The Myrtle Seaside Hyundai dealership has outgrown its U.S. 501 location, and franchise proprietor Freddie Hyatt is about to start building on a brand new location that he mentioned will price practically $20 million.

The car dealership will sit on practically 7 acres at 760 Frontage Street East. The 35,000-square-foot constructing shall be “extremely fashionable,” Hyatt mentioned.

“We’re able to roll,” mentioned Hyatt, who lives in Murrells Inlet. “We’ve had some provide points with metal however we’ve gotten via all that and we’re able to go.”

Hyatt hopes to open the brand new location late in 2022.

Hyatt purchased the present constructing and property on U.S. 501 in 1999 from Bob Bible. He mentioned the area close to Grissom Parkway not meets the dealership’s wants.

“We’ve grown it from promoting 150 new Hyundais a yr to this yr we’re monitoring to do roughly 1,200, and naturally you’ve obtained used vehicles on that, so our prospects deserve a pleasant ultra-modern facility, and we’re glad to get this completed for our staff as effectively,” Hyatt mentioned. “Our service division store goes to be air-conditioned for our technicians. … They’re all excited to have a spot to return work and be happy with the place you’re working.”

The enterprise will doubtlessly develop from its present 45 staff to roughly 80 over the primary yr of the brand new location’s operation, in response to dealership normal supervisor Robert Wingate.

“Now we have nurtured this factor from a pet to a full greyhound,” Hyatt mentioned. “We’ve grown a lot and we inventory so many automobiles in stock, we wanted 500 parking areas. Not only for our stock however for workers, service prospects and that.”

Hyatt mentioned he hasn’t determined what he’ll do with the present dealership property, and is contemplating promoting it, he mentioned.

Hyatt has owned Hyatt Buick GMC in Myrtle Seaside since 2001, which is only a few companies north of the brand new Hyundai location on Frontage Street East.

He has been within the automotive enterprise for a number of many years, and at one time owned 9 automotive dealership franchises in a number of areas, together with these promoting Mazda-Mitsubishi, Suzuki, and Daewoo makes and fashions.

A groundbreaking on the new Myrtle Seaside Hyundai location was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Thursday. The occasion was anticipated to incorporate numerous dignitaries and friends, together with South Carolina Legislature members Greg Hembree and Russell Fry, a number of Myrtle Seaside Metropolis Council members, Shannon Furtick of the Myrtle Seaside Space Chamber of Commerce, and Coastal Carolina baseball coach Gary Gilmore.

This story was initially printed November 17, 2021 8:02 AM.

Alan Blondin covers golf, Coastal Carolina college and athletics, and quite a few different sports-related matters that warrant protection. Nicely-versed in all issues Myrtle Seaside, Horry County and the Grand Strand, the 1992 Northeastern College journalism college valedictorian has been a reporter at The Solar Information since 1993 after working at papers in Texas and Massachusetts. He has earned eight top-10 Related Press Sports activities Editors nationwide writing awards and 20 top-three S.C. Press Affiliation writing awards since 2007.