Olive Garden plans to open another Grand Strand location next spring near Carolina Forest.

Stormwater work started this week at 73 Rodeo Drive off U.S. 501 near S.C. 31 where Olive Garden plans to build a 7,660-square-foot restaurant with seating for 246 people.

The restaurant plans to open in the spring, though an exact opening won’t be announced until it get closer, Olive Garden spokeswoman Tara Gray said.

Olive Garden already has two Grand Strand locations, at 1405 N. Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach and 4701 U.S. 17 North in North Myrtle Beach.

Olive Garden, which unveiled a new marketing strategy nationally this week, has been opening new restaurants across the country.

“We typically look for vibrant trade areas that are easily accessible to our guests, and we believe our new Myrtle Beach location will perform well due to its close proximity to popular shopping and retail outlets,” Gray said in an email.

The new location will have the eatery’s usual rustic stone exterior and an Italian-inspired interior, along with its usual pasta dishes, salad, soups and breadsticks.

The new location will hire about 150 workers, with hiring starting six weeks before the restaurant opens. Those interested in working there can apply online at www.olivegarden.com.

On Sunday, Olive Garden launched a new marketing strategy with “Go Olive Garden” ads aiming to freshen the chain’s image. It got rid of its “When You’re Here, You’re Family” slogan that it had used for 14 years, according to The Associated Press.

Contact DAWN BRYANT at 626-0296 or at dbryant@thesunnews.com or follow her at Twitter.com/TSN_dawnbryant.