‘Not a matter of greed’: Myrtle Beach area retailers reopen, adjust during coronavirus
With some retail stores now allowed to operate in South Carolina, a few Horry County business owners are looking to regain some type of normalcy while aware business won’t be the same as the coronavirus continues to spread.
Jim Huntley, who owns Treasures Fine Jewelers in Myrtle Beach, said it was a tough decision to re-open his Market Common-area business, noting the desire to continue seeking revenue, work on existing orders and balance the need to keep himself and his clientele safe.
The shop, which is operating on limited hours, is currently allowing two customers in at a time, but most are looking to drop-off jewelry for repairs instead of browse, he said.
“Mainly, you want to be safe but it’s a matter of you having a business; it’s not a matter of greed, it’s a matter of surviving,” Huntley said. “This is a very trying time for our city, but we can reopen so we did, but we’re on edge and trying to be extra, extra careful.”
Prior to the virus, Huntley said he was planning to shutter his doors in June. Now with COVID-19, he said it’s the perfect time to get out of the retail business after 27 years, with a going-out-of-business sale planned in May. The decision to close would have been sooner if he hadn’t received his Paycheck Protection Program loan.
Earlier this week, S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster released details of his economic recovery plan, which he’s calling “Accelerate SC.” The plan involves reopening beaches and lifting restrictions on some retail stores, including clothing, furniture and jewelry stores. Along with canceling his two-week-old executive order that closed all public access to the beach and non-essential retail stores, public docks and boat landings have also reopened.
Despite McMaster’s order, a majority of retailers and cooperate-owned businesses have chosen to remain closed.
While Coastal Grand Mall is technically still open, the once bustling shopping center is now quiet and empty with only a handful of stores open for business. As chain stores like Kay Jeweler’s, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Belk and Dillard’s remain shut down, Bam! Books A Million, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ocean Jewels and Andy Owings Music Center were open as of Thursday morning.
Over in Conway, Emily Smith, who owns Good Day Sunshine, has kept her business open for online orders to keep some money coming in while she was forced to close. Smith sells handmade soaps, soy candles and a variety of items. Currently, most of her business comes from online orders, she said.
When McMaster lifted his order on Monday, Smith set up counter service at the door that would allow customers to shop while keeping them outside of her 3rd Avenue South location. Smith called her current situation a “soft opening” until she gets a better idea of how business will go.
While restrictions may be lifted, Smith said many people still are hesitant to visit stores in person especially when she is offering free delivery on all products. Only a handful of customers have shopped in-person since Tuesday, she said, but she hopes the community will continue supporting local business in a way that keeps themselves and workers safe.
“A lot of my locals have been ordering online and that’s really gotten us through,” Smith said. “If it’s for leisure, I think it’s better to support locals online for one more week than to take the risk of going out and about.”
Hudson’s Flea Market in Surfside Beach opened to the public on Thursday after closing down in March, now operating normal business hours Thursday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All vendors and customers are required to follow the state guidelines with regard to social distancing, with vendors responsible for enforcing it, manager Hayes Hudson said.
With some vendors hesitant to return, Hudson said that his vendors are free to make their own decision moving forward, but he doesn’t expect to see much foot traffic with tourism on the decline and COVID-19 causing hotels, short-term rentals and accommodations services to temporarily close. There’s definitely some uncertainty, he said.
“I think it’ll be a long time before we get back to something we consider normal,” Hudson said. “It’s definitely been a struggle for a lot of people and there’s a bunch of people wanting to get back to normal and see the economy get back to where it was, but we’ll just have to see what the future holds for us.”
The Sun News reporter Tyler Fleming contributed to this report.
