MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Myrtle Beach city leaders voted Tuesday to pass an ordinance that would require all bars in the Superblock area to close at 2:00 am.
Myrtle Beach Police Chief Warren Gall said they’ve seen a great deal of crime in that area and that most happen after 2:00.
“We’ve had multiple shootings, serious incidents that have happened. Our officers spend a lot of time at these clubs after hours,” said Gall.
The city’s already suspended the business licenses for Natalia’s Bar and Grill and Pure Ultra Night Club after shootings in the area.
“Since the closure of several nightclubs in the five points area, I don’t think we’ve had a call there. If we have, it hasn’t been a serious call there. It’s been relatively quiet,” said Gall.
Natalie Litsey is the owner of Natalia’s Bar and Grill and says it’s unfair for the owners to be held accountable for crimes happening in parking lots around their businesses.
“I expect the police to arrest them if they’re doing wrongdoing. I have certified security making sure that the drugs doesn’t come into my establishment,” said Litsey.
The president of the Five Points Association told council they agree something needs to be done to prevent crime, but they will only support an ordinance that would close all businesses in the city that serve alcohol at 2 am.
Council member Wayne Gray says the goal of the decision to close businesses in the Superblock is to keep everyone safe in the city.
“That environment has too many bars for the small footprint of square footage that it has and that is why we gave it second reading to impose that permanently. We obviously have the opportunity to reevaluate that in the future,” said Gray.
The city is also looking at an ordinance that would close new businesses in the city that serve alcohol at 2 am, but they’ve decided to table that for now. The city manager said they needed more time to look over the ordinance.
After the vote was made to close businesses in the Superblock, several of those business owners told News13 they felt the decision was unfair. They say their businesses make the most money after 2 and the new change will hurt business.
