With So Many Business Closings, DHEC Rates Downtown A “Food Desert”

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control officially rates the downtown area of the City of Myrtle Beach a “Food Desert.”

Food deserts, or low food access areas, are defined by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as “regions of the country that often feature large proportions of households with low incomes, inadequate access to transportation and a limited number of food retailers providing fresh produce and healthy groceries for affordable prices.”

When questioned about the ongoing multiple closings in the downtown area, Myrtle Beach City officials stated: We recommend people go to the Myrtle Beach Farmers’ Market on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ongoing closings of Wallgreens, CVS, the Foodlion on Highway 501, the Shoneys on the south end of Myrtle Beach, among others, have earned the areas from 28th Avenue North running south to the gates of Market Common this designation.

COUNCILMEN SAY JUST LEAVE

In the past, when area residents including Ann Dunham, former Mayor Mark McBride and others complained about issues like these, council members routine responses were, “if you hate the city this much, you should just leave.”

MANY DID JUST THAT

Some residents did choose to move to Carolina Forest. Some businesses chose to move as well.

Good Day Cafe relocated to Surfside Beach where the business now thrives.

HAVES AND HAVE NOTS

If the City of Myrtle Beach hopes to turn this around, two critical pieces are necessary.

• Younger starter family residents in the downtown area.

• Middle class income earners.

The bulk of middle class residents live in Market Common. These middle class Americans are largely retired, however. They rarely visit the downtown, if at all.

Dunes Club and Grande Dunes members are affluent. These residents rarely visit the downtown as well.

CASE IN POINT – GRAND STRAND BREWING COMPANY

The Grand Strand Brewing Company subleases the building they rent to two business men who also own the Crafty Rooster in Conway, S.C.

These two Coastal Graduates are responsible for running the day to day operations at GSBC serving meals and pouring the craft beer.

The craft beer division (GRAND STRAND BREWING COMPANY) is owned by Clayton Burrous. Clayton leases the building from Robert Mashburn and his partners. Mashburn purchased the building using historic investment tax credits.

Burrous’s principle concern is having his beer distributed to local merchants by the barrel. He does this through a working agreement with Better Brands. Better Brands is owned by Myrtle Beach Mayor Brenda Bethune.

Burrous makes the bulk of his profits when other bars located throughout Horry County offer his craft beer in their establishments.

THE PROBLEM – BEST MYRTLE BEACH SUMMER IN HISTORY

The Crafty Rooster, located in Conway, does a strong residential business daily. The business is nothing short of a home run success.

For those same owners, operating inside GSBC, however, weekday business and all morning business is hit or miss.

This during the busiest tourist season in the history of Myrtle Beach.

Few Myrtle Beach tourists are willing to pay a premium of up to $5 for a craft beer. This simply isn’t Myrtle Beach’s target audience.

BURROUS AND MASHBURN CAN’T LOSE

The day to day success of GSBC is not the primary concern of neither Clayton Burrous nor Robert Mashburn.

Mashburn collects his rent from Burrous regardless. Burrous gets his craft beer distributed locally by Better Brands regardless. Burrous also sublets the building.

MYRTLE BEACH NEEDS MIDDLE CLASS DOWNTOWN RESIDENTS

The SCDHEC designation of Food Desert should be a wake up call for City of Myrtle Beach leaders.

Young, middle class, downtown residents would certainly be hanging out at GSBC nightly.

Questions remain if any chain or local business can make a profit during the offseason after witnessing 3 night only business during the peak season.

It is folly on the city’s part should they blame the merchants when they relocate to NMB, Carolina Forest, Market Common or Conway.