Myrtle Beach has so much shopping. But residents still wonder why these stores are missing
Myrtle Beach doesn’t have a Macy’s, but residents strongly wish the Grand Strand had one.
We can’t blame y’all. They’ve got great prices and plenty of gems hidden within those racks. If you want to sparkle (literally) the next time you go out, the department store that sponsors the New York City Thanksgiving Day parade is the place to go. Unless you’re in Myrtle Beach.
We asked readers what stores they wish Myrtle Beach had that the Grand Strand currently lacks. More than half of the responses called for Macy’s. Malls in the area have Dillard’s, J.C. Penney — one mall even had a Sears until last year — so why does the nearest Macy’s have to be in Columbia?
But Macy’s wasn’t the only store locals want. Here are the top stores readers told us they want (and need) in the Grand Strand.
Apple Store: For anyone addicted to (trapped within) the “walled garden” of Apple products, this one is pretty obvious. Yes, there are a few certified Apple product fixers in the area, but sometimes you just want to go to the “Genius Bar.” Or just walk through the pristine spaces of an Apple Store. Plus — and this is a scary thought — it is, in fact, possible to shatter a phone screen so badly that only Apple itself can fix it. If that happens, you’re left driving all the way to Charleston, the nearest store location, without GPS.
“This would be a perfect place for it. PLEASE!!!!” Sandy Burgjo said in response to the poll.
“Many of us have Apple products and no where to get help,” another person said.
Christmas Tree Shops: Who doesn’t want the holiday season in the air — all year long? This was the second most-asked-for store by readers, tied with the Apple Store. “Love this store in the Northeast. They carry the best seasonal items at a great price point. They also carry a large selection of coastal decorating items,” Joann Voltaggio said in response to the poll. Christmas Tree Shops has much more than just holiday-themed items. It has home decor and a range of seasonal options throughout the year.
The nearest Christmas Tree Shops location is in Fayetteville, and South Carolina has one in Greenville.
“This was my favorite store in Maryland and I would love to see one open here. With their great pricing this store would be booming!” April Evans said in a response to the poll.
IKEA: Y’all know they have a website ... right? But we get it. The nearest location is in Charlotte. Going to IKEA is an experience — from the Swedish meatballs to dropping your kids off at the day care so you can shop in peace to sitting on a bunch of couches that you probably won’t ever buy.
Plus, all of those mini showrooms give such good design inspiration! And the cookies! Let us not forget the cookies sold at the check-out stands. Or plants! (The little bamboo!) Or margarita glasses! Or chandeliers! Or! ...
“IKEA. I always lived no longer than 45 minutes away from an IKEA before moving here. Charlotte is too far away. I would live in IKEA every weekend,” Monica Howard said in response to the poll.
Nordstrom: With all of Myrtle Beach’s retail growth, it seems like the logical next step would be to land a Nordstrom. Plenty of new residents are coming from big cities where having a Nordstrom is standard. Everybody deserves a high-end department store, right?
If Nordstrom is going to bring its first full location to South Carolina, it might as well be in Myrtle Beach. The nearest location is in Charlotte (stealing all the good stores ... we see), though there are several Nordstrom Rack store locations throughout South Carolina.
Williams Sonoma: Everyone needs more cooking tools. It’s just a fact. Especially after the two years of spending way more time at home than anyone ever expected to, many people have become their own executive chefs.
That same old wooden spoon that you’ve been using since college just won’t cut it anymore. You need new wooden spoons. Or four wooden spoons! Or an espresso machine. Or elegant cutting devices!
Myrtle Beach used to have a Williams Sonoma, in the Market Common, but it closed in 2016. Now, the nearest locations are in Charleston and — you guessed it — Charlotte.
Readers also suggested that the Grand Strand should get a Sur La Table, if not a Williams Sonoma.
“All the existing stores here are low end or discount. Finer shopping just does not exist here. Sad,” a reader named Rosemary said in response to the poll.
Honorable mentions go to the Container Store (to store all of your new stuff), At Home (the best home decor — plus the best $5 wine glasses with gold-painted rims) and “None. We have enough to choose from.”
This story was originally published March 2, 2022 at 2:02 PM.
