Memphis December 2024 by Contemporary Media

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The Urban Village

Twenty-four hours in the life of Crosstown Concourse.

A year in Memphis sports through the lens of photographer Wes Hale.

Agnes Stark

For more than 50 years, this popular potter has stayed productive and happy by doing what she loves. ~ by jane schneider 100 SIPS

The Odd Couple

A visit with the lively twosome that runs Alex’s Tavern. ~ by bruce vanwyngarden

Falafel, Fattoush, and … French Fries

La Roche offers authentic and fresh Lebanese cuisine from the original owners of Cedars. ~ by alex

CEO AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF anna traverse

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SENIOR EDITORS jon w. sparks, abigail morici, bruce vanwyngarden

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PHOTOGRAPHERS bailey bigger, michael donahue, robbie grant, alex greene, wes hale, jamie harmon, chris mccoy, adrian perez, jon w. sparks, jane schneider, anna traverse, bruce vanwyngarden

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december 2024

Lizards, Alpacas, and Local News

BY ANNA TRAVERSE

For the past number of months, probably like many of you, I have been consuming a steady diet of noxious gasses, of barbed wire and splinters, in the form of superabundant national political coverage. Magical thinking aside, there’s actually no correlation between, on one hand, the number of hours I spend reading various think pieces, and on the other, the mood of the electorate. But wait, before you throw this magazine across the room, because you, too, have reached your limit, I am very much not here to talk about the election; we’ve all had quite enough of that.

Consuming endless news updates and op-eds may not have any effect on real-world outcomes, but it absolutely aﬀects how we feel about our society, how we interact with our communities, what kind of predetermined grudges we carry into our days.

And so, recently, I’ve found myself seeking out a diﬀerent kind of narrative: stories that oﬀer small moments of surprise or delight, stories that make me curious about the world rather than eager to hide from it.

In e New Yorker a few weeks ago, I read about a late scientist’s bizarre quest to introduce a type of lizard (Italian wall lizards) to “Long Island and points north.” It’s objectively odd that a scientist would take it upon himself to encourage the spread of a very non-native species. But value judgments aside, it’s the sort of story that will stay with me, in part because it reminded me how endlessly, lovably strange humans can be.

Or there was the story on public radio last month about … therapy alpacas. Also, therapy llamas. At the Portland International Airport. ( is is, of course, straight out of a hypothetical

episode of the show Portlandia, and like the best spoofs, it’s completely real.) Laugh all you want: you know you could use a visit with Beni the llama and Captain Jack the alpaca right about now. I want more stories like these, not just because animals make everything better (though they do) but because the human urge toward delight is just as worth thinking about as the human urge for destruction, and I almost always need to be reminded of the former.

Closer to home, a bright spot recently was the day in November at Crosstown Concourse — subject of our cover package this month — when our sister publication, the Memphis Flyer, hosted its biannual Crafts & Drafts festival. Usually an outdoor event, unrelenting rain pushed the festival indoors, with painters and candlemakers and jewelry

artists all arranged in a wreath around three ﬂoors of the building. The move inside turned out to be a welcome one, forcing vendors and visitors closer together, fostering the sense of being enclosed in a warm bubble alongside all manner of beautiful wares and smiling neighbors, wagging dogs and confused babies. Contrary to the view of our city or our country one might glean from looking at national news, everyone was … ﬁ ne. Cheerful, even. Another reminder to spend more time living, less time scrolling.

e poet Nikita Gill writes, “Everything is on ﬁ re, / but everyone I love is doing beautiful things / and trying to make life worth living, / and I know I don’t have to believe in everything, / but I believe in that.” It’s an often-quoted, maybe over-quoted poem on social media, but I think that speaks to something in our culture: e bigger world is usually overwhelming and often brutal, but if we look around, we get to witness so many small and lovely moments of earnest eﬀort. This magazine is all about those small and lovely, human-scale moments. We hope to bring you stories that add a spark to your day without, well, setting anything on fire. We will continue to strive, in the new year and beyond, to keep you

curious about and invested in the community right here on the bluffs of the Mississippi. There’s plenty of news in Memphis to spike your blood pressure, needless to say, and while we won’t pretend that’s not so, it’s not what we’re here to cover. And we believe that you probably wouldn’t pick up a publication with Memphis on the cover if you despised this place. So, we hope you find something to make you smile in these pages, and we hope you keep thumbing through them, month after month. Small local businesses — like the one that produces this magazine — wouldn’t exist without community support. As we move through the weeks of holiday celebrations, we’ll be making conscious decisions to keep our dollars close to home. (A gift subscription to Memphis Magazine is always a nice idea, and our sweet circulation team will even send you a Dinstuhl’s chocolate bar to say thanks. I’m not above promoting ourselves: order at memphismagazine.com/ subscriptions and use code “HOLSUB24,” or call 901.575.9470 and ask for Kristin.)

Most of all, we’re grateful to you for spending time with us this year and for allowing our words to spend time with you. We know that your hours are precious, and we thank you for sharing a few of them. We don’t take that for granted. And if you ever have questions or suggestions for our team, we’re happy to hear from you: Write to us anytime at letters@ memphismagazine.com.

Happy holidays, take care of yourself, and we’ll see you in the new year.

DECEMBER 2024

HOLIDAY WONDERS AT THE GARDEN This cherished outdoor holiday tradition returns with all its light displays and themed nights. MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN, SELECT EVENINGS THROUGH DECEMBER 28

ENCHANTED FOREST Stroll through the magical Festival of Trees that ﬁlls the Pink Palace Mezzanine with beautifully decorated trees. MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY, THROUGH DECEMBER 29

THE WIZARD OF OZ Playhouse on the Square brings this classic to the stage. PLAYHOUSE ON THE SQUARE, THROUGH DECEMBER 22

STARRY NIGHTS Glow up your holidays at Shelby Farms Park’s largest event. Starry Nights brings the spirit of the season to life with dazzling displays featuring millions of lights. SHELBY FARMS PARK, SELECT EVENINGS THROUGH DECEMBER 29

ZOO LIGHTS Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of the holiday season as mesmerizing light displays and beloved classics return to Memphis Zoo. MEMPHIS ZOO, SELECT EVENINGS THROUGH JANUARY 4

SEASON OF DELIGHT Enjoy an evening ﬁlled with holiday magic as the Concourse is lit up. CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE, DECEMBER 6, 5 P.M.

LAND OF ENCHANTED SWEETS The timeless tale of Clara and her cherished Nutcracker comes to life on the Buckman stage this Christmas. BUCKMAN ARTS CENTER AT ST. MARY’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL, DECEMBER 6-8

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: LIVE ON STAGE The whole family can enjoy this adaptation of Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story. ORPHEUM THEATRE, DECEMBER 7, 2 P.M., 5 P.M., 7:30 P.M.

GERMANTOWN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: GERMANTOWN HOLIDAY CONCERT In its 49th season, Germantown Symphony Orchestra proudly returns to GPAC for the annual Germantown Holiday Concert. GERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, DECEMBER 14, 7 P.M.

SHEET CAKE’S FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY Celebrate Sheet Cake’s ﬁrst birthday with two new exhibition openings, cake (of course), DJ Bizzle Bluebland, and more. SHEET CAKE, DECEMBER 14, 5 P.M.

FOLK ALL Y’ALL: MAKE THE YULETIDE GAY WITH CHRYS MATTHEWS, FLAMY GRANT, AND SPENCER LAJOYE The Make the Yuletide Gay tour is hitting the road to spread a little holiday cheer and a whole lot of faith-infused LGBTQ+ joy. THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS, DECEMBER 14, 7:30 P.M.

RAISED BY SOUND FEST Raised by Sound Fest brings free live music all day long, culminating in a fundraising performance of “Music for William Eggleston’s Stranded in Canton: J. Spaceman & John Coxon of Spiritualized.” CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE, DECEMBER 7

ST. JUDE MEMPHIS MARATHON WEEKEND Choose the marathon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K, or take on the 2-Race Challenge. St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend is the largest single-day fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. DECEMBER 7

CAROLING SING-A-LONG! Kick off your holiday festivities with an afternoon of music, merriment, and holiday treats at the Brooks and Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s Caroling Sing-A-Long. MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART, DECEMBER 8, 3 P.M.

RACHEL MAXANN’S HOLIDAY SPIRITS: A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL WITH FRIENDS Join singer-songwriter Rachel Maxann for a soulful Christmas celebration featuring heartfelt performances. THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS, DECEMBER 13, 7:30 P.M.

¡CHRISTMAS FIESTA! Presented by Cazateatro Bilingual Theater Group, Opera Memphis, and The Dixon Gallery and Gardens, this Christmas Fiesta brings together Christmas traditions of Latin America and the Caribbean. DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS, DECEMBER 14, 11 A.M.-3 P.M.

MARK EDGAR STUART & THE BLUESHIFT ENSEMBLE 3RD ANNUAL X-MAS SHOW Mark Edgar Stuart comes back with the Christmas Concert. THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS, DECEMBER 18, 7:30 P.M.

AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL The annual bowl game returns for football, parties, and more. SIMMONS BANK LIBERTY STADIUM, DECEMBER 27

WHO’S HOLIDAY Cindy Lou Who returns in this riotously funny and heartwarming adults-only comedy. CIRCUIT PLAYHOUSE, NOVEMBER 22–DECEMBER 22

A MOTOWN CHRISTMAS Celebrate the holiday season with this musical of all your favorite Motown tunes. HATTILOO THEATRE, NOVEMBER 22–DECEMBER 22

HANDEL’S MESSIAH Memphis Symphony Orchestra presents their annual holiday concert. LINDENWOOD CHRISTIAN CHURCH, DECEMBER 3, 7:30 P.M. | GERMANTOWN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, DECEMBER 5-6, 7: 30 P.M.

TWELFTH NIGHT Shakespeare’s most charming comedy ﬁnds itself on the Tabor Stage. TENNESSEE SHAKESPEARE COMPANY, DECEMBER 6–22

A CHRISTMAS CAROL ’24 Theatre Memphis presents this holiday classic. THEATRE MEMPHIS, DECEMBER 6-23 BRIGHT STAR Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s bluegrass musical tells a story of love and redemption in 1920s and ’40s North Carolina. BARTLETT PERFORMING ARTS & CONFERENCE CENTER, DECEMBER 6–8

TÍA PANCHA Tía Pancha is Cazateatro›s bilingual adaptation of the classic A Christmas Carol but

HOLIDAY WONDERS AT THE GARDEN

ZOO LIGHTS

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS

AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL

SHELBY FARMS PARK STARRY NIGHTS

COMPILED BY ABIGAIL MORICI

with a Latin and female twist. THEATREWORKS@ THE EVERGREEN, DECEMBER 6–14

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS: LIVE ON STAGE The whole family can enjoy this adaptation of Charles M. Schulz’s timeless story. ORPHEUM THEATRE, DECEMBER 7, 2 P.M., 5 P.M., 7:30 P.M.

THE NUTCRACKER Ballet Memphis’ production of this holiday classic returns. ORPHEUM THEATRE, DECEMBER 13–15

THE MAGIC OF JEN KRAMER Jen Krmaer turns the impossible into the impossible-toignore. HALLORAN CENTRE, DECEMBER 14, 7:30 P.M. LINDSEY STIRLING’S SNOW WALTZ TOUR Stirling mixes dance and acrobatics into her unique interpretations of holiday staples such as “Sleigh Ride,” “Joy to the World,” and “Deck the Halls,” plus a few originals. CANNON CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, DECEMBER 16, 8 P.M. AN EVENING WITH GREGORY PORTER With his rich baritone voice and his mastery of the deepest traditions of soul, jazz, and gospel, Gregory Porter has established himself as one of America’s most versatile and acclaimed vocalists. ORPHEUM THEATRE, DECEMBER 17, 6:30 P.M.

DREW & ELLIE HOLCOMB’S NEIGHBORLY

CHRISTMAS Drew & Ellie Holcomb’s Neighborly Christmas is a special engagement event, allowing the Holcombs to collaborate once again. ORPHEUM THEATRE, DECEMBER 18, 7:30 P.M.

A DRAG QUEEN CHRISTMAS The longestrunning drag tour in America. Get ready for your favorite queens performing live on stage. ORPHEUM THEATRE, DECEMBER 19, 8 P.M. VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS CAROLS Immerse yourself in the festive spirit as you are transported back in time to the elegant Victorian era. ELMWOOD CEMETERY, DECEMBER 19, 6:30 P.M.

THE NUTCRACKER Tchaikovsky’s beloved ballet and holiday classic is brought to life by Singleton’s Esprit de Corps Dance Company just in time for Christmas. BARTLETT PERFORMING ARTS & CONFERENCE CENTER, DECEMBER 20–22

RICKY SKAGGS AND KENTUCKY THUNDER

CHRISTMAS Ricky Skaggs and his ace backing band Kentucky Thunder play all your favorite Christmas songs in their refreshing, acoustic style. GERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, DECEMBER 21, 8 P.M.

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS BY CHIP DAVIS Grammy Award-winner Chip Davis has created a show that features Mannheim Steamroller Christmas classics in the distinctive Mannheim sound. ORPHEUM THEATRE, DECEMBER 22, 6:30 P.M.

To suggest an event for future editions of Out and About, email ABIGAIL@MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM.

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CLASSIC DINING

Sauces for the Season

Passed down through generations, homemade recipes from The Rendezvous will spice up any dish.

BY MICHAEL DONAHUE

Just in time for the holidays, the Rendezvous is oﬀering three take-home products: “Rendezvous Marinade,” “Rendezvous Greek Seasoning,” and “Nick’s Salt & Pepper Blend.”

All are used at the restaurant, founded in 1948 by the late Charlie Vergos, and one of them — the Greek seasoning — was used by Charlie’s wife, the late Tasia Vergos, as well as her forebears.

Tasia, who was known as “Yia Yia” (“grandmother” in Greek), was still preparing meals for her family in her kitchen at home in her nineties. And she was still wearing her white cotton apron with a ﬂower print on it while she showed her grandchildren how to cook.

Charlie cooked at the downtown restaurant, but Tasia was the one who prepared the family dinners as well as the Christmas Eve and anksgiving dinners for her husband and her three children: John Vergos, Tina Jennings, and the late Nick Vergos.

Or, as John says, “My dad was the cook. And my mom was the chef.”

His dad already knew how to cook when he opened the restaurant, says John, who, along with his sister, Tina, are

Tasia cook, says, “She actively showed us how to do everything, because Greek recipes are not easy. At least hers weren’t. So, it took us multiple times to really learn how to make spanakopita or her Christmas cookies. Anything she made. And she didn’t have anything written down.”

Tasia had a lot to do with “Nick’s Salt & Pepper Blend.” His mother didn’t use cheaper-priced commercial salt or pepper. John remembers her saying, “You always buy good salt, good pepper. Grind it up.”

She used the salt and pepper individually. But Nick just mixed everything together. “ ere’s a ratio to it that Nick kind of ﬁgured out.”

pastry” as one of the Christmas Eve appetizers. Tasia also served prime rib and a variety of Greek items, including dolmades, “meat and rice stuﬀed grape leaves with lemon sauce on top.”

Her mother always included her home-made bread, which was “more like a white, buttery — but not too buttery — bread.” It was “just a perfect combination of butter, a little bit of sugar, salt, all that put together. And it was so good.”

In 2021, Tina compiled a cookbook of her mother’s recipes to give to the eight grandchildren at Christmas. “She was in the hospital the week of Christmas, so she wasn’t able to be with us.”

among the family owners of e Rendezvous. “He grew up in a diner,” he says. “His father owned a diner. So, he knew how to make chili and beef stew and soups and pastas.”

Charlie came up with his ﬁrst sauce, now called the “Rendezvous Marinade,” when he began cooking ribs in the restaurant basement. “He began basting them with a vinegar solution. Salt, salt, pepper, garlic, and oregano was sprinkled on after the cooking. e same way we do now.”

In the early to mid 1950s, Charlie went to New Orleans “and discovered all those good Cajun spices. He came back and mixed them with the Greek spices that he was using already. And that was the original Rendezvous seasoning or dry rub.”

Tasia “cooked independently” of his father, John says. “To the best of my knowledge, I never saw my dad cook at home.”

Anna Vergos, one of the grandchildren who grew up sitting on the kitchen counter watching

Her grandmother didn’t use Rendezvous barbecue sauce on her ribs, Anna recalls. “It’s funny. When she would come down here to eat ribs she liked them plain” with just the vinegar-based basting solution cooked over charcoal. “She told us not to add seasoning or sauce. She liked to taste the meat and didn’t want the sauce or seasoning to overpower it,” Anna says, adding, “When she cooked — I think of her pork tenderloin — it was usually just olive oil, lemon, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.”

ose are the same ingredients in the “Rendezvous Greek Seasoning,” John says. “We just bottled up what she used.”

Tasia’s spacious kitchen at their home on Houston Levee Road included her grandmother’s dining room table, where she and Charlie would sit and read the paper or serve casual family dinners. at was separate from the formal dining room. Framed prints of horses were on either side of a framed landscape. Cookbooks, including ones from Better Homes & Gardens and Southern Living, lined Tasia’s kitchen counter.

Tina fondly remembers her mother’s tiropitakia, which are “triangle cheese puﬀs with a ﬁlo

But, she says, “While she was in the hospital, I put one together and I gave it to her so she was able to see it.”

Her mother was “beyond emotional” when she received it, Tina says. Tasia died the following February.

When they were cleaning out her mother’s house, Tina’s daughter, Kristina Jennings, discovered a treasured item. “My daughter came across my mother’s apron. And what’s interesting is all the grandchildren remember her in that apron.”

Tina says, “It’s got stripes on it, but it’s got ﬂowers on it.

Pale blue, pink, peach colors. e white is not as stark white as it probably was at one time.” ey didn’t have to think long about what to do with the apron. “We both agreed to put it in a frame.” Tina included a photo of her mother preparing spanakopita at Christmas time with the cookbook, titled Yia Yia’s Recipes “And she is wearing her apron.”

On the front of the cookbook is a Georg Shook painting of Tasia’s home in Greece, and the words — in Greek — “With Love.”

To order these bottled seasonings and other Rendezvous products, call 888464-7359 or visit hogsfly.com.

l-r: Anna Vergos, John Vergos, and Tina Jennings.

Tasia Vergos

Al’s Christmas Forest

Our history expert solves local mysteries: who, what, when, where, why, and why not. Well, sometimes.

BY VANCE LAUDERDALE

DEAR VANCE: Help me settle an argument. Growing up here in the 1960s, I remember my family buying our Christmas trees from a miniature golf course just outside of town. My older sister, however, doesn’t believe me. Who’s right? — T.B., MEMPHIS.

DEAR T.B.: Nothing invokes the true spirit of the holidays quite like squabbling over where you bought Christmas trees more than half a century ago. And now that you’ve dragged me into the debate, I’m going to say that you’re right. Al’s Golfhaven, located on Raines Road on the outskirts of town, sold Christmas trees. In fact, the parking lot was packed so full of them that ads promoted it as “Al’s Christmas Forest.”

The tree sales were just a small part of a highly popular enterprise developed by Al and Susie Fister, who came to Memphis from Three Oaks, Michigan, in 1960 to open a miniature golf course. Called Al’s Golfdom, it would include the only driving range in the city. Fister, a former

basketball coach, told reporters that he chose Memphis for his new venture after considering other cities around the country.

“I had a notion about Denver,” he said, “and I found only four golf courses there, but it just got too cold at night. Indianapolis already had seven so that city was out. Memphis was ideal.”

The property at 2683 South Perkins quickly evolved into a 20-acre entertainment complex, with a driving range, go-karts, batting cages, a giant slide, picnic area, and — for the kiddies — an inflatable trampoline tent called the Clown Jump. He even built a small clubhouse, complete with

two lounge areas. The Fisters, it seems, never stopped working, even handcrafting unusual creatures and other “hazards” for the miniature golf course, and painting buildings and other structures every color of the rainbow. Al’s Golfdom became so popular that they added light towers (“We’ll only close when they stop swinging,” Al told reporters) and was open every day of the year except Christmas.

In 1965, the Fisters opened a second location at 1884 East Raines Road, calling that one Al’s Golfhaven. Considerably larger at 30 acres, it included all the features of the Golfdom except for the slide, but it offered a larger driving range, with a covered “tee line” and a putting area complete with different sized greens and even sand traps. But let’s get back to those Christmas trees. Based on newspaper ads like the one

Al and Susie Fister

shown here, during the holidays customers could “choose from thousands of magnificent trees,” ranging in height from just two feet for apartments or table tops, to evergreens soaring 12 feet tall, which would be tricky to fit into most living rooms, including the Lauderdale Mansion. They could take their pick of “Balsam Fir, Scotch Pine, Blue Spruce, and Douglas Fir.” Note also that “each tree is individually displayed and may be individually wrapped for easy transporting.”

Something that caught my attention was that Al’s Golfdom — the place on South Perkins — is not mentioned in their Christmas tree advertising. Instead, the Fisters opened a second Al’s Christmas Forest at the small shopping center at Quince and Perkins. But always eager to promote their businesses with newspaper ads and even television commercials, notice how they lured customers to the golf center. The advertisement announced: “Free! With purchase of any tree … a pass for a basket of balls and a pass for a game of miniature golf.”

Obviously, this “$6.00 Value” would have been handy at Al’s Golfhaven, but of no value at all in the shopping center on Quince that was home to Kent’s Dollar Store. Hmmm, what to do with golf balls and a free ticket for a round of miniature golf? Well, Al’s Golfdom — with a driving range that was heated in the winter — was just one mile south on Perkins.

Despite all their hard work, it’s a shame that Al’s Golfdom didn’t last very long, closing in 1973. Developers later built the Mall of Memphis there. The Golfhaven, however, stayed in business for 30 years, closing in 1995. A. Maceo Walker Middle School stands on the site today.

The Peddler Steakhouse

DEAR VANCE: In the 1970s, I took a date to a nice steakhouse on Winchester Road, not far from Graceland, where they actually served your steak at your table. On a recent visit to Memphis, I couldn’t locate this place. Can you help? — H.U., NASHVILLE.

DEAR H.U.: This simple query stumped me for a while, because the location wasn’t very specific, and without a name, where would I even start? Slumped in my La-Z-Boy, I brooded about this for hours, days, and weeks (well, no, maybe it only seemed like weeks), until I finally decided that you almost certainly dined at the Peddler Steakhouse. Located in the late 1970s at 1305 Winchester Road, this would have been only five minutes from Graceland.

Part of a regional chain based in Nashville, the Peddler — which seems like an odd name to me — opened several locations in the state capital, as well as Knoxville, Gatlinburg, Chattanooga, and Hermitage in Tennessee and Bristol and Williamsburg in Virginia. The Memphis steakhouse opened in 1976.

could select from 40 items of garden-fresh vegetables, cold cuts, and cheeses. “Then the ‘Peddler’ will bring your steak to your table, for you to choose the cut and thickness you prefer.”

Even though they brag the steak is “Cooked Over Live Charcoal” (really — “live”?), I don’t believe that took place at your table, unless they somehow wheeled charcoal grills around

ice cream, cobbler, and apple pie. Within a year, management offered an unusual feature for customers. The Peddler Steakhouse Dinner Club allowed members to dine “ten (10) times within the next year.” The annual membership fee — for ten steak dinners, remember — was only $25. So perhaps someone can explain how they made any money: “All you need to do is to be accompanied by one guest, then you pay for only one of the two dinners.”

It seems like quite a bargain, and the Peddler warned that customers shouldn’t delay: “To ensure the finest service, the number of members must necessarily be limited. We suggest, therefore, that you place your order for membership as soon as possible.”

I managed to turn up a rather battered old menu, which explained to diners the tableside concept you recall: “As the first step in your dining experience, we would like you to prepare your own salad from the Peddler Salad Bar.” This could take a while, since diners

the restaurant, which seems pretty risky. For a steakhouse, I’m surprised that the selection was limited to just ribeye and sirloin. Both were “choice selection and properly aged” and both started at $9.95, and then 80 cents for each additional ounce.

The Peddler also offered several chicken dishes, red snapper, shrimp, and lobster. The main course came with a baked potato, fries, or wild rice. Desserts were also basic, mainly

A nice stunt, I suppose, but the Peddler lasted only four years here. The chain closed most of its other stores as well, although the one in Gatlinburg is still in business. By the early 1980s, the building on Winchester became a Chinese restaurant called Lychee Gardens. The property has changed hands several times over the years. The last time I drove by, it was home to a childcare center called Aspiring Scholars Enrichment Center.

Got a question for Vance?

EMAIL: askvance@memphismagazine.com

MAIL: Vance Lauderdale, Memphis Magazine, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101

ONLINE: memphismagazine.com/ask-vance Or visit him on Facebook from time to time.

Future Fiction: Bold New Worlds

Jill Tew’s debut YA novel is a surprisingly inspiring dystopian story.

BY JESSE DAVIS

Years before she wrote her own debut novel, The Dividing Sky (Joy Revolution, Penguin Random House), Jill Tew’s first-ever favorite book was Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery

“People around [Anne], as much as they loved her, often encouraged her to get her head out of the clouds, but she was able to hold onto that and infuse her own world with a little bit of magic,” the Atlanta-based author explains. “I was a little girl at the time and felt similarly. I saw magic and fairy tales in everyday life, and it was nice to see a character live that on the page unapologetically, and I think in doing so, bring magic to the people around her.”

Tew grew up to put her own little bit of magic to work inspiring others. Her path has not been a straightforward one. She loved writing short stories in school, and always loved words and wordplay, she says, writing poems and parodies of popular songs to amuse her friends. When the time came, though, Tew set her stories aside and made the practical choice: She decided to study business.

Later, Tew worked at a tech start-up when her coworkers invited her to see a movie – Divergent — after work one evening. Tew was surprised by how much she enjoyed the escape into a fictional world.

“Walking out of that theater, I remembered how much I loved storytelling,” Tew says. “I realized I didn’t want to lose this spark now that I had found it again.”

So Tew cultivated her ember of creativity. She wrote in her free time and eventually finished a manuscript, and now, many steps later, The Dividing Sky is on bookshelves, out in the wild, able to inspire its own acts of creativity.

“It’s funny that I’m now debuting with my own YA dystopian

world after seeing Divergent,” Tew reflects. “For me, it means a lot to contribute to that canon with a book starring two Black leads. I feel like it’s all too easy for people to see stories with Black people in the lead and relegate them to a corner of the conversation or to a certain niche, and it was really important to me to have themes in the book that apply to all people, a message for all of us to try to internalize, the same way that Triss or Katniss or any of those characters do.

“We have universal things to say about the human experience.”

Tew has something timely and powerful to say about the human experience, and it’s something inspired by her own struggle to balance time.

Before she was a full-time writer, she held a series of day jobs that she describes as time-consuming and stressful. “To save time, I would outsource parts of my life,” she remembers, listing dog-walkers, meal prep services, and the like. “I found myself never using that saved time for something that was fulfilling for me; I was just using it for more work.”

protecting and nurturing,” the author explains. Her story’s heroes believe that people are valuable because human life is intrinsically valuable, not simply because they are productive.

