I got lost in the gay dolphin
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Every summer, a new carnival-like act entertained and lured customers in.
Jones Bingo was popular for more than a decade, and the amusement park, which closed in the 1970s, was known for its Wild Mouse roller coaster. The diversity of the things they sell in here is insane.”
And just like that, another customer converted. Almost everybody walks into the Gay Dolphin because it is such a unique building.
Part of our past, still part of our future. As a kid getting merchandise for the store, Plyler took a shark tooth to a gold wire vendor, who fashioned it into a necklace.
Tiara Rivera of New York City struggled to take it all in. You get to explore all the different levels.”
Meander a few feet after entering from the Boulevard and you’ll encounter the store’s top seller: blue Myrtle Beach bicycle license plate tags featuring every name you can imagine.
Trained dogs would climb ladders, do tricks and slide down slides.
A “buried alive” man made customers wonder how he could survive (there was a secret back door where he’d “escape” every night). There are sections for Betty Boop, John Wayne and other characters and celebrities; dragons; fairies and jungle creatures. They started adding on more and more to the store, covering 35,000 square feet of space with more than 50 coves” that feature a variety of products ranging from Elvis-inspired memorabilia to seashell-centric wares.
In 1949, the Plylers welcomed their son, Justin A.
Buz” Plyler, to the world, and quickly introduced him to the gift shop. Or an introduction from a mechanical Zoltar fortune teller machine ready to entertain by reading your future.
As it was always meant to be, the store is a haven for nautical merchandise, from an extensive and exotic shell collection to wall hangings and the popular shark tooth necklaces.
The building itself is very unique. The Gay Dolphin is almost as old as Myrtle Beach itself, with the business’ founding family also credited with helping the once quaint beach town evolve into the popular vacation destination it is today.
The Gay Dolphin is quintessential Myrtle Beach—quirky and offering something for everyone—and this year, celebrates its 75th anniversary under the same ownership of the Plyler family, which had the vision to blend souvenir hunting and entertainment under one roof.
“We do what nobody in his right mind would do,” says Buz Plyler, who operates the store his parents founded.
“I got lost in the Gay Dolphin.”
Step into the Gay Dolphin, and you’ll quickly catch on to what Plyler means.
They rebuilt the Gay Dolphin better than ever – starting with new construction close to the beach, then branching out towards Ocean Boulevard, and ending in the section featuring the tall, glass tower that visitors see today.
At this time, Myrtle Beach was largely a resort town for mill workers who only made 25 cents per hour, so the Plyler’s aimed to keep their merchandise affordable in order to draw in customers.
Justin Plyler envisioned a reasonably priced destination that was so much fun people would come back every year. Plyler’s experience has influenced younger business owners on the Boulevard, including Walker, who started working in air brush shops along the Boulevard in the late 1980s.
“However old he is is how much experience he has,” Walker says.
“We never had a situation that we didn’t think we could get through.”
Plyler, who grew up in the penthouse on top of the store, entered the business at an early age. A secret of his success is being there and listening. He found reliable suppliers of merchandise not found anywhere else in Myrtle Beach and, as he got older, traveled to shows in cities such as Miami and Los Angeles searching for unique merchandise to wow next season’s tourists.
Go down a few stairs and you’ll see an Elvis striking his well-known performance pose. Their vision helped Myrtle Beach grow into the destination it is today. “We just heard so many people say it so often.”
And it’s easy to do. He’s always in there doing inventory, ordering. Buz started working at The Gay Dolphin when he was only 8 years old, learning the ins and outs of business dealings at an early age.
“I want to congratulate the Gay Dolphin for their staying power in Myrtle Beach for an amazing 75 years, and for being an important part of what makes Myrtle Beach so fun and special for families.”
Walker, president of the Oceanfront Merchants Association, credits Plyler with helping protect Boulevard businesses and making the area more of a year-round destination.