Business boom could bring more foot traffic to Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta saw a net gain in businesses last year with 24 closing their doors and another 53 opening.

Now, the city is predicting a business boom with more housing on its way to the Garden City.

With more businesses opening their doors and continued investment to make them thrive, the hustle and bustle is just getting started.

Whether it’s shopping, socializing or eating, downtown Augusta is slowly growing to have something for everyone.

Karen Heid, owner of Three Crows Fiber on James Brown Boulevard, says she wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.

“We didn’t look anywhere else to open up our store. We just felt like it was really important to invest in our downtown Augusta, try and keep getting people to come back to town to shop,” said Heid.

Leaders behind downtown Augusta’s economic success say retail and service-based businesses are on a positive trend post-pandemic.

Other businesses, like Himothy on Broad Street, say they see the potential of the demand that’s to come.

“I kind of seen that it was about to build up down here, so I wanted to get in before, you know, it actually builds up. So, kind of seen it before it would start to happen,” said Jason Rogers, owner of Himothy.

With thousands more people potentially coming downtown thanks to future investments in housing, Heid says she hopes businesses will start thriving.

“There’ll be a lot of foot traffic around, and we’re real excited to see what the city does with green space as well as sidewalks and things like that to make it convenient,” said Heid.

The Downtown Development Authority says to expect more broader and nicher stores to come into play as Augusta’s foot traffic grows.

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