Horry County eatery looking to serve alcohol battling neighbors over noise concerns
LONGS, S.C. (WBTW) — A Longs area restaurant known for its lively mood and karaoke nights is battling neighbors over noise concerns as its owner hopes to win approval for on-site alcohol consumption.
Big E's Country Seafood and Buffet at 1250 Highway 9 East needs county leaders to OK a zoning variance for that to happen since it's located within 500 feet of a residential district — the River Haven neighborhood.
The business is also asking for permission to offer outdoor entertainment on a proposed deck.
The Horry County Board of Zoning Appeals is set to take up the issue at 5:30 p.m. on Monday.
Owner Breanna Chestnut used Big E's Facebook page to show off its menu items and videos of performers until they suddenly stopped in mid-October.
"Unfortunately, the new neighborhood across the street from us isn't so kind, they have their whole HOA against the business I have tried to hard to rebuild," Chestnut said in an Oct. 19 post. "We are a small family business working to better the community."
Chestnut's neighbors disagree, with several emailing county officials to outline their concerns ahead of Monday's meeting — nearly all of which have to do with loud music playing late into the evening.
County documents say Big E's is located less than 200 feet from River Haven.
"I am pleading and begging this board does not allow them to have outdoor music whenever or however loud they want it," neighbor Crystal Price wrote in an Oct. 9 email to the county. "We have families/young children who live here and we do not need a bar or people singing karaoke all hours of the night."
Property records show the building was constructed in 1987.
If Big E's request is granted, the business must comply with the county's noise ordinance and get pre-clearance from the Horry County Police Department for any events that occur after midnight.
Chestnut said in her Facebook post that expanding Big E's offerings would provide "a light happy hour of food and drinks, a couple nights of entertainment, family fun and atmosphere."
Neighbor Rita Belanger disagreed.
"We at River Haven are a quiet family neighborhood whom were were sold on (a) private, quiet neighborhood," she emailed to the county. "If they get approved our quality will be gone. Please respect the taxpayers."
* * *
Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at . See more of his work here .
