Augusta, home of the Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters and located approximately 150 miles east of Atlanta on Interstate 20, is the third largest metropolitan area in the state of Georgia. Augusta's metropolitan statistical area (MSA) consists of Columbia, Richmond and McDuffie counties in Georgia, and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. Total retail sales in 1999 were $3.8 billion and projected to be $4.1 billion in 2005, according to information from the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce and Daniel Nixon, Jr., director of management and leasing for Hull/Storey Development LLC in Augusta.

The northwest suburbs of Evans and Martinez are hot areas right now. "Except for the market's only true power center, The Augusta Exchange, which is located at the intersection of I-20 and Interstate 520 in west Augusta, new retail development is shifting northwest of the city into Martinez and Evans," Nixon says. Some of the most recent new developments in Evans include Evans Towne Center, a Publix-anchored community center; Kroger-anchored Evans Crossing; and Belair Village, a Food Lion-anchored community center developed by Hull/Storey. In Martinez a new Bi-Lo recently opened at the Petersburg Shoppes and a Food Lion opened on Petersburg Road.

The Augusta Exchange in west Augusta was developed approximately two years ago and brought the following retailers into August for the first time: Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Old Navy, Gateway Home Store, The Sports Authority, Macaroni Grill, Don Pablo's, Logan's Roadhouse and Cookers. Additionally, Circuit City relocated there from its location near Augusta Mall. A new movie theater, Regal 20 Plex, also opened there.

"Regency Mall is a former predominant DeBartolo enclosed regional mall," says Nixon. "It may not come back to its former use if it is rehabilitated." He adds that demographics have shifted away from Regency and toward the northwest, which led to the success of The Rouse Company's Augusta Mall.

Augusta Mall, located at Wrightsboro Road and I-520, seems to have the typical retail turnover that most large malls experience, but has a strong anchor line-up and a high small shop occupancy rate, and it is the only enclosed regional mall servicing the market. It would seem to be insulated from the threat of the development of a new mall but still has to contend with power center retailers represented in the market.

However, Augusta's second power center, Augusta West, recently lost Computer City, and it is rumored that at least one more anchor tenant will be relocating to another site and will close at Augusta West. The center is presently anchored by Best Buy, Burlington Coat Factory and Regal Cinema, operating as a discount theater.

South Augusta began its reemergence when Wal-mart closed its Peach Orchard Road location and opened a Supercenter on Deans Bridge road. Further contributing to this revitalization is the addition of a newly added Lowe's Home Improvement Center at Orchard Square at Peach Orchard Road and Bobby Jones, a Hull/Storey redevelopment project opening this month. Adding to South Augusta's growth are new grocery-anchored community centers such as Goshen Village (Food Lion) and Windsor Place (Bi-Lo).

It is rumored that Wal-Mart is looking for a third location in the Augusta market in addition to its stores on Deans Bridge Road and I-520, and on Bobby Jones Expressway in Martinez. Sam's Club located at I-520 and Pleasant Home Road, approximately one mile south of the Wal-Mart on Bobby Jones, will most likely relocate its store when a planned "fly-over" road improvement program commences on Bobby Jones fronting the Sam's store.

Washington Road is a major east/west road on the north side that provides access to downtown Augusta to the east and Evans and beyond to the west. The area between I-520 (Bobby Jones Expressway) and the Augusta National Golf Club continues to remain a strong retail area as it relates to new grocery-anchored community centers and restaurants such as Hooter's, Carrabbas, Olive Garden and Red Lobster. The area is also home to a Big K and a number of retailers such as Stein Mart, Tuesday Morning and Books-A-Million, and a multitude of car dealerships, furniture stores and convenience shopping.

Daniel Nixon Jr. is director of management and leasing with Hull/Storey Development LLC in Augusta.


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