By Becky Billingsley

Friday, July 13, 2012, Myrtle Beach - The reopening date of Phillips Seafood is unknown, the name change of a Pawleys Island restaurant is due to a trademark issue, soul food is coming to Socastee, an update on Toffino's renovations and much more Myrtle Beach restaurant news.

Phillips Seafood Closed for Undetermined Time

In early June partners Ed Smith and Bekah Van Deuren of Grand Strand Management, Inc. opened Phillips Seafood at 1807 21st Ave. N. under a lease agreement with Phillips Seafood. However, the restaurant has been closed since July 6, and the Phillips Seafood home office didn't learn of the closure until July 12, according to Michelle Torres, Phillips' Corporate Director of Marketing.

A phone message at the restaurant indicates it would be closed from July 6-8, and a sign on the restaurant's front door says, "Closed for weekend. Sorry for the inconvenience!"

Torres said at 7:45 a.m. on July 12 that she was checking with upper management and would provide an update, but as of 10 p.m. on July 12, she had not reached out with an explanation for the closure or a time frame for a reopening.

UPDATE July 16, 2012: Today Michelle Torres said Phillips Seafood will soon reopen.

More Breakfast at Martin's

Martin's Restaurant at Long Bay Resort in Myrtle Beach has long offered a buffet breakfast, but now the chef, Martin Dobr, is also offering a la carte breakfast items such as Crab Cakes Benedict, Blintzes, Steak and Eggs and Omelets. The new breakfast menu is available from 7-11 a.m. through the summer. The $9 buffet is also still available from 5:30-10:30 a.m. Martin's is at 7200 N. Ocean Blvd., and the number is (843) 449-1368.

Crabby Name Change

Due to trademark issues with a restaurant in Maryland, The Blue Crab in Pawleys Island changed its name to Pawleys Raw Bar Crab & Seafood Shack. Soon the restaurant will enclose and air-condition its current screened-in dining area, and there is a new bar menu. Those choices are $2.50 to $6, and include Fish or Shrimp Taco, Shrimp or Chicken Quesadilla, Crab Cake Slider, Barbecue Chicken Pizza and Spicy Pickle Chips. The phone number is (843) 979-2722, and it's open daily for lunch and dinner.

Soul Food Coming to Socastee

Tianna's Place Southern Soul Food is scheduled to open Saturday at 3947 S.C. 544 in the Socastee area of Myrtle Beach, in the former location of Chopstix and Fork American-Asian Diner. The menu will include fried, baked, barbecued or grilled chicken; fried, baked or grilled pork chops; wings; salad; yeast rolls, cornbread and muffins; sides including collard greens, candied yams and glazed carrots; and desserts like house-made pound cake, cobblers, pies and banana pudding.

Shamrock's Still Open

Despite the realty sign out front, Shamrock's Sports Bar & Grill is still open for business. Brett Gallagher, owner of Shamrock's at 2510 N. Kings Highway, is trying to sell his interest in the oldest sports bar in Myrtle Beach in the wake of the business' extended hours permit being revoked by the city. Known as a hang-out for people in the service industry who get off work late at night, Gallagher said 80% of his business was wiped out by the permit revocation.

Bastille Day Celebration

The Brentwood Restaurant & Wine Bar is having a special Bastille Day celebration and menu this weekend, including Ray "Ziggy" Spencer playing accordion from 7 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 14. The Bastille Day menu is available through Saturday, and it can be viewed HERE. The Brentwood is at 4269 Luck Ave. in Little River, and reservations are recommended. The number is (843) 249-2601.

Toffino's Update

Toffino's Italian Bakery and Deli on Farrow Parkway near The Market Common has been closed for a couple of weeks while its expansion and renovations are completed. Previously owner Phil Pecora thought he could reopen by July 5, but now the target reopening date is July 20.

Shakin' it up at Steak 'n Shake

Biglari Holdings Company, which owns Steak 'n Shake, announced this week that " On June 25, Benjamin Carter, owner and CEO of Carolina SNS, LLC, finalized the acquisition of the Steak ’n Shake location at 10835 Kings Rd. [in Myrtle Beach]. The purchase, from Indianapolis-based Red River Partners, LLC, marks the first step in Carolina SNS’s aggressive plan to open Steak ’n Shake restaurants across the state and in Eastern Georgia."

The press release goes on to say Carter, "...recently made Charleston his home and base of operation for executing his plans to open Steak ’n Shake restaurants in Charleston, Columbia and Myrtle Beach, as well as Morgan County in Eastern Georgia with plans of adding additional markets. Three locations are in pre-development with projected openings by spring 2013. Carolina SNS acquired the franchise rights for these markets last January. Carter previously was Vice President of Atlanta-based Ben Carter Properties where he worked with national restaurant brands such as Pei Wei Asian Diner and Red Robin...To help with the transition, Carolina SNS hired industry veteran Seth Salzman as COO earlier this year to oversee the operations of each of the new restaurants. Salzman, best known as one of the founders of Moe’s Southwest Grill, has run multiple restaurant brands for more than 20 years."

Surf Diner Hiring for Breakfast

Surf Diner, on Surfside Pier in Surfside Beach, is looking for experienced breakfast cooks. Apply in person between 2 and 4 p.m., and ask for Alison.