MBACC Research and Statistics

2007/2008 Myrtle Beach Area Local Development

The Grand Strand is one of the fastest growing areas in the United States and current development includes a wide range of new businesses established and/or planned during 2008. These include entertainment centers, restaurants, motels, golf courses, business and resort centers, and general services.

Restaurants

New restaurants that opened in 2008 includes Red Robin, Bombay at the Beach, Mellow Mushroom, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, Tommy Bahama, Kono Asian Grill, Japanese Steakhouse, New World Cafe, Kansas City Prime and Ichiro's Japanese Steakhouse in Myrtle Beach. I Love NY Pizza & Subs opened in the Galleria Shopping Center, LeGrand's Prime Alaskan Seafood & Steaks opened in Barefoot Landing and in North Myrtle Beach Santa Fe Station was transformed into Calico Jack's Gallery and Grub. In Surfside Beach Chili's Grill & Bar opened along with Jimmy's Japanese Hibachi and Scatori's Italian Restaurant. An Eggs Up Grill also opened in Garden City Beach.

Hotels

Oceans One opened it's 135-unit condominium in March 2008. Other new hotels that opened in 2008 included the 228-unit Hotel Blue featuring Myrtle Beach's first swim up pool bar, and the Hilton Garden Inn, a 112-unit hotel which is the first airport hotel opened in November 2008. The Towers on the Grove 221-unit facility is expected to open in January 2009 in Cherry Grove. Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites is expected to open in February 2009 in Murrells Inlet. The Hampton Inn 114-room tower is scheduled to open in April 2009 in Myrtle Beach.

Businesses

In 2007, Rooms To Go, Red Lobster, Pet Smart and Ethan Allen furniture opened at the Coastal Grand Myrtle Beach Mall. Lowes Foods opened it's first store in the Myrtle Beach area in October 2007 in the Shoppes at South Strand Commons. In January 2008, Goodwill opened a store in Surfside Beach and in Conway. In March a Ross Dress for Less store opened on Seaboard Commons next to World Market in Myrtle Beach, and a First Citizens Bank opened in Conway. At the Tanger Outlet on U.S. 501, Variety 4 Less and ECCO shoes stores opened, and in May, Conway National Bank opened in Little River. The Market Commons retail and housing development opened in April 2008 on the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base with about 40 shops and restaurants topped by apartments. A few of the stores include Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Cold Stone Creamery, shopping at Williams-Sonoma, Dixie Diva's, Bungalow Baileys and the Lazy Gator gift shop. The former Hard Rock Park also opened in April, closed in September and will reopen Memorial Day Weekend 2009, as the Freestyle Music Park. The Barefoot Commons shopping center opened in May 2008 and includes a Super Bi-Lo, a Sticky Fingers restaurant and a Wachovia Bank. Other businesses in the center include a Beef O'Bradys, Coastal ABC, Euro Salon and Spa, Empire Fire Mongolian Grill, The Kids Center and Dog Club Spa. The Shops at Coastal Grand opened in November 2008 and it includes a European Spa, a Christian apparel shop, Southern Pearls jewelry, and accessories shop, Heaven & Earth, Nikki's Hibachi Steak House, Sunglass Warehouse, and a Lil Tractor Company. The Grande Dunes Marketplace opened it's anchor store, a Lowes Foods in September, other stores at the Marketplace include Indo Thai Sushi and Tropical Dunes Nails. They are expecting tenants in 2009 to include a wine and tapas bar, a spa and a high-end men's clothing store. The Forest Village located at Carolina Forest Boulevard and River Oaks Drive is anchored by Food Lion opening it's 20th store. Other tenants at the location include the Family Dollar, Domino's, Lapels Dry Cleaning, Rent-A-Center, Queens Nail Salon, Pane e Vino Italian Restaurant and Hana Teppanyaki Japanese Steakhouse. The Workshop Tools shopping center opened in September on U.S. Highway 501 across from the Tanger Center and its tenants include Workshop Tools, a Cast Iron Cookware store and a Coleman camping gear outlet store.

On the Horizon

South Atlantic Bank will open it's second office in Murrells Inlet in 2009. The Fantasy Harbour Bridge which will connect Harrelson Boulevard to the Hard Rock Park Road is scheduled to open in August 2009, and the North Myrtle Beach Main Street Connector is also expected to be completed by August 2009. A new Wal-mart is slated to open at Myrtle Ridge Crossing at U.S. 501 and Myrtle Ridge Drive in the Summer of 2009. An upside-down new hands-on science attraction called WonderWorks is planned to open in 2010 at Broadway at the Beach.

Source: The Sun News

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