Augusta, GA
Downtown bars gear up for early New Year’s Eve celebrations
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Sunday alcohol sales are off the table for Augusta bars thanks to a Georgia law limiting sales to just one Sunday a year.
However, our local businesses are getting creative.
Commissioners say it was a quick decision to pick the Super Bowl but hope to change that for businesses on Broad Street and across Richmond County next year.
For now, it’s about staying positive going into the weekend.
While the effort for collective bar owners’ downtown is to change the city’s current ordinance on Sunday sales next year, they’re still trying to turn things around this weekend.
General Manager Chris McCarthy is gearing up Joe’s Underground for New Year’s Eve’s Eve.
He’s planning on live music, champagne, and even a countdown if customers want it, hoping people will still come out a day early to bring in 2024.
“I don’t particularly give a crap if we’re open for Super Bowl Sunday or not for the Super Bowl. But St. Patty’s Day is one of the biggest days for us in the year and would put us in the black for three months. Cinco de Mayo is huge for us,” said McCarthy.
Local liquor stores like Stevens Creek Wine and Spirits are starting to see their customers hit the shelves early ahead of the big weekend.
The manager says some are stocking up on their home supply with nowhere to go on the night of December 31.
“Some customers come in with sad faces, and when they go, they have smile faces,” said manager Noor Singh.
The commission plans to try and reverse their decision on the 2024 Sunday sales being on Super Bowl Sunday their first meeting of the year.
In the meantime, bars are raising a toast to New Years Eves Eve.
Copyright 2023 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.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Families had the chance to sharpen their money skills at a financial literacy event hosted by local nonprofit Crown Her Mentoring at the Bernie Ward Community Center.
The free event offered resources for all ages, from kids learning the basics to adults planning for their financial future.
Attendees could sit in sessions about budgeting, credit, opening banking accounts and insurance options.
Organizers said the event was designed to make financial education accessible during Financial Literacy Month.
“People need to understand the importance of a checking account, a savings account—how to manage your money. How to invest your money. People need to learn about life insurance,” said Torrecka Davis, organizer.
Crown Her Mentoring will host a mental health awareness event on May 23. Open enrollment for new mentees will begin on May 10.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Shoppers in Augusta will soon lose a longtime retail option, as Lane Bryant’s store inside Augusta Mall is set to close for good this weekend.
Employees at Lane Bryant inside Augusta Mall confirmed that the store will permanently close starting Sunday, April 19.
After the closure, the nearest Lane Bryant location for customers will be in Lexington.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
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