In the world of the book, Liv works as what the author calls an “emo proxy.” Liv watches sunsets, looks at blades of grass blowing in the wind, and catalogs — and sells — her emotional reactions to them. Her clients are primarily the incredibly wealthy, but she occasionally sells happy memories to her fellow lower-income citizens. Which is illegal. Her crimes put her on the radar of Adrian, a rookie law enforcement agent, who tracks her down. When he finds her, she has wiped all her memories. He’s faced with the question: If Liv can’t even remember the crimes she’s supposedly committed, how can she be brought to justice for them?

main productive.”

Years later, Tew found herself remembering that time she had outsourced, and she felt inspiration strike. “What if you had a neurochip in your brain that would allow someone else to go on dates for you?” she wondered. “That way, you and your wife can go on a date, and you can stay home and keep working and re-

With that simple idea, Tew had hit on a science-fiction premise perfectly balanced on a knife edge between absolute absurdity and utter mind-numbing terror.

Still, for all the solemn cynicism in the world Tew has imagined, her story is, seemingly paradoxically, one of inspiration and comfort. At the heart of The Dividing Sky is the “strong conviction that life and nature and the natural elements around us are intrinsically valuable and worth

“At the beginning of the book, Liv and pretty much everybody that she knows live in the slums of the city and they’re trying to make it out, and I don’t want to discredit that idea — seeking material wealth for the sake of surviving,” Tew says. “I mean, you have to eat.”

The distinction is, as the author puts it, “Are we creating time for the simple pleasures of life, or are we edging out the simple pleasures in favor of meaningless productivity?”

It’s a question everyone must answer for themselves, but if Tew’s stories, both real-life and fictional, are any inspiration, it’s worth it to set aside a little time to nurse the creative spark.

Fail Better

A West Tennessee husband-and-wife author/illustrator duo remind readers that stumbles are part of the process.

BY JESSE DAVIS

The whole weird, wonderful project began with a party. When Brad and Kristi Montague, the West Tennessee-based husbandand-wife writer/illustrator team behind the New York Times-bestselling picture book The Circles All Around Us — decided to throw a party aimed at taking some of the sting out of failure, they had no idea they had quietly begun a movement.

“I thought about modeling it after TED Talks, but these would be terrible,” Brad remembers, laughing. So he and Kristi invited their friends over to share their stories of successes stymied and launches failed. The results surprised them. Far from being put off by the premise, Brad remembers how quickly everyone relaxed, how relatable all the stories felt.

“It’s such a human thing to fail, and yet we’re not very good at sharing it,” he says.

The story of the debut “Fail-abration” began to get around, and eventually Priya Parker, author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, did a write-up about the party. It seemed Brad and Kristi might have stumbled onto an excellent idea for their next children’s book, something they take quite seriously as creators.

“We’re passionate about telling stories and creating experiences that bring kids and grown-ups together, and one of the best forms we have in this whole world are picture books,” Brad explains. “It’s this special moment between an adult — a parent, a caregiver, a teacher — and a child, and at its best, they’re the kinds of books that can be read with a child, alone by a child, or experienced in a way that sparks something for a young person and reminds the adult of something important they might have forgotten.”

Kristi picks up the conversation, explaining that she and Brad strive to tell stories that

their kids need to hear, or that they wish they had heard growing up. “We try to live by and center our work around the idea of being who you needed when you were younger.”

Fail-a-bration fits neatly into that category of “fun stories with meaningful messages.” The book is about giving yourself permission to normalize failure, which is only part of the process, after all. Fail-a-bration is not about celebrating mediocrity or dismissing the pain tied to failure; it’s about failing better, the Montagues explain, about accepting that failure is part of any endeavor and one of the most human experiences we can have.

have been such champions for our work.” The event was meaningful, as Brad is from Somerville in Fayette County, and Kristi grew up in Henderson in Chester County, and when they were children, as Brad puts it, laughing, “Memphis is where we went to see things.”

The book itself is a sight to behold, a riot of colored construction paper, crayon swirls, tangled twine, and even a photograph of a (poorly, if enthusiastically) decorated cake. Still, for all the work the creative couple put into the art in their picture book, the words deserve equal weight.

In short, it’s playful and delightfully imperfect. This is the closest to pure collaboration in their process, Kristi explains.

To illustrate that idea, the Montagues spent time cultivating their visual style and tone. The art in the book feels finely textured, incredibly authentic, and so very human because of the element of whimsy they have managed to capture. Within the pages of Fail-a-bration, the lines aren’t perfect, the papers have been crumpled and photographed and digitally illustrated on top of, and there are pipe cleaners and googly eyes aplenty.

“We would take pictures of the paint at different angles so we could make sure to see the light reflecting off it,” Kristi says. The effort put into capturing the imperfection and physicality of the art was all part of celebrating the human element of the creative process.

Speaking of celebrating, Brad and Kristi celebrated the launch of Fail-a-bration with an event at Novel bookstore in Memphis. “The team there, they care about the community and the stories we consume,” Brad says. “They

“When you mess up you might want to give up. You might feel sad or mad or cry,” the Montagues write on a page illustrated with a young boy’s increasingly sketchy attempts at a pet portrait, and a young girl’s smoking, sparking failed chemistry experiment. “It’s perfectly fine to feel these things, but here is something else you can try: The next time things don’t go as planned. Smile. Mark the occasion. Put on a party hat and throw … a fail-a-bration!”

As Brad points out, the book doesn’t glorify mediocrity. Rather, it acknowledges that failure is simply proof that a person tried something new. Failures are the first steps — and often brave ones— toward growth. That idea strikes this humble book reviewer as a beautiful message for a young mind to learn.

“Picture books have and always will do remarkable things,” Brad says. “We’re grateful to be a part of that tradition.”

Living in a Shrinking City

In recent years, Memphis has lost a significant number of residents. Do we have a plan to stop — or even reverse — the exodus?

BY TOM JONES

Adiscussion on social media about population loss prompted former Memphian Chris Clifton to cut to the chase: “It’s all about having critical conversations about outcomes and the leadership to take us to our new Memphis.”

Clifton, former executive VP and COO of the Greater Memphis Chamber and now head of economic development in Watertown, South Dakota, sliced through the angst about the city’s loss of people to suggest the question that remains to be answered: What exactly is the plan for a new Memphis, the one with declining population?

e data prompting the discussion are unquestionably brutal. ey led former Mayor Jim Strickland in 2020 to call population loss Memphis’s number-one challenge; however, his administration’s response was to challenge the U.S. Census Bureau’s tally rather than mount a process to understand and address the forces and factors producing the loss.

City Hall alarm bells sounded because the Census Bureau reported that Memphis had lost 13,785 people in the 10 years between 2010 and 2020. Despite that burst of concern, there’s been little attention when the Bureau recently reported an even more sobering fact: that between 2020 and 2023, the trend accelerated with the loss of an additional 16,786, which meant that Memphis has lost 28,250 residents since 2010.

Memphis often lags national trend lines and there are those who hope that this is another case where Memphis will eventually play catch up. And yet, hope is not a business plan.

Such a plan deserves the special attention of local government. After all, fewer people translates into fewer people buying homes and paying property taxes, fewer purchasers paying sales taxes, and

stressed government budgets. To top it oﬀ, it means reduced money from the federal government, which bases funding for many programs based on populations.

Although population loss was common in almost all large U.S. cities during the pandemic, many are bouncing back. Memphis’ challenge, however, runs deeper and began long before the pandemic with unheeded early warnings that the city was losing people.

For decades, Memphis created a false sense of security by propping up its population with an aggressive annexation program as city government chased taxpayers moving out of the city. At the same time, Memphis was losing population in the area left behind.

In 1970, there were 623,988 people living inside the Memphis city limits. By 2010, there were 449,930 living in the same area inside those same 1970 borders. About 175,000 people had moved out, according to an analysis by late urban planner Tommy Pacello.

Over time, Memphis sustained its population by annexing Whitehaven, Westwood, Raleigh, Cordova, Countrywood, Hillshire-Stonebridge, and dozens of pockets of unincorporated Shelby County. In 2000, Memphis’ population of 650,100 even fooled the Brookings Institution into commending Memphis for attracting new people.

e think tank assumed Memphis was like many cities, landlocked by surrounding towns. St. Louis is frozen in place by 86 municipalities in St. Louis County. In Kentucky, Jeﬀerson County has 96 cities in addition to Louisville,

Indianapolis shares Marion County with 16 other cities, and in Fulton County, Atlanta is surrounded by 15 cities. Government is simpler here with seven cities including Memphis and 300 square miles of unincorporated land.

With annexations, Memphis maintained its population although its footprint grew 60 percent and cut densities in half. e power to annex came to a hard stop 10 years ago when the Tennessee Legislature changed state law so areas could only be annexed if the people who lived there approved it. In other words, Memphis’ current boundaries are now set in concrete.

Whether Memphis loses or gains population in the future is up for debate. It’s likely the prevailing trends continue but no one knows for how long. A report by the economic research ﬁ rm Younger & Associates projects more than 176,000 new residents for West Tennessee by 2045 in all 21 counties, including Shelby County, which now is also losing population. However, the Tennessee State Data Center at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville predicts Shelby County will lose population for the next 32 years before it grows again.

encouraging news is that about 30 percent of them are economically prosperous, many by repositioning themselves as talent magnets. Others, like Cleveland, Detroit, Baltimore, and Philadelphia have faced facts long ago after losing significant population over decades — responding with urban innovations, collaborations, and resident engagement to manage, if not capitalize, on changes in the city.

The Census Bureau reported that Memphis had lost 13,785 people in the 10 years between 2010 and 2020. The Bureau recently reported an even more sobering fact: that between 2020 and 2023, the trend accelerated.

While business leaders regularly treat population loss as a proxy for Memphis’ economic health, losing people does not necessarily condemn Memphis to economic decline in and of itself. If there is a main lesson to be gleaned from other cities, it is that there is no onesize-fits-all solution to population loss. Rather, solutions that work for each city must be organic and appropriate to its distinctive trends and conditions.

e debate aside, it can be argued that since 1970, Memphis has eﬀectively been a shrinking city. Now, without the option of annexation, the city faces the task of determining how to manage a city losing population.

Memphis is not alone. Studies have shown that about 40 percent of cities are dealing with population decline. The

In other words, with population loss becoming the norm for Memphis in the immediate future, city leaders should begin now to plan for what the new Memphis will look. at means examining the impacts of a declining population and developing the plan to strengthen the economy and consider if the city can attract new people.

Chris Clifton advised a city he knows well when he recommended critical conversations about outcomes and the leadership to take us to the future. It’s advice that should summon up a sense of urgency to get that discussion underway sooner rather than later.

Christmas in Collierville Saturdays

On the rst four Saturdays, between anksgiving and Christmas, families can visit Santa in the Gazebo (10am-2pm) and enjoy special music performances designed to get you in the holiday spirit. Get all the details at colliervilletn.gov/christmas

November 30

December 7

December 14

December 21

Contemporary Club Home Tour

December 14

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HONORING THE VERY BEST IN LOCAL INNOVATION.

Memphis has long been a hub for innovators. We live in a time when it’s essential to up our game, whether it’s for better health, a better community, or a better way of life and living.

Memphis Magazine has been honoring those people and organizations who have looked not just to the next level but who reach for the stars.

Our 2024 Innovation Awards — the 12th annual event — has found those thinkers and doers who have already made the city a better place to live. We had plenty of candidates to choose from, but these ﬁve people representing four organizations are working to make tomorrow an amazing time. is year, we recognize:

BREANNA BOYD is founder and CEO of FeedWells, a team of culinary, nutrition, and health experts who focus on providing quality food to students. ere’s too much food insecurity in our community, and Boyd’s project is going a long way to ﬁx the problem.

DR. EVAN S. GLAZER at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is collaborating with Regional One Health to develop fresh approaches to patient care. It’s not just the patients who beneﬁt — healthcare professionals and institutions all ﬁnd improvement.

ERIC MATHEWS , CEO of Start Co., is an innovator’s innovator. He works with people who have ideas and are in the early stages of developing tech, business, and economic enterprises. If someone’s ready to make the big leap, Mathews is there to help it happen.

SUSAN COOPER and MEGAN WILLIAMS with Regional One are innovating around the cost of healthcare for the uninsured. In developing a program that boosts both health and social needs, they are responding in a meaningful way to the needs of many Shelby County residents.

ATTEND THE 2025 INNOVATION AWARDS BREAKFAST

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15, 2025 | 7:30AM - 9:30AM 750 CHERRY RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38117

https://bit.ly/memphisinnovation

right, top to bottom: BREANNA BOYD of FeedWells, DR. EVAN S. GLAZER of UTHSC and Regional One, ERIC MATHEWS of Start Co., SUSAN COOPER and MEGAN WILLIAMS of Regional One.

BREANNA BOYD

THE CEO OF FEEDWELLS HAS BIG PLANS TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM.

BY ABIGAIL MORICI

White tablecloths, yogurt parfaits, rose petal garnishes — these have become the school lunchroom experience for 15,000 students across Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Not only are all these meals scratch-made, farm-totable, high-quality, and nutritious, but they’re also free — the work of FeedWells, a Memphis-based food service company founded by BreAnna Boyd.

Registered with the state to administer the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Child and Adult Care Food Program, and Summer Food Service Program, FeedWells has partnered with 15 charter schools and four private schools to serve meals to students in Memphis. The company also works with schools in Nashville, New Orleans, and Mississippi, with plans to expand into Florida.

Founded in 2019 to address food insecurity, FeedWells gained momentum during the 2020 pandemic when the need to provide nutrition services for children reached an all-time high, with students unable to attend school, where underserved children may get their only meal for a day. During that period, they fed more than 120,000 Memphis-Shelby County Schools students, in partnership with the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South, Southwest Tennessee Community College, the city of Memphis, and FedEx Custom Critical.

“That was probably the toughest thing we ever could have done, but we made it work,” Boyd says. “And once they returned back to classes, we wanted to continue that initiative.”

Growing up in Whitehaven, Boyd didn’t enjoy Memphis school cafeterias: “I remember getting my plate and leaving.” She admits not understanding nutrition. As a teenager, she turned to fitness to cope with depression after her dad’s passing. “I was working out,” she says, “but I didn’t know how to pair nutrition with it.”

She studied nutrition and started 15md Wellness, a meal-prep delivery service for clients including the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Redbirds. But she wanted to educate young students to understand nutrition, and the best way to do that, Boyd figured, was by cultivating a memorable experience for students. That included the tableclothes, garnishes, salad bars, and more, along with something rare in many school cafeterias: good customer service.

“We train team members to treat students like

they are your customer walking into a restaurant,” Boyd says. “Every school gets the same meal, the same quality, the same white tablecloth.”

At its start, FeedWells targeted four areas: food quality, taste, appearance, and supply. Boyd addressed these needs by partnering with area farms, creating recipes that won’t change, and ensuring the food doesn’t just taste good but looks good, too.

So the kids have parsley on their food, sometimes rose petals. They can pick out eye-catching, colorful popsicles with vegetables blended in them. They eat from a salad bar with high-quality ingredients, from raisins to strawberries. “We have a sauce station at our schools where kids can just flavor it up, and it’s going to also encourage them to eat their meal,” Boyd says.

FeedWells encourages student input. For Memphis students, that means a lot of requests for hot wings. “So we give them different flavors,” Boyd says. “We may do a signature seasoning that we created in-house with our executive chef, and we allow the kids to pick their favorites.”

When schools partner with FeedWells, Boyd says, the student participation in the meal programs increased from 30 percent to 90 percent. “We have kids that are asking for two plates, three plates,” Boyd says. “Even the teachers eat free and they take the food home. It’s become a family-oriented environment because everybody looks forward to being in the cafeteria.”

Plus, when students eat filling and nutritious meals, their social, physical, and emotional well-being improve. What’s more, they perform better academically, simply because they aren’t hungry and don’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from.

FeedWells also offers snacks throughout the day, and before- and after-care meals.

Every other month, the company hosts themed days to celebrate international cuisine. For these days, the students will choose a country to learn about through food. For a recent Mexico-themed day, FeedWells brought in a mariachi band, had a piñata, and served Mexican cuisine. “It’s like they’re entering a different country when they walk into the cafeteria,” Boyd says.

Her long-term goal is to continue to fight food insecurity. “I want to have a say in mandating and changing legislation, where every student eats free across the country,” Boyd says. “Every kid should be able to get a meal when they’re in school.”

PHOTOGRAPH BY JON W. SPARKS

right: BreAnna Boyd of FeedWells, which offers menu options to promote life, energy, and emotional happiness in area schools.

DR. EVAN S. GLAZER

A UNIQUE COLLABORATION DEVELOPS A NEW “HYBRID” ACADEMIC MODEL FOR BETTER PATIENT CARE.

BY ALEX GREENE

In healthcare, sometimes taking in the big picture and sweating the small stuff go hand-in-hand. At least, that’s where the field is headed, driven by a central paradox: A newly collaborative spirit among medical researchers is being combined with a new approach to clinical care, centered precisely on what makes a patient unique. Such thinking is at the heart of the academic medical center model, which represents a cutting-edge, hybrid rethinking of both research and care, and some notable early adopters of the approach are based in Memphis.

In recent years, a unique collaborative program between the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) and Regional One Health has become a paragon of such hybrid research and care, thanks in part to the efforts of Dr. Evan S. Glazer. As an associate professor of surgery and the director of Oncology Clinical Research at UTHSC’s College of Medicine, he knows the halls of academia well, even as he also serves as a practicing surgical oncologist at Regional One. And he sees the latter work as an essential reality check on what he does, focused as it is on one subject: the patient in front of you. As a result, Glazer’s work isn’t always centered on his specialty, per se. “Once you get past your ego,” he says, “it’s about the patient. The patient’s at the center of all this.” Starting from there, one can maintain the focus on each patient’s unique case even as a multitude of other specialists bring their brainpower to bear on that patient’s issues — and therein lies the heart of the new approach.

“Some innovation is as simple as, ‘I have a new idea, a new drug, to treat cancers or people with cancer, to help them live longer, or cure the cancer,’” says Glazer. “But innovations also take the form of how we do things and how those things come together. And I think that’s probably what I’m better at. I’m more about bringing together the clinical side of care for cancer patients with research, with teaching. And it is kind of innovative for the Mid-South and really across the country, though more and more centers are taking an innovative approach to cancer treatment, where the care

goes hand in hand with research and other academic pursuits.”

The academic medical center model, Glazer explains, brings a kind of brain trust to bear on any given patient’s case, should they opt in to the approach. All manner of care providers, from students to residents to fellows, are learning how to be doctors, specialists, pediatricians, internal medicine doctors, nurse practitioners, or technologists. Physicians who’ve been through medical school and a general surgical residency, now studying to be surgical oncologists or cancer surgeons, are also involved in formulating treatment strategies for the patient.

“When they have an idea, they go and look it up and bring back some evidence to me. ‘Hey, we saw this patient in clinic. Let’s do A, B, and C.’ And I say, ‘Well, I haven’t really thought about that. Go find me some data about treatment A versus treatment B. Let’s see if we can figure out which is best for this patient.’ And they come back with an answer. The patient wins, I learned something, they learned something. And to be frank, I think they enjoy teaching the teacher something. Being an academic person, I always want to learn something.”

Moreover, the new model enlists every patient that’s involved in ongoing research that serves more long-term goals. “We’re learning more about their cancer biology or their disease or something in their blood,” he says. “And it may not help them directly, but it’s going to help the common good across the country. As we learn more things, we develop new therapies, and then those therapies eventually, hopefully, become a standard treatment. And so you’ve run the full gamut, from an idea to a research study with a number of institutions involved, and you’re one of them. So now the FDA says this worked, and you should do it as standard of care.”

Ultimately, the approach tends to repeatedly have multiple beneficiaries. In any given encounter, Glazer says, he might discover that “I learned something new today. That’s fantastic. And we did something better for the patient that we would not have done a year ago. That’s fantastic. With academic medical centers, that’s what comes from putting patients first.”

right: Dr. Evan S. Glazer of UTHSC and Regional One says, “The patient’s at the center of all this.”

IERIC MATHEWS

THE START CO. CEO AIMS HIGH AND AIMS FAR.

BY JON W. SPARKS

always had this interest in the future.”

As CEO of Start Co., Eric Mathews brings innovative solutions to innovative people with the organization that began as a startup accelerator and has now become a venture architect firm providing processes to launch early-stage technologies, business innovations, and economic solutions.

A dedicated enabler, he wants nothing more than to enable his clients to succeed, not only in enterprise, but in improving the community.

Mathews’ unstoppable curiosity brought him to Memphis, where he attended Rhodes College and studied artificial intelligence with professor Natalie Person. He then went on to the University of Memphis studying more AI, reading Wired magazine, watching as venture capital went online, and tracking the dot-com revolution through its ups and downs.

He joined the FedEx Institute of Technology bringing along a chemistry degree, a natural science degree, his AI studies, and IT-based research. “I could talk just dangerously enough about the things going on at the FedEx Institute, which was artificial intelligence, robots, geospatial systems, high-performance computing, medical devices, new media systems, things like that,” he says. “So, when it opened in 2003, they tapped me to be kind of the business translator.”

In his role of associate director for corporate R&D and technology commercialization, he provided that research translation but found himself facing a question: “We were building cool technologies, but where were the cool tech startups?”

He saw there were startup incubators, but they weren’t full. And venture capital firms were growth-oriented, supporting entrepreneurial systems in later stages. But what about people with ideas who weren’t sure what to do next?

“That’s really where my spark was solidified and why I went down this road for the past 18 years,” he says. “My theory of change was to find people that are unsure if they should be entrepreneurs and ensure that, if they have good ideas, help them walk through the startup valley of death to get to those existing later-stage resources in our community.”

In 2006, Mathews himself became an entrepreneur. Or, as he puts it, “really an entrepreneurial enabler and innovation enabler for our commu-

nity.” As many such risk-takers find, getting capital was a challenge. “I got some corporate R&D contracts with some local big companies here, burned my savings, melted my credit cards. I even had a generous business partner, Marc Diaz, who is a serial entrepreneur that put in money as well.”

It set him on the path to create what he calls the continuous virtual cycle.

“I look at this as a 20-year journey,” he says. “There’s a five-year period of failure, false starts, and scar tissue but some twinklings that this may work. And then you actually get to something that does work and you reduce it to practice in the next five years. Then it’s five years to scale up and pour gasoline on what is working. And then the last five-year zone is the full circle of all this: People that have gone through the entire system come back and start supplying what was supplied to them back to the community that built them.”

Start Co. was founded in 2011. Mathews got a boost when Vic Gatto, with a venture capital firm in Nashville, provided the money to launch the enterprise. Mathews also partnered with Andre Fowlkes, who shared his vision and continues to bring complementary skills to the endeavor.

“We’re really social civic entrepreneurs at heart,” Mathews says. “We’ve had to build for-profit investment funds along the way, work with public private partnerships, work with mayors’ offices and all that to try to realize the change here.”

The results? “We’ve made over 200 direct investments in this period of time, and 65 of those investments were women-led tech startups or just women startups,” he says. “There’s also social impact in there as well. And 65 minority led. The companies that we’ve directly worked with raise over $110 million, and most of them are still active.”

For Mathews, who has authored books on harnessing personal potential, there’s a world view on how to make the most of life. As he puts it, “There’s incremental innovation and then there’s big leaps. We only have 4,000 weeks on earth, so you probably should swing for the fences and take that big journey. You learn a lot about yourself. You learn you may impact the world in a significant way. I just want to encourage everybody to take the courageous pathway and bet on themselves and their ideas and bet on Memphis.”

right: Eric Mathews of Start Co. asked the question, “We were building cool technologies, but where were the cool tech startups?”

AONE HEALTH

A NEW PROGRAM PROVIDES HEALTHCARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO THE PATIENTS WHO NEED THEM MOST.

BY CHRIS MCCOY

ccess to healthcare continues to be a major issue in America, and Regional One Health is on the frontline in Memphis. “We have some of the highest percentages of uninsured patients in the Mid-South,” says Megan Williams, director of complex care for Regional One. “We are unofficially the insurer. So when someone’s uninsured, we take on all of their cost of care as an organization.”

Susan Cooper, Regional One senior vice president and chief integration officer, says this has historically been a big problem for the hospital, so about six years ago, she set out to fix it.

“We believed that there was an opportunity to innovate around the care of the uninsured Shelby County residents who were frequent utilizers of our system,” she says. “We knew from our research that nationally, about 20 percent of the population [accrued] 80 percent of the cost. We also knew that it was well-reported that a person’s health is more than the healthcare you receive.”

Cooper’s research showed that an estimated 20 percent of health outcomes are linked to healthcare services; the remaining 80 percent stems from socioeconomic, environmental, and behavioral factors referred to as social drivers of health. “We believed that there was an opportunity to think differently about the care of the uninsured, and to design an innovative program to address both health and social needs. Our vision was ‘Every Memphian deserves great health.’”

ONE Health is the program Cooper and Williams designed to address the complex situation. When they analyzed their patient population, they discovered that a relatively small group of people were burdened with recurring issues that led them to seek help at the hospital.

“There are so many different reasons why some patients cost healthcare systems such an exorbitant amount of money, and we call those complex care patients,” says Cooper. “They exist in uninsured populations, and they exist in insured patient populations. We define complex care as having five ER visits in a year, or two inpatient admissions in a year. They have to be uninsured, as well as Shelby County residents, to be in our program.”

The needs of these complex care patients are many and varied, says Williams. “You can have cancer patients who are coming in frequently to the ER. You can have patients that have congestive heart failure repeatedly coming into the ER or

getting admitted for chronic health conditions.” There are also social and economic aspects to consider. “You have patients who are homeless and need somewhere to go,” says Williams. “You have patients who are coming to the ER because they don’t have a primary care doctor, so they need medication refills. You have people who are food-insecure and who are diabetics as well, and their blood sugar numbers are escalating or dropping based on having food at home. A lot of this program is centered around determining what is it that the patients need.”

ONE Health identifies the patients in need by data analysis, then reaches out to see if they need help. “This program is built on forming authentic relationships — meeting people where they are, without judgment,” says Williams. “Most times, some health or life event has led to a person becoming vulnerable. Once we build the relationship, we develop plans of care from the individual’s point of view, and begin working on the identified issues and goals. The primary needs are most often unrelated to healthcare, such as lack of insurance, housing instability, food insecurity, lack of transportation, unable to purchase meds, or interpersonal violence.”

ONE Health has helped more than 1,000 people since 2018. The results have been striking. One hundred percent of participants now have a primary-care physician. More than 58 percent have gained health insurance, 70 percent are no longer food insecure, and 61 percent now have stable housing. More than 160 patients who were unemployed now have a job.

“We designed the program to improve the health of this population,” says Cooper. “What surprised us is that we have been able to demonstrate that if you address the social drivers of health, health not only improves, but you bend the financial cost curve. Doing the right thing results in a decreased cost of care while improving a person’s quality of life. This was a great unintended consequence of the program.”

