MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The City of Myrtle Beach will pay $110,000 over the next three years to Retail Strategies a company that promises to bring more businesses to the city.
“We have a number of vacant store fronts up and down Kings Highway,” said City Manager John Pedersen.
Pedersen says it is not just Kings Highway, but Carver Street and the downtown area are also in need of help.
However, empty store fronts are not a new problem for the city and neither is trying to fill them.
Pedersen says Retail Strategies, has experience in bringing new businesses to an area.
“They’ll do an analysis of what types of retailers are best suited for those locations, make sure they’re not putting people in direct competition in close proximity,” he said.
One problem has been property owners unwilling to make needed renovations to storefronts due to the cost of improvements.
Pedersen says he believes that issue will change with Retail Strategies help.
“Property owners will make the repairs, or make the improvements, if they know there is a retailer, or tenant ready to move into that property if they’re able to make that repair,” he said.
Not only is the city confident in the proposal, so is the chamber of commerce.
Pedersen says the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce agreed to pick up the $50,000 tab for Retail Strategies’ first year.
But not everyone is as confident.
Business owners in downtown Myrtle Beach say this isn’t the first time they’ve seen a consultant group brought in to bring change.
And they’ll wait to see if this plan is worth the money.
The most recent consultant group News 13 could find the city hired was back in February of last year.
The city paid Urban Land Institute around $7,000 to study downtown Myrtle Beach.
The group said parts of Downtown Myrtle Beach had a “perception of crime” and presented artist drawings of ways to improve downtown.
Pedersen says for the next three months Retail Strategies will craft a plan on how to bring new business to the area.
