You finally made it to the land of fun and sun! No doubt you’re eager to sink your toes into warm sand, play in the salty sea and let your cares melt away. But before you do that, you may need to take care of a few practical things first, like buying groceries.
All of our vacation rentals in North Myrtle Beach come with fully equipped kitchens, making it easy to enjoy a night or two during your vacation. We have plenty of grocery stores in our area to meet your shopping needs, each one conveniently located near local neighborhoods so you never have to drive far.
Which one should you choose? It all depends on where you’re staying and what you’re looking for. North Myrtle Beach stretches from Barefoot Landing to Cherry Grove, and within that distance offers everything you could ask for.
Boulineau’s IGA
Cherry Grove is a narrow spit of land dominated by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and a beautiful inlet on the other. It’s the most remote area in all of North Myrtle Beach. The grocery store that serves this area is Boulineau’s IGA at the corner of Sea Mountain Highway and Ocean Boulevard. Boasting two floors and a lighthouse structure on one corner, Boulineau’s is instantly recognizable to locals and tourists alike.
Downstairs you’ll find a comprehensive grocery store, although the selection is limited compared to other stores. The prices are somewhat higher as well. However, the meat selection is good and the bakery offers a wealth of tasty treats to enjoy. In addition, the cafeteria serves up hot breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day.
Upstairs is home to a large souvenir shop complete with everything you need to enjoy a day on the beach. You can even get a fishing license and buy bait and tackle here!
Publix
Publix is located off Highway 17 North in the attractive Coastal North Town Center. Not only is Publix arguably the supermarket with the widest selection of goods in the North Myrtle Beach area, but it’s also nestled amid a plethora of other stores that will tempt to you stay much longer than you intended to. Publix is spacious, clean, and abounding with variety. The bakery offers a delicious array of goodies, the deli is stocked with meats that are freshly sliced to your liking and the meat department has choices that include steaks, roasts, clams, crab legs, lobster, octopus, and fish. The international aisle may introduce you to things you’ve never tried before. There are good wine and beer selections, the health and beauty department has more items than most grocery stores and the wellness section offers holistic alternatives to regular over-the-counter remedies.
Once you’ve completed your grocery shopping, more choices for fun await! The shopping plaza includes T.J. Maxx, ULTA Beauty, Versona, and Dick’s Sporting Goods. Dining options include Chipotle, amaZing’s Kitchen, and Hickory Tavern.
Walmart
That old standby, Walmart, is located in the Gator Hole Plaza less than a mile south of Publix, where it shares space with other retail giants like Home Depot, Office Depot, and Petco. It has everything you would expect from a Walmart. The lines can get very long, however, especially during the summer months when the tourist season is strong. If you’re happy to brave the crowd, you’ll find Subway and a pretzel shop inside this store, the bakery is quite nice and the prices are always reasonable.
Aldi
The most recent addition to the North Myrtle Beach family of grocery stores, Aldi is a stripped-down, unpretentious grocery store that chooses to go frills-free in order to pass the savings down to the customer. You won’t hear music or advertisements and you won’t be greeted with expensive displays or shelving. Instead, you’ll find incredible deals on both name-brand and off-brand products (that are often just as good as the original, if not better). Bring a quarter with you when you come; you’ll have to insert it in the lock on the shopping carts before you can release one to use. However, you get that quarterback when you return the cart. It’s a smart way to stop people from leaving their shopping carts rolling free in the parking lot.
Kroger
Kroger is located on Main Street in North Myrtle Beach, the same street where the annual Shag festivals are held. While it does have a rather dated exterior, this Kroger is nevertheless quite clean and comfortable, with a very good produce selection and reasonable prices. It also has a pharmacy that stays open until 8 pm on weekdays and 6 pm on weekends.
Bi-Lo
Bi-Lo is located on Hwy 17 S in North Myrtle Beach. It is just a few minutes away from Barefoot Landing. However, the prices at both are sometimes surprisingly high. Check the sale pages before you shop so you don’t miss out on any deals. They have an in-house deli so you can catch a quick bite to eat if you are in a bind, or you can shop for your meals that you will prepare once you are settled in.
Here’s a bonus tip: if you love fresh produce and supporting local farmers, check out the Waccamaw Market Cooperative. They host a farmer’s market in North Myrtle Beach every Friday from the beginning of May to the end of October. You can find them under the pavilion at 925 1st Avenue South, situated directly across from the town library. If you are feeling adventurous and want to wander down the Grand Strand you can find a Fresh Market and Lowes Food adjacent to each other.