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Article

Black-Owned Businesses in Myrtle Beach

  By  Visit Myrtle Beach
Mike Chestnut in front of Big Mike's Soul Food

The Myrtle Beach area has been impacted tremendously by Black history and continues to be influenced today. From our cuisine to our traditions, so much of what we love about this area can be traced back to the history of the region. We are highlighting a few Black owned businesses to celebrate and partake in the diversity of The Beach!

Big Mike’s Soul Food

Big Mike’s is a staple to the Myrtle Beach food scene – most well known for their fried chicken and meat n’ three plates. Michael Chestnut, otherwise known as “Big Mike,” began the restaurant in March 2012 with his wife, Maxine, and three children. Mike learned how to cook with his mother from an early age and always had a dream of sharing that same southern home-cooked food with others. After working in the restaurant industry for several years and attending the culinary program at Horry-Georgetown Technical College, he launched his restaurant, located in the heart of Myrtle Beach. You will not leave Big Mike’s hungry – or without a smile on your face. Big Mike’s was recently featured in Southern Living Magazine in a print article titled “Our Favorite Meat N’ Threes.”

Mike Chestnut in front of Big Mike's Soul Food


The Asher Theatre

The Asher Theatre began as a community-centered entertainment space. The Theatre offers a space for culture and diversity to thrive and performs several different shows throughout the year. These shows include Motown and comedy shows with guest performers. The Asher Theatre also offers student programs for aspiring young performers to learn from one of the founders, James Stephens.


Town Of Atlantic Beach

The town of Atlantic Beach is the only Black-owned beach in the United States, right here along the Grand Strand! Once a booming beach vacation destination for African American families beginning in the 1930s, Atlantic Beach is still referred to as the “Black Pearl.” Each year the town hosts the “Atlantic Beach Memorial Day Black Pearl Cultural Heritage and Bike Festival" in the spring and the Gullah Geechee Festival in the summer. Learn more about Atlantic Beach in our article


Freedom Readers

This non-profit organization is on a mission to increase the literacy and love of reading among school-aged children in Horry, Georgetown and Williamsburg counties. The program first began in Conway, SC and is currently expanding beyond the Grand Strand in an effort to take the program to additional areas of the country. Volunteers can help tutor, book donations, and read to the children. This organization is run by Dr. Tracy Bailey, National Director, and Tamara Greene, Executive Director.

 

Other businesses to check out:

 
Shelbi Ankiewicz
Shelbi Ankiewicz is a senior at Coastal Carolina University studying communication, journalism, and intercultural studies. She is originally from Montgomery, Alabama, but has resided in Myrtle Beach for 14 years. She is the Editor-in-Chief of CCU's student newspaper, The Chanticleer, and is a member of a two-year leadership program called the Wall Fellows. Shelbi enjoys trying new restaurants, traveling to major cities in the SouthEast, and attending concerts. In her free time you can find her hanging out with her frenchton bulldog, Oma, or visiting the local trails Myrtle Beach has to offer.