Augusta, GA

Downtown businesses see increase in sales after busy month

Published

2 years ago

June 27, 2024

Press Room

Downtown businesses see increase in sales after busy month

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Downtown Augusta businesses are seeing an economic boost after a busy few weekends.

It comes nearly three weeks after a gunman opened fire into a crowd on Broad Street.

Just a few weeks after downtown was shattered by the shooting, the garden city is rebounding with Juneteenth and Pride — all of which are having a positive impact on business.

And with temperatures shooting up, there’s been a concern business would wilt in the hot weather.

“Of course, the weather is not helping with it being so incredibly hot,” said Hope Trujillo, manager at Pineapple Ink.

But the events downtown these past two weekends have helped move things in the right direction.

“We were way busier than normal we had a lot of high numbers we had a lot of visitors from out of town stop in,” said Trujillo.

Pride and Juneteenth both created foot traffic in downtown Augusta.

“But that Saturday when it was complete Pride events downtown, the parade at the commons, we did 200 plus cover the whole day which is really phenomenal for a small place like ourselves,” said Trujillo.

Whether a business has been downtown for three weeks or two years, everyone saw the increase.

“We’ve been here three weeks. This Friday will be one month. I can say with the festival that happened I saw some new faces we were a little bit busier than usual,” said Anna Chavez, manager of El Paso.

Trujillo said: “We were absolutely surprised we were way busier than normal.”

Hitting just the right note at just the right time.

“Well, you do have that little slow time it’s the end of school families are going on vacation we have that little slump, so Pride and Juneteenth helped downtown get passed that little slump,” said Trujillo.

Businesses hope to see more people find their way downtown as summer goes on. They just hope the heat doesn’t keep people at home.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Augusta Fire to showcase progress on new Fire Station #3 construction

Published

19 minutes ago

March 30, 2026

Press Room

Augusta Fire to showcase progress on new Fire Station #3 construction

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – Augusta Fire is showcasing progress on its new Fire Station #3 construction site Monday with a public tour of the facility.

The tour is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon at the construction site at 2075 Powell Road.

The approximately 12,500-square-foot facility will feature three apparatus bays, modern living quarters, administrative space and support areas designed to enhance firefighter readiness and emergency response.

“The progress we’ve made on this fire station reflects our commitment to public safety and community resilience,” said Fire Chief Antonio Burden. “We’re proud of what this station represents for our community: enhanced protection, improved readiness and continued investment in the future.”

Johnson Laschober Associates designed the station. Spratlin Construction is building it in coordination with the Augusta government and the Augusta Fire Department leadership.

Representatives from Spratlin Construction will also be on-site to provide project updates.

The only entrance to the site is on Powell Road. Parking is not permitted on the construction site. Visitors should park along Powell Road and follow all posted safety guidance.

Source link

Augusta, GA

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

Published

12 hours ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

Local group holds 4th annual walk against autism

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – April is Autism Awareness Month, and one local group raised awareness with a walk in Augusta on Sunday.

The fourth annual autism walk was hosted by Moving Over Mountains Against autism at Lake Olmstead Park.

All proceeds from the walk support autism awareness initiatives.

We spoke with the CEO and founder of the group, Deidre Roberson, who said this year they are dedicating the walk to their photographer, who died recently.

Roberson told us what she looks forward to the most.

“I look most forward to seeing the different people every year. We always meet different people, new people, and they come from all over the CSRA, so Washington, Wilkes, Carolina,” she said.

There were also several vendors providing resources to families.

Source link

Augusta, GA

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

Published

1 day ago

March 29, 2026

Press Room

From Augusta roots to Nighthawks leader: Nolan Belcher comes home

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF)- Augusta University baseball is in a three-game series matchup against the University of North Georgia.

AU is currently down in the series 0-2 after a close loss Friday and a loss Saturday.

But we aren’t focusing on the Jags, we’re going to take a look at North Georgia’s head coach, Nolan Belcher.

He is an Augusta native who began his career at Greenbrier and Augusta Christian.

He won three state championships, which then led him to play for the South Carolina Gamecocks.

There he won back-to-back national championships and finished runner up in 2012.

His coaching career began after that where he eventually joined the Peach belt Confrence, coaching at USCA and GCSU.

Now in his first season as head coach for the Nighthawks, he is happy to come home and coach in front of his friends and family.

“I’m very fortunate that I got family that, one is still around and they can come watch me do what I love. And, they’ve shown me, nothing but support throughout my whole coaching career and even back on my playing dates are very thankful and appreciative for everything they’ve done for me.”

AU and UNG will have their final series match on Sunday.

Source link