Home Care In Myrtle Beach, SC

Updated 3:27 p.m.

Myrtle Beach’s seen an uptick in tornadoes recently, but one expert says the area isn’t becoming more prone to them.

While Myrtle Beach has seen two tornadoes in recent months, the Grand Strand has not seen a particular uptick in activity recently, National Weather Service Wilmington, N.C. meteorologist Steven Pfaff said.

Pfaff added that there are a couple of times a year when there is peak tornado activity, particularly between March and May as well as September.

Updated 3 p.m.

The National Weather Service has issued a tornado warning for North Myrtle Beach and Little River until 3:45 p.m.

Updated 2:23 p.m.

A tornado warning has been issued Tuesday for the areas of Myrtle Beach, Socastee, Conway and around Garden City until 2:45 p.m., according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

Updated 1:07 p.m.

More than 700 people are without power in the Conway area, according to the Horry Electric Cooperative.

The utility company reported that 767 people lost power a little after noon Tuesday because of wind.

Updated 1 p.m.

Some flooding might be expected in Horry County, but the threat isn’t serious due to the speed of the storm, officials say.

A storm is moving toward the Myrtle Beach area, and flooding could accompany it with heavy weather starting around Tuesday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service’s Wilmington, N.C. office.

While flooding might impact areas with poor drainage and beach erosion is a concern, the flooding threat is “on the low end” and isn’t a serious threat because of the storm, said Steven Pfaff, warning coordination meteorologist for the NWS’ Wilmington site.

Updated 11:44 a.m.

A tornado watch has been issued for Horry County until 6 p.m., according to the Horry County Emergency Management.

Wind gusts in Myrtle Beach and North Myrtle Beach are at 38 mph, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Updated 10:22 a.m.

The City of Myrtle Beach shores have gone to a double red flag for the remainder of Tuesday, meaning that everyone should remain out of the ocean due to dangerous surf conditions, according to the Myrtle Beach Fire Department.

Updated 10:18 A.M.

Tuesday’s storm is predicted to bring heavy rain, flooding and high winds with gusts up to 55 mph to the Myrtle Beach area, according to the National Weather Service.

That could mean some in Horry County will postpone plans or cancel events in preparation for the severe weather. Check the list of cancellations and closings here.

If you have a cancellation or closing, email [email protected].

Updated 10:10 A.M.

HTC announced via an email that their retail locations and their Customer Contact Center were closing at 12:30 p.m. today. Customers can pay their bills online.

“HTC is taking necessary measures to prepare for these conditions by testing and fueling standby generators, inspecting network offices and equipment locations to prevent flooding, preparing fleet vehicles for deployment and other tasks associated with ensuring the safety of network equipment,” wrote the company officials in an email. “HTC will be watching the storm as it moves into our service area and managing our emergency operations center to monitor the network for any alarms.”

A severe thunderstorm is expected to hit the Myrtle Beach area Tuesday, bringing damaging winds, potential flooding and the threat of tornadoes. The National Weather Service said the worst of the storm is expected to hit in the afternoon and evening.

Residents could see bouts of heavy rainfall and wind speeds of more than 55 mph. A total of 1 to 2 inches of rain is predicted, which will bring low levels of flash flooding and a chance of minor coastal flooding.

Many Myrtle Beach area resorts and restaurants live stream their views.

For most of the year, these webcams show tranquil beach scenes for visitors longing for the ocean. When a storm hits, the cameras can turn into tools for locals and tourists alike to witness the effects in real time.

After you identify local emergency contacts and see if your area is likely to flood, check out these 23 beach cams to watch the storm.

As an early winter storm approaches the Myrtle Beach area, there’s a potential for power outages in Horry County.

The National Weather Service’s Wilmington office’s Jan. 8 storm briefing reported that winds could reach 55 mph for land areas and more than 58 mph in marine/coastal areas. The NWS’s report also said tornadoes could develop, putting the threat of wind between “elevated” and “significant.”

The NWS lists increasing threats from none, limited, elevated, significant and extreme.

This story was originally published January 9, 2024, 9:26 AM.

North Myrtle Beach is getting two new, national-chain restaurants, as both have been expanding through the greater Myrtle Beach region in recent years.

A Dairy Queen and Dunkin’ Donuts are slated to open in North Myrtle Beach next to the Zips Car Wash at 4404 Highway 17 South. Construction hasn’t started yet; only a construction sign announcing the project stands on the property.

