Nightlife
Like the song says, “There’s no use in sitting alone in your room; come to the cabaret.” With the happening nightlife this area has to offer, there is no need to entertain your own company and absolutely no excuse for lamenting that there is nothing to do. When the sun sinks below the horizon, the lights come up around the Grand Strand, alive with the buzz of animated conversation, laughter, and the beat of various musical genres. Locals who can “hang” with the best of them all night long and rested vacationers congregate until the wee hours of the morning in too many nightspots to mention. Besides the places included in this chapter, many restaurants double as late-night spots, and most resort hotels provide lounges with live entertainment. And around almost every corner along the Strand you’ll find a little bar or pool hall where the clientele is usually neighborhood locals.
Nightlife really picks up during the spring and summer months, so consult the Friday “kicks!” section of the Sun News for the most up-to-date profile on the entertainment scene.
Now let’s get into some of the rules and regulations about partying so you can avoid any possible trouble or surprises.
Nightlife - Entertainment
It all started in 1986 with Calvin Gilmore’s Carolina Opry, a family-style opry house in Surfside Beach. Locals clearly remember that the buzz around town was, “It’ll never make it. . . . There are not enough people to support it year-round. . . . This Gilmore guy is crazy.” But before long, shows were sold out in advance as throngs of residents, bus tours, and visitors vied for tickets to see the countrified, musical/comedy production that was whispered to be “better than anything in Nashville or Branson.” If you didn’t have your tickets to the Christmas show by June, you were certainly out of luck.
Gilmore was crazy—crazy like a fox, that is. The former time-share salesman opened Carolina Opry only after conducting extensive marketing research that indicated the Myrtle Beach area was fertile ground for such grand entertainment. Regardless of most locals’ patronage, estimates showed the opry house could survive on ticket sales from tourists and the ever-growing retirement community. The rest is a history lesson in success.
Gilmore and the Carolina Opry were the forerunners of an entertainment explosion that now includes Dolly Parton’s Dixie Stampede, Alabama Theatre, Medieval Times, and Legends in Concert. And the list of entertainment options doesn’t stop there. As you read on, you’ll discover the full extent of live performances here. As a rule, the variety shows are wholesome and entertaining for the entire family. Tickets are sold by reservation, so call ahead to secure seats. Keep in mind that prices are subject to change; we’ve listed what we knew at press time.
Refreshments are sold before each show and during intermission. Few venues serve alcohol.
1. Beach Wagon
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 448-5918
Address: 906 South Kings Hwy.
Description: Country music fans have come here for almost 30 years for live concerts and all-night two-steppin’. The club itself is a large, long dance hall with little neon but big rootin’-tootin’ fun. Names such as Marty Stuart, John Anderson, Sweethearts of the Rodeo, Aaron Tippin, and McBride & The Ride all played the Beach Wagon just before their careers took off. It just goes to show, the performers you see at this club today might be the country-music stars of tomorrow.Line-dancing classes are held every Wed and Fri starting at 8:15 p.m. Also on Wed, be ready to take the microphone and try your hand at karaoke. There is no charge unless there is a performance, and Beach Wagon cardholders can get discounted prices. Concert ticket prices vary.
2. The Bowery
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 626-3445
Address: 110 Ninth Ave. N.
Description: Rocking the beach since 1944, the Bowery epitomizes a true Southern honky-tonk. Still proudly displaying the Stars and Bars, it has made its mark as a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The music group Alabama got its start here, and a plaque at the door proudly proclaims the bar’s role in their rise to fame. It’s a great place to listen to live country music, and the current house band, the Bounty Hunters, could give Lynyrd Skynyrd a run for its money.Entrance is free unless a band is playing, and prices vary by performance. The Bowery is open Mon through Fri 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. and Sat and Sun 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
4. Club Kryptonite
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 839-9200
Address: 2925 Hollywood Dr.
