Feeling frustrated or stressed out? Maybe you need to pick up an axe.
T.V. Station 3newsnow of Omaha reports: As Axe throwing centers are becoming more and more popular across the country, including here in Omaha, families are becoming key customers. Omaha currently has 3 axe throwing centers around town.
Omaha business owner Harvey Leslie says “People like to throw at targets. It’s fun. It’s good exercise.“
One such Axe Throwing business was recently approved to open shop in Myrtle Beach.
Dan Shaffer and his business partner David Wilhelm own Keystone Creative Escape Gates, which is based out of Pennsylvania.
The company is operating three escape room locations up north.
After unanimous approval by Myrtle Beach City Council, the team is about to open a “Challenge Axeccepted” axe throwing business in Myrtle Beach.
Said Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce President and C.E.O. Karen Riordan, “The Myrtle Beach area has long been a place where both visitors and locals can enjoy a wide variety of unique activities and attractions for all ages. Having new entertainment options adds to this excitement and we’re interested in learning more about this business.”
Shaffer said he hopes the new business will be located somewhere along Kings Highway in the City of Myrtle Beach. The business is approved, but has not nailed down a business location.
Shaffer says they’re hoping the Myrtle Beach location will be up and running no later than May of 2022.
NOT SO FOR A LARGE MYRTLE BEACH PROPERTY OWNER
The very same Axe Throwing business application was denied by Myrtle Beach City Council on August 14, 2018. Readers can view the zoning changes the City of Myrtle Beach recently approved for Pennsylvania’s Challenge Axecepted on SCRIBD below.
Why were the rules changed for a Pennsylvania business, but not for a local , highly regarded property owner who has already invested millions inside the city limits?
Says local Myrtle Beach property owner Tuvia Wilkes, “Myrtle Beach City Council doesn’t play fair. They play favorites.” Wilkes added, “I pray for them to go to church.”
As readers can see from the image below, changing zoning for outside investors, and local “friends of city council” is the rule, not the exception.
The city’s argument is that in 2018, their biggest concern was the industry was a fad. The zoning amendment states the city now believes the industry is a trend which has nation-wide safety concerns being addressed by operational and safety standards adopted by many establishments.
Meanwhile, Wilkes owns other businesses in locations like Virginia and Charlotte, N.C. Charlotte is Myrtle Beach’s number one tourist feeder city.
The Myrtle Beach Downtown Alliance wants to enhance downtown Myrtle Beach by bringing in businesses from other cities to invest in downtown Myrtle Beach. News travels fast among the business community in Charlotte, where Wilkes is also highly regarded.
Is the City of Myrtle Beach not aware that outside investors look for a stable and consistent climate before they invest? When these businesses do their own due diligence, who are they likely to call first? If you guessed Tuvia Wilkes, you are correct.
MISSING THE MARK
The city of Myrtle Beach is currently being sued by former business owners in what was historically known as the Super Block. The city lost an initial lawsuit, but is now appealing the jury’s decision.
The city banned the sale of alcohol in that district until previous businesses were forced out by the city. Once the businesses were harassed and closed, the city then changed its own ordinance to allow the sale of alcohol in that same district.
The district now features the Grand Strand Brewing Company in the same location where it previously outlawed those sales just over 5 years ago. Ironically, the Grand Strand Brewing Company’s distributor is none other than Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune. Bethune owns Better Brands Beer distributors.
OVERLAY DISTRICT
In yet another expensive lawsuit for taxpayers, nine businesses on Ocean Boulevard, including smoke, CBD, and vape shops, filed a legal appeal in January 2020 to a decision by the Myrtle Beach Board of Zoning Appeals, over vape and CBD products.
The appeal mentions the city’s ordinance that made it illegal to sell vape, CBD, and tobacco products within the Ocean Boulevard Entertainment Overlay District (OBEOD). The businesses claim the ordinance is unconstitutional and is a “taking of Petitioners’ businesses without due process subjecting Appellants to various penalties”.
The businesses listed on the court document are: Rasta, Wacky T’s, Doctor Vape, Blue Smoke Vape Shop, Best for Less, Grasshopper, Pacific Beachwear, T-Shirt King and Surf’s Up.
Meanwhile, CBD oils are allowed to be sold city-wide, except by these 9 appellants. CBD is a legal product in America.
As Axe Throwing is becoming a nation-wide family attraction, shouldn’t the city reach out to Mr. Wilkes and offer to “bury the hatchet” on what can only be described as unequal treatment?
Shouldn’t those businesses already invested in Myrtle Beach get equal treatment?
Another lawsuit for the City of Myrtle Beach is likely just ahead.
These lawsuits can best be described as self inflicted wounds that city council and the mayor continue to bring upon themselves, halting the progress of investor relations towards increased downtown development.
AXE THROWING BUSINESS DENIED ON LOCAL BUSINESSMAN TUVIA WILKE’S PROPERTY, AFTERWARDS ZONING CHANGES MADE
08. 2021-051 Axe Throwing Business Denied by MyrtleBeachSC news on Scribd