11 Fall 2017 | www.htcinc.net 10 www.htcinc.net | Fall 2017 Feeding the Grand Strand’s appetite for variety • LAWN & GARDEN • PET SUPPLIES & FEEDS • BIRD FEED & FEEDERS • SIMPLY SOUTHERN, HEYBO, DRAKE & CARHARTT • LARGE SELECTION OF BOOTS 2200 N MAIN ST (843) 248-4344 CONWAYFEEDANDGARDEN.COM EXPERIENCE CONWAY FEED & GARDEN From pancakes to pizza, the Collier Restaurant Group has discovered a winning recipe for crowd-pleasing eateries. In East Tennessee, the Collier name is synonymous with delicious, down-home cooking. Throughout the Myrtle Beach area, Collier is quickly earning a reputation for quality food and a savory dining experience. Since the arrival of two of their most popular restaurants — Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin and Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom — in Garden City in 2017, guests can’t seem to get enough. At first glance, the Flapjack’s log- cabin design might look a little out of place on the Grand Strand. But Ryan MacDonald, the Director of Operations for Collier in South Carolina, explains that this rustic exterior is an architectural homage to its heritage. “Before the restaurant group grew into the successful brand that it is today, the Colliers were just a normal family residing in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains,” Ryan says. “In 1968, they opened a breakfast restaurant fittingly called the Smoky Mountain Pancake House.” Whatever Grandma Collier was putting in her pancakes, it attracted large numbers. The family took the success of its first restaurant and ran with it, expanding the restaurant group’s offerings throughout the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. But in 2001, Collier returned to its roots and opened the first Flapjack’s in Sevierville, Tennessee. According to Ryan, “Fifteen years later, we decided to take our made- from-scratch pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and other secret recipes, from the mountains to the ocean!” Of course, one of their recipes is not so secret. A Flapjack’s fan favorite is the Sticky Bun Pancakes. Allow Ryan to describe the delicious journey from griddle to plate: “We take our made- from-scratch buttermilk pancake recipe and swirl a cinnamon-sugar glaze into the pancake. Just before the batter begins to bubble, we sprinkle pecans into them. Rather than drizzling maple syrup on top, we complete the cinnamon roll theme with cream cheese icing.” Patrons enjoy the signature menu item so much that many of them started asking for the recipe. Flapjack’s was happy to oblige and will gladly give the recipe card away, along with posting it on the company Pinterest page. Ryan also oversees the Collier Restaurant Group’s other Grand Strand eatery, Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom. They’ve perfected the art of deep-dish pizza, but guests also love their special shareable taproom fare like Buffalo Chicken Rolls and Italian Nachos. No matter what you choose to eat, though, Ryan says what’s most important is what you wash all this great food down with. “It’s not so much about the dish as it is what’s in the glass,” he says. “Old Chicago has a certified cicerone who carefully selects each beer for our menu. And because we specialize so highly in craft beer, we are constantly rotating beers based on season and trends.” From dawn to dusk, breakfast to dinner, the Collier Restaurant Group Flapjack’s Pancake Cabin 2851 US-17 BUS, Garden City, SC 29576 843-652-4444 www.Flapjacks.com Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom 2859 Hwy 17 BUS, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576 843-651-2337 www.Oldchicago.com has worked hard to provide The Grand Strand with more than just places to eat. “Our mission is to provide a dining experience where our guests feel like they’re at home, and like they’re family,” Ryan says. “Every guest should leave our restaurants feeling happier than when they entered.” Ryan and his staff have the made- from-scratch food and friendly service covered. But when it comes to phone and internet service, the Collier Restaurant Group relies on the HTC wired and wireless networks to help its businesses operate smoothly. Ensuring a great dining experience, of course, goes beyond serving great food and friendly service. “We have telephone/broadband and wireless service for our guests,” Ryan says. “HTC always keeps us connected, whether we’re turning on the TVs, working on our computers, answering the phones or doing paperwork in the office. All of our new-employee training is done wirelessly on our store iPads.” The HTC connected services have made it “a nice transition coming from the Smoky Mountains to the Grand Strand,” Ryan says. Even though the Collier Restaurant Group has grown a lot over the years, they prefer working with local phone and internet providers to keep their locations connected. To see more about how HTC keeps Flapjack’s and Old Chicago connected, visit www.htcinc.net/ business-solutions. And if you’re looking for a new breakfast or dinner spot with reliable customer Wi-Fi and delicious food, Ryan and his team have you covered. Go to www.collierrestaurantgroup. com to see the full menus for all their restaurants and to plan your next outing. Photos provided by The Collier Restaurant Group. Photos provided by The Collier Restaurant Group.