GBJ Staff

New Snellville retailer saves local theatre

A scene captured from New London Theatre's performance of "Children of Eden."

Welcome to the neighborhood! Margins Charity Thrift and Variety Mall has yet to officially open, but this new Snellville retailer has already has the distinct honor of saving a beloved community theatre.

Dawn Berlo, board chair for New London Theatre, believes in second chances. Due to financial hardship, this troupe was poised draw its final curtain at the end of March. However, when the owner of new Snellville retailer Margins Charity Thrift and Variety Mall, Mark Galloway-Stillions, learned the theatre was in trouble, this friend and patron offered the local non-profit rent free space – 6,000 s.f. doubling the theatre’s current space!

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GBJ Staff

Our love affair with coffee

Coffee is an experience, not just a beverage.

For some, it’s the jolt that gets us moving in the morning. Others have an entire ritual based on that first cup of the day or their mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Whatever your preference, java is one business that helps makes the world turn.

More than 120 coffee houses operate throughout Gwinnett County. These range from retail chains that offer ambiance and Wi-Fi along with a drive through option, to boutique eateries where coffee is the main event, but other goodies on the menu run a close second. The selection is as varied as the many ways we ‘fix’ our brew.

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GBJ Staff

Del Taco returns, opens in Snellville

Del Taco fans take note. The nation’s No. 2 Mexican quick serve chain is returning to Atlanta, opening its first new location in Snellville.

The restaurant will officially open to the public following a ribbon cutting ceremony with Snellville Mayor Kelly Kautz and city council members on Wed., Feb. 15, 2012.

The new restaurant, located at 1895 Scenic Highway in the Presidential Markets Shopping Center, utilizes the company’s new restaurant design, features a drive thru and it will be open 24-hours.

This is the first of more than 60 restaurants the company plans for the area that will include both company-owned and franchised locations. A second location in Kennesaw is scheduled to open in April.

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GBJ Staff

Top performing branding franchise expands in Buford

Signarama Buford owners, Nancy and Gary Rosenberg

Serving the Gwinnett area for 12 years, Signarama Buford has expanded operations to new and larger facility at 4737 Thompson Mill Rd. and added staff to better meet the needs of their clients.

Owners Gary and Nancy Rosenberg, along with the support of the Gwinnett Chamber, clients, area professionals and friends, recently celebrated the grand opening of the company’s new 6,000 s.f. facility with a ribbon cutting ceremony.

“Our clients are our number one priority and the cornerstone of our growth,” says Nancy Rosenberg. “Now more than ever companies need increased visibility and branding. We help our clients increase sales and we have fun doing it.”

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GBJ Staff

Walmart honors Gwinnett-based carrier

L-R: Chris Sultemeier, Walmart senior vice president, transportation; Mike Wise, Averitt vice president of corporate business development; Beth Donham, Averitt director of corporate business development; Courtney Sparks, Walmart carrier compliance manager; and Ken Braunbach, Walmart senior director, carrier relations.

Walmart has named full-service transportation provider Averitt Express its 2011 Regional LTL Carrier of the Year.

Annually, WalMart recognizes transportation suppliers that demonstrate excellence or exhibit significant improvement in meeting core business objectives, including small parcel, less-than-truckload (LTL) and intermodal. This is the second time in the past three years that Averitt has been recognized by Walmart.

From its Lawrenceville service center, Averitt delivers to area WalMart stores several times a week. In addition, this carrier is integral to WalMart’s regional logistics network. Picking up products from vendors in the area like Biolabs, Continental General Tire, Akzo Nobel, Pennington Seed and others, Averitt delivers to WalMart distribution centers for transportation throughout its vast network or makes direct deliveries to the retailer’s metro Atlanta stores.

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GBJ Staff

GPCID community patrols generating solid results

Recently tabulated metrics point to 2011 being a banner year for cleaning and safety efforts spearheaded by the Gwinnett Place Community Improvement District (CID).

