North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By Ruben Lowman
The North Myrtle Beach City Council held a specially-called workshop last Thursday, March 25, to address the logistical challenges surrounding the proposed relocation of the Chick-fil-A within Gator Hole Plaza in the Ocean Drive section.
The popular fast-food chain is seeking to move from its current constrained location in the plaza to the larger site of a former T.G.I. Fridays, which has sat vacant since October 2024.
While the move would allow for increased square footage and more parking spaces, city leaders have said they remain cautious about the potential for the new site to exacerbate existing traffic congestion at the intersection of Ashley Loop and Highway 17 within the plaza.
In particular, North Myrtle Beach Mayor J. Baldwin noted that while the restaurant has clearly outgrown its current space, the council is focused on ensuring the new location does not create more problems for Gator Hole, which already houses high-traffic anchor department stores Walmart and the Home Depot.
During the workshop held at City Hall, the Chick-fil-A development team presented several potential infrastructure improvements designed to mitigate traffic flow issues to the proposed site. Their current proposal includes the addition of a designated left-turn lane on Ashley Loop, right-turn-only exits and new wayfinding signage to better direct drivers toward the highway.
However, both residents and councilmembers suggested more significant changes might be necessary in order to alleviate the additional traffic. For instance, a few local residents and councilmembers advocated for the installation of a traffic circle or roundabout to keep vehicles moving smoothly.
In response to these suggestions, the Chick-fil-A real estate team confirmed they have already begun discussions with the owners of Gator Hole Plaza to explore the feasibility of a roundabout at the site.
The relocation project was originally tabled by the council during their March 3 meeting to allow for a more substantial discussion regarding the engineering and traffic data. Developers estimate that once a plan is finalized and approved, construction would take approximately one year to complete.
Mayor Baldwin indicated that progress was made during the workshop and the developer and engineers have been tasked with refining their ideas before the proposal returns to the formal council agenda.
The next opportunity for a vote or further official discussion is expected to be the upcoming city council meeting scheduled for next Monday, April 6.
In addition to the proposed restaurant relocation, the council used the workshop to review the city’s private property towing ordinance.
NMB Police Chief Dana Crowell provided a historical overview of towing issues in the city, leading to a debate on whether the municipality should align its towing rates more closely with state fees. The council also discussed potential new requirements for tow operators, such as a mandate to accept credit card payments on-site to assist stranded motorists.
Concerns were raised regarding the role of police officers in private property disputes, as currently, officers arrive at towing scenes within 15 minutes nearly 90 percent of the time.
To provide better clarity in the law, Chief Crowell recommended amending the ordinance to specifically define commercial towing as a way to distinguish business-related enforcement from residential situations.
