Friday, Jan. 12, 2018

(News 12 at 11)

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT)-- Right off Broad St. an old service station will be getting a make-over. It won't just be a new bar, it'll be a new bar that also serves tacos. The new dining spot is only a small part of the big boom happening downtown.

"There's always going to be restaurants. Restaurants come and go, especially in downtown Augusta," says Baker Campbell who works for a bar in the area.

Campbell spends alot of his time downtown so he says with new businesses, the competition can sometimes be fierce.

"People pick their favorite spots and kind of stick to them. Good luck to new places like that taco spot."

That new 'taco spot' will be located on 12th st. When you consider it, along with other ongoing construction projects, you'll find it's apart of a

bigger picture-- development.

Just two blocks away from the anticipated taco dining, is construction underway at the Hyatt House Hotel. The Hyatt is expected to be complete this September.

And if you ask Wayne Lewis, who also works near the area, he'll say these big projects are keeping money right where it matters.

"I'm enjoying Broad street. And trying to promote Broad street oppposed to Wall street."

Lewis says anything that brings in more people is a chance at positive local economic impact. Especially in an area where there's alot of ebb and flow.

"You may look around and see some of the local businesses struggling, some closing, some opening." He continued, "sometimes things fall a part before they even get off the ground."

But it's here on Broad St. that things are coming from the ground up. It's the many new beginnings for downtown, that mark changes for the entire city.