Cooper says she believes their innovative approach, which includes both social factors as well as health factors, has much to teach the industry as a whole. “Healthcare delivery is changing at a rapid pace, especially coming out of Covid,” she says. “If we do not innovate, we will not be able to keep up with the pace of change, but more importantly, we may miss the opportunity to improve the health of our patients and our community.”

right: Megan Williams and Susan Cooper of Regional One: “Our vision was ‘Every Memphian deserves great health.’ The patient’s at the center of all this.”

Gift Memberships to Memphis’ Art Museum

Art? All Year? Wrap It Up!

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CROSSTOWN CONCOURSE THE URBAN VILLAGE

TWENTY-FOUR HOURS IN THE LIFE OF

On August 27, 1927, more than 35,000 people jammed North Cleveland Street for the grand opening of the 10-story distribution center for Sears, Roebuck & Company. Phil Canale, president of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce, compared the structure to the Great Pyramids of Egypt, but noted that instead of a tomb for the dead, Sears Crosstown would serve as “a living thing for the living.”

For decades, it was the commercial hub of Midtown. But over the years, the Sears empire declined, and in 1993, the building closed. Nobody was quite sure what to do with a property that, with additions over the years, now covered almost 20 acres. After the behemoth sat vacant for several years, our magazine invited readers to submit ideas for how to repurpose it; suggestions ranged from commercial (a Target, a shopping mall) to grim (a supersized county jail). No letter-writer quite anticipated the scope of what would be accomplished in 2017, when Sears Crosstown, complete with its 14-story tower, reopened as Crosstown Concourse. But a few came close, suggesting a school, a retail hub, an arts center. It would take bold entrepreneurs to return the building once again into “a living thing for the living.” When crowds gathered in 2017, 90 years later, for Crosstown’s second grand opening, they witnessed an almost miraculous rebirth. Atria were carved into the facility where once there were only ﬂoors and ceilings, and the light and openness gave a feeling of an industrial cathedral. Much

of the original concrete and brick had been retained, for a sense of history and soul, but more than 3,000 window panes, many damaged, had been hauled off and replaced with clear, clean glass.

For longtime Memphians, who had grown accustomed to passing by the derelict shell on Cleveland, the rebirth seemed outlandish. Impossible. Today, the place teems with life. Plenty of cities have buildings that have been reborn. But not on this scale, not with this degree of community-mindedness, and not this beautifully. Crosstown is that rare “third space”: neither home nor work, neither strictly yours nor mine, but someplace free and open to all who choose to gather there.

Each December, Crosstown twinkles especially brightly when the holiday light display is switched on. String lights arabesque down from the ceiling of the central atrium, in a sort of protoChristmas-tree shape, with a giant disco ball in the center. It’s marvelous. This December, the lights will be turned on for the ﬁrst time on December 6th at 6p.m., as part of an evening of holiday festivities.

But what captivates us most about Crosstown is the everyday rhythm of the place, the sheer quantity of living, working, and idea-making that happens there. And so, we talked to just a few of the many (many) people and organizations who spend time within those nearly century-old walls. Here are 24 hours in the life of one very special building. — Anna Traverse

On the

4:37 A.M. —The sun won’t rise for two more hours, but the ovens at Lucy J’s Bakery are cranking. Joshua Burgess, who runs the place, is here himself this morning, pulling proved baguette dough from the refrigerators and letting it rise before baking. The kitchen is small but busy, with big tubs of ﬁllings and dough, and tall cooling racks for pastries: “This is where everything happens,” says Burgess. Lucy J’s — named for two of Burgess’ kids — operates

on the ground ﬂoor of Crosstown Concourse; you’ll know it when you smell it, especially if you’re lucky enough to visit on cinnamon-roll day. The bakery keeps Crosstown denizens sated with hearty treats, and supplies a half-dozen local restaurants, two farmers’ markets, and a grocery store with breads and more. But more than just a bakery, Lucy J’s is on a mission: They partner with the Dorothy Day House to hire parents who are working to transition out of

homelessness. We believe that means you’re doing a good deed when you tear into that cinnamon roll. — Anna Traverse

5:18 A.M. — Walking up to the Crosstown Concourse, you’ll see maybe a dozen apartment windows lit up in the tower, a few residents emulating the early bird. It’s the same at the Church Health YMCA. “Typically around this time, it’s not extremely busy, but we do have some people who consistently

right:

ground ﬂoor, at Lucy J’s Bakery, Joshua Burgess brushes honey butter onto a tray of just-baked biscuits

come in. You see them just about every morning,” says Brandon, who mans the front desk at this hour every Friday. Around us are weightlifters and others walking, running, or rowing on machines. Some pace the walking track, some are here early for the 6 a.m. Boot Camp ﬁtness class. And their determination is contagious: Having others around you, doggedly working out, can help you focus on doing the same. As part of the pioneering Church Health Center (also housed

within Crosstown), this YMCA is a great gym, but much more too. — Alex Greene

7:51 A.M. — The espresso machine whirs and buzzes as morning conversations bloom in the communal living room at French Truck Coffee, in Crosstown’s central atrium. It’s almost impossible to visit French Truck without bumping into at least one or two folks you know, and that’s the magic of this place: Order your

above: The breezeway on the south side of the building is furnished with tables and chairs for fresh-air meals and conversation. below: The communal seating area by French Truck Coffee offers a break from the day.

latte, settle into a comfortable couch, and spend the next twenty minutes or two hours ensconced in the warm glow of community. Bonus: peer behind the counter and into the prep room, and you’ll spot giant coffee roasting equipment. The beans for all local French Truck locations are roasted here. — AT

8:13 A.M. — Crosstown is home to several education-centered nonproﬁt organizations, and as the workday begins, their

team members are making plans for progress. At Memphis Education Fund, which has ofﬁces here, they strategize each day to improve public schools through investments and advocacy. Teach for America’s Memphis ofﬁce is just down the hall; after 15 years in the city, TFA continues to train and place educators in low-income local schools, where they work for at least two years. — AT

9:25 A.M. — Crosstown’s nonprofit community radio station, WXYR, is on the air with Memphis writer and filmmaker Willy Bearden, whose show, Songs That Move You, features interviews with various Memphis-area luminaries who provide Bearden with a playlist of songs that have been meaningful in their lives. A song gets played and then a story gets told. Repeat as needed. It’s a great way to spend an hour. This week, photographer Jamie Harmon has the honors and he kicks off the show with “Foxy Lady,” by Jimi Hendrix, a song he says he first heard on a cassette tape when

he was 7 years old. It’s raucous and psychedelic. “As morning wake-up calls go, it’s certainly a fun one.” — Bruce VanWyngarden

10:45 A.M. — You can literally taste the results of Church Health Center’s mission to improve Memphians’ dietary health. Cook Well, Be Well is a four-week class for people age 16 and older who recognize a need to infuse healthier habits into kitchen life. Classes (they’re free) are held in the Nutrition Hub kitchen on the ground ﬂoor at Crosstown Concourse (near the west atrium) and emphasize the virtues of a Mediterranean diet (vegetables, legumes, fruit, some ﬁsh, and little red meat). Classes are held on Tuesdays and Thursdays and host around 15 people for each twohour session, with some evening classes taught in Spanish. “Food is medicine,” emphasizes Sharon Moore, the nutrition and wellness education manager at Church Health. Moore explains that each class goes beyond technique (knife skills!) and recipes, that the intent

is to make healthy food accessible, affordable, and inspirational for those in need of a lifestyle booster. And get this: The concept for Cook Well, Be Well was born during the pandemic, the social component of preparing a meal a signiﬁcant bonus. Turns out food can lead to friends. — Frank Murtaugh

11:03 A.M. — Pale winter sunlight streams through the windows of Jinseok Choi’s studio space. Choi, a Los Angeles-based cross-disciplinary artist originally from Seoul, South Korea, found his way to Memphis through Crosstown Arts’ residency program. His studio is on the ground ﬂoor, he’s living on the eighth ﬂoor, and he likes to spend time in the YMCA gym: “All I do is work out and work,” he laughs. Crosstown Arts makes it possible for him and other resident artists to focus on their creative labor and spend time in conversation with their peers; Choi says communal conversations have inspired his process. His artist statement cites “points of connection between disparate

above: Jamie Harmon and Willy Bearden in the WYXR studio.

right: A cooking class at Church Health Center.

cultures, social classes, and histories” — a description of his vision as a sculptor and installation artist, but words that could also describe the building in which he’s creating.

— AT

12 NOON — Turn left as you enter the atrium, and you’ll see The Mad Grocer. It’s a bodega where Crosstowners can pick up essentials on the ﬂy. But the big attraction here is the sandwich counter, where Max Hussey works his magic. Originally a Bostonian who moved to New Orleans to work with Emeril Lagasse, he has cooked in award-winning restaurants from Asheville, North Carolina, to San Francisco, and spent seven-and-a-half years as executive chef at Folks Folly. But he left behind what he calls a “dream gig” to open The Mad Grocer, so he could spend more time with his 9-year-old son. “This way I get to cook and do what I love, and still get to see my little man,” he says. The most popular po’boy on the menu is the Madness. Filled with roast beef, roast turkey, ham, and

above: Jinseok Choi, a resident artist at Crosstown Arts, creates sculptures that explore points of connection. left: Max Hussey also explores points of connection — in sandwich form, at the Mad Grocer.

bacon, topped with onion marmalade and havarti cheese, even a half sandwich is a full meal. For a side, try the sweet potato and poblano pepper salad. — Chris McCoy

1:15 P.M. — Global Cafe is alive with its lunch rush, its international dishes made by immigrants and refugee entrepreneurs bringing in a range of folks with a variety of palates. Students from Crosstown High stop in on their lunchbreak, their backpacks slung over their shoulders. A trio of businessmen discuss plans for a potential deal over a mix of Sudanese, Colombian, and Nepalese cuisine. A woman in workout gear with earbuds still in orders a cocktail at the bar; she stretches her triceps as the server shakes up her order. Tables ﬁll up, orders are made, and bellies are satisﬁed. — Abigail Morici

2:48 P.M. — At her station at Gloss Nail Bar, Dawn works fastidiously, ﬁling her customer’s nails into delicate almond shapes. She’s chosen a navy polish with a

bit of a sparkle to lacquer her nails; fans wait by the arms of her chair to dry the wet polish when ready. Next to Dawn, a coworker takes out a jar of dip powder from her Hello Kitty-stickered plastic bin; the stickers match the Hello Kitty pins on her apron. She chats with her client — a regular — who sips on one of the salon’s complimentary drinks while wrapped in a blanket brought from home. All around, women are being pampered, their hands massaged, their cuticles clipped, feet submerged in footbaths. They’re gossiping, catching up with friends, checking their phones, or enjoying the company in silence. It’s up to them how they relax, and relax they do. — AM

3:03 P.M. — The central atrium of Crosstown Concourse is sedate until it’s not. At 3:00, Crosstown High School dismisses, and young people teem through the hallways and down the stairs, their voices echoing. Some ﬁnd perches on communal couches to chat or study, while others head for home. Yes, an entire

high school exists within the walls of this structure, though you might never notice if you weren’t here at the school day’s beginning or end. Crosstown High, or XTH, is a public charter school that prides itself on being “diverse by design” and offering project-based learning. Their ﬁrst class graduated in 2022, and already the school’s been written up in Bloomberg News and been the subject of a documentary. We wouldn’t want to relive high school — unless, perhaps, we could attend this one. — AT

top: On any given day, performances bring life to many areas of the Concourse. above: A former staircase has been transformed into a seating area and work stations.

top: There’s no better place in Memphis to listen to recorded music than the Memphis Listening Lab. Outﬁtted with EgglestonWorks speakers and a vast vinyl library, come for an event or just to experience the collection. above: A large-scale inﬂatable by Birdcap was part of the artist’s recent Iliumpta exhibit at Crosstown Arts.

4:47 P.M. — At this time of day, the Crosstown Arts galleries are nearly empty, allowing those who do visit to appreciate the artwork in peace. From now until January 19th, exhibitions by local artists Michelle Fair, Alex Paulus, and Lester Merriweather are on display, each collection offering a new viewpoint to contemplate. Fair’s Still explores the process of painting in a series of still-lifes and portraits. Her lonely ﬁgures live

in loose environments with rich colors and obvious brushwork — a result of the artist focusing on the act of painting rather than the ﬁnal product. Paulus’ series Size Matters juxtaposes massive portraits of pop-culture icons with miniature paintings of celestial bodies, drawing attention to the fast food and entertainment our society prioritizes. His textured paint and landscapes clash with distorted human ﬁgures, providing humor in the scenarios he wants the audience to consider. Merriweather’s ANA•LOG series acts as a “Record of Remembered Angers” against racial disparities through paper collage. Each work is unique and massive, encouraging the viewer to step closer and see the magazine photos, newspaper clippings, stickers, paint, and push pins that tell a larger story of Black counterculture through the language of pop art. — Samantha Cooke

6:21 P.M. — Events at the Memphis Listening Lab, the Concourse’s vast library of vinyl and CDs, tend to be early in the

evening. Often the gatherings hosted here — hearing new releases or revisiting classic albums over the high-end EgglestonWorks speakers, accompanied by expert, insider commentary — start around 6 p.m., perfect for older music fans or even youngsters who’ll go out later that night. That said, many kick into nightlife mode, picking up a drink at the Art Bar before the platters start spinning in the lab. That’s how it played out at a recent listening event, featuring music writer Robert Gordon discussing Marcella Simien’s new release with her. The artist’s delight at hearing her newly pressed vinyl album on the hi-ﬁ system, with a packed house listening attentively, was palpable. If anyone wants to hear music presented in the best possible way, this is the place to do it. — AG

7:15 P.M. — Located behind the main building, the Crosstown Theater is a state-of-the-art facility which can be conﬁgured with theater seating for 417 or for standing room of up to 800 for a concert.

The Crosstown Arts Film Series brings a carefully curated slate of classic films and new art house releases, in addition to special screenings and events. This year alone, the film series has featured everything from a world premiere of Memphis filmmakers Brody Kuhar and Josh Cannon’s documentary Mama’s Sundry to a revival of Best Picture winner Amadeus In November, the theater played host to opening night of the Indie Memphis Film Festival. But it’s not just film — music reverberates through the Crosstown Theater, where legendary acts such as German electronic legends Krafwerk have wowed audiences. — CM

8:45 P.M. — The Green Room at Crosstown Arts, a humble space tucked into a corner of the Concourse’s second ﬂoor, is the rarest of music venues, designed for quiet and for listening intently rather than shouting drink orders or catching up with friends. The heavy green drapes lining the walls make for the best live acoustics in town, and musicians love the gor-

geous Steinway, the drum kit, and other music gear at their disposal for gigs. The staff is top-notch, too, adroitly seeing to the needs of every player, including a roster of skilled sound engineers like Darryl Evans, Sam Crain, or the celebrated Kevin Houston. The latter will be at the board on December 18th, for a new Green Room tradition, the Christmas show boasting a unique collaboration between Mark Edgar Stuart and The Blueshift Ensemble. Thanks to music programmer Delara Hashemi, new

genre-hopping combinations of artists are par for the course at The Green Room. — AG

9:40 P.M. — Belly up to the bar. Order a cold one. Maybe order a sampler of cold ones and try something new. The Crosstown Brewing Taproom is located to the west of the Concourse. Behind giant glass walls are vats and barrels where the brewers create beers like the famous Trafﬁc IPA, the Siren Blonde Ale, and the popular Vision Board Sour. On draft

top: Bailey Bigger performs at an album release show at the Green Room in October. below left: Filmmaker Craig Brewer lives and works at Crosstown Concourse. His apartment was featured in this magazine’s Habitats series in April 2021. below right: The Crosstown Brewing Taproom offers a variety of locally produced ales.

are a few beers you can’t easily get in stores, like the Boll Weevil Farmhouse Ale Saison, and the Fool’s Gold lager. There are always events to keep you and your friends entertained while you sip. Maybe you’ll catch a bluegrass jam, or wrack your brains at trivia night. But one thing’s for sure: A good time is always on tap. — CM

10:20 P.M. — The Art Bar is quiet this evening. Two men sit at the well-lit bar, ordering up Manhattans and memories and getting, well, lit. Three women share a table and a low conversation that yields occasional laughter. Behind the bar, Brooks and Sarah are making and serving the colorful and crafty cocktails this place is known for. The furniture is mid-century not-so-modern, a celebration of vintage vinyl. It’s shabby chic with an attitude and it’s undeniably charming. A quiet back room beckons visitors with a warm orange light. It’s home to a large porcelain cat that doesn’t seem to mind who drops in. Why not you? — BV

11:30 P. M. — If you’re visiting the bustling Concourse during the day, it’s easy to forget that people live here. Quite a few people, in fact. The top ﬂoors of the 10-story Crosstown Concourse are devoted to residences. Apartments big and small offer some of the most enviable views in the city. At night, the lights of Memphis stretch into inﬁnity. In the broad walkways between the apartments, it looks a bit like a city street. Many of the residents decorate their

front-door spaces like patios. Even here, at the top of the Concourse, Southerners love their porches. One of the earliest Concourse residents was Craig Brewer. “I moved in right before the Concourse opened to the public,” he says. “It’s been perfect … I have it all here. I’ve got everything I need, and I don’t really have to leave the complex all that much. They call it ‘the spaceship’, and I kind of need to just be in the spaceship every once in a while.” — CM

top: This year, rain brought the Crafts & Drafts Holiday Market indoors. above left: Residents actual live in the former warehouse, enjoying spacious and well-lighted apartments on the upper ﬂoors. above: The Art Bar is a charming space, a “celebration of vintage vinyl.”

1:20 A.M. — In a recent video tour on puremix.com, Matt Ross-Spang’s Southern Grooves studio is dubbed “a thoughtfully designed space that perfectly blends classic mid-century modern style with modern recording technology.” There’s plenty of mid-century technology there, too, as the renowned producer/ engineer has a deep appreciation of vintage gear and vintage studio design. He modeled this space on other classic Memphis studios

like Ardent, Sam Phillips, and Sun, resulting in a timeless ambiance. Sessions, too, can be so engrossing they keep players working all hours, as session guitarist and arranger Will Sexton notes, but it’s often Ross-Spang himself who’s there working alone. “There are times when you ﬁnish up a record, and all the players have packed up and left, and he’s there working, closing everything down and just listening,” Sexton says. You can hear things at 1 a.m. that

above: Producer Matt RossSpang at the controls of his Southern Grooves studio. He modeled his space on other classic recording studios around Memphis. left: Art is everywhere inside Crosstown Concourse.

you might otherwise miss, and RossSpang is a consummate listener. That in turn makes him an astute musician, as he can offer suggestions on arrangements, or even play parts that only he hears. — AG

M emphis is a city that tends to look east. Born on the east side of the Mississippi River, the Bluff City has long been home to towers where an observer can gaze toward Midtown and beyond. But at Crosstown Concourse, the dynamic is ﬂipped. Feast your eyes

across the lush landscape — so many trees in this town — and watch the sun set behind those towers. A shift in perspective is healthy, and Crosstown delivers for Memphians in a way few man-made structures can.

Scores Galore

A YEAR IN MEMPHIS SPORTS THROUGH THE LENS OF PHOTOGRAPHER WES HALE .

Any 12 months of sports in the

Bluff City are colorful. Basketball, baseball, football. Grizzlies, Redbirds, Tigers. And that's just scratching the proverbial surface. If a picture says a thousand words, stellar sports photography generally shouts those words. We gathered a small collection of such shots from just one local shutterbug. Can you smell the popcorn?

opposite: The Memphis Tigers are bowl eligible for an 11th consecutive season, thanks in part to stellar running back Mario Anderson Jr. The senior scored four touchdowns in a win over North Texas.

right, top to bottom: Jordan Williams (Memphis Showboats), cyclist Kati Flanagan, Ashley Henderson and Alex Mackay (University of Memphis women's soccer), Seth Henigan (University of Memphis football).

left: The Memphis Grizzlies are celebrating the franchise's 30th season (24 of them in the Bluff City). After a disappointing 2023-24 season, Ja Morant and friends hope for a return to the NBA playoffs.

above: Pitcher Quinn Mathews climbed the minor-league ladder in 2024, finishing his season at Triple A with the Memphis Redbirds. He earned Pitcher of the Year honors from Baseball America

below: 901 FC played its sixth season at AutoZone Park as a member of the USL Championship. Defender Akeem O‘Connor-Ward scored three goals in 34 matches.

above: Memphis hoops icon Penny Hardaway is in his seventh season as head coach at his alma mater. Each of his first six teams won 20 games, though only two reached the NCAA tournament.

below: Tilly Boler and the Memphis Tigers women's basketball team hosted an exhibition game (to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital) against the national champion South Carolina Gamecocks.

right: In his lone season as a Memphis Tiger, David Jones won the American Athletic Conference scoring title. His 698 points were the seventhmost in program history.

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IAGNES STARK

For more than 50 years, this popular potter has stayed productive and happy by doing what she loves.

STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHS

BY JANE SCHNEIDER

f you are friends with Agnes Stark — and for an 86-year-old she has many — then you know she’s connected to lots of people, here and around the region. But you might not know she has important links to American history as well. Her family stretches back generations in Baltimore, Maryland, where her great-great-great-grandfather was Major George Armistead, the commander in charge when Fort McHenry was attacked by British soldiers during the War of 1812.

HOLIDAY SHOW 2024

above: Agnes Stark’s estate in Eads, with the two-story dogtrot cabin built in 1880. The Starks moved the cabin from Milan, Tennessee.

above right: Displays of Stark’s distinctive, highﬁred stoneware.

bottom right: The potter at her wheel.

For context, it was during the Battle of Baltimore that Francis Scott Key wrote “ e Star-Spangled Banner.” Of course, Stark’s reputation isn’t based on her noteworthy heritage but rather her prolific work as a ceramicist. Since buyers first began discovering her pottery back in the 1970s, her reputation has flourished. Today, she’s in the same category as Mississippi’s McCarty potters, a well-known, respected — and collectible — regional artist.

Stark’s passion for creating has never dimmed. She still spends every week throwing pots and ﬁring her kiln in preparation for the three pottery shows she holds each year. In addition to a local clientele, collectors often drive in from Mississippi or Nashville to buy her work, which includes handsome pots, voluptuous vases, and charming, slab-built churches. But most sought after are her stoneware place settings, still available in three distinct ﬁnishes of white, cream, and blue.

“Anytime I go anywhere, people will tell me, ‘I drank coﬀee out of your mug this morning!’” she says with pride. “And now I have granddaughters who are buying my pottery.” at personal connection customers have to her work proves gratifying for Stark, who remains an optimist at heart.

“I’m a big dreamer,” she says. “You never know when you’re going to produce the best piece you’ve ever made.”

DATES

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7

11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8

12 noon – 4 p.m

LOCATION

12685 Donelson Road Eads TN, 38028

Bright, twinkly lights. Magical displays. A snow-filled wonderland.

Welcome to Corinth for the holidays.

Did we mention the parade? A visit from the man in red fur himself? Oh, and the lights? Thousands upon thousands of bright, shiny gems lighting everything up just for you. Ahh, a real hometown holiday. Plan your visit at Corinth.net, and come home to Corinth this season.

EAST COAST UPBRINGING

Agnes Gordon Stark was born and raised in Baltimore, the second of six children. She attended The Bryn Mawr School, a prestigious college preparatory for girls where the coursework was rigorous and Stark periodically struggled, largely because her interests weren’t rooted in academics.

“We lived on four acres with a forest right behind our house,” she says, “and I loved spending time in the woods.”

There, her imagination ran free. She created fairy gardens, watched birds with her sister, Henrietta, and climbed trees so she could feel the branches sway in the breeze. She focused on her studies and went on to receive a bachelor of fine arts from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she majored in theater and became the first non-actor to win the Outstanding Senior Student award. Ever a pragmatist, she chose to focus on theater’s technical side — set design and lighting — because “you’re always guaranteed a job.” She also received a scholarship to the University of Michigan for graduate studies in theater which led to summer stock work.

She moved to Memphis in 1964 to join Front Street Theatre as an assistant to the set designer, creating the set for Damn Yankees. The company, located in the basement of downtown’s Hotel King Cotton, was founded in 1957 by George Touliatos and Barbara Cason. Cason would go on to Broadway and Hollywood. (You can view clips of her old Ty-D-Bol bathroom cleanser commercials on YouTube if you’re curious.)

A CAREER TAKES SHAPE

Through Front Street, Stark found a lifelong friend in her colleague, San O’Brien, who ultimately introduced her to brother Ted Stark. Although Ted was 35 and Agnes just 26 (their age difference was considered a bit scandalous at the time), they quickly fell in love and in five months were married.

“He was wonderful and so supportive,” she says of their happy union.

While the newlyweds were off on their honeymoon, San signed Agnes up for art classes at the Memphis Academy of Art (later Memphis College of Art), throwing open the door to her future. Stark quickly discovered she had a natural gift for working in clay. “I was able to make a pot the first time I sat down,” she says. “I realized it fit me. It felt good.”

She studied for several years, working under ceramicist Thorne Edwards, then continued at Louisiana State University while Ted earned a degree in landscape design. It was during those early years that Stark also gave birth to their son, Gordon.

In 1970, when the Starks returned to Memphis, Overton Square was heating up. John Simmons, an entrepreneur with a knack for spotting trendy furnishings, opened several shops on the Square, including Sycamore, Forty Carrots, and The Pot-

ter’s Shed. Simmons had commissioned work from Lee McCarty, the well-known potter in Merigold, Mississippi, but he was in search of more variety. Stark had pieces she’d produced while at LSU, so “we spread out my pottery in the yard and Simmons wanted all of it!”

His purchase jump-started her career, enabling Stark to buy a kick wheel and a kiln as her family settled into their home near the University of Memphis.

“I had no idea what I was getting into with clay,” she says. “I studied forms and shapes, but I wanted to make sure you saw that each piece was handmade, that the ﬁngermarks indicated it was handmade. I used my imagination to make things that were functional.”

Her work resonated with buyers and for decades, sales were brisk. “I sold so much pot-

tery during the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s,” she says. “If you go to estate sales around Memphis today, you’ll see my work.”

Agnes and Ted also loved the country, so in 1976, they bought 35 acres of farmland in Eads. Ted gradually transformed the corn ﬁelds by planting trees and digging a pond, but his dream was to ﬁ nd a log cabin. e Starks eventually spotted an ad in e Commercial Appeal and drove out to the farming community of Milan, Tennessee, where they found a handsome, two-story dogtrot cabin made of cypress that dated to 1880. e farmer had been using it as a barn, but Ted was smitten. ey quickly struck a deal with the owner, had the cabin dismantled, and hauled it back to Memphis. e total venture cost them $7,000.

