‘A Disaster’: Myrtle Beach Businesses on Edge Amid Slow Summer

In what is typically the country’s peak summer season, businesses in Myrtle Beach are finding the norm disrupted with fewer tourists. This slow season has left several local business owners feeling apprehensive about their financial future. In their quest to survive, they anxiously await the Labor Day weekend to bring the much-needed boost.

Disastrous Summer for Business

Ron Mousa, the owner of South Seas Hotel couldn’t hide his disappointment when he described the current business situation: “It’s a disaster.” This sentiment is mirrored by Evelyn Gonzalez, who owns 5 De Mayo Mexican Restaurant, as she observed, “It’s slower than last year.”

Streets that were usually buzzing with tourists are eerily quiet. Mousa reported that, contrary to the norm, multiple rooms in his hotel, typically booked out ahead of the holiday weekend, remained vacant. Worse still, the establishment reported zero reservations heading into the final weekend of tourism season. “We feel like we haven’t even started the season yet,” Mousa expressed.

Hotels and Restaurants Share Struggles

The slump in business is not restricted to hotels alone. Restaurants along the Boulevard have also noted a decline in customer numbers. Gonzalez confirmed that her restaurant’s tables had not been as filled this summer compared to the previous one, adding that “Last year, it was busy, but this year, it was kind of slow.”

In a recent statement, the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce recognized the challenges faced by local businesses. Still, they maintained that despite economic concerns and the impact of Tropical Storm Debby, the summer season had fared better than anticipated. The Chamber asserted that tourism statistics for this year are strikingly close to those of 2023, although some business owners claim a decline of as much as 20%.

The Business Impact of Economic Woes

Gonzalez acknowledged the significant role the economy plays in tourism, stating, “I mean the economy that’s one of the things right now. It impacts everywhere.” The economic instability has stirred a range of emotions among business proprietors, leaving them uncertain and hoping for a revival in the waning days of the summer season.

Mousa expressed his insecurity, reflecting the sentiments of many other business owners, “It makes me insecure.” Expressing hope, Gonzalez added, “I hope everybody does great this weekend because it’s our last busy summer days.”

The Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce affirmed they would only have a complete understanding of the summer tourism numbers after the Labor Day weekend. As the tense business owners await the final numbers, the rest of the community can only hope that the warm tourist season doesn’t cool down any further.