Dear Aiken,
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love that in any given week I can sit down with someone whose family roots run generations
deep in Aiken—and someone who’s traveled halfway across the country (or the world) and
instantly knew Aiken was home. I love our deep commitment to the arts and the caliber of experiences we enjoy right here at home. From the galleries and classes at the Aiken Center for the Arts to the performances of the Aiken Symphony, to the nationally prominent music and music education brought to our community by JOYE in Aiken, we are truly spoiled. I love that every Christmas our town transforms into what feels like a real-life Hallmark movie with twinkling lights, familiar faces and unmistakable small-town charm. Most of all, I love and am deeply grateful for the continued support of our readers and the Aiken business community. You believe in this town and celebrate it well.
With love,
Gayle Bryan
Publisher
Aiken City Lifestyle
My Dearest Aiken,
I don’t think I ever expected to fall in love with you, but here we are.
Opening a small business here has taught me that community isn’t just a buzz word. Its
people showing up, shopping local, telling their friends and genuinely wanting you to
succeed. That matters more than you know. When I opened my doors, I was hopeful…but you were encouraging. You’ve given me customers who turn into regulars and regulars who turn into friends.
Aiken, you are small businesses and big hearts. You are First Fridays, tree lined streets and
friendly waves. You have reminded me time and time again why I started. You’ve shown me
that dreams don’t have to be chased in big cities to be real.
With gratitude, pride and so much love.
Bobby Ard
Owner
Beyond Bijoux Aiken
Dear Aiken,
You have a way of welcoming people that feels so inviting and genuine, as if you’ve been waiting for me all along. From the very beginning, what stands out most is your warmth–the kind that can’t be manufactured. This is a town where people know one another, where conversations don’t feel rushed, and where helping a neighbor is simply part of who you are. Your small town charm isn’t just a phrase; it’s an experience of everyday moments and familiar faces.
What surprises me most is how much opportunity you hold. In many ways, I found more room to grow here than I ever did. Aiken creates space for people to step in, contribute and truly belong. It’s a community that comes together whether to support a cause, celebrate a milestone, or lift up a local business, and Aiken, you do it with sincerity and pride.
Your local businesses are a reflection of your heart, each one carrying its own personality and purpose. There’s a strong sense of support among them, a shared understanding that success is better together. From the incredible restaurants, the convenience of having everything I need close by, and the ease of daily life - it’s easy to feel grateful to live here. Some days walking through town feels like I'm in a movie - charming, familiar, and full of heart. Aiken, you are more than a place to live - you are a place to love.
Ashley Burkhart
Front End Manager & Marketing
Certified Nutrition Coach & Wellness Consultant
NASM CNC
Family Pharmacy, Aiken, SC
Dear Aiken,
I remember sitting in high school, counting the days, convinced that the best version of my life existed somewhere far beyond this town. I couldn’t wait to move away from Aiken to see more, do more, and become more. I truly believed leaving was the only way forward. And then I did leave. I chased big dreams, bigger cities and all the things I thought would define an amazing life. What surprised me most was how quickly my heart began pulling me back home.
Now, as an adult and a mom to two boys, I can’t imagine wanting to be anywhere else. Aiken didn’t just wait for me, it welcomed me back with open arms. This city has a palpable warmth to it. You don’t meet a stranger here. You get used to not being able to run a single errand without seeing five people you know, and somehow that becomes one of the things you love most.
The pace is slower in the best way. People stop by your work just to chat, just to check on you, just because they care. Working in Aiken, I’m blessed to be out and about in our city every day, witnessing firsthand how we, as Aikenites, truly look out for one another. We pull over for funeral processions. We open doors. We say yes ma’am and no ma’am without thinking twice. We like our tea a little too sweet, and we show up and deliver dinner when you’re not feeling well.
We have music, art, incredible small businesses, world-class restaurants and the best people anywhere. We have history, horses, heart and so much to offer.
Aiken, you are home in every sense of the word, and I’m so grateful my boys get to grow up here, wrapped in everything that makes you so special.
With love and gratitude,
Nikita Hanif
Publication Director
Aiken City Lifestyle Magazine