WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsFantasy Harbour Blvd. street name change approved

Fantasy Harbour Blvd. street name change approved

MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Since its bankruptcy, nearly every sign of Hard Rock Park has been stripped down and replaced, but one trace remains: the street named after the failed park.

The Horry County Planning Commission spent part of its workshop Monday afternoon discussing the consideration of a name change to Hard Rock Parkway.  Members approved the name change, and now Hard Rock Parkway will be known as Fantasy Harbour Boulevard.  The name change, according to officials, was requested by Freestyle Music Park. 

Freestyle, is quick to point out, however, it will take some time for the county and South Carolina Department of Transportation to make the changes.

The new park owners are not the only ones who would like to see the remnants of Hard Rock Park gone. WMBF News spoke with a number of businesses in the area that want the new name to reflect the future of the area rather than its failed past.

"I'd rather them change it," said New York Pizzeria owner Habib Sofa. "I don't want to give tourists the wrong impression that if they come to this area they're going to see something Hard Rock, whether it's a Hard Rock restaurant, Hard Rock theme park - that's a chapter or a page in our business life we'd like to turn and move forward."

The change will not come without a price. Horry County says there is a $250 application fee, as well as $135 for every replacement sign. And in order for the request to go through, a majority of property owners need to accept the terms.

Even though other business owners would not have to pay for street signs, it can still be a costly process for businesses who have already had to change their business cards, stationary, signage and websites.

Despite those added costs, many businesses agree it's time to say goodbye to Hard Rock Parkway.

"It's not just a street, it's a destination. And when you want to advertise and let people know where you're at, they need to know where they're going," said Bill Smith of Phantom Fireworks. "And by having so many different names and so many businesses on one road, I just think it's wrong to specifically state one business."

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