What will happen to a closed Myrtle Beach restaurant that caught fire? What we know

A downtown Myrtle Beach restaurant caught on fire in 2019, and the property remains unused five years later.

Meanwhile, the fire itself led to a protracted legal case that’s gone on for more than four years. Despite a civil trial handing one side $15,000 in damages, it shows no sign of concluding soon. On Feb. 24, 2019, La Casona Mexican Restaurant at 1901 North Kings Highway, which had been open for about two years, caught fire, and firefighters and police arrived to put out the blaze .

Since then, the eatery, which features an homage to the Pagodas of Southeast Asia on its roof, has been gated off, with “Keep Out” signs ensuring people walking by stay away.

While it sits empty, the property owner says they’re looking for the right deal to bring something new to the area. Abe Tebele is the director of Kings Realty of SC, Inc., which owns the La Casona Property, according to Horry County Land Records.

Tebele received renderings for businesses replacing La Casona with potential partners, including one for an entertainment-type concept. However, Tebele said no plans have been put in motion yet, adding that part of the project cost includes re-developing the building. Tebele also said interest in the property should peak once the City of Myrtle Beach moves forward with its planned downtown development .

“That’s definitely a factor,” Tebele said. “We’ve been seeking a quality retail tenant, you know, to run with on that property.”

While the property looks for the right fit, the civil case regarding the February 2019 fire remains active despite four years of litigation and a judgment issued by a jury following a civil trial.

The case concerns an insurance policy Tebele’s company, A Tebele & Sons, took out with its insurer, Crescent Coast Insurance, for the La Casona Property. After the fire , Crescent Coast Insurance denied a claim by Tebele’s firm because of the restaurant’s lack of an automatic sprinkler system, which was also not connected to water. A Tebele & Sons claimed Crescent Coast Insurance knew about the sprinkler system before issuing the policy for the property and sued in February 2020, according to the Horry County 15th Judicial Circuit Public Index.

According to the Horry County 15th Judicial Circuit Public Index , in December 2023, a jury awarded A Tebele & Sons $15,000 due to negligence from Crescent Coast Insurance despite finding Tebele’s firm negligent. However, both sides seem keen to continue litigating the matter. Tebele’s company filed a motion for a new trial, which a judge denied, according to the Horry County 15th Judicial Circuit Public Index, and Crescent Coast Insurance is appealing the ruling.