NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC — A home‑based cookie business in Cherry Grove has halted sales from a small outdoor cart after a zoning complaint prompted city officials to determine the setup violated North Myrtle Beach’s mobile vending rules.
Cherry Grove Cookie Company, operated by Jon Allen from his residence on Royal Oak Circle, had been in business for about seven months when he added a sales cart to the edge of his property at the end of July. The cart quickly became a popular neighborhood stop, drawing steady foot traffic and generating what Allen estimated to be roughly $4,000 in monthly sales.
That visibility also brought scrutiny. In late August, a nearby resident filed a complaint with the city, citing concerns about retail activity occurring in a residential zone. After reviewing the site, North Myrtle Beach staff informed Allen that mobile food vending is not permitted on residential property under the city’s existing ordinance. The cart was shut down in early September.
Allen holds a business license and operates legally under South Carolina’s cottage‑food allowances, which permit certain home‑produced goods to be sold without a commercial kitchen. But those allowances do not override local zoning rules. Under North Myrtle Beach’s home‑occupation standards, businesses based in residences cannot generate customer traffic, create parking impacts, or operate storefront‑style sales points.
City officials said the cart functioned as a retail extension of the business, making it incompatible with the residential zoning designation.
The closure has left Allen without a direct‑to‑consumer outlet at his home. Cherry Grove Cookie Company continues to distribute through restaurants, shops, and markets where commercial sales are permitted. Allen said he hopes the city will consider updating its ordinance to accommodate small‑scale vendors, noting the rise of mobile carts and cottage businesses across the region.
North Myrtle Beach leaders have discussed potential adjustments to mobile vending rules in recent months, though no formal proposal or timeline has been announced.
For now, the cart remains closed, and the business is exploring alternative locations and event‑based permits to maintain customer access while staying within city regulations.
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