Is a Myrtle Beach area restaurant opening a site at now-closed Eugenia’s?
Correction: The date Eugenia’s closed was incorrect. Eugenia’s closed Dec. 31, 2023. (Updated 5:02 p.m. on 02/13/2024)
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The owner of local chain restaurant J Peters Grill & Bar says the eatery is not opening a new location in Conway.
The original claim, made in a Feb. 2, 2024 Facebook post, that J Peters was opening a new location at the former site of Eugenia’s Steak & Seafood in Conway, which closed Dec. 31, 2023, according to The Sun News.
However, J Peters Grill & Bar owner Jonathan Angell said the Facebook post was untrue. Angell, who also owns other restaurants, including Angell Bros. Bar + Grill in Surfside Beach with brother Dan, stated he did visit the former Eugenia’s site to see if it was fit for J Peters.
“I would love to do a J Peters in Conway, but that’s not the store to do it in,” He added.
Angell also said he was not looking to open a new restaurant but would be interested if the right opportunity became available. Despite this, Eugenia’s former site remains closed.
The eatery was only open for more than a year before suddenly closing Dec. 31, 2023. Kassandra McHenry worked at Eugenia’s for four months before the restaurant closed.
McHenry said in a Jan. 1, 2024 interview with The Sun News that business was slow when she first started at Eugenia’s. She and other employees were worried about the eatery’s future before the restaurant saw increased business during the 2023 holiday season. McHenry added she was scheduled to work before being sent home the day Eugenia’s closed for good.
McHenry said management told the staff the eatery was closing via text message in the restaurant’s group chat.
“It was heartbreaking because (the staff) made a lot of bonds with each other. Like, we were like family and stuff,” McHenry said . “There’s a lot of people there that have been there since the beginning ... I feel really bad for them.”
Keith Benton Sr. owned the eatery, whose company, Benton Rentals LLC, still owns Eugenia’s property, according to Horry County Land Records. Benton Rentals LLC bought the property for almost $900,000 in 2015 and has a current market value of about $2.2 million, according to Horry County Land Records.
Benton could not be reached for comment before publication.
This story was originally published February 13, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
