Augusta, GA

Parker's Hits a New Market

Published

3 weeks ago

May 22, 2024

Press Room

The chain has opened its first c-store in the Augusta, Ga., market, with one more to come next month.

By Kevin McIntyre | May 22, 2024

Parker’s Kitchen has opened its first retail store in Augusta, Ga., with another planned to open in June. Both locations will be open 24/7 to serve customers across the region.

The first new Parker’s Kitchen opened May 22 at 5 a.m. Strategically positioned at the intersection of Mike Padgett Highway and Tobacco Road, the company’s first Augusta, Ga., store will offer award-winning, Southern-inspired food, high-quality fuel and much more.

The next site, located in North Augusta, S.C., is expected to open June 12. The North Augusta store is situated at the I-520 off-ramp and is positioned for local residents, commuters and visitors to grab signature Parker’s Kitchen food, convenience items, auto fuel and high-flow diesel.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to open our first Parker’s Kitchen locations in the fast-growing Augusta market,” said Parker’s Kitchen founder and CEO Greg Parker. “We’re laser-focused on exceeding customer expectations and being a great community partner. We can’t wait to serve our customers in the Augusta area, elevate the convenience store experience for local residents and give back to the community right here in Augusta and North Augusta.”

Both Augusta-area stores will feature made-from-scratch Parker’s Kitchen food for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as indoor dining, popular grab-and-go food options and a hot bar with convenient electronic kiosk ordering.

Popular items include never-frozen, antibiotic-free, hand-breaded Southern Fried Chicken Tenders, signature mac ‘n’ cheese, potato logs, the Parker’s Kitchen Spicy Chicken Tender Sandwich, freshly made salads and more. The entire Parker’s Kitchen menu is handcrafted on-site from fresh ingredients by local chefs.

Additional highlights include bean-to-cup gourmet coffee, freshly brewed sweet and unsweet tea, Fancy Lemonade, 28-degree beer and a wide range of fountain drinks with signature Parker’s Kitchen Chewy Ice.

The inviting store design at both locations features signature Parker’s Kitchen Lowcountry-inspired architecture with a modern, contemporary glass-front façade, lime-washed brick, handsome bracketry, designer lighting and clean bathrooms. Both stores feature 19 fuel dispensers, offering regular, mid-grade, premium, diesel, ethanol-free, truck diesel and DEF fuel.

Parker’s Kitchen currently operates 87 retail stores in Georgia and South Carolina and plans to double the number of stores across the Southeast in the next four years. The company is currently in the midst of a major expansion into new markets including Augusta, Ga.; Aiken, S.C.; Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Jacksonville, Fla.

Parker’s In The Community

Every new-to-industry store provides 25 to 30 jobs for local residents, offering highly competitive salary and benefits packages. Parker’s Kitchen also employs 75 to 85 contractors to build each new store in the metro Augusta area.

Known for its longstanding commitment to charitable giving, Parker’s Kitchen has donated more than $30 million over the past eight years to local causes and has noted its commitment to supporting education, expanding access to healthcare, reducing childhood hunger and celebrating local heroes.

Parker’s Kitchen is currently conducting a round-up campaign to support local injured veterans, with proceeds benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. Parker’s Kitchen matches 25% of all customer round-up donations to amplify the impact of customer giving.

In addition, the Parker’s Fueling the Community charitable initiative donates a percentage of gas sold at all Parker’s Kitchen locations on the first Wednesday of each month to area schools. The company has donated more than $2 million to area schools across South Carolina and Georgia since the inception of the Fueling the Community program in 2011.

Honored as the 2020 CStore Decisions Chain of the Year and headquartered in Savannah, Ga., Parker’s Kitchen has enjoyed robust 20-24% annual growth every year for the past 25 years and has been featured six times on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in America.

The company also offers an acclaimed Parker’s Rewards program, which saves customers time and money at the pump as well as in the store.

The Parker’s Rewards loyalty program, which includes more than 300,000 members, has saved customers more than $15 million to date.

Parker’s Kitchen employs 1,400 professionals throughout South Carolina and Georgia, and completes nearly a million transactions weekly.