It took a while to ﬁnd carpenter Lou Stackley, but with his help and that of a plaster worker, the structure was handsomely reassembled. Ted also installed the cabin’s beautiful heart of pine

The ceramic tile mosaic was given to Stark by the Memphis Potters Guild in honor of her many years of service, 18 of them as president.

floors, wood that came from the Sears Crosstown building before its rebirth as Crosstown Concourse. They even built a small studio on-site for Stark to sell her work. It became a perfect retreat.

LEADERSHIP IN THE ARTS

As her career grew, Stark took on a number of leadership roles in the arts community. She founded the Memphis Association of Craft Artists and helped launch the Pink Palace Crafts Fair. She was among 250 craft artists to represent the U.S. in the World Crafts Council Conference in Kyoto, Japan, in 1978. She was also president of the Memphis Potters Guild for 18 years.

As we talk in the cabin’s living room, she points out a handsome ceramic mosaic on one wall, made to commemorate her retirement with each tile created by guild members: Mimi and Katie Dan, Joel Alexander, Linda Ryan, Peter Sohngen, and others. The room is cozy, with a wood-burning stove and mementos that attest to the happy memories made here before Ted passed on at age 68 in 1997.

Stark’s working studio has always been in town, just off the kitchen, in fact, and a brief trot through the sunny back garden to the one-car garage she commandeered years ago. “It’s a perfect studio. It really works,” says Stark. Meaning it’s convenient and self-contained, which turns out to be a good thing with clay, whose chalky nature turns everything the color of sand. Over time, Stark has enlarged the space, providing ample room for her potter’s wheel, gas kiln, wash basin, and storage, with jars of supplies and bags of sand neatly piled along the walls, and shelves above where bowls and plates await firing.

Stark hasn’t strayed too far from the techniques she learned back in college. Instead of buying ready-made clay, she measures and blends each batch by hand in a big mixer. The same goes for her glazes, using formulas she’s long since committed to memory. By doing this, she maintains control of her quality. When customers call hoping to replace a plate or bowl, she can produce the same glazed piece from the set they purchased 20 years ago.

For Stark, the artist’s life has been a gratifying one. She loves making people happy with her pottery.

“You have a talent,” she observes. “If you can find it, it will make your life special.”

Located near the Shops of Saddle Creek

JOHN WHITTEMORE, DDS

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A welcoming new patient experience answers your every question as we work together to develop your plan for optimal health and appearance. Conscious sedation is always available. You’ll be so comfortable and won’t remember a thing! Dr. Whittemore is a sustaining member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. An amazing dental experience awaits you. Be sure to visit our informative website for lots of before and after photos and video testimonials!

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ARTISTRY. EXPERTISE. CARE. COMFORT.

DR. TODD GRUEN NAMED A 2024 TOP DENTIST

Dr. Todd Gruen, a native Memphian, has again been voted a top dentist in Memphis. His experience and amazing team have helped him create the unique type of practice that you and your family deserve. Dr. Gruen creates beautiful cosmetic and general dentistry. He has a gorgeous office with the newest technology. One-onone consultation time is always set aside to listen to your needs. Sedation dentistry allows for stress-free care.

ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF COSMETIC DENTISTRY AND EXTENSIVE TRAINING FROM THE SPEAR CENTER AND KOIS CENTER.

TODD GRUEN, DDS

2024 TOP DENTISTS

This list is excerpted from the 2024 topDentists™ list, a database which includes listings for nearly 130 dentists and specialists in the Memphis Metropolitan area. The Memphis area list is based on thousands of detailed evaluations of dentists and professionals by their peers. The complete database is available at usatopdentists.com. For more information call 706-3640853; write P.O. Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903; email help@ usatopdentists.com or visit usatopdentists.com

SELECTION PROCESS

“If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?”

This is the question we’ve asked thousands of dentists to help us determine who the topDentists should be. Dentists and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies, and of course physical results.

The nomination pool of dentists consists of dentists listed online with the American Dental Association, as well as dentists listed online with their local dental societies, thus allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate other dentists that they feel should be included in our list. Respondents are asked to put aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use only their knowledge of their peer’s work when evaluating the other nominees.

Voters are asked to individually evaluate the practitioners on their ballot whose work they are familiar with. Once the balloting is completed, the scores are compiled and then averaged. The numerical average required for inclusion varies depending on the average for all the nominees within the specialty and the geographic area. Borderline cases are given careful consideration by the editors. Voting characteristics and comments are taken into consideration while making decisions. Past awards a dentist has received and status in various dental academies can play a factor in our decision.

Once the decisions have been finalized, the included dentists are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing with the board. Then letters of congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists.

Of course, there are many fine dentists who are not included in this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in the United States. A dentist’s inclusion on our list is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, we remain confident that our polling methodology largely corrects for any biases and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate, and useful list of dentists available anywhere.

DISCLAIMER: This list is excerpted from the 2024 topDentists™ list, which includes listings for 130 dentists and specialists in the Memphis Metropolitan area. For more information call 706-364-0853 or email help@usatopdentists. com or visit usatopdentists.com. topDentists has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Copyright 2009-2024 by topDentists, Augusta, GA. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without permission of topDentists. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

ENDODONTICS

CHRISTIAN CAIN

Memphis Endodontics 1755 Kirby Parkway, Suite 103 Memphis, TN 38120 901-737-1927

www.memphisrootcanal.com

KENAN D. CLINTON 6401 Poplar Avenue, Suite 260 Memphis, TN 38119 901-682-8847

www.clintonendo.com

PAUL M. CURTIS, JR. 2804 East Matthews Avenue Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-972-6226

BRADLEY M. HARRIS

Memphis Endodontics 1755 Kirby Parkway, Suite 103 Memphis, TN 38120 901-761-0180

www.memphisrootcanal.com

MICHAEL A. JAMES

Assured Endodontics 2026 Exeter Road, Suite 2 Germantown, TN 38138 901-244-3116

www.assuredendo.com

JOHN KLECKER

Mid-South Endodontics 1918 Exeter Road, Building E, Units 1 & 3 Germantown, TN 38138 901-207-8686

www.midsouthendodontics.com

MICHAEL P. LOWERY

North Mississippi Endodontics 5740 Getwell Road, Suite 10-A Southaven, MS 38672 662-890-3196

www.northmsendo.com

EDWARD M. MACK

Mack Endodontics 704 West Brookhaven Circle Memphis, TN 38117 901-683-2221

BRYCE F. MCCREARY

Memphis Endodontics 1755 Kirby Parkway, Suite 103 Memphis, TN 38120 901-737-1927

www.memphisrootcanal.com

BRANDON SCOTT

Memphis Endodontics 1755 Kirby Parkway, Suite 103 Memphis, TN 38120 901-737-1927

www.memphisrootcanal.com

L. KEVIN WELLS

Memphis Endodontics 1755 Kirby Parkway, Suite 103 Memphis, TN 38120 901-761-0180

www.memphisrootcanal.com

GENERAL DENTISTRY

JENNIFER ADAIR

Adair Dental Medicine

6264 Poplar Avenue, Suite 2 Memphis, TN 38119 901-767-2152

www.adairdentalmedicine.com

JEREMY L. ADAMS

Hilltop Family Dentistry 3299 East Johnson Avenue Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-933-1900

www.hilltopfamilydentistry.com

JOSEPH B. ADKINS 6800 Poplar Avenue, Suite 220 Memphis, TN 38138 901-685-2010

www.jadkinsdds.com

MARIO E. ALFONSO 7085 Swinnea Road, Suite A Southaven, MS 38671 662-349-3038

www.marioalfonsodds.com

JAMES G. AVERY

Avery & Meadows & Page 3491 Walnut Grove Road Memphis, TN 38111 901-452-0040

www.averyandmeadows.com

J. PATRICK BARNES

Bellano Dental Care 2625 Appling Road Memphis, TN 38133 904-373-4344

BLAKE T. BILLUPS 5170 Sanderlin Avenue, Suite 203 Memphis, TN 38117 901-767-3603

M. WADE CLAYTON

Bellano Dental Health 1329 Cordova Cove Germantown, TN 38138 901-509-2823

www.bellanodental.com

JENNIFER D. COCHRAN Evergreen Family Dentistry 1723 Kirby Parkway Memphis, TN 38120 901-757-9696

www.evergreenfamilydentistry.com

JOHN CROWN

Higginbotham Family Dental 113 Harbor Town Square, Suite 203 Memphis, TN 38103 901-453-6081

www.higginbothamfamilydental.com

SCOTT A. EDWARDS

6250 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38119 901-681-0011

www.scottedwardsdds.com

MIKE FARRAR

Elite Dental Care

9064 Corporate Gardens Drive

Germantown, TN 38138 901-751-3776

www.elitedentalcare.com

ADAM FITZHUGH

Higginbotham Family Dental

6630 Summer Knoll Cove, Suite 103 Bartlett, TN 38134 901-377-5060

www.higginbothamfamilydental.com

CLAYTON C. FLORIANI

Pediatric Dental Group & Orthodontics

1365 South Germantown Road

Germantown, TN 38138 901-363-8191

www.pdgosmiles.com

JEFF P. FRIZZELL

785 Estate Place, Suite 2 Memphis, TN 38120 901-766-9002

www.jeffpfrizzelldds.com

MICHAEL W. GAITHER

266 South Cleveland Street Memphis, TN 38104 901-701-2385

ALEXANDRA GARRETT

Germantown Cosmetic and Family Dentistry

9054 Forest Centre Drive, Suite 2 Germantown, TN 38138 901-347-3527

www.alexandragarrettdds.com

TODD D. GRUEN

Germantown Dental Group 2165 West Street Germantown, TN 38138 901-754-0540

www.memphissmiledesigns.com

LAWRENCE A. HIGGINBOTHAM

Dental Partners - White Station

717 South White Station Road, Suite 8 Memphis, TN 38177 901-245-0792

www.familydentalmemphis.com

CLIFTON HIGGINS

820 East Matthews Avenue, Suite B Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-931-3377

www.cliftonchigginsdds.com

JOHN G. KAKALES

730 Goodman Road East, Suite A Southaven, MS 38671 662-349-2351

DAVID T. KIZER

Kizer Dental Associates

7685 Wolf River Circle, Suite 102 Germantown, TN 38138 901-767-4882

www.kizerdentalassociates.com

MARK C. MACGAW

Modern Dentistry of Memphis

6750 Poplar Avenue, Suite 700 Germantown, TN 38138 901-761-3726

www.moderndentistrymemphis.com

ANDREW D. MEFFORD

Bellano Dental Health

2705 Appling Road, Suite 101 Memphis, TN 38133 901-388-9110

www.bellanodental.com

CLAY G. MIDYETT 123 Crescent Drive Collierville, TN 38017 901-853-3357

www.schillingfarmsdental.com

ELIZABETH G. MITCHELL The 901 Dentist

795 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Suite 106 Memphis, TN 38120 901-756-1151

www.the 901 dentist.com

2024 TOP DENTISTS

MILES C. MOORE

Memphis Center for Family & Cosmetic Dentistry

725 West Brookhaven Circle Memphis, TN 38117 901-761-2210

www.beautifulsmiles.org

S. JEFFERSON MOORE, JR.

Olive Branch Dental Care 8935 Goodman Road Olive Branch, MS 38654 662-895-5012

www.olivebranchdental.com

CLAY T. NELSON

871 Mount Moriah Road

Memphis, TN 38117 901-682-4366

KALEB J. PAGE

Avery & Meadows & Page 3491 Walnut Grove Road

Memphis, TN 38111 901-452-0040

www.averyandmeadows.com

STEVEN M. PARKHURST Parkhurst & Savage 730 Crossover Lane Memphis, TN 38117 901-683-4369

www.drparkhurst.com

MICHAEL L. PARRISH 6363 Stage Road Bartlett, TN 38134 901-386-5757

www.parrishdentistry.com

MINESH Y. PATEL

Family & Cosmetic

Dentistry of Memphis

845 South Highland Street Memphis, TN 38111 901-323-8488

www.fcdmemphis.com

NISHEL PATEL

Wilson & Patel Dental Care

7520 Enterprise Avenue Germantown, TN 38138 901-751-1100

www.wilsondentalcare.net

PATRICK R. PERSON

7675 Wolf River Circle, Suite 201 Germantown, TN 38138 901-681-0777

www.persondds.com

HUGH H. RATHER III 113 South Alderson Street Holly Springs, MS 38635 662-252-2313

J. EDWARD RATHER, JR. 6234 Silo Square Lane South Southaven, MS 38672 662-349-0089

www.silosquaredental.com

JOHN G. REDDICK

Modern Dentistry of Memphis

6750 Poplar Avenue, Suite 700 Germantown, TN 38138 901-761-3726

www.moderndentistrymemphis.com

KEVIN D. REED

Reed Family Dentistry

8020 U.S. Highway 51, North Millington, TN 38053 901-872-3391

www.reedfamilydentistry.com

M. TAYLOR REED

Reed Family Dentistry

8020 U.S. Highway 51, North Millington, TN 38053 901-872-3391

www.reedfamilydentistry.com

MEHDI SADEGHI

Smile Center Memphis

1941 South Germantown Road, Suite 101 Germantown, TN 38138 901-309-1333

www.smilecentermemphis.com

MICHAEL K. SAVAGE

Parkhurst & Savage 730 Crossover Lane Memphis, TN 38117 901-683-4369 www.drparkhurst.com

DORY F. SELLERS

Grove Park Dental Group 4515 Poplar Avenue, Suite 406 Memphis, TN 38117 901-683-9800

www.groveparkdentalgroup.com

MARK S. SMITH

Kizer Dental Associates

7685 Wolf River Circle, Suite 102 Germantown, TN 38138 901-767-4882

www.kizerdentalassociates.com

GEORGE W. SORRELLS III

623 North Missouri Street West Memphis, AR 72301 870-732-5100

JOHN D. THOMAS, JR.

Wolf River Dental Care 278 German Oak Drive Cordova, TN 38018 901-753-9005

www.bestcordovadentist.com

RICHARD J. VAN SICKLE

2835 Summer Oaks Drive Bartlett, TN 38134 901-372-7283

www.vansickledds.com

RYAN E. VICK

Forest Hill Dental

3011 Centre Oak Way, Suite 102 Germantown, TN 38138 901-701-7500 www.vickdds.com

STANLEY R. WADDELL

Waddell Restorative Dentistry

1900 Kirby Parkway, Suite 200 Germantown, TN 38138 901-756-8855 www.drwaddell.com

BRANDON A. WEBB

Webb Family Dentistry 2206 Fowler Avenue Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-933-8444 www.webbfamilydentistry.net

NEIL B. WESTON

Weston Family and Cosmetic Dentistry 7500 Enterprise Avenue Germantown, TN 38138 901-754-3562 www.neilwestondds.com

STEVEN WHITE

Higginbotham Family Dental 2200 West Kings Highway Paragould, AR 72450 870-333-1352

www.higginbothamfamilydental.com

JOHN R. WHITTEMORE

Germantown Dental Group 2165 West Street

Germantown, TN 38138 901-754-0540

www.memphissmiledesigns.com

CHARLYN A. WILSON

Wilson & Patel Dental Care 7520 Enterprise Avenue Germantown, TN 38138 901-751-1100

www.wilsondentalcare.net

GARY T. WILSON, JR.

5565 Murray Road, Suite 202 Memphis, TN 38119 901-761-3456

www.garywilsondds.com

MARK E. WIYGUL 5340 Poplar Avenue, Suite 2 Memphis, TN 38119 901-683-7771

E. JACK WOHRMAN, JR. 6363 Poplar Avenue, Suite 430 Memphis, TN 38119 901-761-3040

ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY

BRYAN C. DARLING

The Oral & Implant Center Surgery Center 317 Southwest Drive, Suite A Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-933-1221

www.theoralandimplantsurgerycenter.com

AMIR FRANCIS

Williams and Francis

Oral and Facial Surgery 1100 Poplar View Lane North, Suite 1 Collierville, TN 38017 901-854-4422 www.williamsfrancis.com

K. MARCUS HOPKINS

Maroda & Hopkins 2136 Exeter Road, Suite 202 Germantown, TN 38138 901-754-8002

www.marodahopkins.com

STEPHEN J. MARODA, JR. Maroda & Hopkins 2136 Exeter Road, Suite 202 Germantown, TN 38138 901-754-8002

www.marodahopkins.com

MATTHEW MCDONOUGH

Northeast Arkansas Center for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery 2609 Browns Lane Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-931-3000 www.neaoralsurgery.com

RUSSELL C. PECK

766 South White Station Road, Suite 1 Memphis, TN 38119 901-685-8090 www.memphisoralsurgery.com

STEPHEN B. SEXTON

Sexton Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery 1661 Aaron Brenner Drive, Suite 105 Memphis, TN 38120 901-756-8475 www.sextonoms.com

ROBERT K. SMITH

766 South White Station Road, Suite 1 Memphis, TN 38117 901-685-8090

www.memphisoralsurgery.com

RONALD C. STAPLES

Memphis Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery Group 6584 Poplar Avenue, Suite 101 Memphis, TN 38138 901-443-1744 www.momsg.org

JOHN C. SWEARINGEN Bluff City Oral Surgery

780 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Suite 101 Memphis, TN 38120 901-682-8431

www.bluffcityoralsurgery.com

Whatisaperiodontist?

Aperiodontistisadentistwhotreatsthestructures surroundingandsupportingtheteeth,including thegumsandjawbone.Thisspecialtyfocuseson theprevention,diagnosis,andtreatmentof periodontaldisease,aswellastheplacementof dentalimplants.Theirworkextendsto regenerationproceduresforgumandbonetissue andmaintenanceoftheoverallhealth,function, andestheticsof yourmouth.

Howareperiodontiststrained?

Likegeneraldentists,periodontistsmustcompletea bachelor’sdegreeandattendadentalschooltoobtain aDoctorofDentalSurgery(DDS)degree.Dentistswho wanttospecializeinperiodonticsmustobtainthree additionalyearsofeducationinperiodontologyand dentalimplantsurgery.Licensureisobtainedthrough writtenandpracticalexams,withcontinuingeducation requiredforongoingprofessionaldevelopment.

WhatisaBoard-CertifiedPeriodontistand DentalImplantSurgeon?

Aboard-certifiedperiodontistandadentalimplantsurgeon isaspecialistwhohasachievedthehighestprofessional recognitionthroughtheAmericanBoardofPeriodontology (ABP).Boardcertificationgoesbeyondstandardlicensure, involvingacomprehensiveprocessthatincludesrigorous writtenandoralexaminations.Oncecertificationisgranted, itmustbemaintainedthroughcontinuouslearning,selfstudy,andperiodicre-examination.Thisprocessensures thatboard-certifiedperiodontistsremainattheforefrontof periodontalandimplantcare

Whatisthemoralofthestory?

Drs.Godat,KingandByakinaareDiplomatesofthe AmericanBoardofPeriodontologyandareBoard certifiedinbothperiodonticsanddentalimplant surgery.Choosingaboard-certifiedperiodontist offerspatientstheassurancethattheirspecialist hasmetthehigheststandardsinthefieldbeyond requiredcertification.Thisdistinctionreflectsa dedicationtoexcellence,commitmenttostaying currentwiththelatestadvancements,providing top-qualitycare,andbeingaleaderinthespecialty ofperiodontology.Inadditiontotheirspecialty certification,Dr.GodatandDr.King,andDr. ByakinaearnedaMasterofSciencedegreein periodontology.

2024 TOP DENTISTS

SCOTT A. WEISKOPF

Sexton Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

1661 Aaron Brenner Drive, Suite 105 Memphis, TN 38120 901-756-8475

www.sextonoms.com

DARREN R. WILLIAMS

Williams & Francis

1100 Poplar View Lane North, Suite 1 Collierville, TN 38017 901-854-4422

www.williamsfrancis.com

G. TRENT WILSON

McRae-Wilson Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Group 5565 Murray Road Memphis, TN 38119 901-767-0088

www.mcraewilsonoms.com

STEVEN ZAMBRANO

Cordova Oral, Facial and Implant Surgery 915 Willow Tree Circle Cordova, TN 38018 901-755-6724

www.cordovaoralsurgery.com

ORAL PATHOLOGY

K. MARK ANDERSON

University of Tennessee College of Dentistry 875 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38163 901-448-4559

www.uthsc.edu/dentistry

ORTHODONTICS

SIMON CHANIN

Wiess & Glassell Orthodontics 5866 Ridge Bend Road Memphis, TN 38120 901-767-7370

www.weissandglassellortho.com

TAYLOR A. COLLAZO

Pediatric Dental Group and Orthodontics 1365 South Germantown Road Germantown, TN 38138 901-363-8191 www.pdgosmiles.com

DAVID H. CROWDER

6597 Summer Knoll Cove Bartlett, TN 38134 901-382-8611

www.drdavidcrowder.com

KYLE D. FAGALA

Saddle Creek Orthodontics 2176 West Street, Suite 320 Germantown, TN 38138 901-726-3878

www.SaddleCreekOrtho.com

KELLY-GWYNNE FERGUS

Fergus Orthodontics 2812 Harrisburg Road Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-336-3366 www.fergusortho.com

CHRISTOPHER H. GETMAN

Getman Orthodontics 9067 Poplar Avenue, Suite 113 Germantown, TN 38138 901-843-2483 www.getmanortho.com

BRENTON E. GLASSELL

Weiss & Glassell Orthodontics

5885 Ridgeway Center Parkway, Suite 200 Memphis, TN 38120 901-767-7370

www.weissorthodontics.com

NATHAN R. HAMMAN

Williams & Hamman Orthodontics 399 Southcrest Court, Suite B Southaven, MS 38671 662-349-2196 www.whortho.com

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MICHELLE G. JOHNSON

6551 Stage Oaks Drive, Suite 2 Bartlett, TN 38134 901-386-4358

www.johnsonortho.com

WILLIAM G. PARRIS

Parris Orthodontics 2136 Exeter Road, Suite 201 Germantown, TN 38138 901-683-6387

www.parrisorthodontics.com

QUINTON C. ROBINSON III

756 Ridge Lake Blvd Suite 120 Memphis, TN 38120 901-683-6770

www.teammemphisorthodontics.com

W. COOPER SANDUSKY III

Sandusky Orthodontics 6262 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38119 901-761-3700

www.sanduskyorthodontics.com

KOLIN WEAVER Weaver Orthodontics 2316 Red Wolf Boulevard, Suite C Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-972-5445

www.dreamweaversmiles.com

SCOTT P. WERNER

Memphis Orthodontic Specialists 6425 North Quail Hollow Road, Suite 201 Memphis, TN 38120 901-767-5415

www.wernerorthodontics.com

STANLEY P. WERNER

Memphis Orthodontic Specialists 6425 North Quail Hollow Road, Suite 201 Memphis, TN 38120 901-767-5415

www.wernerorthodontics.com

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY

COREY ACOSTA Pediatric Dental Care 717 South White Station Road, Suite 7 Memphis, TN 38117 662-223-3721 www.pdocforkids.com

MICHAEL D. BLEN Pediatric Dentistry 6363 Poplar Avenue, Suite 110 Memphis, TN 38119 901-415-2536 www.drblen.com

BRENT CHURCH

Children’s Dental Center 1684 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38104 901-245-1990

www.dentistjustforkids.com

CAROLINE H. CHURCHWELL

Churchwell Pediatric Dentistry 1099 Poplar View Lane North Collierville, TN 38017 901-854-9555

www.churchwellpediatricdentistry.com

MOLLY M. CHURCHWELL

Churchwell Pediatric Dentistry 1099 Poplar View Lane North Collierville, TN 38017 901-854-9555

www.churchwellpediatricdentistry.com

ALKA V. COHEN

Cohen Pediatric Dentistry

8142 Country Village Drive, Suite 101 Cordova, TN 38016 901-756-4447

2024 TOP DENTISTS

NATHANIEL D. DENSON

Pediatric Dental Group & Orthodontics

1365 South Germantown Road Germantown, TN 38138 901-363-8191

www.pdgosmiles.com

DANIEL D. FREEMAN

Freeman Pediatric Dentistry

2567 Appling Road Memphis, TN 38133 901-383-7337

www.childdentalcare.com

STEVEN J. FUSON

Pediatric Dental Group

7675 Wolf River Circle, Suite 102 Germantown, TN 38138 901-363-8191 www.pdgosmiles.com

ROBIN T. HOBBS

Aviation Pediatric Dental Associates 2980 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38111 901-310-5177

www.aviationpediatricdental.com

B. WES MCCANN, JR.

McCann Pediatric Dentistry

5885 Ridgeway Center Parkway, Suite 230 Memphis, TN 38120 901-767-9200

www.mccanndentistry.com

S. MEADE MOORE III

Meade Moore Pediatric Dentistry 1908 Exeter Road Germantown, TN 38138 901-683-3993

www.germantowndds4kids.com

CHRIS C. ROWLAND

Childrens Dental Center

3394 South Houston Levee Road Germantown, TN 38139 901-250-1466

www.dentistjustforkids.com

J. B. SELECMAN

Childrens Dental Center

3394 South Houston Levee Road Germantown, TN 38139 901-250-1466

www.dentistjustforkids.com

MELANIE L. SHAW-NESBITT

All About Kids Pediatric Dentistry

3285 Hacks Cross Road, Suite 101 Memphis, TN 38125 901-759-0970

www.pediatricdentistmemphis.com

SUMMER B. TYSON

Jonesboro Pediatric Dental Group 620 Southwest Drive Jonesboro, AR 72401 870-336-9700

www.jonesboropediatricdentalgroup.com

MARTHA H. WELLS

University of Tennessee College of Dentistry 875 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38163 901-448-6615

www.uthsc.edu/dentistry

BRADLEY W. WILKINSON

Pediatric Dental Specialties

5040 Sanderlin Avenue, Suite 101 Memphis, TN 38117 901-761-5155

www.drbradwilkinson.com

GREGORY T. WILKINSON

Wilkinson Orthodontics and Children’s Dentistry 5610 Murray Road Memphis, TN 38119 901-767-3390

www.gregwilkinsondds.com

Bomb, MD, FACC, RPVI

• In practice for 20+ years

• Same-day appointments are welcome

• Rapid pre-surgical assessment

• All patients seen by MD Cardiologist

• All Insurances accepted

Hospital A liations:

PERIODONTICS

PRADEEP C. ADATROW

Advanced Dental Implant & TMJ Center 7135 Getwell Road, Suite 100 Southaven, MS 38672 662-655-4868

www.advanceddentaltmj.com

ANNA C. COMPTON 5348 Estate Ofﬁce Drive Memphis, TN 38119 901-763-4700

www.jstephenweirdds.com

MITCHEL S. GODAT

Periodontal Associates of Memphis 6268 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38119 901-761-3770 www.perioMem.com

ANASTASIOS KARYDIS

University of Tennessee College of Dentistry 875 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38163 901-448-6279

www.uthsc.edu/dentistry

GRANT T. KING

Periodontal Associates of Memphis 6268 Poplar Avenue Memphis, TN 38119 901-761-3770 www.periomem.com

EDWARD S. LANE II Memphis Periodontal Group 5565 Murray Road, Suite 101 Memphis, TN 38119 901-767-8152

www.memphisperiodontal.com

PAUL G. LUEPKE

University of Tennessee College of Dentistry 875 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38163 901-448-6200 www.uthsc.edu

Paul R. Brezina, M.D., Todd Chappell, M.D., Amelia P. Bailey, M.D., William H. Kutteh, M.D., Ph.D., and Raymond W. Ke, M.D.

