Thursday, Myrtle Beach Business Owners voiced parking and traffic concerns to Myrtle Beach Officials and Carolina Country Music Festival Organizers before next week’s festival.
Event organizers say they expect nearly 20,000 people to be in attendance for the event next weekend.
Even though the event is a week out, stages are being constructed and signs for the festival can be seen inside store windows.
Many business owners say they are excited for the influx of people in town.
“I’m hoping for a packed house every day,” said Gil Reibenbach.
Reibenbach owns the 8th Avenue Tiki Bar.
He says he has had a successful last few weeks in May and looks forward to the event, but does have concerns.
“There are no exits towards our business, but at the end of the day I have a feeling their going to find us regardless,” said Reibenbach.
Reibenbach was among dozens of business owners who attended a meeting organized by the city of Myrtle Beach to discuss the event.
The city plans to adjust traffic flow around the music festival location which is the old pavilion site.
But business owners say one of their biggest concerns is not traffic flow, but where all the people in town for the event will park.
“I don’t think the city understands the extent of the problem yet,” said Buz Plyler.
The city plans to use the old Myrtle Beach Mall site for event parking.
However, the site only has 1,900 spots and event organizers say they are preparing for close to 20,000 attendees.
It will also cost $50 per person to park in the lot.
Business owners say the parking arrangement may not only keep regular tourists away from downtown, but mean higher rates to park for those who do come.
“We’re going to have every parking operator considering how to address the problem and most of them are going to address the competition with increased cost,” said Plyler.
Plyler who owns the Gay Dolphin as well as a parking site downtown says he heard one lot charged $271 dollars per space for the event weekend and already filled all their spots.
He says he is excited for the festival and is confident the city will make the proper adjustments to handle parking for the event.
City officials say during the event, they will offer temporary parking permits to handle the influx of traffic.
They also say some hotels have deals with the music festival to provide shuttles directly to the event.
And public lots downtown will be available.
However, city officials say as far as organized parking connected to the event there are no other plans other than the old Myrtle Beach Mall site.
