Carolina Country Music Fest organisers sued by restaurant in Myrtle Beach
The organisers of the Carolina Country Music Fest and the City of Myrtle Beach are being sued by Nathan’s Famous, a restaurant in Myrtle Beach, who are claiming that their sales ands profits are being wiped out when the festival takes place, as customers can’t access their restaurant.
According to court documents, organisers have closed off and either severely or entirely restricted access to the public along 8th Avenue North between Ocean Boulevard and Highway 17 Business over the last three years, and they have done this by implementing a 6-foot tall, chain-link fence.
In addition, customer access is further hampered and restricted due to “allowing the parking of numerous large trucks, buses and other vehicles operated by bands and other groups participating in the Festival,” according to the lawsuit.
This has caused the attorneys of Nathan’s Famous to claim that sales have dropped, and that any potential customers have very difficult access to the restaurant.
Their claim is that the CCMF organisers shouldn’t be allowed to close down – and then use – a public street as a parking lot, for what marks the restaurant’s busiest time of the year.
Nathan’s Famous claimed in the lawsuit that they’ve lost $30,000 worth of revenue during the festivals over the last three years.
Also, in 2016, Nathan’s Famous contracted with CCMF to have a concession space on the festival grounds at no cost, and as per CCMF policy, turned the restaurant into the same cashless system used by the festival, on the basis that they would be paid promptly.
According to the lawsuit however, that didn’t happen as the system didn’t work, meaning that they didn’t pick up any sales figures until the festival was over, and thrones they did get were disputed as Nathan’s Famous claimed they fell grossly short of actual sales.
As such, they claim that CCMF owe them $25,171.40, and that CCMF have refused and failed to pay that.
With this lawsuit, Nathan’s Famous are asking a judge for the money owed to them in 2016, plus interest, as well as the money they’ve lost over the last three years.
They are also asking the judge for a permanent injunction to be put in place, which will not allow the festival organisers to restrict the public’s access to that street.