Creating families together, Fertility Associates of Memphis is the only state-of-the-art practice providing comprehensive reproductive health care to couples of the Mid-South and beyond…treating patients struggling with infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss and reproductive disorders. Our highly specialized team utilizes cutting edge techniques including in vitro fertilization with laser blastocyst biopsy, preimplantation genetic diagnosis and fertility preservation. Our compassionate physicians, board-certiﬁed in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, have been bringing dreams to life for over 25 years.

MICHAEL L. THOMPSON

Thompson Periodontics & Implant Dentistry 2737 Paula Drive Jonesboro, AR 72404 870-932-0015 www.thompsonperioandimplants.com

J. STEPHEN WEIR 5348 Estate Ofﬁce Drive, Suite 1 Memphis, TN 38119 901-763-4700 www.jstephenweirdds.com

PROSTHODONTICS

DAVID R. CAGNA

University of Tennessee College of Dentistry 875 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38163 901-448-6930 www.uthsc.edu

MARC A. COHEN Prostho Dental 5356 Estate Ofﬁce Drive, Suite 1 Memphis, TN 38119 901-680-0823 www.mcohendds.com

CARL W. SCHULTER

Dental Implant Aesthetic Center 795 Ridge Lake Boulevard, Suite 101 Memphis, TN 38120 901-682-5001 www.dentalimplantac.com

AUDREY M. SELECMAN

University of Tennessee College of Dentistry 875 Union Avenue Memphis, TN 38163 901-448-6930 www.uthsc.edu

DR. PRADEEP ADATROW, founder of Advanced Dental Implant and TMJ Center, brings over 30 years of experience in dentistry and education, establishing him as a unique dual specialist in the tri-state area. As the only board-certified periodontist and prosthodontist practicing in the southern United States, Dr. Adatrow achieved this rare distinction through 14 years of extensive education, including degrees from the University of Alabama and the University of Tennessee, and postdoctoral certifications in Periodontal and Implant Surgery from Indiana University and Advanced Prosthodontics from the University of Tennessee. His dedication to excellence is underscored by his board certification from the American Board of Periodontology and his Fellowship in the International College of Dentistry, making him one of only 10,000 professionals worldwide with such high-level qualifications. Before opening his practice in Southaven, MS, Dr. Adatrow served as a Professor and Clinical

Director of Prosthodontics at the University of Tennessee for over 15 years, where he taught Dental Implant Surgery and Surgical Prosthodontics and received numerous accolades, including the Dean’s Junior Faculty Award and the John Diggs Faculty Award.

Since founding Advanced Dental in 2016, Dr. Adatrow has created a state-of-the-art facility that is both family-focused and patient-centered, emphasizing education and transparency throughout each step of the dental process. Located at the convenient cross-section of Goodman and Getwell in Southaven, the clinic attracts patients from across the region seeking specialized care in gum disease treatment, dental implants, TMJ/TMD therapy, and sedation dentistry. Supported by a dedicated team, Dr. Adatrow has placed over 20,000 implants and transformed the smiles of countless patients, striving to make each visit a positive, comfortable experience that fosters lifelong relationships.

PRADEEP ADATROW DDS, MSD

AS SOON AS YOU WALK IN THE DOOR, you will see a different type of dental care. Alexandra Garrett and Germantown Cosmetic and Family Dentistry have offered the highest quality comprehensive dental services to the Germantown/Memphis area for more than 20 years. Dr. Garrett and team focus on cosmetic and family dentistry with the goal of elevating one self’s image in a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Their team offers kind, compassionate care to each patient, coupled with state-of-the-art 3D equipment, with Same Day

Crowns, Invisalign, Dental Implants, and all digital x-rays. A professional favorite is when Dr Garrett transforms a patient’s smile to help transform the way they feel. Other services include treating the entire family from toddlers to grandparents, as well as facial aesthetics, such as Botox and Juvederm, to complement your beautiful smile with a fresher, more youthful overall appearance. Their goal is to keep your teeth and gums healthy while helping you feel and look your best. Visit their website, www.GtownSmiles.com, to learn more about their dental experience.

WORLD CLASS COSMETIC and comprehensive dentistry is what to expect when visiting Dr. Ryan Vick.

Dr. Vick is passionate about his patients’ smiles and helping them to achieve and maintain optimal oral health, as a beautiful smile can completely improve one’s self image and confidence, and is a pillar of having great overall health. He believes that this starts with spending the time to create a trusting, lasting relationship with his patients.

Patients can expect a preventative and

comprehensive approach to oral health. Sedation dentistry allows them to achieve a beautiful, healthy smile in a relaxed environment. Dr. Vick also uses state-ofthe-art technology, along with conservative techniques, to deliver lifelong lasting smiles.

Dr. Vick is a proud member of: The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, The American Dental Association, and The Tennessee Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Dr. Vick offers a full array of general dentistry and cosmetic dental services, and is welcoming new patients.

RYAN VICK, DDS

PASSIONATE ABOUT PEOPLE, PARTICULAR ABOUT TEETH — Established and run by local dentists, Bellano has multiple convenient locations in East Memphis, Bartlett, and Germantown offering preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. Helping patients experience healthier lives and greater confidence through oral health, Bellano also offers Invisalign, dental implants, veneers, and advanced in-office whitening in addition to routine care. The Bellano Dental Savings Plan is available for patients without dental insurance, helping them plan for and prioritize their oral health throughout the year. Visit Dr. Wade Clayton, Dr. Drew Mefford, Dr. Terry Turner, Dr. Dana Henry, Dr. Lance Ashlock, Dr. Katie Bell, Dr. Pat Barnes, Dr. Gina Harris, and Dr. Beth Kakales — to experience respectful, empathetic, and informative care at every location, thanks to one united team.

BELLANO DENTAL HEALTH

WILSON & PATEL DENTAL CARE is proud to serve the Mid-South as a specialist in cosmetic, preventive, and restorative dentistry, as well as Invisalign treatment. With over 40 years of combined experience, Dr. Nishel Patel and Dr. Charlyn Wilson stand at the forefront in the field of dentistry with the use of state-of-the-art equipment and treatment options. Drs. Patel and Wilson make every decision with you in mind. They are dedicated to beautifying your smile and appearance, patient education, and maintaining your dental health. Along with their outstanding team of dental professionals, Drs. Patel and Wilson strive to bring a personal touch to dentistry and provide exceptional care for all patients.

PEDIATRIC DENTAL GROUP AND ORTHODONTIC

PEDIATRIC DENTAL GROUP AND ORTHODONTICS has two locations serving West Tennessee and North Mississippi. PDGO is comprised of four partners: Steve Fuson, DDS, MS; Nate Denson, DDS, MDS; Taylor Collazo, DDS, MSD; and Clayton Floriani, DDS. There are other great associate dentists in both locations.

Our unique blend of board-certified pediatric dentists, family dentists, and board-certified orthodontist allows PDGO to offer a convenient and more complete care journey for families.

We strive to have the highest level of care and attentiveness for our patients and their parents. We are honored that so many families choose PDGO to take care of their child’s dental needs. We enjoy being able to treat children from their very first visit until they graduate from college.

REED FAMILY DENTISTRY

AT REED FAMILY DENTISTRY, we are a thirdgeneration, family-owned dental practice celebrating 75 years of service. Millington’s first-ever dental practice, Reed Family Dentistry was started soon after World War II in 1949 by Dr. Loyd Reed and is now run by his son and grandson, Dr. Kevin Reed and Dr. Taylor Reed, respectively. With offices in Millington and Covington, we are proud to serve as our area’s premier dental practice, providing a wide array of dental services including preventative, restorative, cosmetic, periodontal care and more. The years have flown by, but one thing remains the same: our legacy of treating people, not just teeth. Thank you to our valued patients across the Mid-South who have entrusted us with their oral health and helped us be “Top Dentists” again this year!

AVIATION PEDIATRIC DENTAL ASSOCIATES

AT AVIATION PEDIATRIC DENTAL ASSOCIATES, we are on a mission to empower children to care for their smile and establish good dental habits early on. Dr. Robin Hobbs is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist who is grateful to be able to foster a warm, community feel at her practice and hopes that patients will feel at home in her office. Schedule your children a visit with us soon for great support, service and dental care.

HIGGINBOTHAM FAMILY DENTAL serves the Memphis area with locations in Harbor Town, West Memphis, Collierville, Bartlett, East Memphis, and now Germantown. Their dedicated team offers comprehensive dental services, including general, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry, as well as dental implants and emergency care. They prioritize patient comfort and convenience, providing same-day appointments and flexible payment options to ensure accessible, high-quality dental care for the community. Schedule by calling or texting the office or online at www.higginbothamfamilydental.com.

2980 Poplar Ave., Suite 103, Memphis, TN 38111

Instagram: @aviationpediatricdental

TikTok: @aviationdentalmemphis aviationpediatricdental.com

higginbothamfamilydental.com

HIGGINBOTHAM FAMILY DENTAL

L-R: Charles Nicholas Smith, Josephine F. Gilder, Steven W. Pittman*, Jamie W. Howell, Jr.*, Jefferson Gilder*

*Selected to Super Lawyers

CHATHAM GILDER HOWELL PITTMAN PLLC

The Lawyers That Listen

People who have been injured on the road, on a dangerous premises, or by a faulty product turn to Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman for our attorneys’ depth of experience in holding negligent parties responsible. We have the expertise, courtroom skills, and compassion for our clients to

Above all, our lawyers at Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman devote the time to truly listen to our clients’ problems, understand their goals, and develop the most effective, winning strategies.

Listen” for our commitment to making sure our clients are both heard and helped.

TOP 50 MEMPHIS

Acerra, Carey L., Jehl Law Group, Memphis

Bailey, III, James E., Butler Snow, Memphis

Ballin, Blake D.

Ballin, Leslie Irwin

Baskette, Kevin, Lewis Thomason, Memphis

Blanton, Darrell D., Law Office of Darrell D. Blanton, Memphis

Britt, Louis P., FordHarrison, Memphis

Byars, III, Wilton V. Oxford

Caraway, Kirk A. Memphis

Chapman, Ralph E. Clarksdale

Clark, Joseph M., Lewis Thomason, Memphis

Coury, Michael P., Glankler Brown, Memphis

Crone, Alan G., The Crone Law Firm, Memphis

Davis, Angie C. Berkowitz, Memphis

Derrick, Michael G., Shuttleworth, Memphis

Feibelman, Jef

Futhey III, Malcolm B., Futhey Law Firm, Memphis

Greer, Thomas R.

Griffith, Benjamin E., Griffith Law Firm, Oxford

Hagerman, Jennifer Memphis

Halijan, Douglas F.

Hill, David W., Attorney at Law, Lakeland

Hollis, Scott Burnham, Hollis Legal Solutions,

Jones, Les

Krupicka, Lisa A.

Lewis, III, George T., Baker Donelson Bearman

Magee, Marcy Dodds, Lewis Thomason, Memphis

Massey, William D., The Law Office of Massey

Mayo, Jr., J. Cal, Mayo Mallette, Oxford

McDaniel, Bobby R., McDaniel Law Firm, Jonesboro

McNeill, Paul D., RMP, Jonesboro

Merkel, III, Charles M.

Merkel, Jr., Charles M.

Pera, Lucian T., Adams and Reese, Memphis

Prather, Paul E., Littler Mendelson, Memphis

Rice, Larry, Rice Law, Memphis

Roberts, Kristine, Baker Donelson Bearman

Rosenblum, Jeffrey S. Memphis

Ryan, William B. , Donati Law, Memphis

Siskind, Gregory H., Siskind Susser, Memphis

Smith, Gary K., Gary K. Smith Law Firm, Memphis

Snider, Kevin A.

Spragins, H. Scot

Steinberg, Jill M., Baker Donelson Bearman

Thompson, Tanja L., Littler Mendelson, Memphis

Waddell, Paul D.

Waide, III, James D. “Jim” Tupelo

Waide, Rachel Pierce

Weintraub, Jeff

Wheeler, John G.

Massey McClusky Fuchs & Ballenger

L-R: Joseph McClusky*

Jason Ballenger

Lauren Massey Fuchs*

Katie Massey Wening

Seth Segraves

*Chosen to Super Lawyers

William D. Massey

TENNESSEE TOP 100 MEMPHIS TOP 50

William D. Massey

SELECTION PROCESS

Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process.*

The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. We limit the lawyer ratings to those who can be hired and retained by the public, i.e., lawyers in private practice and Legal Aid attorneys.

The Super Lawyers selection process involves the steps outlined in the graphic (at right).

LEARN MORE SuperLawyers.com/SelectionProcess QUESTIONS? SL-Research@thomsonreuters.com

visit SuperLawyers.com

Search for an attorney by practice area and location, and read features on attorneys selected to our lists.

Evaluated by third-party research across 12 key categories Reviewed by a highly credentialed Blue Ribbon Panel of

Rosenblum & Reisman is a proven personal injury firm that focuses its practice on catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases. Firm founder Jeff Rosenblum has been selected to the Mid-South Super Lawyers list since 2006, and after having been a Rising Stars honoree since 2014, Matt May has also

*Selected to Super Lawyers

been selected to the Super Lawyers list for his fifth consecutive year. Rosenblum was also selected as a Top 100 attorney in Tennessee and a Top 50 attorney in Memphis. The office also includes a criminal defense attorney who has more than 25 years of experience defending the rights of the accused.

rosenblumandreisman.com

MARK A. MESLER II

MARC E. REISMAN

JEFFREY S. ROSENBLUM*

MATTHEW T. MAY*

Jeffrey S. Rosenblum

Alternative Dispute Resolution ...................................S-7

Appellate ......................................................................S-7

Aviation and Aerospace ...............................................S-7

Bankruptcy: Business ...................................................S-7

Bankruptcy: Consumer.................................................S-7

Business Litigation .......................................................S-7

Business/Corporate .....................................................S-8

Civil Litigation: Defense ...............................................S-8

Civil Litigation: Plaintiff ................................................S-8

Civil Rights ....................................................................S-8

Class

Consumer Law..............................................................S-8

Creditor Debtor Rights .................................................S-8

Criminal Defense ..........................................................S-8

Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI.........................................S-8

Criminal Defense: White Collar ...................................S-8

THE ANNUAL LIST

BY PRIMARY AREA OF PRACTICE

The list was finalized as of May 20, 2024. Only attorneys who data verified with Super Lawyers for the current year are included on the list that follows. All current selections and any updates to the on superlawyers.com.

Names and page numbers in RED page. Phone numbers are included only for attorneys with paid Super Lawyers or Rising Stars print advertisements.

ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

SUPER LAWYERS

APPELLATE

RISING STARS

Deakins, Laura

AVIATION AND AEROSPACE

SUPER LAWYERS

RISING STARS

BANKRUPTCY: BUSINESS

SUPER LAWYERS , Adams and Reese,

RISING STARS

Hutchens, Ricky

BANKRUPTCY: CONSUMER

SUPER LAWYERS

BUSINESS LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Feibelman, Jef

S-12

MALCOLM B. FUTHEY III FUTHEY LAW FIRM PLC

www.futheylawfirm.com

Laurenzi, Lawrence , Baker Donelson Bearman

McAnally, Melody , Law Office of Irma W. Merrill, , Law Office of Larry D. Moffett, , Baker Donelson Bearman

Roberts, Kristine , Baker Donelson Bearman

Wallis, Ed

RISING STARS , Baker Donelson Bearman

Brunson, Pete

Greer, Aubrey Lester, Lani

Rassoul, Danielle , Harris Shelton Hanover Walsh,

BUSINESS/CORPORATE

SUPER LAWYERS

RISING STARS

Davis, Meagan

Kinard, Taylor

CIVIL LITIGATION: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS , Baker Donelson Bearman , Baker Donelson Bearman , Holcomb Law Group, , Snellgrove Langley Culpepper

RISING STARS

Murrell, Jerrick

O’Brien, Garrett

Silk, Jennie

Watson, Cameron

CIVIL LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

RISING STARS

McClelland, Andrew

CIVIL RIGHTS

SUPER LAWYERS

CLASS

ACTION/MASS TORTS

SUPER LAWYERS , Cory Watson Attorneys,

RISING STARS

Mulqueen, Matthew, Baker Donelson Bearman

CONSTRUCTION LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

RISING STARS

Van Namen, Kathryn

CONSUMER LAW

SUPER LAWYERS

CREDITOR DEBTOR RIGHTS

RISING STARS

Waldrop, Locke

CRIMINAL DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS , The Law Office of Massey McClusky , Law Offices of Stephen R. Leffler,

STEPHEN R. LEFFLER

LAW OFFICES OF STEPHEN R. LEFFLER, P.C. www.lefflerlaw.com

, The Law Office of Massey McClusky , The Law Office of Massey , The McDaniel Law Firm, , Arthur E. Quinn Law Office, Scholl, Michael , Law Office of Michael J. Stengel, Wagerman, Howard, Wagerman Katzman, Ziegenhorn, Bart

RISING STARS , Law Office of W. Price Rudolph, , The Washington Law Firm,

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: DUI/DWI

RISING STARS

CRIMINAL DEFENSE: WHITE COLLAR

SUPER LAWYERS

EMINENT DOMAIN

SUPER LAWYERS

Donati, Donald , Baker Donelson Bearman

Ebelhar, Jay

Hagerman, Jennifer

ENVIRONMENTAL

SUPER LAWYERS

Mayfield, Mark , Law Office of Darrell J. O’Neal,

DARRELL J. O’NEAL LAW OFFICE OF DARRELL J. O’NEAL www.darrelloneal.com

Weintraub, Jeff

RISING STARS , Baker Donelson Bearman

Giles, Shayna

EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS , Baker Donelson Bearman

SUPER LAWYERS

EDWARD T. AUTRY WILLIAMS MCDANIEL, PLLC

www.williamsmcdaniel.com

Thornton, Matthew

SUPER LAWYERS

, The Bradley Law Firm,

RISING STARS

Busey, Zachary

Redden, Emma

EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Crandall Osowski, Janelle

, Moskovitz McGhee Brown

AUBREY L. BROWN, JR. www.mmbcm.com

, The Estate and Family Law Group, , Williams McDaniel,

A. STEPHEN MCDANIEL WILLIAMS MCDANIEL, PLLC www.williamsmcdaniel.com

, Harkavy Shainberg Kaplan,

RISING STARS

HANNAH E. BLEAVINS

WILLIAMS MCDANIEL, PLLC

www.williamsmcdaniel.com

FAMILY LAW

SUPER LAWYERS

, J. Steven Anderson Law Firm,

J. STEVEN ANDERSON

J. STEVEN ANDERSON LAW FIRM PLLC

www.jsandersonlaw.com

Arthur, Megan

STEVAN L. BLACK

www.bmjrglaw.com

, Law Office of Darrell D. Blanton,

, Law Office of Cornelius Bostick,

Griffin Willis, Ravonda , Hollis Legal Solutions,

White, Leigh-Taylor

RISING STARS

Brown, Suzanne

Buie IV, William

Eason, Josh

IMMIGRATION

SUPER LAWYERS

RISING STARS

Susser, Jason

INSURANCE COVERAGE

SUPER LAWYERS

Hall, Abigail

Knox, Chelsea

, Miles Mason Family Law Group,

Thompson, Kay-Anne, Hollis Legal Solutions,

GENERAL LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

, The Law Office of Jeffrey Jones,

Lyons, Jim

Peyton, Edd

RISING STARS

Rainey, Nelson

HEALTH CARE

SUPER LAWYERS

Mason, Sr., Miles, Miles Mason Family Law Group, Rice, Larry

Rice, Nick

, Thomas Family Law,

Anderson, Katherine, Baker Donelson Bearman

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

SUPER LAWYERS

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

Vorder-Bruegge, Jr., Mark

RISING STARS

Riccio, Nicole

SUPER LAWYERS

PERSONAL INJURY GENERAL: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Jehl, Cameron

Joy, Justin

Wiley, Shannon

RISING STARS

Mosey, Whitney

, Lewis Thomason,

RISING STARS

Jimenez, Julia

PERSONAL INJURY GENERAL: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Banks, Danese

, Donaldson Law Firm,

Saharovich, Alex

Gee, Jr., Peter

Gilder, Jefferson, Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman, , Law Office of David E. Gordon, , Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman, , Wagerman Katzman,

Ledbetter, Mark

May, Matthew

MATTHEW MAY

www.rosenblumandreisman.com , Chatham Gilder Howell Pittman, S-2

RISING STARS

Easley, Austin

Hackett, William

PERSONAL INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

Baskette, Kevin , Baker Donelson Bearman

Gilmer, Bradley

RISING STARS

Davidson, Taylor

Swatley, Jacob

PERSONAL INJURY MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

Graddy, Chad Jones, Les

JEFFREY S. ROSENBLUM

www.rosenblumandreisman.com

PERSONAL INJURY PRODUCTS: DEFENSE

RISING STARS

PERSONAL INJURY PRODUCTS: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY: DEFENSE

SUPER LAWYERS

RISING STARS

PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY: PLAINTIFF

SUPER LAWYERS

REAL ESTATE

SUPER LAWYERS

, Harkavy Shainberg Kaplan,

RISING STARS

Culver, Fred Westmoreland, III, John, Byrne Westmoreland, RISING STARS

SECURITIES LITIGATION

SUPER LAWYERS

RISING STARS

Johnson, Kyle , Baker Donelson Bearman

SUPER LAWYERS

Selected to Super Lawyers

BARRY L. FRAGER

THE FRAGER LAW FIRM, P.C.

bfrager@fragerlaw.com www.fragerlaw.com

has previously served as a General Attorney for INS in Los Angeles, Bar Association’s Immigration Law Section. For more than a decade, IMMIGRATION

TAX

SUPER LAWYERS , Law Office of Harry Laughlin , Evans Petree,

TRANSPORTATION/MARITIME

SUPER LAWYERS

Selected to Super Lawyers

OLEN M. BAILEY, JR.

THE BAILEY LAW FIRM, A PC

ombailey@thebaileylawfirm.com www.thebaileylawfirm.com

ELDER LAW

attorney licensed in Tennessee and Mississippi. Mac received his B.A. with high honors from Millsaps College, his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School and his Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Elder Law with honors from Stetson University College of Law. Mac is an Accredited Estate Planner (AEP) and member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Memphis Business Journal, named a Five Star Wealth Manager and remains the Face of Elder Law by Memphis magazine. Mac has written articles and periodicals and is a frequent guest lecturer in the areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law

Selected to Super Lawyers

MALCOLM B. FUTHEY III FUTHEY LAW FIRM PLC

malcolm@futheylawfirm.com www.futheylawfirm.com

BUSINESS LITIGATION

BUSINESS/CORPORATE CLASS ACTION/MASS TORTS

He also handles matters concerning business law, intellectual property, entertainment law, personal injury, class actions, bankruptcy, employment law, real estate, government law, and constitutional law.

WORKERS’ COMPENSATION

SUPER LAWYERS , Spicer Rudstrom, RISING STARS

articles cover matters relating to employment law, Medicare law, and civil

Selected to Super Lawyers

AUBREY L. BROWN, JR. MOSKOVITZ, MCGHEE, BROWN,

abrown@mmbcm.com www.mmbcm.com

Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, where he received his Juris Doctor Degree. His practice is focused in the area of probate law, including the administration of decedent’s estates, and litigating trust, estate, and probate matters, such as will contests, actions to construe wills and trusts, actions to set aside trusts and other conveyances, breach of trust matters, and conservatorship and guardianship proceedings. In addition, he has also dedicated a portion of his practice to family law matters, such as

Selected to Super Lawyers

STEPHEN R. LEFFLER LAW OFFICES OF STEPHEN R. LEFFLER, P.C.

stephen@lefflerlaw.com www.lefflerlaw.com of West Tennessee, both state and federal. He has represented people accused of a broad range of criminal charges such as white collar crime, murder, assault, theft, sex offenses, fraud, animal cruelty, juvenile crimes, drug and alcohol violations, vehicular homicide and driving while cases in both state and federal courts. His clients have access to a real PERSONAL INJURY GENERAL: PLAINTIFF CRIMINAL DEFENSE

The families of Second Presbyterian Church invite you to join us throughout the month of December for worship services and activities for all ages. Visit 2pc.org/christmas for the full schedule of holiday events.

December 8 at 6:00pm

4:00, 5:30, 8:00 & 11:00pm Services

At the corner of Poplar and Goodlett

The Odd Couple

A visit with the lively twosome that runs Alex’s Tavern.

BY BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN

Dutifully, I head to the tiny kitchen, which also serves as an oﬃce for the boss. No space is wasted at Alex’s.

“How’d it go with Miss E?” Rocky asks. “She’s pretty great, right?”

“Yes, she is,” I say. “I love her big laugh.”

Talk to HIM first,” says Miss E. “No, no, talk to her first,” says Rocky.

“She deserves the spotlight.”

“Okay, then,” says Miss E. “ at’s ﬁne. Talk to me ﬁrst. at way I can say what I want to say about him and ain’t nothing he can do about it.”

“And, action! ” says Rocky, walking oﬀ toward the kitchen with a laugh.

And that’s the way it’s gone at Alex’s Tavern for 21 years between owner Rocky Kasaftes and his cohort, Eyvette Baﬀord, known to one and all as Miss E. ey both cook, both work the bar, both keep the customers happy, and both love to banter with each other.

It started two decades ago with an encounter at a nearby Mapco station, where Miss E worked. Here’s how she tells it: “Rocky was a regular customer and we always talked and joked with each other. One day he came in and said he was running an errand for his friend, Bad Dog [McCormack, former WEGR-FM radio personality]

and he’d locked his keys in his truck. While he was waiting, I asked him if he needed any help at his restaurant and he said yes. en, he and Bad Dog both interviewed me. It was pretty funny, but they liked me and I got the job.

“When I started here, I was still full-time at Mapco. I’d leave there at 2 p.m. and I had to be down here to work from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. It was long days, but I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t like it. You’ve got to enjoy life and enjoy what you’re doing,” she says. en Miss E gives me a look that says she’s done being philosophical.

“Now, I have to prep this place for the football weekend,” she says, “so you should go talk to Rocky for a bit.”

“Beginning with my dad, Alex Kasaftes, who started this place in 1953, we’ve always had great employees,” Rocky says. “Miss E is good as gold — hard-working, great attitude, and we have so much fun. I don’t think we’ve had a cross word between us in 20 years.”

Rocky began his stint at his dad’s tavern when he was still in high school. Ask him

This is the way a tavern ought to feel, I think. Dimly lit, unpretentious, two great jukeboxes, a shuffleboard, a solid Greek cheeseburger, sports on the TV, and a pair of Memphis originals pulling it all together.

was Jimmy Buffett’s ‘Come Monday.’ e flip side of the label said, ‘Why Don’t We Get Drunk,’ but we didn’t think anything of it. “ en one day my dad called us into his office, really pissed off. One of his customers had played ‘Why Don’t We Get Drunk,’ and I think you probably know the part of the title that was left off the label. Not good. Anyway, after that, we ended up getting two jukeboxes — one for his music and one for the younger crowd.”

