Before Buc-ee’s there was this SC shop. Travelers to Myrtle Beach flock to it
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Before there was ever a Buc-ee’s in South Carolina, there was Sparky’s.
The roadside country store located along U.S. 501 in Marion County has been a must-stop for travelers to and from Myrtle Beach for 35 years.
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And just like Buc-ee’s it is a place for shoppers to get food, snacks, gas and other souvenirs and tchotchkes, as well as a few things that aren’t available at the mega Texas-based chain but are part of the beach culture.
There is no doubt that it is a tourist destination, advertised by billboards along the highway that sport not a beaver, but a happy, spotted dog that beckons motorists with its promise of pecans, fireworks and clean bathrooms.
Sparky’s a traveler’s destination
Walking into the store is a treasure hunt of sorts, with clothing, seashells and shell decorations, hermit crabs, jewelry, name plates and snow globes.
While you can’t get brisket sandwiches, there is a food counter, as well as a fudge and ice cream shop. And don’t forget about the boiled peanuts. The store has a separate stand with big pots of the Southern favorite.
But the highlight of the store is its specialty sections of fireworks and old-fashioned candy and pecans.
It is legal to purchase fireworks in South Carolina and Sparky’s has a large selection of them at various prices.
Sparky’s takes its pecans seriously. There is a variety of gourmet candied pecans, as well as large bins of whole pecans that can be scooped up and put in a bag to take home.
It started with a vision for tourists
Sparky’s was founded in 1990 by Randall and Linda Small, who had a vision to be a family-friendly tourist stop, according to its website.
They transformed the location from a dilapidated building to what it is today. Sparky’s has a more than 20,000-square-foot gift and gourmet candy shop, a 5,000-square-foot fireworks showroom, a gas station and a restaurant.
Alex Small took over the operations of the store from his parents. His father passed away in 2014, but his mother still maintains the books, Small said. It has remained a family operation, including Alex Small’s daughters, who work there in the summer.
“It’s unique,” Small said of the store. “It’s bright and colorful,” and the employees are good with customers, he said.
Summer is the busiest time for Sparky’s, and while Small isn’t sure how many people the store receives each year, he said during the summer and weekends, the parking lot is always full.
Because many of the customers are vacationers headed to the beach, Small said they try to target Myrtle Beach travelers with T-shirts and general merchandise.
“They’re kind of our bread and butter,” Small said of travelers to Myrtle Beach.
How Buc-ee’s and Sparky’s differ
A Buc-ee’s opened in Florence in 2022. It is also located near a major highway – just off Interstate 95, which takes travelers to Columbia or Savannah, Georgia.
Buc-ee’s is a chain that began in 1982 in Clute, Texas. However, it wasn’t until 2018 that the store expanded outside Texas. It now has locations in several states across the country.
There is only one Sparky’s, located approximately 55 minutes from Myrtle Beach. Buc-ee’s in Florence is about an hour and 20 minutes.
You’re probably not going to see hermit crabs or giant conch shells at Buc-ee’s, but both places boast of having clean bathrooms. Buc-ee’s has actually won awards for having some of the “cleanest bathrooms” in the country. They even have employees whose only job is to take care of them.
The stores have a vast selection of candies and nuts. You can also get clothing at both places, although many of Buc-ee’s is self-promotional. Sparky’s gears its T-shirts to Myrtle Beach vacationers.
Don’t forget about the crowds. Both locations stay pretty busy with people coming for the experience.
Sparky’s has not only become a place to shop, but a vacation destination for beachgoers.
And as for the mascot, Buc-ee’s is known for its beaver, which is incorporated throughout the store and on its merchandise. Sparky’s was actually named after the Small family’s pet dog, Alex Small said.
