When will Inlet Square Mall’s demolition wrap up in Murrells Inlet? Here’s what to know
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When will Inlet Square Mall’s demolition wrap up in Murrells Inlet? Here’s what to know
As the gateway to the southern portion of Horry County, the Inlet Square Mall re-development project wants to re-nourish a property unoccupied in recent years.
One of the Myrtle Beach area’s biggest shopping centers, the project intends to bring retail and business back to the site by converting the indoor facility into a more spacious shopping area.
This re-envisioning of the property included knocking down much of the enclosed mall that resided there before.
Now, the developer says that portion of the project is near completion. In an interview with The Sun News, Real Estate Manager for Paramount Development Corporation Neal Bowers said demolition will wrap up in the next few weeks.
He added debris removal is still ongoing. Bowers said that adding parking lots, site work, stormwater improvements and other utility work should start in April 2025.
Horry County Land Records shows that several parcels on the property received permits for this new phase for the site.
The project has changed from earlier plans for the mall. Previously, Paramount Development indicated that the project would include residential housing in a brochure for the property.
Bowers said the firm received interest from other developers to add a residential component, but Paramount currently has no plans to build housing on the site. He said the tract doesn’t have residential zoning, and Paramount has not submitted any rezoning applications.
While residential development could occur sometime in the future, Bowers stressed that Paramount has nothing in the works.
“We’re not residential developers ourselves, but we are not pursuing residential on the site,” Bowers said. “We have zero plans, zero land for residential, regardless of previous conceptual plans.”
Plans to revitalize the area are in motion, and the mall site has already attracted new businesses to a property that once saw many of its tenants close.
The Sun News reported in July 2024 that a Home2Suites by Hilton will open near the Belk store at the mall, along with a Hobby Lobby replacing the former JCPenney. Horry County Land Records show that the property submitted several permits for the interior and exterior renovations of the Hobby Lobby.
Bowers added that the firm signed a lease for a new business to open in a large portion of the former Kmart location next to Planet Fitness. More companies plan to open there, too.
The Myrtle Beach area Mexican restaurant chain El Cerro Grande plans to open at the former TGI Friday’s property, and Bowers said the eatery bought the building.
According to Horry County Land Records, El Cerro Grande bought the tract for $3 million in December 2024. The Inlet Square Mall isn’t the only Grand Strand shopping center set to undergo re-development.
The Sun News reported in November 2024 that the firm Rise Partners bought Conway’s Coastal Centre for $14 million.
Rise Partners Partner Greg Wilson said in an October 2024 interview that the firm wants to start project construction in 2025 and finish sometime in 2026.
“We’re super excited about it,” Wilson said in an interview with The Sun News. “Conway is growing and needs better options in the market.”
This story was originally published April 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