We head back to the bar, where Miss E is running things. Regular readers of this column know that I usually ask the bartender I’m writing about to mix a drink for me. Since Alex’s Tavern is strictly a beer bar, Miss E suggests a Traﬃc IPA from Crosstown Brewing, which happens to be one of my favorite local brews. Done. I pop the tab on the can, take a nice pull, sit back, and look around. is is the way a tavern ought to feel, I think. Dimly lit, unpretentious, two great jukeboxes, a shuﬄeboard, a solid Greek

a question, any question, and the stories begin. Sometimes he even asks the question.

“Do you know why we have two jukeboxes?” he says. I don’t.

“Bad Dog and I were buddies as teenagers and we would come in here after hours and play the jukebox. It was filled with stuff my father’s friends liked: Artie Shaw, Glenn Miller, big-band stuff. We found a key to the jukebox and started sneaking in some of our 45s. One of the records we put in

cheeseburger, sports on the TV, and a pair of Memphis originals pulling it all together. As he and Miss E chat, something that Rocky told me his father used to say seems appropriate: “It’s not how many people come; it’s how many come back.”

With people like Rocky and Miss E running Alex’s Tavern, I can’t imagine there are many people who wouldn’t come back.

Alex’s Tavern is located at 1445 Jackson Avenue.

Eyvette Bafford and Rocky Kasaftes

Two jukeboxes and a shuffleboard table.

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DINING OUT

Falafel, Fattoush, and … French Fries

La Roche offers authentic and fresh Lebanese cuisine from the original owners of Cedars.

BY ALEX GREENE

Just off the Lebanese coast, forever splashed by the waters of the Mediterranean and only yards away from the seaside traﬃc of Beirut’s Avenue Général de Gaulle, loom the two Al Raouche Rocks. For anyone who knows Lebanon, they are a timeless icon of that country and its capital city. It was for that reason that Mustapha Mustapha named the Lebanese restaurant that he and Mounir El-Mourabi recently opened the Cooper-Young.

ey had already tried that approach with their previous dining venture in Cordova, Cedars, after the tree that graces Lebanon’s ﬂag and has been associated with those lands since pre-Biblical times. en as now, the partners hoped that a name steeped in Lebanese history and symbolism would convey their absolute dedication to preparing the most authentic Lebanese food possible. When the partners moved on from Cedars, searching for a new direction in the restaurant business, Mustapha thought the landmark of Al Raouche would be a perfect — and literal — touchstone to christen a new joint eﬀort. Ultimately the partners settled on the

“Lebanese food is the best food in the Middle East. Everything else is a copy. Even the restaurants in Saudi Arabia, most of them are Lebanese or Syrian.”

moment, Mustapha explained how important Lebanese cuisine is to the entire region. “Lebanese food is the best food in the Middle East,” he told us. “Everything else is a copy. Even the restaurants in Saudi Arabia, most of them are Lebanese or Syrian. Lebanese and Syrian food is the same, basically.”

French term for Beirut’s iconic seaside stones: La Roche.

Since opening at 916 South Cooper during this year’s Cooper-Young Festival, La Roche has become a bright spot in the neighborhood, gaining a reputation, as Cedars did before it, for freshness and great attention to detail in the seasoning and preparation of its dishes. e way Mustapha sees it, such freshness and authenticity goes without saying — it’s the rock on which they’ve built their clientele. But after Cedars, they wanted to change the setting and the dynamic of how their food was enjoyed.

“Cedars was becoming too much like fast food,” he told me. “People ordering 30

sandwiches at a time, things like that, people just stopping in to pick up food to go.” e atmosphere they’re cultivating at La Roche is very diﬀerent, he said. ey want customers to feel like they’re eating a homecooked meal. When a friend and I recently visited the place for a night out, that’s exactly how it felt, especially when Mustapha pulled up a chair to chat with us. Ironically, to make the place more comfortable, he explained, the partners had to strip back much of the old Midtown home which the building had once been, long ago. In so doing, they created the vibe of a freshly scrubbed, modern space, the simple lines of the blond paneling and nearly Scandinavian woodwork highlighted by plush, dark drapes here and there, and exceedingly comfortable chairs. On the front deck, where nearly all the tables were occupied on that November evening, it was more minimalist, but clearly a popular option as well.

We resisted the charms of a meal in the crisp autumnal air to better immerse ourselves in the homey atmosphere within, and we were glad we did. Sitting with us for another

Indeed, as we scanned the menu, it seemed to offer everything we loved about Middle Eastern food, both familiar and obscure. On the first page alone, tabouli, fattoush, hummus, muhammara, grape leaves, and baba ghanouj were listed as the cold appetizers, followed by hot openers like kibbeh, falafel, sambousek, cheese rolls, potato harra, and … French fries. Despite the last item’s bow to American tastes, this was a collection of dishes both common and rare — a good sign that this was not your typical fast-food falafel joint. To get things started, we settled on the comforting standby of stuffed grape leaves, plus two things diners don’t find often enough in Middle Eastern restaurants: fattoush and sambousek. Fattoush is essentially a Romaine salad, but with telling details that make it distinctly Lebanese, such as the mint leaves mixed in with the lettuce, the generous amount of radish in the dish, the sprinkling of pita chips, and a distinctive sweettart sumac and pomegranate dressing. It’s a perfect study in contrasts, from the unique dressing and succulent tomatoes to

La Roche occupies a former house in Cooper-Young.

Mustapha Mustapha

Trysh Travis, the perfect dinner companion

the crunchy pita, cucumbers, and onions. It paired well with the generous basket of pita. Speaking of contrasts, we also had before us a plate of sambousek, small dough pockets not unlike empanadas or Indian samosas, but stuffed with a distinctively Middle Eastern filling of ground beef, onions, and pine nuts, graced with a savory blend of coriander, cinnamon, nutmeg, and more. e dough’s outer crust had the slightest crunch, while the interior of each bite was saturated with the filling’s meat and seasoning — a delicate balance, perfectly realized at La Roche. e thin strips of cabbage, chopped parsley, and tomatoes serving as garnish added yet another dimension to the contrasts and proved to be irresistible complements to the sambousek themselves. As for the grape leaves, much beloved in open salad bars the world over, these were of a markedly superior quality. While the stuffing of the dish can sometimes lean too heavily on the rice, and thus become overly dry or pasty, these grape leaves were stuffed with a much more delicate blend that also

included minced tomatoes, onions, parsley, and a spritz of lemon, making for a much creamier interior than usual — and an irresistible appetizer.

In the meantime, our server suggested hot tea, which we immediately ordered. at certainly help create a mood of cozy familiarity, but so too did our server, who tacked back and forth between taking our orders and tending to her young son doing homework at a nearby table.

She introduced herself as El-Mourabi’s wife, Arin. Framed by her golden hijab, her eyes sparkled as she told her own story, which began well before she met her husband-to-be. For some years, she had her own food truck, but, being Indonesian rather than Lebanese, she dubbed it “Quasi Halal Asian Street Food.” It was popular, she explained, but running a food truck proved to be demanding on many levels, not the least of which was ﬁnding a commercial kitchen where she could prep her food.

Cedars, it turned out, had free time in its kitchen, and as she began using it, a bond developed between her and El-Mourabi. In the end, after their marriage she ended up closing her food truck so she could focus on the brickand-mortar eatery, and gave up cooking commercially as well. And, remaining inside rather than sitting on the deck, we could see she was also well-suited to the roles of both hostess and overseer. en came the main attraction. Aiming for more variety,

we ordered two platters, the mixed grill and the vegetarian. Other options included various kabobs and a falafel platter. Yet we weren’t prepared for the variety such plates offered. e mixed grill spread included one skewer each of beef, chicken, and the very Lebanese kafta, a ground meat blend that’s also served as a kabob. ese were accompanied with hummus, mayonnaise, saffron-seasoned rice, and some perfectly roasted tomatoes and red onions. It was a grill master’s dream, with the crispy, blackened corners of both meat and vegetables delivering cookout flavors galore. Indeed, when Chef Isam D. came out (using an initial for his surname like the star he is), he told us that “the charcoal is everything,” adding that “the meat cooks in the smoke.” Having studied the cuisines of many nationalities at a Lebanese culinary school, he was clearly delighted to be specializing in the flavors of his homeland. Such roasted flavors also permeated the vegetable plate, especially the baba ghanouj, which foregrounded the unique flavor of flame-roasted eggplant. at flavor also came through in the muhammara spread, with its main ingredient of roasted red pepper, blended

and topped with a sprinkled sumac spice. Meanwhile, the falafel was perfectly fried on its exterior, yet surprisingly airy and rich in ﬂavors inside. It may well be the best falafel I’ve ever eaten.

After Arin oﬀered us dessert, we had one ﬁnal experience in store: their trademark baklava. is too was unlike any similarly named dish I’ve had in the past,

not as cloyingly sweet or soggy as it often is, balancing the flaky filo dough with a crisper upper layer that was almost reminiscent of a thin shortbread. is was when we finally got to meet El-Mourabi himself, as he emerged from his duties behind the scenes to say hello. “It’s almost like a cookie,” he said of the baklava, noting that while they proudly make everything in the store by hand (except the pita bread, which is baked locally but will eventually be replaced by an in-house baker), the baklava, to be perfect, must be shipped from Beirut.

As he spoke, his love for his homeland was palpable. Clearly, to El-Mourabi, the people of Lebanon have perfected the art of cuisine. And hand-in-hand with that comes his family. When Mustapha married El-Mourabi’s sister, his partner became his brother-in-law, and with his wife, Arin, working the front, it clearly has become a family affair. at goes for both the welcoming company and the fresh, finely seasoned cuisine, alive with the flavors of Lebanon.

La Roche is located at 916 South Cooper Street.

Baklava, direct from Beirut

Sambousek

Fattoush

Vegetarian and mixed-grill platters

Memphis Dining Guide

A Curated Guide to Eating Out

served Thu.-Sun., noon-3:30 p.m. (reservations required). Closed Sun.Tues. The Peabody, 149 Union. 529-4188. D, MRA, $$$$

CIMAS—It’s breakfast tacos, shrimp and grits, chilaquiles verdes, and plenty of other Southern and Latin-American twists at the Hyatt Centric. 33 Beale St. 444-3232. B, L, D, $-$$$

COCOZZA AMERICAN ITALIAN—”The red sauce joint of your dreams” serves up classic Italian-American fare from the owners of Majestic Grille. Closed Sun. 110 Harbor Town Sq. 609-1111. D, $-$$

COZY CORNER—Serving up ribs, pork sandwiches, chicken, spaghetti, and more; also homemade banana pudding. Closed Mon. 735 N. Parkway. 527-9158. L, D, $

CURFEW—An elevated sports bar/American tavern concept by Top Chef contestant Fabio Viviani at the Canopy Memphis Downtown hotel. 164 Union Ave. B, L, D, $-$$

DOS HERMANOS KITCHEN—Breakfast and lunch concept by Eli Townsend in the Cossitt Library. 33 S. Front. 286-2399. B, L, $ ESCO RESTAURANT AND TAPAS—Shareable dishes, turkey ribs, and seafood mac’n’cheese at this 2 Chainz franchise. 156 Lt. George W. Lee Ave. 808-3726. L, D, $$-$$$

FERRARO’S CHEESY CORNER & PIZZERIA—Plenty of pizzas, along with a whole new cheese-inspired menu (fancy grilled cheeses and build-your-own mac and cheese bowls). 111 Jackson. 522-2033. L, D, $

FISHBOWL AT THE PYRAMID—Burgers, ﬁsh dishes, sandwiches, and more served in a unique “underwater” setting. Bass Pro, 1 Bass Pro Drive, 291-8000. B, L, D, $-$$

FLAME RAMEN—Traditional Japanese ramen restaurant serving up bowls of noodles. 61 S. Second St. 441-6686. L, D, wheelchair accessible, $-$$

Memphis Magazine offers this curated restaurant listing as a service to our readers. Broken down alphabetically by neighborhoods, this directory does not list every restaurant in town. It does, however, include the magazine’s “Top 50” choices of must-try restaurants in Memphis, a group that is updated every August. Establishments open less than a year are not eligible for “Top 50” but are noted as “New.” is guide also includes a representative sampling of other Bluﬀ City eating establishments. No fast-food facilities or cafeterias are listed. Restaurants are included regardless of whether they advertise in Memphis Magazine; those that operate in multiple locations are listed under the neighborhood of their original location. is guide is updated regularly, but we recommend that you call ahead to check on hours, prices, or other details. Suggestions from readers are welcome: dining@memphismagazine.com.

DOWNTOWN

ALDO’S PIZZA PIES—Serving gourmet pizzas — including Mr. T Rex — salads, and more. Also 30 beers, bottled or on tap. 100 S. Main. 577-7743; 752 S. Cooper. 725-7437. L, D, $-$$

AMELIA GENE’S—Globally inspired ﬁne-dining cuisine at the One Beale project, including Rohan duck, Wagyu ﬁlet, and an extensive cheese cart. 255 S. Front. 686-5051. D, $$-$$$

THE ARCADE—Possibly Memphis’ oldest cafe. Specialties include sweet potato pancakes, a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich, and breakfast served all day. 540 S. Main. 526-5757. B, L, D (Thurs.-Sat.), MRA, $

ARNOLD’S SMOKEHOUSE—A classic smokehouse with vegan and nonvegan options seasoned to perfection. Closed Mon. 2019 E. Person Ave. 922-5950. L, D, SB, $-$$$

AUTOMATIC SLIM’S—Longtime downtown favorite specializes in contemporary American cuisine emphasizing local ingredients; also extensive martini list. 83 S. Second. 525-7948. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$$

BARDOG TAVERN—Classic American grill with Italian inﬂuence, Bardog offers pasta specialties such as Grandma’s NJ Meatballs, as well as salads, sliders, sandwiches, and daily specials. 73 Monroe. 275-8752. B (Mon.-Fri.), L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$

BELLE TAVERN—Serving elevated bar food, including a butcher board with a variety of meats and cheeses, as well as daily specials. 117 Barboro Alley. 249-6580. L (Sun.), D, MRA, $

BEN YAY’S GUMBO SHOP—Spiritual successor to DejaVu, offering fresh and authentic Creole staples. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 111. 779-4125. L, D, $-$$

BISCUITS & JAMS—Offering sweet and savory brunch with a Cajun ﬂare. Specialties include smoked sausage or spicy fried chicken on

biscuits, lemon blueberry wafﬂes, and rum custard French toast. No walk-ins on weekends. 24 N. B.B. King Blvd. 672-7905. B, L, WB, $-$$ BRASS DOOR IRISH PUB—Irish and New-American cuisine includes such entrees as ﬁsh and chips, burgers, shepherd’s pie, all-day Irish breakfast, and more. 152 Madison. 572-1813. L, D, SB, $-$$

BY THE BREWERY—Breakfast and lunch café, with a focus on Southern-style biscuits, salads, and soups. 496 Tennessee St. 310-4341. B, L, $

CAFE KEOUGH—European-style cafe serving quiche, paninis, salads, and more. 12 S. Main. 509-2469. B, L, D, $

CAPRICCIO GRILL ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE

Offers prime steaks, fresh seafood (lobster tails, grouper, mahi mahi), pasta, and several Northern Italian specialties. 149 Union, The Peabody. 529-4199. B, L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$$$

CAROLINA WATERSHED—This indoor/outdoor eatery, set around silos, features reimagined down-home classics, including fried green tomatoes with smoked catﬁsh, a buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, burgers, and more. Closed Mon.-Thurs. 141 E. Carolina. 321-5553. L, D, WB, $-$$

— lunch

— dinner

FLIGHT RESTAURANT & WINE BAR—Steaks and seafood, with such specialties as bison ribeye and Muscovy duck, all matched with appropriate wines. 39 S. Main. 521-8005. D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

FLYING FISH—Serves up fried and grilled versions of shrimp, crab, oysters, ﬁsh tacos, and catﬁsh; also chicken and burgers. 105 S. Second. 522-8228. L, D, $-$$

GARDEN BRUNCH CAFÉ—Fish and grits, steak and eggs, and other upscale takes on Southern brunch classics. 492 S. Main St. 249-7450. B, L, $$

GOOD FORTUNE CO.—Authentic handcrafted noodles, ramen, and dumplings. 361 S. Main. 561-306-4711. L, D, $-$$

THE GENRE—Burgers, tenders, catﬁsh, and plenty of vegan options made to order at this music-themed restaurant/lounge. 200 Poplar, Suite 105. 410-8169. B, L, D, $-$$

THE GOURMET GALLERY—A variety of elevated comfort dishes, like fried ribs and wafﬂes, shrimp and grits, grilled salmon, and more. Closed Mon. 412 S. Main St. 848-4691. L, D, $-$$$

GROOVY GRATITUDE—Offers a vibrant selection of cold-pressed juices, handcrafted smoothies, and healthy eats like paninis and acai bowls. Closed Sun. 605 N. Second St. 417-8007. B, L, WB, $ GUS’S WORLD FAMOUS FRIED CHICKEN—Serves chicken with signature spicy batter, along with homemade beans, slaw, and pies. 310 S. Front. 527-4877; 3100 Forest Hill Irene (Germantown). 853-6005; 2965 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 373-9111; 730 S. Mendenhall. 767-2323; 505 Highway 70 W., Mason, TN. 901-294-2028. L, D, MRA, $

SB — Sunday brunch

WB — weekend brunch

MRA — member, Memphis Restaurant Association

$ — under $15 per person without drinks or desserts

$$ — under $25

$$$ — $26-$50

$$$$ — over $50

CATHERINE & MARY’S—A variety of pastas, grilled quail, pâté, razor clams, and monkﬁsh are among the dishes served at this Italian restaurant in the Chisca. 272 S. Main. 254-8600. D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

CHEZ PHILIPPE—Classical/contemporary French cuisine with Asian and Nordic inﬂuences, presented in a luxurious atmosphere with seasonal tasting menus from chef Keith Clinton. Afternoon tea B — breakfast

celebrate our city’s community table and the people

grow, cook,

HAPPY MEXICAN—Quesadillas, burritos, chimichangas, vegetable and seafood dishes, and more. 385 S. Second. 529-9991; 6080 Primacy Pkwy. 683-0000; 7935 Winchester. 751-5353. L, D, $

HIVE BAGEL & DELI Bagels, bagels, and more bagels at this new downtown deli offering baked goods, sandwiches, and salads. Closed Mon./Tue. 276 S. Front St. 509-2946. B, L, $

HU. ROOF—Rooftop cocktail bar serves toasts with a variety of toppings including beef tartare with cured egg, cognac, and capers or riced cauliﬂower with yellow curry, currants, and almonds. Also salads, ﬁsh tacos, and boiled peanut hummus. 79 Madison. 333-1229. D, $

HUSTLE & DOUGH BAKERY & CAFE—Flaky, baked breakfast goodness every day with fresh pastries, sandwiches, and more at Arrive Hotel. 477 S. Main St., 701-7577. B, L, $

IBIS—Upscale cocktail bar serving sharable small plates, including lobster rolls, crab cakes, and lamb meatballs, alongside select larger entrees. Closed Mon.-Wed. 314 S. Main. 748-5187. D, $-$$

DINING SYMBOLS

ITTA BENA—Southern and Cajun-American cuisine served here, located above B.B. King’s Blues Club on Beale St.; specialties are duck and wafﬂes and shrimp and grits, along with steaks, chops, seafood, and pasta. 145 Beale St. 578-3031. D, MRA, $$-$$$

JEM DINING—Chef Josh Mutchnick offers a dining experience that’s memorable, reﬁned, unpretentious, and welcoming with dishes from around the world. Closed Sun./Mon./Tue. 644 Madison Ave. 286-1635. D, $$-$$$

KINFOLK—Breakfast with a side of nostalgia in Harbor Town. Specialties include biscuit sandwiches, steak and omelet plate, and brown butter mushrooms with jammy egg over grits. 111 Harbor Town Square. 457-5463. B, L, SB, WB, $-$$

KING & UNION BAR GROCERY—Classic Southern favorites including catfish plate, pimento cheese, po-boys, chicken & waffles. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with cocktails served with flair and favorite Memphis beers. Locally made confections available in the grocery. 185 Union Ave. 523-8500. B, L, D, $-$$

KOOKY CANUCK—Offers prime rib, catﬁsh, and burgers, including the 4-lb. “Kookamonga”; also late-night menu. 87 S. Second. 578-9800; 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy. 1-800-2453 L, D, MRA, $-$$$ LITTLE BETTIE—New Haven-style pizzas and snacks from the Andrew-Michael team at Wiseacre’s Downtown location. 398 S. B.B. King Blvd. 334-9411. L, D, $-$$

THE LOBBYIST AT THE CHISCA—Chef Jimmy Gentry brings his farm-to-table ideas downtown, with seasonal, and sometimes weekly, new menus, and an emphasis on creative vegetable dishes. Closed Sun. 272 S. Main St., Suite 101. 249-2170. D, $$-$$$$

LOFLIN YARD—Beer garden and restaurant serves vegetarian fare and smoked-meat dishes, including beef brisket and pork tenderloin, cooked on a custom-made grill. Closed Mon.-Tues. 7 W. Carolina. 249-3046. L (Sat. and Sun.), D, MRA, $-$$

THE LOOKOUT AT THE PYRAMID—Serves seafood and Southern fare, including cornmeal-fried oysters, sweet tea brined chicken, and elk chops. 1 Bass Pro Dr. 620-4600/291-8200. L, D, $-$$$

LUNA RESTAURANT & LOUNGE—Serving a limited menu of breakfast and lunch items. Dinner entrees include citrus glaze salmon and Cajun stuffed chicken. 179 Madison (Hotel Napoleon). 526-0002. B, D (Mon.-Sat.), $-$$$

MACIEL’S—Entrees include tortas, fried taco plates, quesadillas, chorizo and pastor soft tacos, salads, and more. Closed Sun. 45 S. Main. 526-0037, MRA, $

THE MAJESTIC GRILLE—Features aged steaks, fresh seafood, and such specialties as roasted chicken and grilled pork tenderloin; offers a pre-theater menu and classic cocktails. Well-stocked bar. 145 S. Main. 522-8555. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$$

McEWEN’S—Southern/American cuisine with international flavors; specialties include steak and seafood, sweet potato-crusted catfish with macaroni and cheese, and more. Closed Sun., Monroe location. 120 Monroe. 527-7085; 1110 Van Buren (Oxford). 662-234-7003. L, D, SB (Oxford only), MRA, $$-$$$ MESQUITE CHOP HOUSE—The focus here is on steaks, including prime fillet, rib-eyes, and prime-aged New York strip; also, some seafood options. 5960 Getwell (Southaven). 662-890-2467; 88 Union. 5275337. 249-5661. D, SB, $$-$$$

MOLLIE FONTAINE LOUNGE—Specializes in tapas (small plates) featuring global cuisine. Closed Sun.-Tues. 679 Adams Ave. 524-1886. D, MRA, $ MOMMA’S ROADHOUSE—This diner and dive at Highway 55 serves up smoked wings, burgers, and beer, among other solid bar-food options. 855 Kentucky. 207-5111. L, D, MRA, $

PAULETTE’S—Presents fine dining with a Continental flair, including such entrees as filet Paulette with butter cream sauce and crabmeat and spinach crepes; also changing daily specials and great views. River Inn. 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3300. B, L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$$

PLANT BASED HEAT EXPRESS—Flavorful, 100% vegan meals, including plants, plant-based meat, and kid’s meals. No reservations. Closed Sun. 363 S. Front St. 570-5339. L, D, $-$$

PRETTY TACO Fast casual tacos with a Memphis twist, like the Soul Burger tacos. Closed Sun./Mon. 265 S. Front St. 509-8120. L, D, $-$$

PROMISE South Main soul food restaurant (think turkey necks, meatloaf, fried catﬁsh) using old family recipes. Closed Sun./Mon. 412 S. Main. L, D, $-$$

RENDEZVOUS, CHARLES VERGOS’—Menu items include barbecued ribs, cheese plates, skillet shrimp, red beans and rice, and Greek salads. Closed Sun.-Mon. 52 S. Second. 523-2746. L (Fri.Sat.), D, $-$$

ROCK’N DOUGH—A blend of Italian and American foods like artisan pizza, salads, pasta, burgers, and house-brewed beers. 704 Madison Ave. 587-6256. L, D, $-$$

SABOR CARIBE—Serving up “Caribbean flavors” with dishes from Colombia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. Closed Sunday. 662 Madison. 949-8100. L, D, $

SAGE—Restaurant and lounge features daily lunch specials and tapas with such dishes as braised short ribs, teriyaki pulled pork, and the Sage burger made with Angus beef, avocado mash, fried egg, and flash-fried sage. 94 S. Main. 672-7902. L, D, WB, $-$$

SILLY GOOSE LOUNGE—Gourmet, wood-fired pizzas and handcrafted cocktails at this downtown restaurant and lounge. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 111. 435-6915. L, D, $

SMURFEY’S SMOKEHOUSE—The beloved food truck has found a permanent home for their famous loaded nachos and fries with plans of adding breakfast soon. Closed Sun. and Mon. 149 Madison Ave. 337-7966. L, D, $-$$

SOUTH MAIN SUSHI & GRILL—Serving sushi, nigiri, and more. 520 S. Main. 249-2194. L, D, $

SOB—Elevated gastropub that serves favorites like general Tso’s cauliflower or duck fried rice. 345 S. Main. 526-0388; 5040 Sanderlin (East Memphis). 818-0821; 1329 W. Poplar Ave. 286-1360. L, D, WB, $-$$

SOUTH POINT GROCERY—Fresh and delicious sandwiches made to order at Downtown’s new grocery market. 136 Webster Ave. B, L, D, $ SUGAR GRITS—Who said breakfast has to be in the morning? The Westmorelands offer grits and other breakfast goodness all day long, in addition to other Southern-style lunch and dinner options. 150 Peabody Pl., Suite 111. 249-5206. B, L, D, $-$$

SUNRISE MEMPHIS—Serves breakfast all day, including house-made biscuits, frittatas, kielbasa or boudin plates, and breakfast platters. 670 Jefferson. 552-3144; 5469 Poplar Ave. (East Memphis). 844-6117. B, L, MRA, $

TALK SHOP—Southern-style cuisine, a breakfast bar, and plenty of other cool dishes and drinks at the Caption by Hyatt. 245 S. Front St. B, L, D, $-$$

TERRACE—Creative American and Continental cuisine includes such dishes as filet mignon, beef or lamb sliders, chicken satay, and mushroom pizzetta. Rooftop, River Inn of Harbor Town, 50 Harbor Town Square. 260-3366. D, MRA, $$

TEXAS DE BRAZIL—Serves beef, pork, lamb, and chicken dishes, and Brazilian sausage; also a salad bar with extensive toppings. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 103. 526-7600. L (Wed.-Fri.), D, WB, $$-$$$ TUG’S—Famous for New Orleans gumbo, fabulous burgers, fried thin catfish, and specialty pancakes. Now serving Grisanti Crafted Pizza. 51 Harbor Town Square. 260-3344. B, L, D, WB, $$-$$$

WAHLBURGERS WILD—Wahlburgers brings its classic menu, but with a few gamey twists at the Bass Pro Pyramid. 1 Bass Pro Drive. B, L, D, $-$$

WESTY’S—Extensive menu includes a variety of wild rice dishes, sandwiches, plate lunches, and hot fudge pie. 346 N. Main. 543-3278. L, D, $

WINGMAN—Downtown lounge and hookah bar offering wings galore with ten signature sauces, and plenty of other goodies. 143 Madison Ave. L, D, WB, $-$$

MIDTOWN (INCLUDES THE MEDICAL CENTER)

ABNER’S FAMOUS CHICKEN—Fried chicken tenders and dipping sauces galore at this Mid-South staple. 1350 Concourse Ave, Suite 137. 425-2597; (East Memphis) 1591 Poplar Ave. 509-3351; (Cordova) 1100 N. Germantown Pkwy. 754-5355. L, D, $-$$

ABYSSINIA RESTAURANT—Ethiopian/Mediterranean menu includes beef, chicken, lamb, fish entrees, and vegetarian dishes; also a lunch buffet. 2600 Poplar. 321-0082. L, D, $-$$ ALCHEMY / SALT|SOY—Handcrafted cocktails and local craft beers with the Asian fusion dining concept from Salt|Soy. 940 S. Cooper. 726-4444. D, SB, $-$$

ART BAR—Inventive cocktails feature locally foraged ingredients; snacks include house-cured salt & vinegar potato chips and herb-roasted olives. Closed Mon. 1350 Concourse Avenue #280. 507-8030. D, $ ASHTAR GARDEN—Southern twists on classic brunch dishes, and plenty of cocktails. Closed Mon.-Wed. 898 Cooper St. 4431514. L, D, $-$$

BABALU TACOS & TAPAS—Spanish-style tapas with Southern flair; also taco and enchilada of the day; specials change daily. 2115 Madison. 274-0100; 6450 Poplar, 410-8909. L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$ BACK DO / MI YARD—A revamped patio space behind The Beauty Shop features rotisserie meats and fishes via Brazilian-style outdoor grill. Dinner Wed.-Sat., weather permitting. 966 S. Cooper, 272-7111. D, $$

BAIN BARBECUE & BAKERY—Brian Bain’s popular Texas-style barbecue is back, alongside an assortment of baked goods. 993 S. Cooper. 310-4141. B, L, $-$$

BAR DKDC—Features an ever-changing menu of international “street food,” from Thai to Mexican, Israeli to Indian, along with specialty cocktails. 964 S. Cooper. 272-0830. D, MRA, $

BAR KEOUGH—It’s old-school eats and cocktails at the new CooperYoung neighborhood corner bar by Kevin Keough. 247 Cooper St. D, $ BAR-B-Q SHOP—Dishes up barbecued ribs, spaghetti, bologna, other classics. Closed Sun. 1782 Madison. 272-1277. L, D, MRA, $-$$

BARI RISTORANTE ENOTECA—Authentic Southeastern Italian cuisine (Puglia) emphasizes lighter entrees. Serves fresh fish and beef dishes and a homemade soup of the day. 524 S. Cooper. 722-2244. D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

BARKSDALE RESTAURANT—Old-school diner serving breakfast and Southern plate lunches. 237 S. Cooper. 722-2193. B, L, D, $ (Temporarily closed.)

