The Augusta Chronicle: Quick Service Restaurants Look to Grow in Augusta

While their ranking in the QSR Growth 40 dropped a few slots this yea, the restaurant development scene continues to heat up in Augusta, Georgia. For yet another year the community was named a top small city to open a quick-service restaurant in.

Two brands that have taken notice of the opportunity in Augusta is Georgia-based brand Wing Zone and Atlanta-based Your Pie.

“There is something to be said about small-tier markets like Augusta,” said Matt Friedman, CEO of Atlanta-based Wing Zone. “We can open two or three locations and have a real presence in the market. It’s difficult to penetrate the bigger cities. If we had three restaurants in Atlanta, nobody would know who we are. It’s not as overwhelming as if you had to build 20 stores to have a presence.”

Because of Augusta's large college and military population, Wing Zone, the wing delivery brand, is targeting the community for multiple units as the franchise brand continues its home state expansion.

“We love local owners – we love the idea of people becoming business owners in their own market,” Friedman said. “Everyone preaches they get involved in the community, but we want someone who lives there who is part of the business community and is involved in charities.”