Beach Bites: JEM Social
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) — Right in the heart of Myrtle Beach lies a ’gem’ of a lounge called JEM Social.
The spot combines all the vibes of a restaurant and a cocktail lounge, while also adding in a bit of nightlife.
“We wanted to create a nice lounge atmosphere where people can enjoy each other’s company, have great food, great cocktails, and at the same time, have a little bit of a vibe, right?” owner Jason Trinh said. “It’s a nice mix between restaurant, cocktail lounge and nightlife.”
The acronym for the name is more than just the sparkling stone you might think of when you hear it. J.E.M. stands for Jackson, Emma, and Madeline, the names of Trinh’s three youngest children.
“They’re our little gems,” he said.
When you walk through the doors, the trendy aesthetic really shines, but believe it or not, the building used to be a Pizza Hut. Now, JEM Social is known for its signature cocktails and rare spirits.
One drink called ‘The Gold Digger’ really stands out. It’s a sweeter cocktail with notes of lemon and cranberry. There is even a surprise presentation with this drink. The bartender lights a match on flash paper that starts a flame and reveals a chocolate gold coin.
“Usually, you’ll go up to Charleston or Wilmington if you want to go to a fancy bar or get a good cocktail, but now we have it right here in our neighborhood,” bartender Lauren Arnold said.
It is not all about the drinks, though. JEM Social is equipped with a 100% scratch kitchen. They have everything from salads to salmon and pork chops, and perhaps their most popular dish is the ahi tuna tacos.
“Foodies can geek out about food, and people who enjoy cocktails and spirits can really geek out about that,” Trinh said.
Since JEM Social opened in the fall of 2022, it has been a whirlwind of growth, including expanding to include an outdoor patio with flat-screen TVs.
JEM Social is breaking barriers and enhancing the drinking scene on the Grand Strand.
“It brings everybody together,” Arnold said. “It’s a different scene that Myrtle Beach is not necessarily used to.”
JEM Social is constantly adding new cocktails to the menu and there are always themed events happening inside. It is located in Myrtle Beach at the corner of North Kings Highway and 76th Avenue North.
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Taylor Maresca is the weekend morning anchor and morning reporter at News13. She joined the team in June 2022 after graduating from the University of Arizona. Taylor is from Houston. Follow Taylor on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of her work here.
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