Description: The 21,000-square-foot Club Kryptonite has been a force on the Grand Strand nightlife scene since it opened its doors in 2002. A throwback to the days of Studio 54 in New York, the club features its own dancers high above the pulsing dance floor and has a separate cigar and martini bar as well as a champagne lounge. Boxing fans can take in regular Tough Man bouts, and Club Kryptonite sponsors Teen Nites periodically throughout the year to allow underage dancers to enjoy the club.Club Kryptonite is open nightly 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., with themes as well as drink specials nightly. General admission is $10.
5. Froggy Bottomz
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 444-3500
Description: Here’s a one-stop nightclub for diverse live entertainment, current Top 40 tunes, favorite oldies, Latin beats, and plenty that falls somewhere in between. If you can’t decide where you want to go and what you want to listen to, count on Froggy Bottomz as a sure bet. Froggy Bottomz is part of a four-club complex, and one admission will earn you the ability to also party at Club Boca, Malibu’s Surf Bar, and Broadway Louie’s. If you’re age 21 or older, you’re golden (18- to 20-year-olds are allowed in for a higher cover—they just can’t drink). Froggy Bottomz is open until 4 a.m. on Fri and 2 a.m. on Sat. There are nightly events to look for during the summer months.
6. Malibu’S Surf Bar
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 444-3500
Description: High-energy Top 40 music keeps the crowd gyrating on a dance floor that has a giant shark as its backdrop. This place is usually packed on weekends when tourists and locals wander in from a day at the beach or dinner at Broadway at the Beach. Call ahead for prices and the frequently changing schedule. Regular admission for patrons is $10, which earns you admission to Club Boca, Broadway Louie’s, and Froggy Bottomz as well.
7. Original Shucker’S Raw Bar
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 626-9535
Description: Happy-hour discounted drink prices make this an excellent end-of-the-day option no matter what mood you are in. The late-night menu rates among the best around. Play pool or cutting-edge video games, watch the establishment’s live entertainment, or simply abandon yourself to the simple pleasures of an absolutely excellent outdoor patio. You’ll find lots of locals here.
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
9. Stool Pigeons
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 272-4123
Description: Word has it Stool Pigeons pub features the largest selection of draft beers on the entire Grand Strand. While this boast could likely be argued, the deck is undeniably a very cool place to kick back with a beverage—if you can resist the temptation to shoot some pool or toss some darts inside with friends. This is a place well known for excellent live entertainment. In fact, the place is rightfully billed as “the coolest perch on the Strand.” Relaxed fun reigns supreme.
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Address: 2000 North Kings Hwy.
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Address: 920 Lake Arrowhead Rd.
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
13. Droopy’S
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 449-2620
Address: 5201 North Kings Hwy.
Description: Droopy’s stays open as late as business dictates Mon through Fri and until 2 a.m. on Sat and Sun. More than 14 TVs are scattered throughout, along with two pool tables, lots of video games, and foosball, too. Basic appetizers and sandwiches are available from the kitchen, but Droopy’s also offers excellent daily specials. Doors open at 4 p.m. Mon through Fri. Droopy’s opens earlier when the NFL season game schedule dictates.
14. Foster’S Cafe & Bar
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 449-7945
Description: Foster’s offers more than half a dozen televisions, darts, a pool table, and a satisfying menu. While this place is very small, its rough-hewn wood decor exudes a certain coziness, and locals love its off-the-beaten-path allure.Foster’s is open Mon through Fri from 11 a.m. until 4 a.m. and Sat and Sun from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. The kitchen closes at 2 a.m. on weeknights and at 1 a.m. Sat and Sun.
15. Jimmagan’S Pub Sports Bar
City: Myrtle Beach, SC
Category: Nightlife
Telephone: (843) 497-5450
Address: 6003 North Kings Hwy.
Description: Jimmagan’s Pub, with 35 TVs locked on sporting events, pool tables, and electronic darts, is a small corner location that’s cozy and down-home. Jimmagan’s guarantees you can see every Sunday NFL game during football season. It is a favorite of motorcycle enthusiasts and has additional locations in Murrells Inlet, south on US 17 Business, and in Little River off US 17 North.The menu is limited to sandwiches, burgers, and finger foods; wings are always 25 cents. Jimmagan’s is open seven days a week—11:30 a.m. to 4 a.m. weekdays; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends.