MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Myrtle Beach city leaders met with local business owners and promoters to discuss their concern for safety as Memorial Day Bikefest approaches.
Last September, city leaders passed an ordinance to hold business leaders and club promoters accountable for safety.
With just two months to go before thousands travel to Myrtle Beach, city leaders want to make sure business owners and local promoters know the law in the city.
Pulse Ultra Club Owner Rodney Phillips said his goal on Memorial Day weekend is to make money.
“Last year during Memorial Day weekend, because of the loop, we lost a lot of money. I was offered a lot of money for my building. I was offered like ten or fifteen thousand dollars a night for my building. I could have got a lot. Promoters called me. I must have had 100 promoters calling me,” said Phillips.
Still, Phillips says he told them no.
“I don’t want to be held responsible for what they may do,” said Phillips.
The ordinance required promoters to have a business license, close at 2:00 am if they are serving alcohol, and present a safety to plan to police.
“We have had issues with promoters coming in and essentially not abiding by the rules that were in place for the businesses for which they were operating those events,” said Mark Kruea, Myrtle Beach city spokesman.
The ordinance said owners are held responsible for making sure promoters follow the laws, and if they don’t, the city could shut down their business and take their business license.
“The key to this ordinance really is to make sure that the patrons that go to these events are safe, that there are rules in place and a safety plan in place, the promoter has a business license and abides by the city laws. We want to make sure that the people who go to the events are experiencing it safely and that it really doesn’t get out of hand,” said Kruea.
Kruea said this is a year-round ordinance, but during Memorial Day weekend, the city has more promoters come in to run bars and clubs in the area, and that’s why they are giving reminders ahead for the big weekend.