The buildings will be done in either June or July 2024, said Majid Adwan with Pyramids Construction LLC. Adwan, a project manager for the Wind Flower Townhomes development in downtown Myrtle Beach, added that both stores will have a drive-thru and will probably be in operation in September 2024, the total square footage being 10,000.

Adwan added that the two separate buildings will have six total units, four without a current proposed occupant. The two new stores come after both national brands have added multiple locations across the Grand Strand in recent years.

Diary Queen opened new locations in 2020 and 2021, and in 2015 the fast food chain added eight stores in the Myrtle Beach area as part of adding 75 eateries throughout South Carolina.

Dunkin’ Donuts added sites in recent years, too. In October 2023, Dunkin’ added a location near TPC Golf Course in Murrells Inlet.

In general, you want to avoid mold, especially in your favorite restaurant.

South Carolina does health inspections for restaurants within Horry County and the surrounding area, with data current as of Jan. 24, 2024.

These were the worst restaurant inspections in the Myrtle Beach area.

Location: 1300 501 Business Highway, Conway

Score: 78 percent

Inspected Jan. 16, 2024, Conway Mart got flagged for several violations. Conway Mart had a consecutive violation for cleanliness, as the inspector found cabinets had an accumulation of debris and grime, a stove had a heavy buildup of grease and carbon and a countertop under a self-serve drink machine had an accumulation of dirt and debris on them.

The inspection found food bags of grits and flour/bread kept in an unfinished storage area with openings to the outside and cups and lids, too. A walk-in cooler had cardboard as shelf lining, as cardboard is not approved for re-use, and a fryer basket had broken/ loose wires.

The inspection also found food not stored at the correct temperatures, but the restaurant corrected the violations.

An onsite follow-up within 10 days is required. No routine inspection is required within 60 days. Failure to fix the violations will result in a further downgrading of Conway Mart.

Location: 1285 38th Ave. North, Myrtle Beach

Score: 82 percent

Inspected Jan. 16, 2024, Capriccio’s had a mold buildup on the interior deflector plate inside an ice machine. During the inspection, roaches were crawling on top of a dish machine, tongs were stored on an oven door handle and a sink had leaking pipes.

A stove was also missing a front trim piece, while a stove and broiler had a grease buildup.

Veal was not kept at the correct temperature, but the restaurant corrected the violations.

An onsite follow-up within 10 days is required. No routine inspection is needed within 60 days.

Location: 2909 North Kings Highway, North Myrtle Beach

Score: 84 percent

Inspected Jan. 19, 2024, most of China Dragon’s issues were chicken-related.

The restaurant stored raw chicken on top of raw beef in a walk-in cooler, which they corrected. Boneless chicken was thawing in a bin of water in a sink, and boxes of chicken sat on the floor in the walk-in cooler.

A container of stored chicken was also not covered.

There were other issues, too. An ice scoop was stored improperly in an ice machine, while an employee left the cookline to take a phone call and returned without washing their hands. The inspection found the restaurant did not defrost a chest freezer, and the shelving of a walk-in cooler wasn’t clean. To-go plates were also not stored correctly, and a cutting board was too cut.

An onsite follow-up within 10 days is required. No routine inspection is required within 60 days.

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - A Grand Strand business is celebrating one year since making Myrtle Beach its home.

Lucid Coast Candle Bar’s owner Chase Masters said it all started with a candle-making hobby at home during the pandemic.

“From there we just kind of kept growing,” he said. “We did local events, we eventually started doing the City Market in downtown Charleston for a little bit just to help expand even more and then last January we got lucky.”

That luck is what he said landed him in Myrtle Beach a year ago.

“It’s really nice to see like bringing life back to downtown and being able to be a part of it,” said Masters.

Inside Lucid Coast, you can shop for a variety of 100% natural soy candles, room sprays and soaps.

Masters said it’s all centered around a coastal theme, making them fit right in at the beach. He also says it’s also easy on their pockets.

“We like to think of ourselves as like an affordable option so anybody can come and either make a candle or check out non-toxic products that aren’t going to break the bank as well,” he said.

Some parents also said the business also become a safe space for their kids within the last year.

“Being able to come to an area that we know is safe and that you know people are expressing themselves it’s important for us to teach our children to express themselves,” said Kate Boucher, who lives in Carolina Forest.

Whether it’s a candle-making workshop or a celebration for all ages, Boucher said it’s given her all the reasons to continue coming back following a gathering for her son’s recent 10th birthday.

