Myrtle Beach Mall

Myrtle Beach Mall
Name	Myrtle Beach Mall
Location	Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Opening date	1986
Developer	Burroughs & Chapin
Number of stores	~70
Number of anchors	5 (varied)

Myrtle Beach Mall Myrtle Beach Mall is an enclosed regional shopping center in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, developed in 1986 and positioned near the intersection of U.S. Route 17 and Socastee Boulevard. The center serves tourists from Myrtle Beach and residents of Horry County while drawing visitors from Georgetown County, North Myrtle Beach, and the Grand Strand. It has been associated with national chains such as Belk, Dillard's, Sears, JCPenney, and Tanger Outlets-era retail patterns, and it figures in local planning documents for Horry County and the City of Myrtle Beach.

History

The mall's origin traces to development by Burroughs & Chapin amid 1980s growth tied to the Sun Belt expansion and the rise of the tourism industry in South Carolina. Early anchor agreements mirrored relocation patterns seen with regional shopping malls in the United States, attracting department stores like Belk and JCPenney while responding to competition from nearby centers such as Coastal Grand Mall and outlet clusters like Tanger Outlets Myrtle Beach. Over the 1990s and 2000s the property experienced retail consolidation shaped by events like the Great Recession, shifts involving chains such as Sears and Dillard's, and corporate restructurings at firms like The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. and Macy's, Inc.. Local civic debates involving Horry County officials, tourism stakeholders including the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, and property interests documented discussions about adaptive reuse, consistent with redevelopment cases in cites like Columbus, Ohio and Richmond, Virginia.

Architecture and Layout

The mall features single-level corridors typical of 1980s suburban malls influenced by prototypes from developers like Simon Property Group and Taubman Centers. Its plan includes a rectangular main mall with multiple wings, anchor pads, and an interior food court comparable to contemporaneous schemes found at SouthPark Mall and Northlake Mall. Landscape treatments reflect regional design guidance used by South Carolina Department of Transportation corridor projects, and parking fields and service drives align with standards promoted by organizations such as the Urban Land Institute and the American Planning Association. Building systems have been upgraded in phases, referencing mechanical projects undertaken at centers managed by Cousins Properties and CBL Properties.

Stores and Anchors

Anchors historically included Belk, Dillard's, Sears, JCPenney, and specialty formats tied to chains like Best Buy, Old Navy, and Barnes & Noble. Inline tenants have ranged from national franchises such as Foot Locker and Victoria's Secret to regional operators similar to H2O Plus and Southern Tide. Entertainment and dining offerings have at times involved tenants related to chains like AMC Theatres, Dave & Buster's, and family restaurants akin to Chili's Grill & Bar and Olive Garden. The tenant mix has evolved following retail restructurings by firms such as The Gap, Inc. and L Brands (formerly Limited Brands), mirroring occupancy shifts seen at malls across the Southeastern United States.

Ownership and Management

Ownership has passed through regional real estate investors and national mall operators, with management practices reflecting asset strategies used by firms like Brookfield Asset Management, PREIT, and General Growth Properties. Municipal interactions have involved agencies including Horry County planning staff and the City of Myrtle Beach economic development office. Leasing negotiations often referenced benchmarking data from trade organizations such as the International Council of Shopping Centers and were influenced by portfolio decisions at companies like Simon Property Group and investment funds managed by entities similar to Blackstone Group.

Economic and Community Impact

The mall has contributed sales tax receipts for Horry County and fueled seasonal employment patterns linked to the tourism economy in Myrtle Beach. It has served as a social node for communities from nearby municipalities including Conway, South Carolina and Surfside Beach, South Carolina, hosting events akin to promotional programs run by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and charity drives similar to initiatives by organizations like the United Way. Economic studies of retail concentration in the Grand Strand region by local universities such as Clemson University and Coastal Carolina University have cited centers like this mall when analyzing retail leakage, consumer behavior, and tax base diversification.

Renovations and Redevelopment

The property has undergone multiple renovation campaigns addressing interior finishes, roofing, HVAC systems, and façade improvements—projects comparable to retrofit programs executed by firms such as Taubman Centers and CBL Properties. Redevelopment proposals have included mixed-use conversions inspired by projects in Charleston, South Carolina and Savannah, Georgia, exploring concepts like adding hospitality components affiliated with brands such as Hilton Worldwide and Marriott International, or incorporating entertainment anchors modeled after Topgolf or adaptive reuse examples like The Mall of America's experiential conversions. Public-private dialogues involved stakeholders including Horry County officials, neighborhood associations, and investors.

Transportation and Access

The mall sits adjacent to major corridors including U.S. Route 17 and South Carolina Highway 544, with access patterns monitored by the South Carolina Department of Transportation and local transit provided by agencies similar to Coast RTA (Grand Strand Transit). Proximity to Myrtle Beach International Airport and connections to regional thoroughfares facilitate tourist access from origin points such as Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Raleigh–Durham International Airport via interstates like Interstate 95. Parking and pedestrian improvements have been evaluated using guidelines from the National Association of City Transportation Officials and regional mobility plans developed by Grand Strand Transportation Study entities.

Category:Shopping malls in South Carolina