Myrtle Beach To Become Home Of First Ruth's Chris Steak House In Coastal South Carolina

Myrtle Beach, S.C. (PRWeb) March 25, 2007 -- The first Ruth's Chris Steak House in coastal South Carolina will open at the Marina Village at Grande Dunes in Myrtle Beach in winter 2008. The world-famous restaurant will anchor Phase One of the Marina Village at Grande Dunes, which is situated along the Intracoastal Waterway, adjacent to the luxurious Marina Inn at Grande Dunes and the full-service Marina at Grande Dunes.

The Marina Village at Grande Dunes is planned as a festive gathering place that will have the feel of a European coastal village. Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in a rich variety of fashionable shops, galleries, entertainment venues and great restaurants. The Marina Village will be open to the general public.

"We have always known that we wanted a world-class restaurant as a key building block for the Marina Village at Grande Dunes," said Doug Wendel, president and chief executive officer of Burroughs & Chapin Company, developer of Grande Dunes. "Ruth's Chris Steak House will introduce an unrivaled dining experience to Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand. Just as Grande Dunes set the bar for upscale residential, resort and commercial living along the Grand Strand, Ruth's Chris Steak House will move dining here to the next level. Ruth's Chris Steak House will be open to the general public, as will the shops, stores and other dining opportunities that will follow now that Ruth's Chris Steak House is a part of Grande Dunes."

The winner of numerous awards for outstanding steaks and other foods and service, Ruth's Chris Steak House is known worldwide for its great food and "flawless service with a side of friendly personality."

Called "America's Best Steakhouse" by the culinary press, Ruth's Chris Steak House was founded 42 years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana, by the legendary Ruth Fertel who, in order to put her children through college, mortgaged her home to purchase the "Chris Steak House," a 60-seat restaurant located near the New Orleans Fair Grounds racetrack. Fertel set a high standard for her restaurant's service, focusing on delivering the highest quality steaks and other foods, beverages and excellent service in a warm and inviting atmosphere. Today, Ruth's Chris Steak House offers a broad selection of the highest quality USDA Prime grade steaks that are carefully selected and aged for tenderness, cut thick to ensure juiciness, seared to perfection at 1800 degrees, and served in Ruth's Chris' signature fashion -- "sizzling." Ruth's Chris Steak House is also known for their market fresh seafood selection, extensive bar and wines from the world's greatest wineries.

Each Ruth's Chris Steak House is unique to the area it calls home. Architecturally, the Ruth's Chris Steak House at Marina Village will reflect the elegant Mediterranean architectural style of Grande Dunes. Inside, it will offer the casual feel of Myrtle Beach, and diners will experience the southern hospitality, fine cuisine and top-notch customer service that are the hallmarks of the Ruth's Chris Steak House brand.

The Ruth's Chris Steak House at the Marina Village at Grande Dunes is owned and will be operated by franchisee Carolina Sizzle, Myrtle Beach LLC.

"It was very important to us to open our first coastal South Carolina Ruth's Chris Steak House in a location that is as special as our restaurant," said Rick Howard, chief executive officer of Carolina Sizzle, Myrtle Beach LLC. "We looked at other locales but after touring Grande Dunes, and learning about the plans for the Marina Village, my management team concluded that this was where our restaurant had to be. No other place in South Carolina offers the ambiance of Grande Dunes and I believe that the Marina Village at Grande Dunes will be the premier address for upscale shopping and dining along the Grand Strand."

Ruth's Chris Steak House appeals to families as well as business people. Additional services offered include dining for private parties and special occasion dinners.

"We will exceed our guests' expectations," said Staffan High, director of operations for Carolina Sizzle, Myrtle Beach LLC. "It's a huge responsibility to be called a key building block for Phase One of the Marina Village at Grande Dunes, but Ruth's Chris is more than up to the challenge."

