Broadway at the Beach facts for kids
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Heroes Harbor, with a replica of the Morris Island Light
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| Location | Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, United States |
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| Coordinates | 33°42′56″N 78°52′55″W / 33.715627°N 78.881949°W |
| Address | 1325 Celebrity Circle, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, US |
| Opening date | July 4, 1995 |
| Developer | Burroughs & Chapin |
| Owner | Burroughs & Chapin |
| No. of stores and services | 150+ |
| Parking | 5,000+ |
| Public transit access | Coast RTA via the Entertainment Shuttle during the summer months every 30-35 minutes from 9 AM until 12 AM (Midnight) daily. |
Broadway at the Beach is a huge shopping and fun place in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It is owned by Burroughs & Chapin. This exciting spot covers about 350 acres (1.4 km2) in the middle of Myrtle Beach.
It has three theaters, over 20 restaurants, and more than 100 special shops. You can also find attractions, nightclubs, and hotels here. Everything is built around the 23-acre (93,000 m2) Lake Broadway. Each year, over 14 million people visit Broadway at the Beach. It is the most visited shopping center in South Carolina.
What Can You Find at Broadway at the Beach?
The complex is split into different themed areas. These include the New England Fishing Village and the Caribbean Village. There's also the Charleston Boardwalk and Heroes Harbor. The Avenue is a nightclub area that stays open later.
Fun Attractions and Entertainment
Broadway at the Beach has many cool attractions. You can visit the Ripley's Aquarium to see amazing sea creatures. There's also Legends In Concert for live shows. WonderWorks is a science museum in an upside-down building. You can also explore the Hollywood Wax Museum. The Pavilion Nostalgia Park has rides from the old Myrtle Beach Pavilion.
Where to Stay: Hotels at Broadway
You can find three hotels near the complex. A Hampton Inn is right inside Broadway at the Beach. A Fairfield Inn and a Holiday Inn Express are nearby. These are located across 29th Avenue North in an area called Lakeshore at Broadway. In the Heroes Harbor area, you can see a copy of the Morris Island Light on top of a bar.
A Look Back: History of Broadway at the Beach
Burroughs & Chapin first announced plans for this project in 1993. The grand opening happened on July 4, 1995. Important people like Senator Strom Thurmond and Governor David Beasley were there. Early attractions included the Hard Rock Cafe and Palace Theatre.
New Additions and Changes Over Time
More stores and attractions were added over the years. In November 1996, a Planet Hollywood and All Star Cafe opened. Famous people like Bruce Willis and Will Smith came for their grand opening in 1997.
In October 2010, Legends in Concert moved to Broadway at the Beach. WonderWorks, the upside-down science museum, opened on April 4, 2011. A year later, in April 2012, the Backstage Mirror Maze and The Vault Laser Maze opened. This maze is inspired by a real bank robbery from the 1930s.
After Labor Day weekend in 2015, Planet Hollywood and MagiQuest closed. The round Planet Hollywood building was taken down the next month. Some nightclubs in the Celebrity Square area also closed. People wondered if the owners wanted more family-friendly places.
Exciting New Openings and Updates
On February 3, 2015, new plans were shared. These included the first Dave & Buster's in the city. An American Tap House and OZ nightclub also opened. A new, larger Hard Rock Cafe opened in 2016. The old Hard Rock pyramid was taken down to make space for Dave & Buster's. A Wahlburgers restaurant also opened in fall 2016. The old Carlos'n Charlie's restaurant became Paula Deen’s Family Kitchen.
The Celebrity Square area got a new look. It changed from an old "French Quarter" style to a modern warehouse district feel. In 2017, Celebrity Square was officially renamed "The Avenue."
Changes to Theaters and Entertainment
The Palace Theatre was badly damaged by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. The building was later declared unsafe. On April 11, 2017, the owners announced it would be torn down. Demolition began on April 25, 2017.
In 2018, a new 360 Observation Wheel opened. This Ferris Wheel is 156 feet (48 m) tall. It has 36 cabins, each seating six people. It also has a million lights that flash with music. A 4D ride based on The Simpsons also opened in August 2018. It is in a building that looks like The Aztec theater from the show. Next door, a gift shop like the Kwik-E-Mart sells fun items.
On December 11, 2018, Broadway Louie's, a sports and karaoke bar, closed after 20 years. On August 8, 2019, the AMC Classic Broadway 16 movie theater closed. It had been open for 23 years. Another theater, the IMAX Theater, was taken down a month later in September 2019.
Recent Additions and Events
On March 15, 2021, it was announced that The Charles Bach Wonders Theatre would move into the old Oz nightclub space. It started offering shows on June 4, 2021.
On April 17, 2021, Broadway at the Beach announced that weekly firework shows would return in the summer. These shows started in June and happen every Tuesday. Several new shops also opened. These included Byrd's Famous Cookies and Fresh-Up, a snack place. The Broadway Theater opened with "Le Grand Cirque" as its first show. Retro Active 2 opened for pop culture and music fans. IT'SUGAR also opened a Sour Patch Kids store inside its space.
Gallery
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The Hollywood Wax Museum, which used to be NASCAR Cafe
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The Hard Rock Cafe building before it moved in 2015. Now it is Dave & Buster's.
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The Pavilion Nostalgia Park
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The old Planet Hollywood building, which was taken down in 2015. Now, a Carolina Ale House is there.
