Myrtle Beach restaurateurs fight NAACP bias allegations

Nation's Restaurant News,  June 2, 2003  by Jack Hayes

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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Stung by charges that an annual rally of African-American motorcyclists is subjected to citywide discrimination in hospitality and police practices, restaurateurs in this vacation destination were struggling to clean their tarnished images following an NAACP-backed barrage of anti-bias litigation last month.

As many operators prepared for a predominately black crowd that was expected to peak at about 400,000 bikers, beachgoers and others over Memorial Day weekend, some restaurateurs were opting to close because of anticipated police barricades and traffic jams along the 40-mile-long "Grand Strand" beachfront.

The restaurant closures put a further strain on dialogue between hospitality operators and many blacks who claimed they sensed a conspiracy in the area's allegedly hostile posture toward "Black Bike Week." The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, seven allied law firms or legal groups and some 16 plaintiffs asserted that race bias by restaurants, a hotel and municipal officials was in sharp contrast to their open attitude toward white bikers during "Harley Week," held in Myrtle Beach each year about a week earlier.

"In the last few years, certain white community leaders and business owners in the Myrtle Beach area have exhibited overt hostility toward Black Bike Week," according to a specimen administrative complaint filed in early May with the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission. Those charges were levied against 28 restaurants, including branches of the Denny's, Red Lobster, House of Blues, Damon's, Dick's Last Resort and Logan's Roadhouse chains.

The complaint against the restaurants was linked to a pair of federal lawsuits filed May 20 by the Conway, S.C., branch of the NAACP and 16 individual plaintiffs. One of the cases is against the city of Myrtle Beach, Police Chief Warren Gall and Horry County, and the other names the Yachtsman Resort Hotel as its defendant.

"The message could not be more clear to any black person in Myrtle Beach during Black Bike Week: 'We do not want you here, and as long as you stay we are going to treat you unfairly,'" "said Rev. Henry Singleton, president of the local branch of the NAACP.

"The consortium of hotels and restaurants that comprise the Myrtle Beach Hospitality Association and many of their individual members have been operating behind the scenes to undermine Black Bike Week fearing the festival would create an image that Myrtle Beach catered to African-Americans, resulting in its being viewed as a 'black beach' in the eyes of white tourists," the administrative complaint charged.

Word of the complaint and the lawsuits triggered a barrage of media queries that worried Myrtle Beach business leaders. In one published report, Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce spokesman Stephen Greene was quoted as conceding that the charges could impair the area's economic future.

Myrtle Beach is considered part of South Carolina's Grand Strand tourism region, comprising Horry and Georgetown counties. The region has accounted for more than a third of the state's annual tourism spending, according to the Chamber of Commerce.

Despite such worries -- and Week traffic would make it difficult if not impossible to bring in staff and serve guests -- the six chain branches and some local independents, including Chesapeake House, Manny's Deli & Subs, Parrot Bar & Grill and Spring House, planned to be open over the Memorial Day weekend.

"We're always open for the black bikers," said Dick's Last Resort assistant manager Dana Johnson, pointing out that the restaurant had booked a 400-person "bikefest party" on May22, the Thursday night that traditionally marks the start of Black Bike Week. Dick's Last Resort operates on Highway 17 South near Atlantic Beach, a community of about 400 black families that has been the center of activity for many bikers since the rally's founding in 1980.

"We're going to stay open 24 hours and give great service to all of our guests," added Ray Hood Phillips, chief diversity officer for Dennys Inc., which has a company owned and operated Denny's Classic Diner on Highway 17 South. "When other restaurants don't open, we get more business. We wish [Denny's] had more restaurants in Myrtle Beach."

Denny's spokeswoman Debbie Atkins said there had been a brief closure last year when late-shift staff had not arrived to relieve workers.

Hood Phillips said the restaurant would be staffed this year to alleviate shift-change problems and speed up the long check lines Denny's guests had endured on Memorial Day weekend last year.

John Dardeljan, proprietor of Manny's Deli & Subs on South Kings Highway, said his store would be open during Black Bike Week. He also disputing an allegation that his unit was closed last year.

Red Lobster also challenged that allegation. "Our records show we were open," said spokeswoman Wendy Spirduso, adding that the restaurant would operate on its regular business hours during Black Bike Week this year. "Diversity is a cornerstone of our business, and we'll be urging people to come in all weekend."