Duncan told us that, if elected governor, he wants to expand Medicaid, pass what he called “common-sense gun legislation,” and create more economic opportunities statewide. He also pointed to affordability concerns impacting families and businesses.
“I want to take $1.7 billion of our state’s fund and wrap it around the axle of poverty,” Duncan said, adding that he wants to lower child care costs and improve temporary assistance programs.
Duncan also stopped at Miles Memorial Church on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
NJ apartment dwellers, renters have these options for help with rent
State and local officials say several programs are designed to help low and moderate-income households stay housed in the face of financial distress.
As rent prices continue to strain budgets, a new study is highlighting where Georgians can save the most by splitting housing costs.
According to a report from SmartAsset, some cities in Georgia offer major savings for renters who choose to live with a roommate.
Here’s what to know.
Where can you save the most in Georgia?
The study ranks Augusta as the top city in Georgia for roommate savings, and No. 6 in the country.
Renters there can save about 45% on monthly rent, or roughly $450 per month, by sharing an apartment.
Here’s how the costs compare in Augusta:
- One-bedroom rent: $1,000
- Two-bedroom rent: $1,100
- Estimated monthly savings with a roommate: $450
Why are roommate savings so high?
With rent prices rising, splitting costs has become one of the easiest ways to cut monthly expenses.
The study shows that sharing rent can significantly reduce housing costs, especially in cities where prices have climbed in recent years.
How does Georgia compare to the rest of the country?
Here’s the top 10 cities in the US for saving with a roomate:
- Cleveland, OH
- Baton Rouge, LA
- Jersey City, NJ
- Memphis, TN
- Boise, ID
- Augusta, GA
- New Haven, CT
- Chattanooga, TN
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Shreveport, LA
Methodology
The study analyzed 100 U.S. cities using rental data from March 2025 to March 2026 from Zumper, comparing one-bedroom rents to half the cost of two-bedroom apartments to estimate savings from sharing with a roommate.
For more information, visit smartasset.com/data-studies/roommate-savings-2026.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
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