Myrtle Beach’s Banditos Cantina has quietly closed its doors.
As of this publication, it is not known if the downtown Myrtle Beach restaurant closure is to be temporary or permanent.
“Banditos Cantina is closed until further notice, we apologize for any inconvenience.” a note was found on the front door of the restaurant on Thursday. Calls into the company go to a disconnected line. An associate of the company did reach out to MyrtleBeachSC News stating Banditos closed January 31st and they would not be re-opening.
According to its Facebook page, however, Banditos Cantina is temporarily closed.
It is located on the second floor of THE Blvd, 1410 N. Ocean Blvd, right across from The Funplex Myrtle Beach. Yelp reports the restaurant will reopen on April 30, but MyrtleBeachSC News could not confirm it.
At the time of publication, the restaurant’s phone number had been disconnected and no one responded to messages on its social media accounts.
The Banditos Cantina consistently posted content on social media until Jan. 31. Since then, there have been no posts.
After Banditos Cantina closes permanently, the second floor of THEBlvd will be empty. Epic Arcade, a restaurant-arcade formerly located on the first and second floors, closed in late 2020 due to rent problems.
More Closures in Myrtle Beach
As the Myrtle Beach Downtown Association (MBDA) works with the city to reconfigure the downtown area, a rash of Myrtle Beach restaurant closings continue.
The MBDA witnessed controversies, including the hire of a new director last year.
The city has been attempting to change the area for the past 20 years, investing over $50 million in that time, with few results.
The city is currently asking the State Legislature for $75 million to help continue those efforts.
However, a rash of closings including: The Donut Man, Hot Tomato, Banditos Cantina, and other popular venues continue to close. This despite $54 million in tax subsidies the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce spends annually to attract tourists to the area.