Coastal Carolina University, the city of Myrtle Beach, LS3P Associates, and Monteith Construction held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday, July 22, for a new theatre facility in the heart of the city, which will expand the University’s footprint.
The theatre will be built in Myrtle Beach’s Arts and Innovation District along historic Main Street, inside the former Helen Mates Dress Shop, J&J Drugs, and Broadway Theater buildings. The three buildings, located at 807, 809 and 811 Main Street, will be converted into a 300-seat performing arts center with a lobby, performers’ lounge, dressing rooms, rooftop patio space, and more. Construction costs are estimated at $22.3 million, with $4.9 million to be received back through historical tax credits used for construction in the former Helen Mates Dress Shop.
The theatre will be operated in partnership with the University. Under the lease agreement, CCU will use the theatre for its performing arts programs and other cultural events. The University will also be responsible for operating costs. In return, CCU will have a minimum of 150 “use days” for plays and other performances. Another 100 days will be available to CCU for third-party use, and the city will have 30 “use days.” LS3P Associates designed the theatre, which will be built by Monteith Construction. The project is anticipated to take two years, with a grand opening in Summer 2026.
Excerpts from the groundbreaking ceremony:
“Today represents the dawn of a new and emerging Myrtle Beach, an elevated Myrtle Beach, with a beautiful Arts and Innovation District, where this is the catalyst for what is to come. Thank you CCU for partnering with us to make this happen. I can’t think of a better partnership on such an important, catalytic project. Today is so much more than just a groundbreaking of a performing arts theatre. It is about the groundbreaking, the reawakening of a downtown that needs to come alive for our residents and visitors alike.”
Brenda Bethune
Mayor, city of Myrtle Beach
“This community is starving for a venue like this. This partnership is real, is viable. We are committed. I can’t thank the mayor and her staff enough to help get this over the finish line. Our name, Coastal Carolina University, describes where we are, but it does not constrain where we are. We are a university for our county, for our community, for our state, for our nation, and for our world. We are a brand on the move. To partner with the city on such a significant project means so much to us.”
Michael T. Benson
President, Coastal Carolina University
“We truly appreciate the support and the patronage we receive from our local community, and we are so delighted to soon be able to bring these events to this very spot, right in the heart of our community and the city of Myrtle Beach. Coastal Carolina University’s arts programs are already among the top programs in the state, and this new theatre, with its modern technology, and its well-designed acoustics and sidelines … will give our students the opportunity to perform, learn, and work in a top-notch modern facility.”
Claudia Bornholdt
Dean, Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts
“A thank you to the city of Myrtle Beach is in order for partnering with CCU in the renovation of this space. As a student who will hopefully get to perform in it one day, I want to express my gratitude to all those involved in this process. This occasion brings forth so many new opportunities for theatre students at Coastal Carolina for generations to come. A 300-seat theatre will be a wonderfully intimate space where performing arts students will get to experience connection to audiences in ways we haven’t yet explored. This is a fantastic learning experience for those studying the performing arts.”
Max McIntier
CCU sophomore, theatre arts major
“Today we celebrate a landmark for both Myrtle Beach and Coastal Carolina University as we break ground on our new theatre, uniting three historic buildings located in the thriving Arts and Innovation District. This project honors our heritage and embraces the future of the performing arts. It will be a vibrant hub for creativity, learning, and community engagement.”
Jim Hubbard
Vice president, LS3P Associates
“It is with great pleasure and pride that Monteith Construction stands before you as we embark on extraordinary journey together. The construction of the historical theatre for the city of Myrtle Beach and Coastal Carolina University. This project is not merely about renovating three historical buildings. We are in the heart of Myrtle Beach. This is about weaving together the rich tapestry of history, culture, and education that defines our community.”
Christopher Edwards
Project manager, Monteith Construction