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Augusta, GA

Homeless man found dead in wooded area in Augusta

Published

1 hour ago

June 15, 2024

Press Room

Homeless man found dead in wooded area in Augusta

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The Richmond County Coroner’s Office is investigating the death of a homeless man who was found in a wooded area Friday evening.

The Coroner’s Office responded to the I-520 east bound ramp at Windsor Spring Road in reference to a deceased person.

The Coroner’s Office states the victim was pronounced dead around 5:45 p.m.

According to officials, the death is considered suspicious.

Their name will be released once a positive ID has been made, according to the Coroner.

An autopsy has been scheduled.

Count on NewsChannel 6 for more details as they become available.

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Augusta, GA

Russell Keen named President of Augusta University

Published

8 hours ago

June 15, 2024

Press Room

Russell Keen named President of Augusta University

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – The University System of Georgia’s Board of Regents announced that Dr. Russell Keen will be the next president of Augusta University, beginning July 1.

Last week, the USG Board of Regents named Keen as the sole finalist for the position. That decision was finalized today.

In a statement released by the university, Keen said his priority is to focus on Georgia’s need to provide skilled graduates to enter the workforce.

“I truly look forward to serving Augusta University as its next president,” said Keen. “I am excited to expand the focus Augusta University has had on cutting-edge research and innovation. We will prioritize elevating a culture of excellence and creating an unparalleled student experience, while promoting critical thinking and student engagement.”

Keen’s appointment comes as Dr. Brooks Keel will retire after serving as AU’s president for nine years, part of his four decades-long career in higher education.

“Russell has the experience and institutional knowledge for the job, and that will be critical as we look to increase Augusta University’s impact in Georgia and beyond,” said USG Chancellor Sonny Perdue. “I’m looking forward to watching Dr. Keen push AU toward being one of the best research universities in the nation as it continues to emphasize student success.”

Keen is a native of the Augusta area and has worked in USG over 22 years.

Augusta University’s first day of classes for the Fall 2024 semester begins Aug. 14.

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Augusta, GA

Response to safety concerns in Downtown Augusta following the shooting

Published

15 hours ago

June 15, 2024

Press Room

Response to safety concerns in Downtown Augusta following the shooting

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – A week after the shooting on Broad Street, we talked to people in the community about how they felt about downtown.

“People shouldn’t be scared to come downtown. Like if we can get Richmond County to work with us instead of against us, we can make it better,” said Chris Mccarthy, the General Manager of Joe’s Underground.

Mccarthy is the General Manager of a popular bar and restaurant. He says that while the area is not bad, there is room for improvement.

“There are pop-up booze and food vendors all over the place. We have to go through; we have to jump through 3 hoops to have ourselves here, and you’ve got these cats just sitting up girls out on the side of the street, and they are selling booze out of coolers unregulated. That is the problem,” said Mccarthy.

In an effort to ease minds, Augusta Mayor Garnett Johnson released a statement reminding parents that most restaurants downtown stop serving food at 10 p.m. Also, minors MUST be accompanied by an adult if they are out past that time.

“There’s no place for a kid to be If you’re not 21. You can’t get into any of the businesses. You have no business being down here,” Mike Thomas, a patron.

Some businesses were shut down the next day because the road was blocked. People who work in the area say they wanted more information the following day because they had to close their doors.

“I don’t know what it’s going to take to fix it, but I do know it is a big problem,” said Kat Duscio, who works at Barkery. Okay, cool, great. Get more cops down here; that’s nice. But let’s make sure that they have the proper training and tools and know how to do their job appropriately and actually make people feel safe.”

That’s part of the Mayor’s plan for the downtown area. In his statement, the Mayor says that starting tonight, there will be an increase in security, patrols, and additional help from the Georgia State Patrol to keep downtown safe.

“It’s not going to stop until we as a community come together,” said Kasim, Security of Peddle Pub. “We have to come together, the cops and the citizens. We all have to come together. It’s not black or white. It’s not cop versus citizen; it’s us.”

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