Top 20 Things You Need to Know! Pt. 1 (1-10)

Hey y'all! So, there is so much going in Memphis that I had to break it up into two separate blogs. We have redevelopments, new restaurants, and initiatives contributing to the growth and potential of Memphis. I encourage you all to stay informed and get involved so that we can continue to show the world the real Memphis. 


Readbox
Now when you go rent a movie you may now be able to grab a book as well! Memphis Public Libraries has gifted the city with “ReadBox”, a brilliant play on the popular movie and game rental the Redbox. The Readbox has already been spotted at the Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, Crosstown Concourse, and in front of the Walgreens on Getwell. Follow them on Facebook @Memphispubliclibraries and I have provided the link to the web page. www.memphislibraries.org/
 
Piccadilly
Okay, don’t judge me but I LOVE Piccadilly! (If you know me you know that though) I used to eat it so much while in college. I still have moments where I buy it a couple of times in one week so when I heard a new one was opening I had to let the people know. The new location will be in Cordova on Germantown Pkwy and will be only for to-go orders. This will be the companies first-to-go location. The new location is set to open in June of this year. 

Memphis Airport
The airport has a new Italian-Themed restaurant called Torn Basil.  Torn Basil is located near gate A27 offering pizza, meatballs, salads, sandwiches, and a breakfast menu. 

South Main Grocery Store
Although there is a huge Kroger on Union Avenue near S. Mclean Blvd residents who live further Downtown feel that they are at a disadvantage when it comes to grocery shopping. For years they have desired a grocery store that they could possibly walk to or is a short drive away. It took some time, but this May it was announced that a 25, 0000 square foot grocery is being developed for South Main Street. 136 Webster Ave. will hopefully be a full-service grocery store by the end of 2018. The owner of the location is looking for a tenant but will start small and open the grocery store on his own if no companies are interested.   

Crosstown Concourse
If you have ever been to Crosstown Concourse, then you know that there are a million things in that building. If you live there you basically wouldn’t have to leave your apartment for much except new scenery and soon there will be even more. A new plant-based café will be opening soon located on the second floor and 425- seat black box theater will be opening this fall. “The café will provide free meals to the arts organization’s residents, cater the organization’s events, and be open to the public for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  A bar will be open nightly for residents and the public” as written by Memphis Business Journal Reporter, Jacob Steimer.  You can follow Crosstown Concourse on Instagram (@crosstownconcourse) to see the progress of the theater.

Soulsville
A Soulsville retail building will soon be redeveloped and include a restaurant. Memphian Derrick Craig has hopes of opening “Johnnie Mae’s Soul Cafe” in honor of his mother as well as opening other options that would attract the attention of the students of Lemoyne- Owen College. Johnnie Mae’s menu will include soul food, healthy options, and a bar. This project would bring much-needed life to the area and maybe even help draw attention to Memphis’ Historically Black College. 

100 N. Main
The tallest building in Memphis (34 stories) will hopefully become home to a 550 room Hotel with 220 apartments according to the Memphis Business Journal. With the city’s blessing a New York-based townhouse management company will be turning 100 N. Main into a large convention center hotel. If approved and finalized the project will also include the redevelopment of the 103,000-square-foot building at 147 Jefferson Ave. 

Pro Football
Memphis is set to get a pro football team. Earlier this month I read in the Commercial Appeal that Memphis would be apart of The Alliance of American Football League in 2019. A press conference was held and named Mike Singletary as the head coach. It appears that Memphis previously had franchises in the World Football League, Arena Football, USFL, Canadian Football League and the XFL. I also had no idea that we temporarily housed the Tennessee Titans back in 1997. Who knew! 
 
Poplar Commons
If you frequent down Poplar Ave near Poplar Commons Shopping Center (Poplar and Perkins Extd) you have noticed that the area has been under heavy redevelopment. Recently, May 23, 2018, a restaurant called Chicken Salad Chick opened making it the newest restaurant to the area. Chicken Salad Chick, referred to on their website as “The Best Chicken Salad in the South”, has a variety of chicken salad, soups, sides, and more.  I even read that soon a Smoothie King and a HopDoddy Burger will join the area. Apparently, a building permit was filed in May of 2017 for the Hopdoddy Burger Bar but I guess I was so hype about the Overton Square location that I missed that information. No set date for the opening of Smoothie King or Hopdoddy but I imagine they will both be open before or by the end of this year. 

Riverfront and Mud Island
When I moved back to Memphis in 2016 there was a proposal to add the Riverfront and Mud Island River Park to the TDZ (Tourism Development Zone) redevelopment plan. The TDZ already included projects for the Pinch District, Bass Pro Shop at the Pyramid, and the renovation of the Cook Convention Center.  On Tuesday, May 22, 2018, it was confirmed on the City’s website that the addition was approved by the State. The approval means that the Brooks Museum will more than likely be moving Downtown with Front and Union possibly being its new home, $125 million aquarium for Mud Island, and a pedestrian bridge connecting riverfront to the rest of downtown. The next move for the city will be to conduct feasibility studies for the new projects according to the Memphis Business Journal.  Check out the City's website for more information and sign up for e-mil updates.
https://memphistn.gov/cms/one.aspx?portalId=11150816&pageId=13035469​​