New businesses thriving across Newton

By PHILLIP B. HUBBARD

phubbard@covnews.com

Within the past year, Newton County has seen numerous businesses begin or relocate to the area. Two of those businesses are Covington Nutrition and I-20 East PowerSports.

And, while the two businesses are totally different from one another, the owners share the reason why they decided to come to Newton County.

Covington Nutrition is located at 2189 Pace St in Covington. It opened for business in May 2021. Owner Melanie Pitts highlighted the intimacy Newton County brings to serving her customers.

“We love the small town feel with all the history, we could not do this without all the people here who welcomed us and are supporting the business,” Pitts said. “It is better than we could have imagined.”

It offers healthy and tasty drinks and shakes that are all 200-250 calories, low in sugar and contain 24-27 grams of protein. Shakes are also low carb and Keto-friendly.

I-20 East PowerSports is located at 2113 Pace St. in Covington. Its doors opened in September 2021. One of its owners, Marshal “Q” Barnes, is a Covington native who graduated from Newton High School in 1999.

According to Barnes, it was a no-brainer to bring this business to

I-20 East Power Sports specializes in ATVs, scooters, go-karts and much more in Newton County.

Staff | The News

2155 Pace Street #7 Covington, GA 678-314-6469

EMAIL: covingtonnutritionga@gmail.com FB/INSTA: @covingtonnutrition • SNAPCHAT: @covnutrition

his hometown.

“Why not open a business at home,” Barnes said. “It helps me give my hometown support.”

I-20 East Power Sports sells ATVs, scooters, dirt bikes, go karts, golf carts and all the accessories that go along with each motorized vehicle.

In addition to their shakes, Covington Nutrition also offers “loaded energy” teas which Pitts categorizes as the “equivalent to two cups of coffee.” Also included in the teas are aloe for digestion.

Pitts highlighted how getting a tasty beverage is just one of the things customers can expect when visiting her store.

“Covington Nutrition strives to build healthy positive relationships with our customers,” Pitts said. “We constantly look for new and fun ways to meet our customer needs. When you keep the focus on what your customers want, you can be sure that they will welcome your product improvements instead of viewing them as unnecessary bells and whistles.”

Pitts also pointed to her team’s customer service as one of the top things she believes differentiates her business from others similar to hers.

Interacting with customers in Newton County has especially been important to Covington Nutrition’s growth in the last year, too.

“Covington’s amazing community has supported us and our growth from day one,” Pitts said. “Our oneof-a-kind customer service brings them back daily, along with bringing a friend or two. We love it here!”

The same goes for Barnes and I-20 East PowerSports.

Barnes stressed how crucial his business’ customer service has been to the development of his business the past few months.

“[When customers visit], they can expect someone to greet them at the door with a smile,” Barnes said. “And, most of all, they can expect a sincere greeting. If customers come in and want something and we don’t have it on the floor, most definitely I can get it for them.”

Nevertheless, the future excites Pitts and Barnes even more than what Newton County has brought to their businesses thus far. What’s next brings an “energy” that Pitts believes will continue to help Covington Nutrition grow at an even faster rate.

“Newton County has much more than charm to offer,” Pitts said. “There’s a new generation of visitors showing up and bringing a welcome energy. If you want to know how well we stand, just drive by any evening, and see the vehicles with people supporting local businesses.”

Barnes concurred with Pitts about his excitement concerning I-20 East PowerSports, too. He highlighted how, being a local native owning a business, has always been a goal of his.

“I grew up in this area,” Barnes said. “So, a lot of people know me and our employees who are from here as well. I went to school with them, worked with them, shopped with them and eat with them.”

Since 1893 J.C.Harwell & Son

FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CHAPEL

2157 East Street SE • Covington, GA 30014 770-786-2524

A Traditional Funeral Home Offering: Traditional Funeral Services, Cremation and Pre-Need Arrangements

“Dependable friends in time of need.”

Tommy & Mary Evelyn Davis www.harwellfuneralhome.com Celebrating 129 Years of Service to the Community We Call Home