OFF THE WIRE
MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) – Before a South Carolina Supreme Court ruling overturned Myrtle Beach's helmet law, many business owners would tell you business was down. So has the new helmet ordinance changed things?
Inside Bargain Beachwear on Ocean Boulevard in Myrtle Beach, things are better, but not great. Store Manager Frank Williamson admits he lost thousands of dollars in 2009.
"It's hard because they already did the damage," he said. "It's going to take time to heal the problem."
The owner of the popular country hot spot the Beach Wagon says he shut down because of the lack of bike business.
"We started losing the economy about a year ago," Roger Davidson explained. "We held on as long as we could."
Business Owners Organized to Support Tourism (BOOST) says taxpayers paid the price.
The City of Myrtle Beach says they encouraged the helmets because of safety.
"I would like to say to those people who are working in government to try to bring more people and not push them away," Williamson said.
Things aren't back to the way they once were, but he's hoping that will change soon.
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