By Becky Billingsley

Tuesday, April 24, 2012, Myrtle Beach - One Myrtle Beach chain restaurant has closed and another in Surfside Beach is closing this week.

Max & Erma's

Max & Erma's at 1004 Glenforest Rd., in the Carolina Forest area of Myrtle Beach, closed over Easter weekend. The restaurant opened in early 2008, and was one of about 100 Max & Erma's nationwide. In August 2010 the company was acquired by Denver-based American Blue Ribbon Holdings, LLC, and today there are about 75 restaurants - some franchised, some privately held.

A banner has been draped over the Max & Erma's sign that says "American Bistro." Computer-printed papers on the front and back doors said a "new and exciting concept" was scheduled to open April 20, but on the front door's paper the date was blacked out. No one was at the restaurant on April 23.

Chili's

The Chili's Grill & Bar at 8739 U.S. 17 Bypass in Surfside Beach, which was built in 2008, is closing this week. An area manager at the restaurant on April 23 confirmed the closure, but declined to say which day will be its last. The manager said the Surfside Beach employees will hopefully get jobs at Chili's other two locations on Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach and in Carolina Forest, next door to the shuttered Max & Erma's.

Chili's is owned and operated by Brinker International, Inc., and has more than 1,400 locations in more than 30 countries and two U.S. territories. In March 2012, Brinker revoked the franchise rights to all three Alaska Chili's locations owned by Duke Investments.