Longtime North Myrtle Beach shag store to close doors over COVID-19. Here’s the latest
Judy’s House of Oldies in North Myrtle Beach has announced it is going out of business due to the coronavirus pandemic.
During its 30 years in business, the shop on Main Street had loyal customers from all over the country who bought beach music, leather dance shoes and shag-dancing clothing. The store was operated by the late Judy Collins, a shag dancing and beach music icon. Collins died in April 2019, and her sister, Jeannie Elmore, has continued to run the store.
“My business has been devastated because of the shutdown due to COVID-19,” Elmore said. “The store has people literally coming in in tears ... because when people come to the beach, this is their first stop.”
Elmore, who made the announcement this week about the store closing, started helping her sister at the store in 1999.
Over the course of three decades, Collins’ fame in the shag dancing community and experience in DJing around the country drew attention and customers to Judy’s House of Oldies. In 1999, Collins was inducted to the Beach Shaggers National Hall of Fame. She said at the time that music had been a major part of her life since she was 10 years old.
The Society of Stranders event put on three times a year was canceled in the spring due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Elmore said she believes it could be another year before business could be back to normal.
“I just can’t wait it out that long,” she said. “The dance clubs are not open, and until my people can come and dance and have a drink, they’re not coming to town.”
Until the store closes, Elmore said she plans to sell ladies and men’s dance shoes for 20 percent off. Judy’s House of Oldies is located at 300 Main Street in North Myrtle Beach.
This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 1:49 PM.
