Myrtle Beach-area restaurant to stay closed after it was found serving alcohol illegally
Big E’s Country Buffet and Seafood will remain temporarily closed after it was found to be illegally serving alcohol and built a deck without permits.
The Longs-area buffet, located at 1250 E S.C. 9, has been the center of local strife after it began playing music and serving alcohol outdoors around the beginning of the summer, according to residents living across the highway.
Breanna Chestnut, who operates the restaurant, declined to say when or why Big E’s closed, but the restaurant appears to have closed at the beginning of October, based on its social media activity.
Chestnut said she does not know when it will reopen.
She went before the Horry County Board of Zoning Appeals Monday night requesting variances to allow alcohol consumption, outdoor dining and to amplify noise outdoors at Big E’s.
At the meeting, board members informed Chestnut she was not allowed to be serving alcohol despite doing so since 2023. A deck was also built on the property without permits, meaning it will need to be torn down.
Big E’s obtained a beer and wine license in September 2023 from the South Carolina Department of Revenue but Chestnut said did not know she also had to get approval from Horry County to serve alcohol. She was also unaware of permits needed for the deck.
The board approved all of the requests except for the ability to amplify noise outdoors.
Resident concerns
These issues were brought to Horry County’s attention after residents called the police over noise complaints. Brandon Keenan, who lives less than 500 feet from Big E’s, said the restaurant began playing loud music late into the night starting around June. He said once it went until 1 a.m.
“I see a pattern of disregard for your neighbors,” said Jerry Muchmore, who serves on the Horry County Board of Zoning Appeals. “That’s what bothers me the most in considering this special variance.”
The Board of Zoning Appeals said Chestnut can request outdoor noise amplification again, which she said she would do.
Marion Shaw, the chairperson, encouraged her to work out her issues with the neighborhood.
In October, Chestnut blamed neighbors on Facebook for Big E’s closing.
“Unfortunately the new neighborhood across the street from us isn’t so kind, they have their whole HOA against the business; I have tried so hard to rebuild,” Chestnut wrote on Facebook.
Big E’s is a family restaurant owned by the Chestnuts that’s been open since the 1980s. For most of its time, its operated as a lunch buffet but recently started serving dinner and alcoholic drinks and hosting a happy hour.
“We appreciate Horry County taking the time out of their evening to address our issues and concerns of the adjacent neighborhood. I wish that we can come to an understanding of the music variance,” Chestnut said after Monday’s meeting.
This story was originally published November 5, 2024 at 5:30 AM.