In the area of trash removal alone, CID staff and crews cleared 16.17 tons (32,340 pounds) of debris from area roadways – 1,617 (20 lb) bags of trash.

Other measured ongoing, CID-maintained efforts for 2011 include:

  • Graffiti – Reported 47 instances of graffiti to property owners/managers, all of which have been addressed and cleaned up.
  • Signs – Removed 1,320 signs placed illegally in the right-of-way.
  • Lighting – Reported 76 malfunctioning street lights.
  • Directionals / Signals – Reported 47 damaged street signs and 36 malfunctioning or burned out traffic signals to county services.

Executive Director Joe Allen said the CID is fortunate to have strong working relationships with the Gwinnett Police, Gwinnett Department of Transportation, Gwinnett Planning and Development, Gwinnett Code Enforcement, Gwinnett Water Resources and the public utilities of Georgia Power, Jackson EMC and AT&T.

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GBJ Staff

Local franchise promotes healthy snacking

Everyone starts the New Year with a resolution to eat better or some variation on that theme. So the concept of eating healthy snacks from vending machines is somewhat alien. Vending machines aren’t typically associated with the words ‘healthy,’ ‘fresh’ or ‘nutritious,’ but Fresh Healthy Vending hopes to change your perception.

View the Gwinnett Magazine Special Report about this innovative concept and the new local franchise of this popular national company is starting a revolution by replacing candy bars with nutritious ‘on the go snacks’ like whole grain chips, fruit juices and snack mixes.

Nearly a dozen local schools and businesses have embraced this culture change. Cornerstone Christian Academy in Norcross installed a Fresh Healthy Vending machine in their lunchroom close to two months ago. Headmaster Colin Creel admits the new machine is now the talk of his school and so popular, the machine is restocked at least once a week.

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GBJ Staff

Best months to make a purchase

Everything has a season and knowing the best time to buy could save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

Tape this handy guide to your computer or stick to your fridge as a reminder that impulse buying has an antidote – timing.

Play it smart and reap the rewards!

 

January’s Best Buys

  • Bedding and linens
  • Big appliances (or Oct.)
  • Carpet and flooring
  • Fall suits, winter coats and outdoor gear
  • Motorcycle
  • New furniture (or Oct.)
  • Office furniture (or end of Apr.)
  • Perfume (or Mar.)
  • Prom dresses (or Feb.)
  • Video games (or Feb.)

February’s Best Buys

  • Boat
  • Camera
  • Home theater
  • Wedding (or Nov.)

March’s Best Buys

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GBJ Staff

Who’s got spirit?

That’s what Buford dentist Ashley P. Curington, D.M.D. wants to know. She has launched the Georgia School Spirit Award Program and will give an unrestricted use $10,000 prize to the Georgia K-12 school that receives the most votes by midnight, Jan. 31, 2012.

Anyone may cast unlimited votes for a specific school at Buford-Dentist.com or at facebook.com/BufordDentist and voters do not have to be one of Dr. Curington’s patients at the North Atlanta Center for Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry, P.C. However, only the State’s brick and mortar schools are eligible for the prize.

“I’ve been practicing dentistry for more than 15 years and have formed lifelong relationships with many people all across Georgia,” said Dr. Curington. “I created the Georgia School Spirit Award Program as a way to assist my patients and their schools in the place I live, work and love.”

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GBJ Staff

But I thought I could return it!

Returns are a two-headed monster – confusing for consumers and a burden for retailers. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises that consumers ‘should know’ that in the state of Georgia companies are allowed to establish their own policies regarding refunds, exchanges and store credits.

The bottom line is that no company is required by law to allow a customer the right to return or exchange merchandise no matter when it was purchased. The only exceptions to this rule are items that are misrepresented or defective. In such cases, the laws in all states require a store to make good.

Current regulations do not require a store to post policies or put the information on the sales receipt. Retailers voluntarily adopt policies for refunds and exchanges as a way to provide better customer service. Therefore, the burden falls to the consumer to find out a store’s policies before making a purchase.

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