Blog Topic: Business, Man

In the Loop: New UGA Apparel Store Opening Downtown

By Blake Aued | July 7, 2016 12:57pm

A rapidly expanding chain of college-themed apparel stores called Tailgate is moving into the Broad Street space formerly occupied by the Cajun restaurants NONA and Harry Bissett's.

American Eagle bought Tailgate last year from Todd Snyder, a noted designer of both high-end menswear and "vintage-inspired" collegiate clothing. The company sells clothing emblazoned with dozens of schools’ logos online and has a brick-and-mortar store in Iowa City.

The Athens store will open in October, said Maggie Long, the company's communications director.

Read More...
In the Loop: Oconee Commission Approves Move for Mercedes-Benz of Athens

By Lee Becker | June 27, 2016 11:47am

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners voted to rezone property for an Athens Mercedes-Benz dealership that wants to move, based in part on an economic development document that wasn’t made available to the public.

Three weeks after the Oconee County Planning Commission voted against a proposed rezone on Highway 316 for auto dealerships, county Economic Development Director J.R. Charles sent members of the Board of Commissioners an “Economic Impact Analysis” that said the project would benefit the county.

Charles also sent the report to Jon Williams, president of Williams and Associates, who was representing those asking for the rezone, saying “Thought you would like to have it in your back pocket if you have to speak at the Commission meeting.”

Read More...
In the Loop: 100 Prince Is Back With No Changes

By Blake Aued | June 20, 2016 1:01pm

Photo Credit: Smith Planning Group

100 Prince—the mixed use development proposed for the St. Joseph Catholic Church property—will be resubmitted this month with no changes, according to Jim Warnes, the Athens attorney for the Greenville, SC development company Homes Urban.

Plans were withdrawn in early May, just before the Athens-Clarke County Commission was to vote on (and likely approve) them. At the time, Warnes told Flagpole that Homes Urban was facing issues with lining up a main commercial tenant, high construction bids and tax credits for development in low-income areas.

Read More...
In the Loop: Shopping Center Proposed in Oconee County

By Lee Becker | June 20, 2016 10:42am

The location of the proposed shopping center, Ray's Corner.

The Oconee County Planning Commission will hold public hearings on four different rezoning requests tonight, including one that will have impact on everyone who uses the already busy intersection of Hog Mountain Road and U.S. 441.

ABE Consulting, on behalf of property owner Toccoa 85 LP, is asking the county to rezone 1.7 acres, with frontage on and access to both Hog Mountain Road and U.S. 441, to allow development of a small commercial shopping center.

Read More...
In the Loop: Commissioners Met With Car Dealer Prior to Vote

By Lee Becker | May 24, 2016 3:50pm

The location of the proposed dealerships.

All three of Oconee County’s voting commissioners acknowledge meeting with the representative of the developer seeking to rezone properties on Highway 316 at Virgil Langford Road for auto dealerships—at least one of which is currently located in Clarke County—but each said he has not yet decided how to vote on the request.

Read More...
In the Loop: Athens for Everyone Is Picketing Wendy's

By Blake Aued | May 20, 2016 4:02pm

Photo Credit: Blake Aued

Athens for Everyone will be picketing the Prince Avenue Wendy’s at 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 27 to pressure the fast-food chain into improving the treatment of farm workers.

Read More...
In the Loop: The Pope on Prince Is Leaving Prince

By Kat Khoury | May 13, 2016 12:10pm

The Pope on Prince is about to become the Pope on Jackson when it moves into Community’s former space at 119 N. Jackson St., above the downtown Jittery Joe’s.

Monica Bischoff, owner of The Pope, said the rent for her current space above Daily Groceries is too high. The space downtown will cost much less and has steady pedestrian traffic, and she doesn’t have to deal with the steep stairs that lead to her current store getting slippery and dangerous during rain. The downtown space also has central air conditioning, while the current Pope is equipped with window units only.

“I don’t think that Prince Avenue is good for retail,” Bischoff said. “The foot traffic here is awful, crossing Prince may cost you your life, and I’m not making any money.

Read More...
In the Loop: Job Fair at the Classic Center Friday

By Richie Knight | May 5, 2016 11:09am

Job seekers from all educational and professional backgrounds are invited to attend the Athens Job Fair and Career Expo taking place from 1–5 p.m. on Friday, May 6 at The Classic Center.

This event is free for the public and will host a number of employers seeking part-time and full-time help. The 2015 job fair saw over 700 job seekers.

Read More...
In the Loop: Back to the Drawing Board for 100 Prince

By Blake Aued | May 4, 2016 4:27pm

A rendering of 100 Prince by Smith Planning Group.

The Athens-Clarke County Commission sent the mixed-use development proposed for the St. Joseph Catholic Church site back to the planning commission Tuesday night at the developer’s request.

“Homes Urban remains committed to the basic concept of the plan,” but three issues recently came up that require the Greenville, SC-based developer to reconfigure it, Athens lawyer Jim Warnes told the commission.

Read More...
Grub Notes: Damien Schaefer Is Looking for Investors in Normaltown Brewing

By Hillary Brown | April 28, 2016 10:15am

Damien Schaefer

One of the founders of local hipster supper-club The Four Coursemen, Damien Schaefer, is looking to start a brewpub in Decatur called Normaltown Artisanal Brewery & Cucina, and he's seeking investors from across Georgia.

Read More...