‘We need to get the pier open’: Surfside Beach planning soft opening for pier later this year, mayor says

SURFSIDE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - Residents and visitors in Surfside Beach may finally get a chance to check out the town’s long-awaited pier later this year.

Surfside Beach Mayor Bob Hellyer clarified that as of Friday, the contractor is set to turn over the pier to the town by the end of August. He also noted that the town may not have the parking lot finished by then, with attention also being set on a soft opening later this year.

“That’ll be so the residents and all the people who have been waiting can come take a look at the pier and see what’s there,” said Hellyer.

A grand opening ceremony is currently slated for early next year, with Hellyer noting the town is trying to not have it interfere with any major holidays.

The mayor’s latest comments come days after Surfside Beach Town Council voted this week to suspend the pier committee as construction continues.

“We’ve taken their recommendations. But it’s at the point now where, as everybody knows, the pier keeps getting pushed back,” said Hellyer. “We’re over a year past where we were supposed to be. So the problem is now that everybody has suggestions, but we really need to get the pier started. We need to get the pier open and we need to give this stuff done.”

Surfside Beach established the pier committee last year, which was made up of five volunteers. Some council members additionally said the committee hasn’t necessarily done anything wrong, but simply cannot do much more, at least until the pier opens.

Robert Krouse, who served as the chairman of the committee, told WMBF News he was blindsided by the decision. He felt the committee had accomplished a lot throughout this construction process.

“This pier has the opportunity to be the crown jewel of the Grand Strand,” said Krouse.

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