By Becky Billingsley

Tuesday, July 17, 2012, Myrtle Beach - As bar patrons sip beers that bartender Tammy Jenkins slid in front of them without her having to ask what they wanted, men are at work around them turning Jimmagan's in Myrtle Beach into a whole new restaurant.

After 16 years operating Jimmagan's off Kings Highway at the north end of Myrtle Beach, Jimmy Sheedy is having an extensive remodeling job done with all new furniture, a much larger bar with a new handsome top, new televisions and even new drink dispensers.

"Remodeling began July 9," said Jenkins, who is also Jimmagan's day manager. "We have a new granite bar top, and the bar is two times bigger now. We have new flat screen TVs - there will be about 40 when they're done - and all new furniture. Tomorrow the new ladies' room will be done. It was time for an update, freshen things up."

The work is taking place while the bar and restaurant is open, and then on July 28, which is Jimmy Sheedy's 65th birthday, there's going to be a big party to celebrate the improvements. From 3-6 p.m. on July 28 patrons get to enjoy a free pour of house liquors, free appetizers and giveaways.

But until then, it's business as usual, with a little construction thrown in.

Diners are still enjoying kitchen manager Jack Abroscat's (you may remember him from when he owned Midway Deli) delicious sandwiches, finger foods and specials.

His French Dip is extraordinary. The sandwich is on a crusty roll of just the right chewy crispiness to take well to being dipped in the large bowl of jus that accompanies it. The bowl makes dipping much easier than when the jus comes in a tiny ramekin.

The Dip contains fresh and tender Boar's Head roast beef and melted provolone. The jus is not too salty as many are, so even with dipping the meat's fine flavor comes through.

The French Dip is $8 and comes with a pickle spear; crispy shoestring fries or house-made chips are $1.50 extra.

Abroscat is also known for his open-face Reuben Slammer, a you-better-be-really-hungry masterpiece where rye bread is piled with pastrami, turkey, ham, sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, and slathered with Russian dressing.

Jenkins was bragging on July 16 about Abroscat's wings (naked, mild, hot, turbo, honey mustard, Parmesan, garlic, teriyaki), and all of his fat deli sandwiches like corned beef, turkey or ham with cheese.

Jimmagan's is home to the Three Buck Burger, and they also offer a Radd-Dew's Barbecue Sandwich.

From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays there are $4 lunch specials; on Tuesdays it's Grilled Sausage with peppers and onions. All day on Wednesdays there's a pasta special for $6 that comes with a meatball and garlic bread; Thursdays you can get an Open Face Turkey dinner with mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans for $8; and on Sundays a Meatball Slider with cheese sets diners back $3.

Jimmagan's at 6003 N. Kings Highway is open daily - 365 days a year - from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m., and the number is 497-5450.