When opening any business, one of the first things that comes to mind is the old adage: “Location, location, location.” Husband and wife team Bobby and April Lanz took this quote to heart and opened their restaurant, Aftercare Café, in the perfect spot.

Located at the end of the tattoo and piercing plaza on Seaboard Street in Myrtle Beach, Aftercare Café has established itself as a convenient place for tattoo artists and piercers alike to eat. But Aftercare isn’t just for Seaboard’s employees. Serving breakfast all day, sandwiches, burgers and vegetarian options, this cafe has something for everyone.

The name Aftercare comes from the document a customer gets after getting pierced or tattooed that instructs them on how to take care of their new addition. Bobby is very familiar with this form—he’s the owner of Elite Ink Tattoos, a piercing and tattoo studio on the block.

The Lanzs have transformed a former sign shop into a hip art gallery cafe with a unique look and feel. The walls are adorned with paintings by local artists and the table tops are covered with collages of tattoo imagery. There are plans for the back patio to eventually be an area for more seating, grilling, live music and art shows.

The creativity doesn’t stop with the interior: Aftercare’s menu is a collection of dishes you don’t regularly see and is in a state of constant evolution thanks to April, with new selections almost daily. Two permanent items include the Blue Buffalo Grilled Cheese sandwich and the Waffle Taco. The Blue Buffalo is a grilled cheese to get fired up for. It’s ooey-gooey goodness with three different types of cheese and buffalo sauce for just the right amount of kick. The Waffle Taco is filled with banana and your choice of almond or peanut butter, and topped with honey and almonds or pecans. This waffle needs two hands and an appetite. Tip: If you want a little extra sweetness, get yours topped with whipped cream.

Not only is the food delicious, you can feel good about eating it. It’s made with natural ingredients and cooked to order. The Lanzs’ goal is for the menu to eventually be all organic food bought from local sources, but for now they’re cooking as fresh as it gets.
 

Aftercare Café
704 E. Seaboard St.
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29577
(843) 945-4776
Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday