Blog Topic: Business, Man

In the Loop: Kemp Orders Bars to Stay Closed Through End of May

By Blake Aued | May 13, 2020 1:13pm

Gov. Brian Kemp issued an executive order Tuesday telling bars, nightclubs and live performance venues to stay closed at least through May 31.

"I know this extension is difficult for many Georgia business owners and communities that have music venues," Kemp said. "However, we believe that waiting a little bit longer will enhance health outcomes and give folks the opportunity to prepare for safe reopening in the near future."

Kemp closed bars, restaurants and many other types of businesses on Apr. 2 as the coronavirus pandemic spread (pre-empting an earlier local order in Athens that was passed Mar. 19). He allowed some—including restaurants, movie theaters, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors and hair and nail salons—to reopen late last month, if they took safety precautions.

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In the Loop: Biodegradable Plastic Manufacture RWDC Will Employ 200 People in Athens

By Blake Aued | May 6, 2020 3:28pm

RWDC's polyhydroxyalkanoates, made of used cooking oil, can replace plastics in goods like straws.

A company that manufactures a biodegradable alternative to plastic is expanding and will hire 200 employees, state and local officials announced Tuesday.

RWDC, founded in 2015 at a University of Georgia innovation lab and now based in Singapore, will expand into a 400,000 square-foot facility in Athena Industrial Park off Voyles Road.

Job listings indicate the positions will pay between $38,000–$90,000 a year.

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In the Loop: Athens Unemployment Claims Spike 2,000 Percent

By Blake Aued | April 23, 2020 5:54pm

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

Nearly 5,000 Athens residents filed for unemployment in March, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

Clarke County had 4,868 initial unemployment claims last month. That's a 2,346% increase over February, when there were 199, and a 2,698% increase over March 2019, when there were 174.

Metro Athens—which also includes Oconee, Madison and Oglethorpe counties—finished the month with 96,300 jobs, down 300 from the previous month, and 94,982 employed residents, down 1,978. The unemployment rate rose from 3.3% to 4.2%.

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In the Loop: Kemp Says Businesses Can Start Reopening This Week

By Blake Aued | April 20, 2020 6:44pm

Gov. Brian Kemp.

Gov. Brian Kemp will start allowing some businesses that have been shuttered since his shelter-in-place order Apr. 2 to start reopening over the next week.

Gyms, bowling alleys, tattoo parlors, hair salons and massage studios can re-open Friday, as long as they practice social distance, follow hygiene guidelines, Kemp announced at a news conference this afternoon. Restaurant dining rooms and movie theaters will be allowed to open next Monday if they follow rules Kemp said his office will release later this week.

Kemp's order came as the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Georgia approached 20,000, with 733 reported deaths as of noon. The head of the World Health Organization warned earlier today that the worst of the coronavirus pandemic is still ahead, and many public health experts believe .

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In the Loop: UGA Hosts Webinar on Stimulus Funding

By Blake Aued | April 6, 2020 4:48pm

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels

The University of Georgia's Small Business Development Seminar will host a webinar Tuesday at 10 a.m. for Athens business owners to help them understand stimulus funding that is available and how to apply.

The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/276560811. The call-in number is +1 (646) 876-9923, and the meeting ID is 276 560 811.

The SBDC also has a website with more information about small business relief.

For more information, call 706-542-7436 or email [email protected].

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In the Loop: Earth Fare Will Reopen Under New Ownership

By Blake Aued | March 30, 2020 4:18pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

Earth Fare’s founder and a group of other Asheville, NC investors are buying some of the shuttered grocery stores and reopening them—including Athens’ Five Points location, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Earth Fare abruptly announced the closure of all 50 stores in February and went into bankruptcy. The Asheville group—made up of former Earth Fare executives and other business owners—paid $1.9 million for stores in Athens, Asheville and Roanoke, VA, as well as the Earth Fare name and web address, the Citizen-Times reported. A similar chain, Whole Foods, bought several other locations.

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In the Loop: First Coronavirus Death Reported in Athens as Oconee Residents Press for Restrictions

By Blake Aued | March 24, 2020 2:06pm

The Northeast Health District reported the first COVID-19 death in Athens today.

The victim was a 67-year-old man who had an underlying medical condition, according to public health officials. The elderly and people with pre-existing heart or lung disease or diabetes are most likely to die from COVID-19.

Overall, positive coronavirus tests in Georgia jumped to 1,026 today, with 32 deaths. Sixteen of those cases were reported in Clarke County and three in Oconee County.

Medical professionals and others are pressuring Oconee County commissioners to pass a "shelter in place" ordinance similar to the one Athens-Clarke County approved last week.

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Culture Briefs: Don't Forget Convenient Grab-and-Go Flagpole Distribution Locations

By Zaria Gholston | March 25, 2020 12:00am

Hey Athens, we know things are pretty tough right now with the Coronavirus protocol in place, but we didn't want to make it tough for you to get the local news and info you deserve! Below is a list of outdoor stops (as of Mar. 25) where you can grab a Flagpole to stay informed while practicing social distancing at this time.

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Grub Notes: Champy's Changes Names, a Persian Buffet and More Food News

By Hillary Brown | March 6, 2020 3:14pm

Photo Credit: Classic City Eats via Facebook

The owners of the Baxter Street location of Champy's Famous Fried Chicken, which opened in 2015, recently decided to separate from the franchise and create their own restaurant. The renamed Classic City Eats has a similar menu but does not have the Delta tamales that were a highlight. it does still have plenty of fried chicken, draft beer, fried green tomatoes and such. It's open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday and lunch Tuesday through Sunday.

International Grill & Bar, the Iranian restaurant on Mitchell Bridge Road, has added an all-you-can-eat lunch buffet Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $12.65 a person.

Square One Fish Co., in Normaltown, has added Sunday brunch from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. You can see the menu on its website.

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Culture Briefs: Congrats to the 2020 Flagpole Athens Favorites!

By Flagpole Staff | March 3, 2020 4:43pm

Thousands of readers to infinity and beyond voted in this 10th year of the Flagpole Athens Favorites contest. Congratulations to all of the Athens businesses who won or were chosen runner-up in over 100 categories!

Thanks to the out of this world Flagpole staff who made this issue possible. The cosmic theme, layout and designs were created by Larry Tenner and his crew, Chris McNeal and Cody Robinson. Anita Aubrey and Jessica Mangum are the hard-working ground control of the Flagpole advertising department. The intergalactic photos of our space model, Mark Weathersby, were taken by Jason Thrasher. A special thanks to our E.T. model, Scarlett Alston, for her fierce poses. Photos of our celestial winners were captured by Flagpole photographer Whitley Carpenter.

A big thanks to the terrestrial photo locations: Hotel Indigo, Half-Shepherd Market and Cheese Shop, Marti’s at Midday, The Law Office of Sam Thomas, Creature Comforts and Cine.

And finally, congratulations to all the winners! A full list is below.

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