Well-known Myrtle Beach kite titan, Trump stores founder dies suddenly
.jpeg "Trump flags fly on the storefront display of Kligs Kites at Broadway at the Beach.")
Bruce Kilgman was a fixture in the Grand Strand community.
A co-founder of the beloved Myrtle Beach area kite stores, Klig’s Kites, Kligman passed away unexpectedly on Aug. 29, 2025. The 66-year-old died “suddenly” from a heart attack, according to his obituary. Kligman’s funeral was held Sept. 2, 2025, at Southern Palms Memorial Gardens.
With store locations in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach, Kligman’s business became a well-known place to purchase kites, banners and even President Donald Trump merchandise, with both locations also housing a “Trump Superstore.”
The family-owned business has been in operation for more than 40 years.
Jay Knerr, one of Kligman’s longtime friends and former colleagues, said that for Kligman, running a business was about more than selling a product.
Often times, it wouldn’t just be colorful flags that drew people to Kligman’s storefront, but Kligman himself, standing outside the store and joking around with customers.
Kligman had a comedy routine he would do outside of the store where he would dress up in various gag items and crack jokes at passers-by.
At his core, Kligman was a “fun-loving guy,” who loved making connections with others, Knerr said.
“It was more about building a rapport with the customer instead of trying to sell them something,” Knerr added.
‘Integral part of the kite world’
Kligman was born in Hyattsville, Maryland, but later moved to Myrtle Beach where he co-founded Klig’s Kites with his family.
Knerr and Kligman worked together for a time at The Kite Loft in Ocean City, Maryland, which Knerr owns. Since then, they have continued to keep in touch, share information and expertise, and meet up at various conventions and events.
Kligman, aside from being a businessman, was also a craftsman, and built much of his own Myrtle Beach house, as well as the shelving and fixtures in his stores, Knerr explained.
“Bruce was an incredible woodworker,” said another close friend, Jim Christianson, who owns Sky Dog Kites in Colchester, Connecticutt.
Christianson recalled that Kligman had turned several of the walls in his previous home into giant fish tanks, which stood as a testament to his craftsmanship.
Christianson described Kligman as a great family man and a great friend, who would always rather go back to the hotel room at an event and talk about family and business than go out to a bar and drink after an event.
“Any time I needed help financially or needed some advice, I’d call up Bruce,” Christianson said.
Kligman was an “integral part of the kite world,” and his “unexpected” death came as a great shock to everyone, Christianson added.
Bruce Kligman is survived by his wife, Diane Kligman; sons Zachary Kligman and Luis Kligman; sister Lisa Kligman; and brother Richard Kligman.
His sons plan to honor their father’s memory by carrying on the family business, Kligman’s obituary says.
This story was originally published September 4, 2025 at 12:58 PM.
