Family to open new restaurant on historic Socastee property. What it will serve
Chris Throckmorton has always had his eye on the Cooper House, an historic piece of property that sits in the Socastee area.
The home, along with the T.B. Cooper General Store and the former Porch Restaurant, sits on 2-acres of property and is more than 100 years old.
So when the property went up for sale last year, Throckmorton and his wife, Brianna, saw a chance to invest in the community and become the next stewards of the historic buildings.
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The couple, along with their son Liam, are a part of the Socastee community, Throckmorton said. “We’re looking to embrace this,” he said.
The restaurant, which is the newest of the three buildings, will now be called Dockside Dawgs and will serve short-order comfort food such as fresh biscuits, BLTs, hamburgers, hot dogs, BBQ, ice cream, and eventually blue-plate specials such as chicken bog and meatloaf. It will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, Throckmorton said.
Since the restaurant, 4211 Peachtree Road, is located near the Intracoastal Waterway, on one side of the Socastee Swing Bridge, he plans to cater to boaters and workers. Throckmorton said growth in the Forestbrook neighborhood has brought a need for a restaurant where workers and residents can sit and eat. Currently, such options are limited on the side of the bridge where the property is located, he said.
The couple hope to have the restaurant open by the beginning of February.
Restaurant was once a bait and tackle shop
The restaurant was once a bait and tackle shop before its current incarnation of selling food. Throckmorton is hoping to put a fish cleaning station outside, as well as sell bait and other fishing items.
The couple plan to keep the Cooper House and general store a wedding and event venue. The home will be rented out for weddings, focusing on space for the bride and groom parties. The property already has its first booking, he said.
And while they are doing some remodeling, “the nostalgia will stay the same,” Throckmorton said.
The Cooper House and general store are part of the Socastee Historic District and on the National Register of Historic Places.
Post office remains inside TB Cooper Store
The general store offers a rustic, but beautiful setting, with the original shelving and wood planks on the floor and walls. The T.B. Cooper Store was built in 1905 and sold feed, grain, coffee, soda pop and other wares to Socastee residents. It also served as the first post office for the Socastee area, and the post office counter remains in the store.
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Thomas Cooper served as its postmaster in 1908, which was when the family home was built.
Throckmorton, who owns the Myrtle Beach landscaping company The Yardist, grew up around restaurants, and said his background is in food and hospitality. His grandmother owned a short-order restaurant, and he remembers standing on crates, working right beside her.
He’s excited to get back into the food industry, as well as maintaining the history and giving back to an area that continues to grow.
“As the community grows,” Throckmorton said, “we’ll grow with them.”
This story was originally published January 26, 2026 at 5:00 AM.
