New restaurants, nightclubs to transform Broadway at the Beach

Broadway at the Beach will undergo a transformation starting this winter that will include the opening of the area’s first Dave & Buster’s, a new American Tap House and an ever-changing OZ nightclub.

Plans also confirm a new location for one of Broadway’s original tenants, Hard Rock Cafe Myrtle Beach. Improvements at the entertainment complex are set to start this winter after a rash of closures and relocations in the past few months started catching the eyes of visitors to the property’s entertainment and nightlife section known as Celebrity Square.

The plan, unveiled by Broadway owner Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc. on Wednesday, revealed a vision to freshen up the 20-year-old entertainment complex -- updates some say were needed.

“I couldn’t be more excited about all of the new changes at Broadway,” said Stephanie Atwood, director of operations for a hospitality group that runs Broadway’s Good Time Charley’s, Rooster’s Restaurant and Bar and will operate the new American Tap House.

“This is great for Broadway,” she said on Wednesday, standing inside Good Time Charley’s. “It’s kind of just needed some new life, new excitement, new fun, new things. Everything’s just kind of been a little worn out. No one’s really getting too excited to come back to Broadway. But now that all of these great new businesses are going in, it’s just bringing life back to something that was so eventful so many years in the past. I think it’s time that this is happening.”

Signs of change had been evident in recent months, but B&C had declined to talk about its vision for Broadway until Wednesday.

In September, Planet Hollywood shut its doors after 19 years in the globe-shaped building off 29th Avenue North. MagiQuest -- which offered families a live-action role playing game -- also closed in September after a decade in business; followed by the popular Mexican restaurant-by-day and club hotspot-by-night Carlos’ n Charlie’s on Oct. 31 and Revolutions Nightclub in November. Broadway Louie’s moved into the former home of Country Roads and Rodeo a few doors down.

And Hard Rock Café had submitted plans to leave its iconic 70-foot-tall pyramid for a new renovated location where Broadway Louie’s was housed. The former Phillips Seafood restaurant on 21st Avenue North was demolished last month and permits recently submitted to the city call for the demolition of the former Carlos’ n Charlie’s restaurant for a new two-story restaurant with retail space to house a Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen.

“Over the last 20 years, Broadway at the Beach has set the standard for shopping, dining and entertainment on the Grand Strand,” Chad E. Carlson, executive vice president for B&C, said in a news release. “Today is an important milestone in the property’s history as we unveil the first part of a redevelopment plan designed to build on the magic and vibrancy that has made Broadway at the Beach so special.”

Celebrity Square, a cluster of nightclubs anchored by the iconic Hard Rock Cafe, will get an overhaul that includes the addition of Dave & Buster’s, the relocation of Hard Rock Park and new restaurants and nightclubs. All the work is expected to be done by the summer tourism season, B&C spokeswoman Lei Gainer said.

Malibu’s Surf Bar, Crocodile Rocks, Original Shucker’s Raw Bar and Carolina Comedy Club will all remain in their existing locations, according to the news release.

Dave & Buster’s officials have been silent on plans to open a new location at Broadway at the Beach, but B&C confirmed the decision Wednesday morning.

The popular full-service restaurant and arcade, known as “the only place to eat, drink, play and watch sports,” has more than 80 locations across the United States. This will be the first one along the Grand Strand. It’s unclear when it will open; Dave & Buster’s officials could not be reached Wednesday.

Construction is underway on the new 15,043-square-foot Hard Rock Cafe in the former Broadway Louie’s spot, which is scheduled to open this summer.

“The new Myrtle Beach cafe places us in a more strategic location at the heart of Broadway’s transformed entertainment and nightlife area,” said Calum MacPherson, area vice president of cafe operations (North America) for Hard Rock International. “Additionally, the new Hard Rock Cafe Myrtle Beach will debut a fresh and invigorating design that reflects our brand’s contemporary atmosphere.”

Hard Rock officials say they plan to use the latest technology and closely follow a relocation model used on some of Hard Rock’s most successful properties in cities like New York and Boston to update the restaurant’s look.

Hard Rock’s new location is pegged to change the face of Broadway’s transformed entertainment and nightlife area, with a gateway restaurant that will have seating for 528 guests, private event space, patio seating and a live music stage backed by a vinyl records cascade.

Plans for Broadway call for “improved architecture” and an “updated tenant mix” that will include new restaurants and nightlife, according to the release. B&C officials say the newly-designed area will continue to offer dining, shopping and entertainment venues “that appeal to the whole family.”

The American Tap House, “a chef-driven American gastropub” offering more than 40 regional and local craft beers on tap and “comfort food with a southern twist” is set to move into the former Club Boca spot on Broadway.

Atwood said the American Tap House will be an exciting addition to Broadway at the Beach. “There’s nothing like it out here on Broadway,” she said, adding that the trend of the gastropub is sweeping the country.

B&C announced OZ - a nightclub venue offering changing backdrops to visitors each night - is set to open this spring in the former Revolutions space.

The new location of Broadway Louie’s, also part of Celebrations Nitelife, allows the club to feature a new full-food menu, outside patio bar and its nightly Broadway Jake’s All Star Karaoke.

“We are thrilled to introduce this new experience to our customers this spring, and it’s only the beginning,” said Jim Apple, B&C’s president and chief executive officer. “Our goal is to establish Broadway at the Beach as the Southeast’s premier family entertainment destination. The redevelopment of Celebrity Square is the first of many initiatives we will execute over the next few years that are designed to elevate the customer experience through inspired place-making.”

This story was originally published February 3, 2016 at 9:42 AM with the headline "New restaurants, nightclubs to transform Broadway at the Beach."