Nestled in the heart of Augusta, Sweet Azalea Gourmet Shop & Catering stands as a testament to culinary excellence and community connection. At the helm is Chef Bill Coxwell, a master in the kitchen whose passion for cooking began as a child. "Since an early age, I’ve had a desire to cook," Chef Bill recalls. Growing up, his father handled most of the cooking, while his mother baked the delicious pound cakes and banana puddings. "At Christmas, I would help Mama make candies like fudge and divinity, and we would package them in tins to give to neighbors," Chef Bill shares, reminiscing about one of his fondest memories.
Chef Bill honed his culinary skills at Johnson and Wales University, and he quickly gained recognition for his famous Cheese Straws. As the demand for his products grew, Chef Bill sought to make his packaging as special as the treats inside. To achieve this, he commissioned local artist Melanie Stokes, who created the azalea artwork for the Cheese Straw tins and the cotton artwork for the Cotton Blossom Cookies. This collaboration is just one example of how Chef Bill has used Sweet Azalea to support and promote other local entrepreneurs.
With demand outpacing his home kitchen's capacity, Chef Bill took a leap of faith in 2020 by opening a storefront on Central Avenue. Initially conceived as a retail space for gourmet to-go, the shop quickly expanded into a full-fledged catering business. "It was just time to make the move to a brick-and-mortar store," says Chef Bill.
The evolution of Sweet Azalea didn’t stop there. When the neighboring barbershop vacated its space, Chef Bill seized the opportunity to expand. "We opened up the original wall and added on the café," he explains. The café at Sweet Azalea offers a rotating selection of specials, including a weekly blue plate featuring different meats and vegetables. One standout menu item is the Neptune Melt—a shrimp and crab salad on an English muffin, topped with Swiss cheese and heated to perfection. Another favorite is the Reuben, made with lean corned beef that keeps customers coming back for more. The casseroles, another popular offering, include both staples and seasonal specials.
Today, Sweet Azalea offers more than just food; it’s a hub for local artistry, featuring works by local artists for sale, and a variety of gift items. From gourmet jams and mustards to home decor and other thoughtful gifts, it is a one-stop shop for both food and shopping enthusiasts.
The shop's name, Sweet Azalea, pays homage to Augusta's rich heritage. "I wanted to capitalize on the notoriety of the azalea in this area," Chef Bill explains. The name has since become synonymous with the neighborhood’s charm. "I feel like Summerville claims us, and it’s just something that was supposed to be," he adds. Sweet Azalea has become more than just a gourmet shop; it’s a vital part of the area’s cultural fabric. "We maintain a quality standard and try to accommodate our customers' needs as much as we can," Chef Bill says. "But the main thing is that we want to be an asset to the community and provide something that people need and want."
This October, Chef Bill is set to release his fourth cookbook, Southern Menus Season by Season, a much-anticipated follow-up to a book he wrote 20 years ago. "It’s broken down into seasons, with special menus per season to help with menu planning," Chef Bill explains. The cookbook offers three to four menus per season, including unique themes like Engagement Barbecues, Christening Luncheons, Tex Mex parties, and even a section dedicated to remembrance foods.
Sweet Azalea Gourmet Shop & Catering is located at 2569 Central Avenue. To stay updated on weekly specials, follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @SweetAzaleaAugusta. For catering inquiries, call 706.364.5059. Chef Bill’s new cookbook, Southern Menus Season by Season, will be released in mid-October and will be available at the Sweet Azalea gift shop, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.