Located on the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway, just south of the Grande Dunes bridge, the Marina Village at Grande Dunes lies within a 10-mile radius of area attractions and less than 10 miles to the Myrtle Beach International Airport.

About The Marina Village At Grande Dunes
Situated along the east side of the Intracoastal Waterway, just south of the Grande Dunes bridge, the Marina Village at Grande Dunes will offer the distinctive feel of a European coastal village and will feature architectural elements such as coquina stone, ceramic tile, stucco, wrought iron and clay.

The Marina Village encompasses the Marina Inn at Grande Dunes, the recently opened four-star luxury inn known for its exemplary amenities and customer service. It will also be adjacent to the Marina at Grande Dunes, a full-service luxury facility featuring state-of-the-art floating docks and access to many of Grande Dunes amenities, which can accommodate vessels up to 120+ feet.

A Village Plaza and Boardwalk Promenade will combine fashionable shops, condominiums, galleries, restaurants and entertainment venues all within view of the marina. Phase One will offer two buildings with three floors of residential condominiums above approximately 19,000-square feet of total retail space. An adjacent restaurant and Harbor Master store will complete Phase One.

The Marina Village at Grande Dunes lies within a 10-mile radius of area attractions and less than 10 miles from the Myrtle Beach International Airport.

About Ruth's Chris Steak House, Inc.
Ruth's Chris Steak House, Inc. is the largest fine-dining company in America and has 103 locations worldwide. Founded in New Orleans by Ruth Fertel in 1965, Ruth's Chris Steak House specializes in the highest grade USDA Prime steaks served in their signature fashion -- "sizzling."

Ruth's Chris Steak House at the Marina Village at Grande Dunes is a franchise that is owned and will be operated by Carolina Sizzle, Myrtle Beach LLC. It will be open to the general public.
For information, reservations, or to purchase gift cards, visit www.RuthsChris.com or call 1-800-544-0808.

About Burroughs & Chapin Company, Inc.
Burroughs & Chapin Company, a private, family-held company based in Myrtle Beach, S.C., is a real estate development company that is a leader in the fields of residential and resort property development; commercial property development and leasing; property management; and sports, entertainment and recreation venues. The company's service to Myrtle Beach and Horry County dates back to 1895.

All told, Burroughs & Chapin Company is comprised of more than 76 businesses that include commercial real estate, shopping and office developments; residential and resort real estate subdivisions and developments; accommodations; attractions, recreation and amusements; mortgage and financial services and more.

The company's better-known entertainment properties are the world-class Myrtle Waves Water Park and the innovative NASCAR SpeedParks (Myrtle Beach, Charlotte, St. Louis, Pigeon Forge, Toronto).

Burroughs & Chapin also owns and operates Grande Dunes Resort Golf Course, the private Members Club Golf Course at Grande Dunes, Pine Lake International Country Club and Myrtlewood Golf Club. The company also manages Tidewater Golf Club, Meadowlands Golf Club and Farmstead Golf Links.

Among the company's many residential and resort communities are Grande Dunes, a 2,200-acre four-star development that extends from the Atlantic Ocean to west across the Intracoastal Waterway in Myrtle Beach. Among the better-known amenities at Grande Dunes are the Marina Inn, the Marina at Grande Dunes, the Members Club and the Ocean Club. The company also owns and operates South Beach Resort, an interval ownership golf and oceanfront resort in Myrtle Beach; and Crown Park Resort, an interval ownership resort in Gatlinburg, Tenn.

Among the company's many retail and commercial developments are Broadway at the Beach, an award-winning 350-acre festive shopping, entertainment and dining complex centered around a 22-acre lake in the heart of Myrtle Beach; Coastal Grand-Myrtle Beach, a one million square foot fully enclosed shopping mall developed with joint venture partner CBL & Associates Properties of Chattanooga, Tenn.; Seaboard Commons, offering name brand big box and other stores; the 501 Power Centers, offering name brand big box and other stores; and more.

###