A new seasonal venture in Atlantic Beach offers a unique service you won’t find anywhere else on the 60-plus miles of Grand Strand coastline—massages directly on the beach.
Spa of Atlantic at 3107 South Ocean Boulevard has its grand opening on April 7th and is set up daily directly on the beach between 31st and 32nd Avenues in the town nicknamed the Black Pearl.
According to its website, the company offers different types of massage, including Swedish massage, chair massage, therapeutic massage, prenatal massage, couples massage, sports massage, and more, all set against the backdrop of salty air and the Atlantic Ocean.
Prices start at $130 for a 60-minute massage, with additional enhancements such as aromatherapy available for an additional fee.
For those concerned about privacy, Atlantic Spa says it uses canopies with privacy drapes that can be opened or closed for changes or during each session.
Reservations are recommended and can be booked online.
In 1934, developer George Tyson founded the town of several hundred residents sandwiched between the city limits of North Myrtle Beach. During the apartheid era, Atlantic Beach was one of the most popular vacation destinations for blacks on the East Coast—there were hotels, nightclubs, restaurants and shops where blacks could congregate and mingle without fear of discrimination.
seafood anyone
A new seafood restaurant has opened on the north end of the Grand Strand near SC 90 near the Intracoastal Waterway.
Blue Drum, at 4436 Kingsport Road near Little River, opened softly on April 5 and features a raw food bar that serves peeled shrimp, seared tuna, oysters on the half shell and more.
Menu items include appetizers, desserts, soups, salads and small plates of mussels, steak tips and Korean pork brisket as options. There are also burgers, steaks, pasta and seafood platters to choose from.
Blue Drum is open daily from 4pm to 9pm and may soon be extended to 11am to 9pm.
The restaurant said it has a 100-foot pier for boaters on a first-come, first-served basis.
restaurant closed
A popular golf-themed restaurant in Carolina Forest has closed its doors.
Sam Snead’s Grill and Tavern at 1004 Glenforest Road closed permanently on April 2, according to a sign posted on its door.
The restaurant features golf memorabilia, including pieces from eponymous golfer Sam Snead, who played professionally on the PGA Tour for over 40 years, winning 82 tour events.
Opened in 2013, the restaurant is located in the former Max & Erma’s building, adjacent to Chili’s in Carolina Woods.
The franchise still has restaurants in Georgia, Florida, Virginia, West Virginia and Canada.
Freezing Point is open in season
Rita’s Italian Ice is a seasonal franchise located on Ocean Drive near Sea Mist Resort, just in time for peak tourist season.
Located at 1208 South Ocean Boulevard 13th Avenue South, this popular Pennsylvania chain is open daily from noon to 10 p.m. and features flavored water ice and frozen custards
Rita’s menu features over 60 flavors of water ice, freshly made with real fruit, as well as frozen custard and sugar-free options. Customers can also pair Italian ice with frozen custard in a popular dish called gelati.
The company was founded in 1984 by Bob Tumolo, a former Philadelphia firefighter who opened an ice water business named after his wife Rita. Franchised five years later, the fast-casual restaurant is now in more than 30 states and is known for giving away free Italian ice every first day of spring.
Got any Myrtle Beach/Georgetown business news to share? Contact Richard Caines at rcaines@postandcourier.com.