BAYOU BAR & GRILL—New Orleans fare at this Overton Square eatery includes jambalaya, gumbo, catfish Acadian, shrimp dishes, red beans and rice, and muffalettas. 2094 Madison. 278-8626. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$

BEAUTY SHOP—Modern American cuisine with international flair served in a former beauty shop. Serves steaks, salads, pasta, and seafood, including pecan-crusted golden sea bass. Perennial “Best Brunch” winner. Closed for dinner Sunday. 966 S. Cooper. 272-7111. L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

BOSCOS—Tennessee’s first craft brewery serves a variety of freshly brewed beers as well as wood-fired oven pizzas, pasta, seafood, steaks, and sandwiches. 2120 Madison. 432-2222. L, D, SB (with live jazz), MRA, $-$$

BROADWAY PIZZA—Serving a variety of pizzas, including the Broadway Special, as well as sandwiches, salads, wings, and soul-food specials. 2581 Broad. 454-7930; 627 S. Mendenhall. 207-1546. L, D, $-$$

CAFE 1912—French/American bistro owned by culinary pioneer Glenn Hays serving such seafood entrees as seared sea scallops with charred cauliflower purée and chorizo cumin sauce; also crepes, salads, and onion soup gratinée. 243 S. Cooper. 722-2700. D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

CAFE ECLECTIC—Omelets and chicken and waffles are among menu items, along with quesadillas, sandwiches, wraps, and burgers. Menu varies by location. 603 N. McLean. 725-1718; 111 Harbor Town Square. 590-4645. B, L, D, SB, MRA, $

CAFE OLÉ—This eatery specializes in authentic Mexican cuisine; one specialty is the build-your-own quesadilla. 959 S. Cooper. 343-0103. L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$

CAFE PALLADIO—Serves gourmet salads, soups, sandwiches, and desserts in a tea room inside the antiques shop. Closed Sun. 2169 Central. 278-0129. L, $

CAMEO—Three longtime Memphis bartenders join forces for creative cocktails, cheese boards, snacks, and Sunday brunch. 1835 Union Ave., Suite 3. 305-6511. D, SB, $-$$

CELTIC CROSSING—Specializes in Irish and American pub fare. Entrees include shepherd’s pie, shrimp and sausage coddle, and fish and chips. 903 S. Cooper. 274-5151. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$

CENTRAL BBQ—Serves ribs, smoked hot wings, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken, turkey, nachos, and portobello sandwiches. Offers both pork and beef barbecue. 2249 Central Ave. 272-9377; 4375 Summer Ave. 767-4672; 147 E. Butler. 672-7760 ; 6201 Poplar. 4177962. L, D, MRA, $-$$

COMPLICATED PILGRIM—Quick-serve coffee shop, bar, and restaurant all in one at The Memphian hotel. 21 S. Cooper St. 538-7309. B, L, D, $-$$

THE COVE—Nautical-themed restaurant and bar serving oysters, pizzas, and more. The Stoner Pie, with tamales and fritos, is a popular dish. 2559 Broad. 730-0719. L, D, $

THE CRAZY NOODLE—Korean noodle dishes range from bibam beef noodle with cabbage, carrots, and other vegetables, to curry chicken noodle; also rice cakes served in a flavorful sauce. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 2015 Madison. 272-0928. L, D, $

ECCO—Mediterranean-inspired specialties range from rib-eye steak to seared scallops to housemade pastas and a grilled vegetable plate; also a Saturday brunch. Closed Sun.-Mon. 1585 Overton Park. 410-8200. B, L, D, $-$$

EVERGREEN GRILL—Serving classic American cuisine like patty melts, burgers, phillies, and more to bring you the comforting taste of home. Closed Mon./Tue. 212 N. Evergreen St. 779-7065. L, D, X,$$-$$$

FARM BURGER—Serves grass-fed, freshly ground, locally sourced burgers; also available with chicken, pork, or veggie quinoa patties, with such toppings as aged white cheddar, kale coleslaw, and roasted beets. 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 175. 800-1851. L, D, $

THE FARMER AT RAILGARTEN—Farmer classics include panseared catfish, gulf shrimp and grits, or a Gibson donut bread pudding. Closed Mon./Tue. 2166 Central. 313-0087. D, $-$$

FEAST & GRAZE—Whipped goat toast, open-faced grilled cheese, and other local pantry snacks and charcuterie boards. Closed Sun./Mon. Inside Brooks Museum, 1934 Poplar. 654-5926. L, $

FINO’S FROM THE HILL—Italian deli offers old favorites such as the Acquisto as well as a new breakfast menu. Germantown location paired with Happy Glaze Donuts. 1853 Madison. 272-FINO; 7781 Farmington Blvd. (Germantown). B, L, D, $

FLAME RAMEN—Traditional Japanese ramen restaurant serving up bowls of noodles in Midtown. 1838 Union Ave. 779-8666; 61 S. Second St., Suite 160 (downtown). D, $-$$

FLIP SIDE—Pinball meets pub in the Crosstown neighborhood, with plenty of games alongside a Caribbean- and Latin-inspired menu. Closed Mon. 1349 Autumn Ave. 207-6193. L, D, $-$$

FRIDA’S—Mexican cuisine and Tex-Mex standards, including chimichangas, enchiladas, and fajitas; seafood includes shrimp and tilapia. 1718 Madison. 244-6196. L, D, $-$$

GLOBAL CAFÉ—This international food hall hosts three immigrant/ refugee food entrepreneurs serving Venezuelan, Sudanese, and Syrian cuisines. Samosas, shawarma, and kabobs are among the menu items. Closed Mon. 1350 Concourse Avenue, Suite 157. L, D, MRA, $

GOLDEN INDIA—Northern Indian specialties include tandoori chicken as well as lamb, beef, shrimp, and vegetarian dishes. 2097 Madison. 728-5111. L, D, $-$$

GOOD GROCERIES MARKET & CAFÉ—Providing fresh, healthy, cruelty-free meals, Good Groceries offers a classic American menu with a twist: instead of pork, they use duck for their BBQ. They also sell quesadillas, mac-and-cheese, sandwiches, and more. Closed Sun. 585 S. Cooper St. 325-1269. B, L, D, $

GROWLERS—Sports bar and eatery serves standard bar fare in addition to pasta, tacos, chicken and waffles, and light options. 1911 Poplar. 244-7904. L, D, $-$$

GUAC FRESH MEX—Authentic Mexican cuisine and four types of guacamole. Closed Sun. 782 Washington Ave. 587-4100. L, D, $ HATTIE B’S—Fried chicken spot features “hot chicken” with a variety of heat levels; from no heat to “shut the cluck up” sauce. Sides include greens, pimento mac-and-cheese, and black-eyed pea salad. 596 S. Cooper. 424-5900. L, D, $

HUEY’S—This family-friendly restaurant offers 13 different burgers, a variety of sandwiches, and delicious soups and salads. 1927 Madison. 726-4372; 1771 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 7543885; 77 S. Second (downtown). 527-2700; 2130 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-4455; 7090 Malco Blvd. (Southaven). 662-349-7097; 7825 Winchester. 624-8911; 4872 Poplar. 682-7729; 7677 Farmington Blvd. (Germantown). 318-3030; 8570 Highway 51 N. (Millington). 873-5025. L, D, MRA, $

IMAGINE VEGAN CAFE—Dishes at this fully vegan restaurant range from salads and sandwiches to full dinners, including eggplant parmesan and “beef” tips and rice; breakfast all day Sat. and Sun. 2158 Young. 654-3455. L, D, WB, $

INDIA PALACE—Tandoori chicken, lamb shish kabobs, and chicken tikka masala are among the entrees; also, vegetarian options and a daily all-you-can-eat lunch buffet. 1720 Poplar. 278-1199. L, D, $-$$

INSPIRE COMMUNITY CAFE—Serving breakfast all day, in addition to quesadillas, rice bowls, and more for lunch and dinner. 510 Tillman, Suite 110. 509-8640. B, L, D, $

JACK BROWN’S BEER AND BURGER JOINT—Another spot to satisfy your burger craving, this time with 100% American Wagyu beef. 2197 Central Ave. 512-6957. L, D, $-$$$

KNIFEBIRD—Neighborhood wine bar boasts plenty of flights, cocktails, and mocktails alongside bruschetta and charcuterie boards. Closed Sun. 2155 Central Ave. 748-5425. D, $-$$$

LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM—Serves such Southern cuisine as po’boys, shrimp and grits, and wood-fired pizzas. 2119 Madison. 2075097. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$

LOS COMALES—Authentic Mexican cuisine, daily specials, and strong margaritas. 1322 Madison. 440-8393; 345 Madison Ave. (downtown). 590-4524; 2860 S. Perkins (East Memphis). 369-0528. L, D, $-$$ THE LIQUOR STORE—Renovated liquor store turned diner serves all-day breakfast, sandwiches, and entrees such as Salisbury steak and

smothered pork chops. 2655 Broad. 405-5477; 669 S. Mendenhall Rd. (East Memphis). B, L, D, $-$$

LOUIS CONNELLY’S BAR FOR FUN TIMES & FRIENDSHIP—An upgraded dive bar with a neighborhood feel and a rockin’ SMASH burger. Closed Sun. and Mon. 322 S. Cleveland St. 433-9582. L, D, $-$$

MADISON TAVERN—Indoor and outdoor seating available, plus a full menu with a range of comfort foods and drinks on tap. 2126 Madison Ave. 417-8029. L, D, $-$$$

MARY’S B.O.T.E.—This bar of tropical escapism offers over 30 specialty drinks, pizzas, bar snacks, and a cozy interior that transports customers to the beach. 21+ only. Closed Mon. 588 S. Cooper St. No phone number. D, wheelchair accessible, $

MEMPHIS PIZZA CAFE—Homemade pizzas are specialties; also serves sandwiches, calzones, and salads. 2087 Madison. 726-5343; 5061 Park Ave. 684-1306; 7604 W. Farmington (Germantown). 7532218; 797 W. Poplar (Collierville). 861-7800; 5627 Getwell (Southaven). 662-536-1364. L, D, $-$$

MEMPHIS TOAST—Provides authentic Memphian breakfast cuisine and features themed rooms to honor iconic Memphis figures. Specialties include French toast, shrimp and grits, and their little Lucille breakfast burrito. 954 Jackson Ave. 417-7817. B, L, WB, $-$$

MEMPHIS WHISTLE—Cocktails, cocktails, and even more delicious cocktails alongside burgers, sandwiches, and other tasty snacks. 2299 Young Ave. Closed Mon.-Tue. 236-7136. D, $-$$

MOLLY’S LA CASITA—Homemade tamales, fish tacos, a vegetarian combo, and bacon-wrapped shrimp are a few of the specialties. 2006 Madison. 726-1873. L, D, MRA, $-$$

PAYNE’S BAR-B-QUE—Opened in 1972, this family-owned barbecue joint serves ribs, smoked sausage, and chopped pork sandwiches with a standout mustard slaw and homemade sauce. About as down-to-earth as it gets. 1762 Lamar. 272-1523. L, D, $-$$

PETALS OF A PEONY—Authentic Chinese restaurant serving chicken, fish, tofu, and more, smothered in spicy sauces. 2110 Madison Ave. 207-6680. L, D, $-$$$

THE PUBLIC BISTRO—Knifebird owners’ full-service American bistro with a menu by chef Gannon Hamilton. 937 S. Cooper St. Closed Sun. 509-2113. D, $-$$

SALTWATER CRAB—Offers an array of seafood dishes including boils with blue crab, crab legs, lobster tails, and more, and specialty sushi like the Dynamite or Royal King rolls, in addition to signature sangrias and cocktails. 2059 Madison Ave. 922-5202. L, D, $$

THE SECOND LINE—Kelly English brings “relaxed Creole cuisine” to his newest eatery; serves a variety of po’boys and such specialties as barbecue shrimp, andouille shrimp, and pimento cheese fries. 2144 Monroe. 590-2829. L, D, WB, $-$$

SEKISUI—Japanese fusion cuisine, fresh sushi bar, grilled meats and seafood, California rolls, and vegetarian entrees. Poplar/ Perkins location’s emphasis is on Pacific Rim cuisine. Menu and hours vary at each location. 25 Belvedere. 725-0005; 1884 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 309-8800; 4724 Poplar. 767-7770; 2130 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-0622; 2990 Kirby-Whitten (Bartlett). 377-2727; 6696 Poplar. 747-0001. L, D, $-$$$

SEN TRANG—Serving a wide variety of Chinese and Vietnamese soups, stir-fries, and noodles. 1615 Madison Ave. 276-0006. L, D, wheelchair accessible, $-$$

SHROOMLICIOUS MEALS—Vegan eatery with a heavy blend of (as the name implies) mushrooms. Closed Mon. and Tues. 394 N. Watkins St. 205-8413. L, D, $ SLICE MIDTOWN—Serving New York-style pizza as well as subs and pasta dishes (formerly known as Little Italy). 1495 Union. 725-0280; L, D, $-$$

SMOKY CITY BBQ—Serving authentic Memphis barbeque, including burgers, ribs, wings, and daily specials. Closed Sun. 1023 Jackson Ave. 425-3115. L, D, $-$$$

SOUL FISH CAFE—Serving Southern-style soul food, tacos, and po’boys, including catfish, crawfish, oyster, shrimp, chicken, and smoked pork tenderloin. 862 S. Cooper. 725-0722; 3160 Village Shops Dr. (Germantown). 755-6988; 4720 Poplar. 590-0323. L, D, MRA, $-$$

STICKEM—Brick-and-mortar location for the popular food truck, which offers grilled meat on a stick. 1788 Madison. Closed Sunday. 474-7214. L, D, $

TEKILA MEXICAN CUISINE—Mexican cuisine with a modern twist. Specialties include chicken mole, enchiladas verde, and the trio special. 1433 Union Ave. 510-5734. L, D, WB, wheelchair accessible, $-$$$ TAMBOLI’S PASTA & PIZZA—Pasta-maker Miles Tamboli whips up Italian soul food with seasonal menus featuring dishes like crispy

fried chicken or creamy bucatini with pecorino cheese. Serves dinner Tues.-Sat. 1761 Madison. 410-8866. D, $-$$

TAKASHI BISTRO—Fusion restaurant with an open kitchen that lets customers watch chefs prepare a variety of Japanese and Thai cuisine. 1680 Union Ave., Suite 109. 800-2936. L, D, $-$$.

TJ MULLIGAN’S—Cold drinks, comfort food, and plenty of live entertainment. 2021 Madison. 725-0770; 1817 Kirby Pkwy. (East Memphis). 755-2481; 8070 Trinity Rd. Suite 1 (Cordova). 756-4480; 2821 N. Houston Levee Rd. (Lakeland). 377-9997. L, D, $-$$

TONICA—Paella and other Spanish-inspired dishes with an Italian touch, alongside an extensive list of gin and tonics. 1545 Overton Park. Closed Mon.-Wed. D, $-$$

TSUNAMI—Features Pacific Rim cuisine (Asia, Australia, South Pacific, etc.); also a changing “small plate” menu. Chef Ben Smith is a Cooper-Young pioneer. Specialties include Asian nachos and roasted sea bass. Closed Sunday. 928 S. Cooper. 274-2556. D, MRA, $$-$$$

TUYEN’S ASIAN BISTRO—A variety of Asian dishes from the minds and chefs behind Saigon Le. Closed Sun. 288 N. Cleveland. L, D, $-$$

VIBE FOODS—By way of Colorado, superfood bar serves up clean and delicious meals and juices. Closed Sun. 1350 Concourse Ave. 572-1127; 3139 Poplar Ave. (East Memphis). 207-2535. B, L, $-$$

ZINNIE’S—Dive bar classic reopens with a makeover and signature Zinnaloni sandwich. 1688 Madison. 726-5004. L, D, $

SOUTH MEMPHIS (INCLUDES PARKWAY VILLAGE, FOX MEADOWS, SOUTH MEMPHIS, WINCHESTER, AND WHITEHAVEN)

BALA’S BISTRO—Authentic West African cuisine available to order or by the pound, alongside traditional American dishes and an extensive vegan menu. 4571 Elvis Presley Blvd. 509-3024. L, D, $-$$

CACHE 42 KITCHEN & COCKTAILS—Elevated fine dining (think golden rack of lamb or lobster queso) and cocktail lounge at MoneyBagg Yo’s restaurant; menu by chef Daris Leatherwood. Brunch and lunch options coming soon. 4202 Hacks Cross Rd., Suite 121. 494-5458. D, $-$$

COLETTA’S—Longtime eatery serves such specialties as homemade ravioli, lasagna, and pizza with barbecue or traditional toppings. 1063 S. Parkway E. 948-7652; 2850 Appling Rd. (Bartlett). 383-1122. L, D, $-$$

CURRY BOWL—Specializes in Southern Indian cuisine, serving Tandoori chicken, biryani, tikka masala, and more. Weekend buffet. 4141 Hacks Cross Rd. 207-6051. L, D, $

DELTA’S KITCHEN—The premier restaurant at The Guest House at Graceland serves Elvis-inspired dishes — like Nutella and Peanut Butter Crepes for breakfast — and upscale Southern cuisine — including lamb chops and shrimp and grits — for dinner. 3600 Elvis Presley Blvd. 443-3000. B, D, $-$$$

DWJ KOREAN BARBECUE—This authentic Korean eatery serves kimbap, barbecued beef short ribs, rice and noodles dishes, and hot pots and stews. 3750 Hacks Cross Rd., Suite 101. 746-8057; 2156 Young. 207-6204. L, D, $-$$

FABULOUS FLAVORS & FRIENDS ”The Candy Lady” Precious Thompson Jones comes up with a little bit of everything: omelettes, quesadillas, t-bones and waffles, and plenty of soul food. 2063 E. Brooks Rd. 314-0735. L, D, $

THE FOUR WAY—Legendary soul-food establishment dishing up such entrees as fried and baked catfish, chicken, and turkey and dressing, along with a host of vegetables and desserts. Around the corner from the legendary Stax Studio. Closed Mon. 998 Mississippi Blvd. 507-1519. L, D, $

HERNANDO’S HIDEAWAY No one cares how late it gets; not at Hernando’s Hideaway. Live music, killer happy hour, and plenty of bar fare at this South Memphis hang. 3210 Old Hernando Rd. 917-982-1829. L, D, $ INTERSTATE BAR-B-Q—Specialties include chopped pork-shoulder sandwiches, ribs, hot wings, spaghetti, chicken, and turkey. 2265 S. Third. 775-2304; 150 W. Stateline Rd. (Southaven). 662-393-5699. L, D, $-$$

JIM & SAMELLA’S—It’s a revolving menu of soul food delight from Chef Talbert Fleming, with anything from Southern ribs to fried tamales. 841 Bullington Ave. 265-8761. L, D, $

LEONARD’S—Serves wet and dry ribs, barbecue sandwiches, spaghetti, catfish, homemade onion rings, and lemon icebox pie; also a lunch buffet. 5465 Fox Plaza. 360-1963. L, $-$$

MARLOWE’S—In addition to its signature barbecue and ribs, Marlowe’s serves Southern-style steaks, chops, lasagna, and more. 4381 Elvis Presley Blvd. 332-4159. D, MRA, $-$$

UNCLE LOU’S FRIED CHICKEN—Featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives for good reason: fried chicken (mild, hot, or home-style); jumbo burgers four patties high; strawberry shortcake, and assorted fruit pies. 3633 Millbranch. 332-2367. L, D, MRA, $

SUMMER/BERCLAIR/ RALEIGH/BARTLETT

901 HOT POT & KOREAN BBQ—All-you-can-eat hot pot and Korean BBQ, from short ribs to garlic shrimp. 2965 N. Germantown Pkwy. 5124963. L, D, $$-$$$

BISCUITS & JAMS—Biscuits, waffles, French toast, and plenty of sharables at this Bartlett breakfast spot. Closed Mon./Tue. 5806 Stage Rd. 672-7905. B, L, $

BRYANT’S BREAKFAST—Slingin’ famous biscuits, plate lunches, chicken fried steak, and other breakfast classics since 1968. 3965 Summer Ave. 324-7494. B, L, $

CEVICHERIA AND GRILL CHILEMON—Ceviche, of course, but also plenty of other postres, aperitivos, and mixed grilled meat and seafood feasts. Closed Sun. 4509 Summer Ave. 672-7905. L, D, $

CHEF FLAVAS AND BARTLETT BREAKFAST FACTORY ”Flavaful” sandwiches, soups, pastas, and more from the makers of the popular local spinach artichoke dip. Traditional breakfast options served by Bartlett Breakfast Factory. Closed Sun./Mon. 6301 Stage Rd. 7792200. B, L, D, $-$$

DIM SUM KING—All the best from a selection of authentic Chinese dishes: roasted duck, sizzling hot plate, Cantonese BBQ, and plenty more. 5266 Summer Ave. Suite 65. 766-0831. L, D, $-$$

ELWOOD’S SHACK—Casual comfort food includes tacos, pizza, and sandwiches. Specialties include meats smoked in-house (chicken, turkey, brisket, pork), barbecue pizza, and steelhead trout tacos. 4523 Summer. 7619898; 4040 Park Ave. 754-2520. B, L, D, $

EXLINES’ BEST PIZZA—Serves pizza, Italian dinners, sandwiches, and salads. 6250 Stage Rd. 382-3433; 2935 Austin Peay. 388-4711; 2801 Kirby Parkway. 754-0202; 7730 Wolf River Blvd. (Germantown). 753-4545; 531 W. Stateline Rd. 662-342-4544. L, D, MRA, $

LA TAQUERIA GUADALUPANA—Fajitas and quesadillas are just a few of the authentic Mexican entrees offered here. A bona-fide Memphis institution. 4818 Summer. 685-6857; 5848 Winchester. 3654992. L, D, $

LOTUS—Authentic Vietnamese-Asian fare, including lemon-grass chicken and shrimp, egg rolls, Pho soup, and spicy Vietnamese vermicelli. 4970 Summer. 682-1151. D, $

MORTIMER’S—Contemporary American entrees include trout almondine, chicken dishes, and hand-cut steaks; also sandwiches, salads, and daily/nightly specials. A Memphis landmark since the Knickerbocker closed. Closed for lunch Sat.-Sun. 590 N. Perkins. 761-9321. L, D, $-$$

NAGASAKI INN—Chicken, steak, and lobster are among the main courses; meal is cooked at your table. 3951 Summer. 454-0320. D, $$ NAM KING—General Tso’s chicken, hot and sour soup, and homemade chicken wings are back at the longtime Raleigh Chinese eatery. 3624 Austin Peay Highway, Suite 3. 373-4411. L, D, $-$$

ÓRALE TACOS & BAKERY—Tacos, enchiladas, and other traditional Southern Mexican dishes alongside baked pan dulces. 2204 Whitten Rd. 571-1786. B, L, D, $-$$

PANDA GARDEN—Sesame chicken and broccoli beef are among the Mandarin and Cantonese entrees; also seafood specials and fried rice. Closed for lunch Saturday. 3735 Summer. 323-4819. L, D, $-$$

QUEEN OF SHEBA—Featuring Middle Eastern favorites and Yemeni dishes such as lamb haneeth and saltah. 4792 Summer. 207-4174. L, D, $

SIDE PORCH STEAK HOUSE—In addition to steak, the menu includes chicken, pork chops, and fish entrees; homemade rolls are a specialty. Closed Sun./Mon. 5689 Stage Rd. 377-2484. D, $-$$

