Broadway on the Beach

Broadway on the Beach
Name	Broadway on the Beach
Location	Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Opening date	1995
Developer	Burroughs & Chapin
Manager	Burroughs & Chapin
Owner	Burroughs & Chapin
Number of stores	100+
Number of restaurants	20+
Area	350acre
Publictransit	Coast RTA

Broadway on the Beach Broadway on the Beach is a large open-air entertainment complex in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina developed and managed by Burroughs & Chapin. The complex combines retail, dining, nightlife, attractions, and performance venues to serve visitors to the Grand Strand and tourists from sources such as Charlotte, Atlanta, New York City, Boston, and Toronto. It functions as a regional draw alongside destinations like Myrtle Beach Boardwalk and Barefoot Landing.

History

Broadway on the Beach opened in 1995 under the ownership of Burroughs & Chapin after redevelopment plans influenced by rapid tourist growth on the Grand Strand during the late 20th century. The complex's evolution intersects with regional developments including expansions of Myrtle Beach International Airport, investments by companies such as Hard Rock Cafe and Dave & Buster's, and competition from nearby centers like The Market Common (Myrtle Beach). Over time Broadway on the Beach incorporated attractions associated with national brands and local entrepreneurs influenced by trends set by venues like Niagara Falls entertainment districts and coastal projects near Hilton Head Island.

Design and Layout

The site occupies land along Business 17 near the intersection with U.S. Route 17 Business and is organized around a central artificial lake and promenade inspired by waterfront developments in locations like San Antonio River Walk and Inner Harbor (Baltimore). The master plan emphasizes themed districts, pedestrian circulation, and mixed-use parcels reflecting practices used in developments by firms such as The Rouse Company and projects like South Street Seaport. Landscaping and public art programs reference regional motifs seen in South Carolina coastal design guidelines and draw visitors from gateway cities including Columbia (South Carolina) and Charleston, South Carolina.

Attractions and Entertainment

Broadway on the Beach hosts a variety of attractions drawing comparisons to regional entertainment centers such as Pigeon Forge and national leisure complexes like Times Square. Venues have included wax museums, aquarium exhibits, interactive minigolf, and performance theaters that book touring acts comparable to shows at House of Blues and Boardwalk Hall. Nightlife offerings and concert series at the complex mirror programming strategies used by operators of Fox Theatre (Atlanta) and Durham Performing Arts Center, while family attractions align with offerings from chains like Ripley's Believe It or Not! and WonderWorks.

Dining and Shopping

Retail and dining at Broadway on the Beach combine national chains and local proprietors similar to tenant mixes found in Faneuil Hall Marketplace and The Grove (Los Angeles). Restaurants range from seafood and steakhouse concepts to casual chains akin to Olive Garden and Texas Roadhouse, alongside themed eateries drawing inspiration from operators such as Hard Rock Cafe and Bubba Gump Shrimp Company. Shopping tenants include souvenir purveyors, apparel retailers, and specialty stores in the tradition of districts like Gatlinburg and Pier 39, attracting visitors from feeder markets like Charlotte (North Carolina) and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Events and Festivals

The complex programs seasonal events, holiday celebrations, and concert series patterned after festival calendars in destinations such as New Orleans and Asheville, North Carolina. Annual festivals and themed nights at Broadway on the Beach have featured tribute acts, car shows, and family-oriented programming comparable to events hosted at Beale Street and Seaside (Florida). Partnerships for events often involve regional tourism organizations like Visit Myrtle Beach and promotional tie-ins with travel markets including Orlando and Washington, D.C..

Economic and Cultural Impact

As a major attraction on the Grand Strand, Broadway on the Beach contributes to local employment, tourism tax revenue, and ancillary spending in sectors tied to Myrtle Beach International Airport, hotel operators such as Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International, and transportation providers. The complex influences regional branding alongside institutions like Myrtle Beach Convention Center and cultural venues such as Azalea Sands Amphitheater, while shaping leisure patterns that draw comparisons with regional tourism economies in Hilton Head Island and North Myrtle Beach. Its mix of national franchises and local businesses reflects broader trends in coastal tourism and destination management practiced by entities including Destination Marketing Organizations and hospitality corporations like Cendant.

Category:Shopping malls in South Carolina