North Myrtle Beach barbecue restaurant reopens after kitchen fire. What we know

A North Myrtle Beach barbecue spot is open to customers after the kitchen caught fire Tuesday.

The kitchen of Old South BBQ at 1020 Sea Mountain Highway caught fire around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday. No one was injured, and the restaurant remained open through the ordeal.

“We were cooking the butts, and the pit master, he had a fire, but everything is okay,” said owner Heather Zanfardino, who also owns Salty Brews and Cha House. “The fire department got there, but our other chef from Salty Brew was able to put it out before the fire department got there.”

Old South BBQ will need repairs for structural damage, but the barbecue pit is still in working order ready to feed customers.

Zanfardino and her father, Kenny Hyatt, took over the barbecue joint and reopened it earlier this year. The restaurant serves up Carolina barbecue, hot dogs, sandwiches and more in the north strand.

Despite the chaos of the fire, Old South BBQ is on track for a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 11.

This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 10:07 AM.