Grand Strand Brewing Company: The Anchor the Arts District Needed
In a restored 1952 downtown Myrtle Beach building, Grand Strand Brewing Company makes beer at the beach while building a gathering place the brewery says is part of the Arts & Innovation District’s momentum.
Category: local | Published: 2026-08-29
A Myrtle Beach Unlocked Feature Spotlight
In downtown Myrtle Beach, Grand Strand Brewing Company occupies a building with a history that predates its first pour. The brewery says it opened in the city’s Arts and Innovation District at 819 N. Kings Highway in March 2021, giving new life to the former Edwards Five & Dime—a 1952 building that had stood vacant for more than a decade. 1
What follows begins with those independently checked venue basics and then moves into the story Grand Strand Brewing Company shared with Myrtle Beach Unlocked. It is not a ratings roundup or a claim that every visit will feel the same. It is a closer look at why a locally minded taproom can matter to a block, a district, and people looking for a different kind of Myrtle Beach stop.
Photo: Grand Strand Brewing Company, supplied for this feature.
From a Former Five & Dime to Beer Made at the Beach
The building is part of the story. On its official site, Grand Strand Brewing Company describes the restored 13,000-square-foot space as the former Edwards Five & Dime Store. The brewery positions the renewal of that historic address alongside the ongoing energy in downtown’s Arts and Innovation District. 1
The company’s own origin story is less formal than a business plan. Grand Strand Brewing Company says founders Jamie Dickinson, Clayton Burrous, and John Planty began with conversations over South Carolina craft beer and a shared feeling that the neighborhood offered room for another gathering place. The goal, according to the brewery, was not simply to occupy a storefront, but to become part of a wider effort to make the district feel active and connected.
Photo: Grand Strand Brewing Company, supplied for this feature.
The Beer Is the Starting Point
Grand Strand Brewing Company’s official site identifies a lineup of house beers including Beach Easy American Wheat, Riptide West Coast IPA, Airbrush Hazy IPA, Salty Golfer Pineapple Blonde, and Jolene Red Ale. 1 The company describes its selection as ranging from approachable patio pints to small-batch releases for people who like to explore styles.
The supplied story puts that range into more local language: Airbrush Hazy IPA for someone looking for a juicy IPA, Riptide West Coast IPA for drinkers who prefer a more pine-forward and bitter profile, and Salty Golfer Pineapple Blonde for an easier introduction to the menu. Beer availability changes, so visitors should always check the official drinks information before planning around a specific pour.
Photo: Grand Strand Brewing Company, supplied for this feature.
More Than a Stool at the Bar
The company describes the taproom as a place shaped by the people working there. The current team information supplied to Myrtle Beach Unlocked names Dickinson, Burrous, and Planty as founders; Christophe Perdu as owner and operator; Tyler Smith as head brewer; Laura Day as general manager for the taproom and kitchen; and Aimee Norwood as the signature events and community ambassador. These roles and names are provided by Grand Strand Brewing Company and should be understood as its current team snapshot.
The brewery’s official About page also frames the space as a setting for regular events, music, art, conversations, and collaboration between residents and visitors. 2 Rather than treating that language as a promise, it is best read as the kind of atmosphere the brewery says it is working to create. For current programming, readers can use the brewery’s official events page.
Photo: Grand Strand Brewing Company, supplied for this feature.
A Community Bet, Told by the Brewery
Grand Strand Brewing Company identifies itself as veteran-owned and says it tries to put community participation ahead of a purely transactional bar experience. In the company’s supplied materials, that idea shows up in the form of collaborations with nearby businesses, fundraisers, block parties, and events in and around the taproom and Nance Plaza.
That neighborhood-minded role is a company claim, not an independent measurement of its impact. Still, the photographs and the official event language make one thing clear: the space is intended to support more than a quick drink. It is built to make room for live music, casual gatherings, game nights, and the ordinary unplanned conversations that turn a visitor stop into a repeat local habit.
_83f9f712.jpeg)
Photo: Grand Strand Brewing Company, supplied for this feature.
Photo: Grand Strand Brewing Company, supplied for this feature.
Stay Above the Hops
One distinctive part of the property is The Brewer’s Lofts, vacation rentals located above the brewery. The brewery’s official lodging page describes lofts with kitchens and living areas, positioned for access to the brewery and nearby Myrtle Beach attractions. 3 Availability, rates, exact amenities, and booking conditions should be confirmed through the official Brewer’s Lofts page before making plans.
Planning a Visit
Grand Strand Brewing Company lists its address as 819 N. Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. The business’s official site also provides current hours, contact information, menu links, event listings, directions, and private-party information. 1 Because those details can change, this feature intentionally points readers to the official source instead of repeating time-sensitive hours or event dates here.
For a brewery day, make a safe ride plan before you go. If you are driving, choose a designated driver or another sober ride option.
Why It Belongs in the Spotlight
There are plenty of places to get a drink along the Grand Strand. The more interesting question is what a place is trying to add to its surroundings. Grand Strand Brewing Company’s story begins with a vacant historic building, runs through beer made at the beach, and lands in a taproom that the brewery says is trying to participate in downtown rather than merely sell to it.
For visitors, that is a useful distinction. For residents, it is an invitation to keep an eye on the calendar, the collaborations, and the people working behind the scenes. This feature remains a snapshot, and the best next step is the simplest one: check the official page, see what is happening, and decide whether it fits your own Myrtle Beach day.
About This Feature
This article uses information supplied by Grand Strand Brewing Company along with limited, independently checked venue basics from the brewery’s official website. All images were supplied for this feature by Grand Strand Brewing Company. No customer ratings, review claims, event schedules, prices, or availability are represented here.