Local businesses prepare for annual tourism surge from Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - In just about three weeks, Augusta and the surrounding area will be packed full of tourists who are going to eat, drink and shop locally.
Now, businesses are preparing for the surge in golf guests and the revenue that’ll bring in, especially after Hurricane Helene.
You don’t have to look far to know that springtime is on the horizon.
For some, the real season is just beginning.
“It was definitely a tough, um, fall and early spring,” said Danielle Harmadi of Freshwater Design Co.
But now, the sun lingers longer, the air is warming and businesses are teeing up for it all.
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“I feel like in retail, sometimes spring can be a little bit difficult, but I think I told you, you know, November, December, obviously we do amazing, but March is actually our third best month,” said Harmadi.
For some local businesses in Augusta, spring is not just a season, it’s a sales sprint.
March is another level of madness for the city because all eyes are about to be on Augusta.
For business owners, March is a month of momentum.
It’s prepping the shelves, stocking the inventory, making sure everything is ready to welcome the world to Augusta.
For some businesses, the foot traffic can not come at a better time.
“It is just such a huge relief to kind of know it’s coming,” said Harmadi. “We really love that the community kind of knows that we are doing this, and they definitely . They order online, even locally and from all over Georgia to get stuff in for the boxes that they’re probably sending people.”
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You have those who have been here before –
“I’m excited for people to come to my restaurant, said Obed Castillo, general manager of El Paso.
And then some first-timers
“People tell me the second week in April is packed, and I’m super excited for people to come to my restaurant too,” said Castillo.
With storefronts open, patios filled, and spring bringing life back to the city
“I would say this has been our best March in retail,” said Harmadi.
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