The company that announced it was bringing an Asian-themed attraction to Myrtle Beach next spring has learned it no longer has a place to put it.
GL Enterprise, Inc. was in the process of negotiating a deal with Grand Strand development company Burroughs & Chapin, Inc. http://www.burroughschapin.com/ to locate Asian Wonder Land on the old Myrtle Square Mall property, across from the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
They publicly announced in September that the attraction would open in the spring of 2013, but they've now learned that won't happen.
Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes, a supporter of the attraction from the beginning, said GL Enterprise, Inc. offered Burroughs & Chapin, Inc. $1.5 million up front for a two-year lease on the former mall property. Mayor Rhodes and Ken Thoi, who represents Asian Wonder Land, said the only person who was opposed to the deal was B&C's CEO, Jim Apple.
While B&C wouldn't confirm that, they did give us this statement from Lei Gainer, a spokesperson for the company.
"As Burroughs & Chapin, Inc. stated previously...As with any company that brings investment and jobs to Myrtle Beach, Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc. welcomes Asian Wonder Land. We hope that they are successful wherever they choose to locate in Myrtle Beach."
Mayor Rhodes is disappointed.
"I think Asian Wonderland would be a tremendous asset for tourism," he said. "It would give us another entertainment complex. It would give us another attraction and an opportunity to learn more about the Asian culture and the children of tomorrow. I really think it could be exciting."
At the September announcement, GL Enterprise, Inc. said it expected about ten percent of Myrtle Beach's 14.5 million tourists to visit the exhibit. They hoped it would not only bring in the Asian community, but also be used as an opportunity to educate others about Asian culture.
Marvin Heyd, a real estate broker who worked with GL Enterprise, Inc. to find a Grand Strand location, said B&C looked at project, but decided it wanted to develop the former mall property for something else. He didn't say what that might be.
Heyd said the Korean company wanted to locate in Myrtle Beach, but once the deal fell through, they felt as though they lost face.
Heyd said there is another possible location being considered, on 29th Avenue North, but it's also owned by B&C. Heyd thinks B&C might be more agreeable to locate the project there, but that property is undeveloped. He said it would take six months to clear it, and that takes out next spring as an opening.
Thoi echoed that sentiment, saying GL Enterprises had planned to use the rest of this year to promote the attraction and were on a tight schedule. He said there's no way they can find another location and open next spring.
Heyd said the South Korean government is providing some of the funding for Asian Wonder Land, working with governments in China and Japan. They looked at Las Vegas, but decided Myrtle Beach would be better fit for their potential customers.
Mayor Rhodes said he'd be willing to fly to South Korea himself to keep Asian Wonder Land here.
