MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The City of Myrtle Beach’s Entertainment Overlay District will take effect Jan.1st, banning certain items from Ocean Blvd. stores.
While the Gay Dolphin Gift Cove does not sell any of the merchandise that will be banned like CBD products, items sold in smoke and vape shops, and other products not considered to be “family friendly,” the store owner still has some concerns about the overlay.
“I don’t think it’ll impact my business. What I do think is what’s fair for this area is fair for the rest of Myrtle Beach,” Justin Plyler, owner of the Gay Dolphin Gift Cove on Ocean Blvd. said.
Plyler believes the law that wil ban CBD products, among other merchandise, should not just target certain areas of Myrtle Beach, but should be applied city-wide.
“If it’s going to produce a more family friendly center, which it may, then it’s good for the entire city. Every part of this city should have this law; should have to suffer the consequences of this law,” Plyler said.
Plyler says the ban will make some Ocean Blvd. businesses less productive, ultimately hurting their income.
He’s worried the overlay district could bring more rules for area businesses later on, like mandating their hours of operation.
“My thinking is that the overlay is only an attempt to make it easier for the city or city agencies to pass more regulations, and those are things we want to avoid. We want to be able to vote on or debate whatever laws we have.”
Several Ocean Blvd. businesses have filed a federal lawsuit over the CBD overlay district, however, no injunction has been granted stopping the rule.
News13 reached out to several vape and smoke shops that will be directly impacted by the overlay district, but none wanted to speak with us.