Up-and-coming businesses like Le Manna Bread Bakery told us it’s inspired them to continue the growth of the heart of Myrtle Beach.

“Many years ago about, 70-75 years, there was a bakery located in the same place so what we would like to do is to continue with the baking tradition in this area,” said Gus Pena, a co-owner of Le Manna Bread.

Pena and his business partner, Frank Rodriquez, said they’re looking to open up in the Arts & Innovation District next month, offering an international variety of options from pastries, breakfast, brunch and more.

Masters said Lucid Coast Candle Bar also had a hand in giving back as after every purchase, a portion is donated to their nonprofit.

Masters is now looking forward to what the remainder of 2024 has to offer.

“Super excited about it, we couldn’t have picked a better place for our business. I’m super excited to see the area grow and find ways we can collaborate with the businesses coming in as well.”

Lucid Coast Candle Bar will host an official anniversary celebration on Feb. 10.

Stay with WMBF News for updates.

Copyright 2024 WMBF. All rights reserved.

HORRY COUNTY, SC (WPDE) — Trader Joe’s recently announced it would be opening a second store in Mt. Pleasant, S.C.

This will be the fourth location that they have opened in South Carolina.

Yet, the fastest-growing city in America is still without the neighborhood grocery store that comes with a whole bunch of its own unique name-brand products.

Would you like to see Trader Joe's in Myrtle Beach?

ABC15 reached out to Trader Joe’s to find out how they go about choosing locations, and if they’re planning on opening any stores in Myrtle Beach.

They said they’re currently looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country, and luckily, Myrtle Beach is one of them!

In a statement to WPDE, Trader Joe's Public Relations Manager Nakia Rohde stated:

Thank you for reaching out. We are actively looking at hundreds of neighborhoods across the country, including Myrtle Beach, as we hope to open more new neighborhood stores each year. At this time, we do not have a location to confirm in Myrtle Beach, however, we are grateful that there is interest.

On their podcast, "Inside Trader Joe's - Episode 52: How to Make a Trader Joe's (Part One)," they talk extensively about what goes into opening a new store.

One of the main things they look for while picking a new location is customer demand. If Trader Joe's deems a location has the demand, the next step is to send out one of their brokers to search for sites.

The broker will then submit several locations to corporate for review. Each site is then put through a thorough checks and balances system that includes all sorts of things like truck accessibility to the population.

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It has to check every box. Then, they have an internal review where they dive into even more details.

Only 10% of the locations make it through the entire process to be chosen as a new store. From there, Trader Joe’s can open a store in as fast as 30 days or as long as two years depending on the circumstances.

An organization in the Grand Strand said they would love to have a Trader Joe's in the area and have the customer demand part covered.

Senior Adventures in Learning and Travel or SALT, offers enrichment classes and all types of trips, and they said one of their regular trips to Trader Joe's is always in extremely high demand.

“We head to Trader Joe’s. We head to Wilmington. We have participants that love Trader Joe’s, love Trader Joe’s products. I mean they have a list. We give them an hour. It’s very, very fun,” said Kelli Barker, the Co-Owner of SALT.

Barker added that the Trader Joe’s trips fill up fast! They only allow 10 people in the 15-person van so they can still have plenty of room for coolers and all of their favorite products.

They also usually stop for an educational tour, and lunch on the way, adding to the adventure.

Despite the almost two-hour drive, SALT members said they love to go to Trader Joe's because it’s not just any neighborhood grocery store.

The people that work there are happy to be there, and they are more than happy to help you,” said Sheila Rudesill, a SALT Member, "And there’s a lot of different things that other grocery stores don’t offer.

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While the SALT members enjoy all the fun they have on their road trip, they wish they didn’t have to make the commute. They want a store somewhere in Horry County.

If not for their unique list of products, then for the value the Trader Joe’s name brand brings to an area.

“They add value to any neighborhood that they go into. They are one of the few grocery stores that if they go into a neighborhood, they increase the value of the houses there, and that tells you right there that Trader Joe’s is a phenomenal, phenomenal company,” said Rudesill.

If you’ve never been to Trader Joe’s and need some suggestions of things to try, a few of SALT's members have recommendations for you.

The Spinach artichoke dip or the chocolate lava cakes,” said SALT member Sue Keller.

Mandarin orange chicken and vegetable fried rice,” said Rudesill.

The salted caramel chocolates,” said SALT member Linda Doolittle

Trader Joe's actually has an online form that anyone can fill out to request a new store location. So, if you would love to have a store come to Myrtle Beach, let them know here.