Issue 5, June 13, 1996
Last week I took my annual weeklong vacation at the Grand Strand. Crowds were very light for June. Many schools are letting out later this year, some because of the harsh winter just past. This could lead to greater crowds later in the summer, as more people go to the beach in a smaller window of time. Plan accordingly, and make sure you have reservations before heading down for a weekend.
I discussed the competitive restaurant situation with a waitress at the Chesapeake House, a seafood restaurant in the Restaurant Row section. Business has been off all year for them, and she feared many longtime locally run establishments might fold eventually. Several years ago, Myrtle Beach was officially classified as an ‘urban area’, and the chain restaurants took notice and moved in. Now you can dine at two Outbacks, TGI Friday’s, Applebee’s, the Olive Garden, or even the Red Lobster. In addition, a large number of prominent eating places have set up shop in the popular Broadway at the Beach and Barefoot Landing complexes. These have siphoned off many of the customers that the older restaurants used to attract. Already, the Rice Planters, one of the oldest restaurants on the beach (established in 1971), has closed up. While many of the newer eating establishments are excellent, it would be a shame if some of the Grand Strand’s most distinctive restaurants had to call it quits because of all the competition. I understand why a tourist not familiar with the area might decide on a proven entity like a chain outlet, but he’s missing out on a unique experience by bypassing the local places.
Some of the better locally run restaurants include the Chesapeake House in Restaurant Row, the Sea Captain’s on Ocean Boulevard in central Myrtle Beach (near the north end of the row of motels centered around the Pavilion), and Drunken Jack’s in Murrells Inlet. If you’re a longtime visitor, I’m sure you have your own local favorites. Don’t forget them completely as you try out the newer establishments.
Thorny’s, a steakhouse-style restaurant which has two locations along the beach, recently won a contest for the ‘best ribs on the beach’. I gave them a try, and sure enough, the ribs are excellent, literally falling off the bone. I still slightly prefer the ribs at Damon’s, however. Tony Roma’s at Broadway at the Beach also has good ribs. Thorny’s locations are in northern Myrtle Beach (just south of the Dunes Club) and central Myrtle Beach, both on US 17 Business. Damon’s is at Barefoot Landing and on Ocean Boulevard just north of the beginning of that road in central Myrtle Beach (across from the old air base, south of the row of oceanfront motels).
We also had a chance to sample both of Myrtle Beach’s brewpubs. The Liberty Steakhouse is in Broadway at the Beach, and the Mad Boar is located in Barefoot Landing (in the building formerly housing Fajita’s). All four beers I sampled were good; Liberty leans toward German style lagers, while the Mad Boar has English style ales. Liberty features more casual food, with an emphasis on appetizers. The Mad Boar has excellent dinner entrees, and is quite beautifully decorated. Recommended.
Myrtle Beach certainly has plenty of breakfast houses to choose from. The best is Hot Stacks, with two locations on US 17 Business in central Myrtle Beach (for you old-timers, on the old site of the Myrtle Beach High School), and on US 17 at Ocean Drive. Skeeters, on US 17 Business in northern central Myrtle Beach (at approximately 70th Avenue) is also good. If you want a late night breakfast, the Plantation Pancake Houses (numerous locations along the beach, mostly on US 17) and Akel’s, on US 17 near the location of Skeeters, open at 10 P.M. and stay open all night.
During the summer months, the Gatlin Brothers will be performing at their theater Monday through Thursday nights. The three brothers were inducted in Myrtle Beach’s Celebrity Walk at the Pavilion during the Sun Fun Festival. I saw their show for the second time, and it remains the best I have seen so far on the Grand Strand (although I haven’t yet sampled all the shows). Larry Gatlin’s humor, much of it improvised during the show, is a cut above the other shows’, and the singing is impeccable. The theater is located in Fantasy Harbour at Wacammaw. Performances are at 8 P.M. Tickets are $25, with discounts for seniors and children. Call (800) 681-5209 or (803) 236-8500.
Two relatively new radio stations have signed on the air. WMYB, 99.5, is an all 70’s format, and WDAI, 98.5, is a rhythm and blues station. If you love beach music, try tuning in a Charleston station that broadcasts on 98.9. Their format is ‘beach, boogie, and blues’, and while reception might be variable, you won’t hear another station quite like it anywhere else. In a coming issue I will run down all the local radio outlets.
At the Myrtle Beach Factory Stores one establishment has closed (Tie One On, a seller of men’s ties). The Bose Factory Outlet store has an interesting home theater show, if you can spare the time.
Two new Food Lion supermarkets have opened in North Myrtle Beach. The first is located on US 17 very near the Cherry Grove turn-off, and is open 24 hours. The second is inland on SC 9, also in Cherry Grove. If you’re visiting this part of the beach, don’t miss Boulineau’s. This combination grocery store, gift shop, and hardware store is located at the intersection of Sea Mountain Highway (the road leading into Cherry Grove) and Ocean Boulevard. They have a little bit of everything; beach items, small appliances, fresh seafood, greeting cards, ice cream, a bakery, a salad bar and (absolutely free) tide charts in both poster and booklet form. The food is a little higher than the chain supermarkets, but it’s worth at least one visit during your trip.
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