KISS Coffeehouse -- February 24, 2006

MyrtleBeachOnline.com
Posted on Fri, Feb. 24, 2006

What's new: Ripken Experience; KISS Coffeehouse

ALSO IN THE NEWS: Hard Rock Theme Park; MB Pavilion

From staff reports

The Grand Strand is poised to start the summer with some new attractions that have major potential.

Smaller venues are also expected to debut and add to the mix of offerings.

Along the oceanfront, condominium towers continue to replace the smaller hotels. In Myrtle Beach's city limits, at least a half dozen hotels plan to come down this year, including the Mariner.

The Grand Strand has been without a major new "wow" item since 2004, when Coastal Grand Mall opened. New attractions help lure more new visitors and get a buzz going about the destination, tourism promoters say.

Among some of the new offerings in 2006:

The Ripken Experience- Myrtle Beach. The $24 million youth baseball complex backed by former major leaguer Cal Ripken Jr. is expected to greet its first teams this summer.

The KISS Coffeehouse. This is the first coffeehouse branded by the famous rockers, who have become merchandising machines since the band's heyday in the 1970s. The cafe will open at Broadway at the Beach this spring.

Several other projects could start to take shape this year:

Hard Rock Theme Park. Developers continue to raise money, and a groundbreaking at Fantasy Harbour is scheduled this year.

Former Myrtle Square Mall. A plan should come this year outlining potential uses for the property.

The Myrtle Beach Pavilion Amusement Park. Consultants are working on a redevelopment plan for the 11 acres that property owner Burroughs & Chapin Co. Inc. will consider in 2006. B&C hasn't agreed to move the landmark but is working with the city's Downtown Redevelopment Corp. to determine the park's future.

Trend setters

There's a fancy new name for it, but the trend of traveling with a group has been the beach's bread and butter for years.

Called "togethering," the group can be extended family. It can be couples traveling together, with women spending the day shopping or in a spa while the men play golf. Disney is going after this traveling segment with a "Magical Gatherings" campaign.

The Grand Strand already knows how to cash in on this trend.

"They were 'togethering' before 'togethering' was cool," Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce President Brad Dean said. "That is, was and hopefully always will be the core of the Grand Strand's tourism industry."