It’s no ordinary Broad Street storefront.
Augusta and Co.’s main product isn’t the postcards, t-shirts, cookbooks or other Augusta-related items on its shelves at 1010 Broad St., but rather the city of Augusta itself and all it has to offer guests and locals.
On May 23, Destination Augusta officials commemorated the location’s fifth anniversary. The date of the celebration coincided with National Travel and Tourism Week.
Travel and tourism is the Garden City’s fourth largest industry with 26,000 people employed in hospitality. It generates more than $8 million in revenue in Richmond County, according to Bennish Brown, Destination Augusta, President/CEO, which equates to an $800 tax savings for every family living in Richmond County.
Augusta and Co. is an experience center “like no other,” he said.
It’s an “innovative experience center in a perfect location, in the heart of our vibrant downtown,” he said.
Not only is there curated Augusta merchandise, but there is an art gallery maintained by the Greater Augusta Arts Council and a taste bar.
And it’s staffed with “Augusta experts” who know the city and area and want to help people find the best experiences while visiting, he said.
Since its opening in 2019, the center has seen about 120,000 people pass through its doors and has infused nearly $200,000 into the local economy, purchasing local products and offering them for sale, according to a news release from Destination Augusta.
James Heffner, Destination Augusta board chairman, said the award-winning center has gained the attention of officials in other cities such as Greenville, S.C., McKinney, Texas, and Ann Arbor, Mich., who’ve wanted to emulate its success.
“For five years, Augusta and Co., under the direction of Destination Augusta, has been telling the rich stories of the region and sharing with guests and visitors alike, how to have unforgettable experiences in our community,” he said.
Also during the event Mayor Pro Tem Brandon Garrett read Mayor Garnett Johnson’s proclamation of Augusta and Co. Day.
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
