Eclectic Downtown Aiken Restaurant Closes For Good In The Alley

Originally founded in 2015 in Augusta, a Downtown Aiken restaurant is now closing for good. The announcement was posted on the restaurant's Facebook page last week.

Fuse Aiken is known for serving a variety of cuisines, with all of it being made from scratch.  The post on Facebook says they have so much to be oroud of, "but it does not look like we can keep going." And the post goes on to talking about the highlights of celebrating so many momentous occasions with the community.

Fuse was originally founded by Karen Draper and her brother Eric in Augusta in 2015 and was located on Broad Street. The original location closed in October 2019.  Soon after, a few Fuse employees acquired the rights to the name and the recipes.

A location was eventually found and the restaurant relaunched in The Alley in late 2020. With a goal of fusing flavors from around the world and a frequently changing menu, the restaurant saw success.  Unfortunately, it seems the cost of operation and making everything from scratch may be to blame.

Learn more about Fuse's history HERE.

Today, June 23, is recognized as National Family Owned and Operated Businesses Day. A day to salute family-owned and operated businesses that are surviving and thriving through this economy. In Augusta, we are fortunate enough to have tons of family-owned and operated businesses. This holiday includes all types of businesses. We are going to focus on the restaurants that are run by a family. So not just locally owned restaurants, but those where it's family owned and family run. It's cool to find out which places are a family-owned restaurant in Augusta.

Visiting a family-owned and operated business is always a special experience. If they only have locations in your area, you are getting a one-of-a-kind meal. And not everybody that is outside of that area can get that meal on a daily. Another reason it is a special experience is that they often strive to be customer friendly and make you feel at home.

This family owned Hawaiian BBQ spot has been in Augusta for years. They have recently expanded, opening their second location. One located on Gordon Highway and the other on Washington Rd.

Located off of Walton Way, this family owned restaurant is known for their southern cuisine. Offering a rotating selection of meats and veggies along with their local favorite - peach cobbler.

This family owned restaurant is located on the corner of 6th and Greene St. Something the restaurant lives by is "where our family feeds families."

On Walton Way is another family owned restaurant. The restaurant serves fish ,chicken, fries and more.

This Asian restaurant serves the cuisine of China, Korea, Malaysia & Thailand. They are located on Fury's Ferry in the Fury's Ferry Plaza.

They are most popular for their Mediterranean cuisine. A married couple are the owners and together, with the help of their three children, they are working to expand the restaurant concept throughout the Augusta area.

Augsburg Haus was opened by Adolf Hermann, serving authentic German food - recipes he learned from his mom. Sadly and unexpectedly, Adolf Hermann passed away on September 1, 2021. His family and friends are continuing his legacy by keeping his restaurant open.

Don't let the name fool you, they serve more than bait. This family owned café is located in Appling, Ga. They are known for their everyday food and American cuisine.

This restaurant may be new, but La Pena Bernal is not new when it comes to serving the CSRA.  They also have a food truck that has been around for a few years, that serves Tacos and Quesadilla. Their Anjoitios shop serves snacks, ice cream, and more.