TORTILLERIA LA UNICA—Individual helping of Mexican street food, including hefty tamales, burritos, tortas, and sopes. 5015 Summer Ave. 685-0097. B, L, D, $

UNIVERSITY NEIGHBORHOOD DISTRICT (INCLUDES CHICKASAW GARDENS AND HIGHLAND STRIP)

A-TAN—Serves Chinese and Japanese hibachi cuisine, complete with sushi bar. A specialty is Four Treasures with garlic sauce. 3445 Poplar, Suite 17, University Center. 452-4477. L, D, $-$$$

BROTHER JUNIPER’S—This little cottage is a breakfast mecca, offering specialty omelets, including the open-faced San Diegan omelet; also daily specials, and homemade breads and pastries. Closed Mon. 3519 Walker. 324-0144. B, $

CHAR RESTAURANT—Specializing in modern Southern cuisine, this eatery offers homestyle sides, charbroiled steaks, and fresh seafood. 431 S. Highland, Suite 120. 249-3533. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$$

EL PORTON—Fajitas, quesadillas, and steak ranchero are just a few of the menu items. 2095 Merchants Row (Germantown). 754-4268; 8361

Highway 64. 380-7877; 3448 Poplar (Poplar Plaza). 452-7330; 1805 N. Germantown Parkway (Cordova). 624-9358; 1016 W. Poplar (Collierville). 854-5770. L, D, MRA, $-$$

PLANT BASED HEAT

All of your favorite Southern-style recipes, but deliciously transformed into a vegan format. Specialties include the spicy fye junt burger, or the chopped ‘n’ smoked BBQ jackfruit sandwich. Closed Sun. 669 S. Highland St.; 363 S. Front St. (downtown). L, D, $

SAM’S DELI—Everything from sandwiches to bibimbap bowls at this local favorite. Closed Mon./Tue. 643 S. Highland St. 454-5582. L, D, $ EAST MEMPHIS (INCLUDES POPLAR/I-240)

ACRE—Features seasonal modern American cuisine in an avantegarde setting using locally sourced products; also small plates and enclosed garden patio. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 690 S. Perkins. 818-2273. L, D, $$-$$$

AGAVOS COCINA & TEQUILA—Camaron de Tequila, tamales, kabobs, and burgers made with a blend of beef and chorizo are among the offerings at this tequila-centric restaurant and bar. 2924 Walnut Grove. 433-9345. L, D, $-$$

AMERIGO—Traditional and contemporary Italian cuisine includes pasta, wood-fired pizza, steaks, and cedarwood-roasted fish. 1239 Ridgeway, Park Place Mall. 761-4000. L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$$ ANDALUSIA— Authentic Moroccan cuisine, including tagines, brochettes, and briouates. 5101 Sanderlin Ave., Suite 103. 236-7784. L, D, $-$$

ANDREW MICHAEL ITALIAN KITCHEN—Traditional Italian cuisine with a menu from two of the city’s top chefs that changes seasonally with such entrees as Maw Maw’s ravioli. Closed Sun.-Mon. 712 W. Brookhaven Circle. 347-3569. D, MRA, $$-$$$

ANOTHER BROKEN EGG CAFE—Offering several varieties of eggs Benedict, waffles, omelets, pancakes, beignets, and other breakfast fare; also burgers, sandwiches, and salads. 6063 Park Ave. 729-7020; 65 S. Highland. 623-7122. B, L, WB, $

ANTIGUA MEXICAN BAR & GRILL—Tortas, tacos, and other authentic Mexican cuisine alongside freshly-made salsa, guacamole, and white queso dip. 717 N. White Station Rd. 761-1374. L, D, $-$$

BANGKOK ALLEY—Thai fusion cuisine includes noodle and curry dishes, chef-specialty sushi rolls, coconut soup, and duck and seafood entrees. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. at Brookhaven location; call for hours. 715 W. Brookhaven Circle. 590-2585; 2150 W. Poplar at Houston Levee (Collierville). 854-8748. L, D, $-$$

BELLE MEADE SOCIAL—Upscale Americana cuisine including lamb lollipops, spicy tuna stack, and steak & noodle salad. 518 Perkins Extd. 480-7054. L, D, $-$$$

BELMONT GRILL—Burgers, steak sandwiches, and other classic American fare at one of Memphis’ longstanding bars. 4970 Poplar. 767-0305. L, D, $-$$

BENIHANA—This Japanese steakhouse serves beef, chicken, and seafood grilled at the table; some menu items change monthly; sushi bar also featured. 912 Ridge Lake Blvd. 767-8980. L, D, $$-$$$ BIG BAD BREAKFAST—Fresh biscuits, house-made cured meats, jams, jellies, and more for the most important meal of the day. 6450 Poplar. 881-3346. B, L, $-$$

BOG & BARLEY—An all-Irish fine dining experience by the owners of Celtic Crossing, and a full bar with plenty of beer and 25-year-old Macallan. 6150 Poplar, Suite 124. 805-2262. L, D, WB, $-$$ BROOKLYN BRIDGE ITALIAN RESTAURANT—Specializing in such homemade entrees as spinach lasagna and lobster ravioli; a seafood specialty is horseradish-crusted salmon. Closed Sun. 1779 Kirby Pkwy. 755-7413. D, $-$$$

BRYANT’S BREAKFAST—Three-egg omelets, pancakes, and The Sampler Platter are among the popular entrees here. Possibly the best biscuits in town. Closed Mon. and Tues. 3965 Summer. 324-7494. B, L, $ CAPITAL GRILLE—Known for its dry-aged, hand-carved steaks; among the specialties are bone-in sirloin, and porcini-rubbed Delmonico; also seafood entrees and seasonal lunch plates. Closed for lunch Sat.Sun. Crescent Center, 6065 Poplar. 683-9291. L, D, $$$-$$$$

CASABLANCA—Lamb shawarma is one of the fresh, homemade specialties served at this Mediterranean/Moroccan restaurant; fish entrees and vegetarian options also available. 5030 Poplar. 725-8557; 1707 Madison. 421-6949. L, D, $-$$

CHUKIS TACOS 2—Traditional homestyle Mexican recipes. 3445 Poplar Ave., Suite 1. 888-4139. B, L, D, $-$$

CIAO BELLA—Among the Italian and Greek specialties are lasagna, seafood pasta, gourmet pizzas, and vegetarian options. 5101 Sanderlin Ave. 205-2500. D, MRA, $-$$$

CITY SILO TABLE + PANTRY—With a focus on clean eating, this establishment offers fresh juices, as well as comfort foods re-imagined

with wholesome ingredients. 5101 Sanderlin. 729-7687. Germantown: 7605 W. Farmington Blvd., Suite 2. 236-7223. B, L, D, $ COASTAL FISH COMPANY—Upscale offerings of international fish varieties utilizing styles ranging from the Carribbean, East Coast, West Coast, China, Philippines, and more. 415 Great View Dr. E., Suite 101. 266-9000. D, $$-$$$

CORKY’S—Popular barbecue emporium offers both wet and dry ribs, plus a full menu of other barbecue entrees. Wed. lunch buffets, Cordova and Collierville. 5259 Poplar. 685-9744; 1740 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 737-1911; 743 W. Poplar (Collierville). 405-4999; 6434 Goodman Rd., Olive Branch. 662-893-3663. L, D, MRA, $-$$

DAN MCGUINNESS PUB—Serves fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, burgers, and other Irish and American fare; also lunch and dinner specials. 4694 Spottswood. 761-3711; 3964 Goodman Rd. 662-8907611. L, D, $

ERLING JENSEN—For decades, Chef Erling has presented “globally inspired” cuisine to die for. Specialties are rack of lamb, big-game entrees, and fresh fish dishes. 1044 S. Yates. 763-3700. D, MRA, $$-$$$

ERLING JENSEN SMALL BITES—Enjoy Erling Jensen’s specialty dishes in a sharable, small-plate format alongside TopGolf Swing suites. 5069 Sanderlin Ave. 587-9464. L, D, $-$$$

FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE—Serves wet-aged and dry-aged steaks, prime beef, chops, and seafood, including salmon, Australian lobster tails, and a catch of the day. 6245 Poplar. 761-6200. D, MRA, $$$-$$$$

FOLK’S FOLLY ORIGINAL PRIME STEAK HOUSE

Specializes in prime steaks, as well as lobster, grilled Scottish salmon, Alaskan king crab legs, rack of lamb, and weekly specials. 551 S. Mendenhall. 762-8200. D, MRA, $$$-$$$$

FORMOSA—Offers Mandarin cuisine, including broccoli beef, hotand-sour soup, and spring rolls. Closed Mon. 6685 Quince. 753-9898. L, D, $-$$

FOX RIDGE PIZZA & GRILL—Pizzas, calzones, sub sandwiches, burgers, and meat-and-two plate lunches are among the dishes served at this eatery, which opened in 1979. 711 W. Brookhaven Circle. 758-6500. L, D, $

FRATELLI’S—Serves hot and cold sandwiches, salads, soups, and desserts, all with an Italian/Mediterranean flair. Closed Sun. 750 Cherry Rd., Memphis Botanic Garden. 766-9900. L, $

HALF SHELL—Specializes in seafood, such as king crab legs; also serves steaks, chicken, pastas, salads, sandwiches, a ”voodoo menu”; oyster bar at Winchester location. 688 S. Mendenhall. 682-3966; 7825 Winchester. 737-6755. L, D, WB, MRA, $-$$$

HEN HOUSE—Hybrid wine/cocktail bar and tasting room with plenty of cosmopolitan eats. Closed Sun. 679 S. Mendenhall. 499-5436. D, $-$$$ HIGH POINT PIZZA—Serves a variety of pizzas, subs, salads, and sides. Closed Mon. A neighborhood fixture. 477 High Point Terrace. 452-3339. L, D, $-$$

HOG & HOMINY—The casual sister to Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen serves brick-oven-baked pizzas, including the Red-Eye with pork belly, and small plates with everything from meatballs to beef and cheddar hot dogs; and local veggies. Closed for lunch Mon. 707 W. Brookhaven Cir. 207-7396. L, D, SB, MRA. $-$$$

HOUSTON’S—Serves steaks, seafood, pork chops, chicken dishes, sandwiches, salads, and Chicago-style spinach dip. Famous for first-class service. 5000 Poplar. 683-0915. L, D, X $-$$$

LA BAGUETTE—An almond croissant and chicken salad are among specialties at this French-style bistro. Closed for dinner Sun. 3088 Poplar. 458-0900. B, L, D (closes at 7), MRA, $

LAS DELICIAS—Popular for its guacamole, house-made tortilla chips, and margaritas, this restaurant draws diners with its chicken enchiladas, meat-stuffed flautas, and Cuban torta with spicy pork. Closed Sun. 4002 Park Ave. 458-9264; 5689 Quince. 800-2873. L, D, $

LIBRO AT LAURELWOOD—Bookstore eatery features a variety of sandwiches, salads, and homemade pasta dishes, with Italian-inspired options such as carbonara and potato gnocchi. Closed for dinner Sun. 387 Perkins Ext. (inside Novel). 800-2656. B, L, D, SB, $-$$

LITTLE ITALY EAST—New York-style pizzas galore and homemade pasta. Closed Sun. 6300 Poplar Ave., Ste. 113. 729-7432. L, $-$$

LOST PIZZA—Offering pizzas (with dough made from scratch), pasta, salads, sandwiches, tamales, and more. 2855 Poplar. 572-1803; 5960 Getwell (Southaven). 662-892-8684. L, D, $-$$

MAGNOLIA & MAY—Southern-inspired, family-owned, casual dining restaurant serving up a variety of sandwiches, chef-inspired dishes, and craft cocktails. Popular items include shrimp and grits and

the double cheeseburger. Closed Mon. 718 Mt. Moriah Rd. 676-8100. L, D, WB, MRA. $$-$$$

MAHOGANY MEMPHIS—Upscale Southern restaurant offers such dishes as coffee-rubbed lamb chops and baked Cajun Cornish hen. Closed for dinner Sun. and all day Mon.-Tues. 3092 Poplar, Suite 11. 623-7977. L, D, SB, $-$$$

MANDE DIBI WEST AFRICAN BBQ GRILL—Pairs traditional West African BBQ with Memphis BBQ for a menu that offers a wide variety of flavors, including daily specials and vegan-friendly options. 6825 Winchester Rd. 672-8995. L, D, $-$$$

MARCIANO MEDITERRANEAN AND ITALIAN CUISINE—Veal Saltimbocca with angel-hair pasta and white wine sauce is among the entrees; also steaks, seafood, and gourmet pizza. 780 E. Brookhaven Cir. 682-1660. D, $-$$

MAYURI INDIAN CUISINE—Serves tandoori chicken, masala dosa, tikka masala, as well as lamb and shrimp entrees; also a daily lunch buffet, and dinner buffet on Fri.-Sat. 6524 Quince Rd. 753-8755. L, D, $-$$

MELLOW MUSHROOM—Large menu includes assortment of pizzas, salads, calzones, hoagies, vegetarian options, and 50 beers on tap. 5138 Park Ave. 562-1211; 9155 Poplar, Shops of Forest Hill (Germantown). 907-0243. L, D, $-$$

MOSA ASIAN BISTRO—Specialties include sesame chicken, Thai calamari, rainbow panang curry with grouper fish, and other Pan Asian/ fusion entrees. Closed Mon. 850 S. White Station Rd. 683-8889. L, D, MRA, $

NAM KING—Offers luncheon and dinner buffets, dim sum, and such specialties as fried dumplings, pepper steak, and orange chicken. 4594 Yale. 373-4411. L, D, $

NAPA CAFE—Among the specialties are miso-marinated salmon over black rice with garlic spinach and shiitake mushrooms. Closed Sun. 5101 Sanderlin, Suite 122. 683-0441. L, D, MRA, $$-$$$

ONE & ONLY BBQ—On the menu are pork barbecue sandwiches, platters, wet and dry ribs, smoked chicken and turkey platters, a smoked meat salad, barbecue quesadillas, Brunswick Stew, and Millie’s homemade desserts. 1779 Kirby Pkwy. 751-3615; 567 Perkins Extd. 249-4227. L, D, $

ONO POKÉ—This eatery specializes in poké — a Hawaiian dish of fresh fish salad served over rice. Menu includes a variety of poké bowls, like the Kimchi Tuna bowl, or customers can build their own by choosing a base, protein, veggies, and toppings. 3145 Poplar. 618-2955. L, D, $

OWEN BRENNAN’S—New Orleans-style menu of beef, chicken, pasta, and seafood; jambalaya, shrimp and grits, and crawfish etouffee are specialties. Closed for dinner Sun. The Regalia, 6150 Poplar. 761-0990. L, D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

PARK + CHERRY—The Dixon offers casual dining within the museum. Seasonal menu features sandwiches, like rustic chicken salad on croissant, as well as salads, snacks, and sweets. Closed for breakfast Sun. and all day Mon. 4339 Park (Dixon Gallery and Gardens). 761-5250. L, $ PATRICK’S—Serves barbecue nachos, burgers, and entrees such as fish and chips; also plate lunches and daily specials. 4972 Park. 682-2852. L, D, MRA, $

PETE & SAM’S—Serving Memphis for 60-plus years; offers steaks, seafood, and traditional Italian dishes, including homemade ravioli, lasagna, and chicken marsala. 3886 Park. 458-0694. D, $-$$$

PF CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO—Specialties are orange peel shrimp, Mongolian beef, and chicken in lettuce wraps; also vegetarian dishes, including spicy eggplant. 1181 Ridgeway Rd., Park Place Centre. 8183889. L, D, $-$$

PHO SAIGON—Vietnamese fare includes beef teriyaki, roasted quail, curry ginger chicken, vegetarian options, and a variety of soups. 2946 Poplar. 458-1644. L, D, $

PYRO’S FIRE-FRESH PIZZA—Serving gourmet pizzas cooked in an open-fire oven, wide choice of toppings, and large local and craft beer selection. 1199 Ridgeway. 379-8294; 2035 Union Ave. 208-8857; 2286 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 207-1198; 3592 S. Houston Levee (Collierville). 221-8109. L, D, MRA, $

THE READY ROOM—Duck wontons, bananas “Oscar,” and plenty of other bar snacks and entrees at Hook Point Brewing Co.’s taproom. Closed Mon./Tues. 715 W. Brookhaven Cir. 487-6931. L, D, WB, $-$$

RED HOOK CAJUN SEAFOOD & BAR—Cajun-style array of seafood including shrimp, mussels, clams, crawfish, and oysters. 3295 Poplar. 207-1960. L, D, $-$$

RED KOI—Classic Japanese cuisine offered at this family-run restaurant; hibachi steaks, sushi, seafood, chicken, and vegetables. 5847 Poplar. 767-3456. L, D, X $-$$

RED PIER CAJUN SEAFOOD & BAR—Owners of Red Hook bring more Cajun-style seafood dishes. 5901 Poplar Ave. 512-5923. L, D, $-$$$

RESTAURANT IRIS—French Creole-inspired classics, such as Gulf shrimp and rice grits congee served with lap chong sausage and boiled peanuts, are served at this newly remodeled restaurant owned by Chef Kelly English, a Food and Wine “Top Ten.” 4550 Poplar. 5902828. L, D, $$-$$$

RIVER OAKS—Chef Jose Gutierrez’s French-style bistro serves seafood and steaks, with an emphasis on fresh local ingredients. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 5871 Poplar Ave. 683-9305. L, D, $$$

RONNIE GRISANTI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Memphis institution serves some family classics such as Elfo’s Special and handmade ravioli, along with house-made pizza and fresh oysters. Closed Sun. 6150 Poplar, Suite 122. 850-0191. D, $-$$$

ROTOLO’S CRAFT & CRUST

ﬁrst Memphis location, whipping up pizza pies with homemade sauces and fresh ingredients, pasta, wings, and other shareables. 681 S. White Station. 454-3352. L, D, $-$$

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE

in-house, as well as lamb, chicken, and fresh seafood, including lobster. 6120 Poplar. 761-0055. D, $$$-$$$$

SALSA COCINA MEXICANA

ties include carnitas, enchiladas verde, and fajitas; also Southwestern seafood dishes such as snapper verde. Closed Sun. Regalia Shopping Center, 6150 Poplar, Suite 129. 683-6325. L, D, $-$$

SEASONS 52—This elegant fresh grill and wine bar offers a seasonally changing menu using fresh ingredients, wood-ﬁre grilling, and brick-oven cooking; also a large international wine list and nightly piano bar. Crescent Center, 6085 Poplar. 682-9952. L, D, $$-$$$

STAKS—Offering pancakes, including birthday cake and lemon ricotta. Menu includes other breakfast items such as beignets and French toast, as well as soups and sandwiches for lunch. 4615 Poplar. 509-2367; 3660 S. Houston Levee Road, Suite 104 (Collierville). 286-4335; 7704 Poplar (Germantown). 800-1951; 2902 May Blvd. (Southaven). B, L, WB, $ SWANKY’S TACO SHOP

ﬂatbreads, quesadillas, chimichangas, burgers, and more. 4770 Poplar. 730-0763; 6641 Poplar (Germantown). 737-2088; 272 S. Main. 779-3499. L, D, $

THREE LITTLE PIGS—Pork-shoulder-style barbecue with tangy mild or hot sauce, freshly made coleslaw, and baked beans. 5145 Quince Rd. 685-7094. B, L, D, $

TOPS BAR-B-Q—Specializes in pork barbecue sandwiches and sandwich plates with beans and slaw; also serves ribs, beef brisket, and burgers. 1286 Union. 725-7527; 4183 Summer. 324-4325; 5391 Winchester. 794-7936; 3970 Rhodes. 323-9865; 6130 Macon. 3710580. For more locations, go online. L, D, $ TORCHY’S TACOS—Plenty of Tex-Mex variety, with creative monthly special tacos. 719 S. Mendenhall. 343-8880. B, L, D, $ VENICE KITCHEN—Specializes in “eclectic Italian” and Southern Creole, from pastas, including the “Godfather,” to hand-tossed pizzas, including the “John Wayne”; choose from 50 toppings. 368 Perkins Ext. 767-6872. L, D, SB, $-$$

WANG’S MANDARIN HOUSE—Offers Mandarin, Cantonese, Szechuan, and spicy Hunan entrees, including the golden-sesame chicken; next door is East Tapas, serving small plates with an Asian twist. 6065 Park Ave., Park Place Mall. 763-0676. L, D, $-$$

WASABI—Serving traditional Japanese offerings, hibachi, sashimi, and sushi. The Sweet Heart roll, wrapped — in the shape of a heart — with tuna and ﬁlled with spicy salmon, yellowtail, and avocado, is a specialty. 5101 Sanderlin Rd., Suite 105. 421-6399. L, D, $-$$

THE WING GURU—A staple of the Memphis wing scene, featuring everything from classic buffalo to exquisite lemon pepper. 5699 Mt. Moriah Rd. 509-2405; 875 W. Poplar Ave., Suite 6 (Collierville). 2217488; 8253 Highway 51 North, Suite 103 (Millington). 872-0849; 4130 Elvis Presley Blvd (Whitehaven) 791-4726; 5224 Airline Rd., Suite 107 (Arlington). 209-0349. L, D, $-$$

WOMAN’S EXCHANGE TEA ROOM—Chicken-salad plate, beef tenderloin, soups-and-sandwiches, vegetable plates, and homemade desserts are specialties. Closed Sat.-Sun. 88 Racine. 327-5681. L, $ CORDOVA

THE BLUE ROOM RESTAURANT—An elevated take on traditional Southern recipes, located in the U of M Kemmons Wilson Culinary Institute. Closed Mon. 1245 N. Germantown Pkwy., Suite 101. 249-7512. D, SB, $$-$$$

BOMBAY HOUSE—Indian fare includes lamb korma and chicken tikka; also, a daily luncheon buffet. 1727 N. Germantown Pkwy. 755-4114. L, D, $-$$

THE BUTCHER SHOP—Serves steaks ranging from 8-oz. filets to a 20-oz. porterhouse; also chicken, pork chops, fresh seafood. 107 S. Germantown Rd. 757-4244. L (Fri. and Sun.), D, $$-$$$ GREEN BAMBOO—Pineapple tilapia, pork vermicelli, and the soft egg noodle combo are Vietnamese specialties here. 990 N. Germantown Parkway, Suite 104. 753-5488. L, D, $-$$

JIM ’N NICK’S BAR-B-Q—Serves barbecued pork, ribs, chicken, brisket, and fish, along with other homemade Southern specialties. 2359 N. Germantown Pkwy. 388-0998. L, D, $-$$

EL MERO TACO—This food truck turned restaurant serves up Mexican and Southern-style fusion dishes, including fried chicken tacos, chorizo con papas tacos, and brisket quesadillas. 8100 Macon Station, Suite 102. 308-1661. Closed Sun.-Mon. L, D, WB, $ OPTIONS Burgers, wings, philly cheesesteaks, and more comfort food options. Closed Mon.-Thu. 7940 Fischer Steel Rd. 245-6048. D, SB, $-$$

CHICAGO STEAKHOUSE AT THE GOLDSTRIKE—1010 Casino Center Dr., Robinsonville, MS, 1-888-24KSTAY / 662-357-1225

FAIRBANKS AT THE HOLLYWOOD—1150 Casino Strip Blvd., Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-871-0711

IGNITE STEAKHOUSE AT SOUTHLAND CASINO HOTEL—1550 N. Ingram Blvd., West Memphis, AR, 1-800-467-6182

JACK BINION’S STEAK HOUSE AT HORSESHOE—1021 Casino Center Drive, Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-303-SHOE

LUCKY 8 ASIAN BISTRO AT HORSESHOE—1021 Casino Center Drive, Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-303-SHOE

SOUTHLAND CASINO HOTEL'S THE KITCHENS—1550 N. Ingram Blvd., West Memphis, AR, 1-800-467-6182

THE STEAKHOUSE AT THE FITZ—711 Lucky Ln., Robinsonville, MS, 1-888-766-LUCK, Ext. 8213

TWAIN’S STEAKHOUSE AT SAM’S TOWN TUNICA—1477 Casino Strip Resorts Boulevard, Robinsonville, MS, 1-800-456-0711

POKÉ WORLD—Serves up Hawaiian poké bowls filled with rice and diced, raw fish. Also offers Taiwanese bubble tea and rolled ice cream for dessert. 1605 N. Germantown Pkwy., Suite 111. 623-7986. East Memphis: 575 Erin Dr. 779-4971. L, D, $

PETALS OF A PEONY—Authentic Sichuan cuisine, from crispy duck to peony fried chicken. Be prepared for spice! 1250 N. Germantown Pkwy. 787-8886. L, D, $-$$

SHOGUN JAPANESE RESTAURANT—Entrees include tempura, teriyaki, and sushi, as well as grilled fish and chicken entrees. 2324 N. Germantown Pkwy. 384-4122. L, D, $-$$

TANNOOR GRILL—Brazilian-style steakhouse with skewers served tableside, along with Middle Eastern specialties; vegetarian options also available. 830 N. Germantown Pkwy. 443-5222. L, D, $-$$$ GERMANTOWN

BLUE HONEY BISTRO—Entrees at this upscale eatery include brown butter scallops served with Mississippi blue rice and herbcrusted beef tenderloin with vegetables and truffle butter. Closed Sun. 9155 Poplar, Suite 17. 552-3041. D, $-$$$

THE CRAZY COOP—Plenty of hot wings and sauces, plus sandwiches and other dinner plates. 1315 Ridgeway Rd. 748-5325; 7199 Stage Rd. (Bartlett). 433-9212. L, D, $-$$

DIMSUM MEM—Traditional Chinese food truck takes over the New Asia space. 2075 Exeter Rd., Suite 90. L, D, $-$$

GERMANTOWN COMMISSARY—Serves barbecue sandwiches, sliders, ribs, shrimp, and nachos, as well as smoked barbecued bologna sandwiches; Mon.-night all-you-can-eat ribs. 2290 S. Germantown Rd. S. 754-5540. L, D, MRA, $-$$

LAS TORTUGAS DELI MEXICANA—Authentic Mexican food prepared from local food sources; specializes in tortugas — grilled bread scooped out to hold such powerfully popular fillings as brisket, pork, and shrimp; also tingas, tostados. Closed Sun. 1215 S. Germantown Rd. 751-1200; 6300 Poplar. 623-3882. L, D, $-$$

LIMELIGHT—Wolf River Hospitality Group brings Wagyu beef, duck gnocchi, and other fine dining dishes on a rotating seasonal menu. Closed Mon./Tue. 7724 Poplar Pike. 791-2328. D, $-$$$

LOCAL LIME—Tacos and margaritas in a casual environment, plus other goodies like the Mexican caramel apple crisp skillet. Closed Mon. 7605 W. Farmington Blvd., Suite 1. 224-2204. L, D, $-$$$

MOONDANCE GRILL—From the owners of Itta Bena and Lafayette’s. Serves steak cooked sous vide and seafood dishes including Abita-barbecued shrimp and pan-seared sand dab, in addition to an extensive wine and cocktail list. 1730 S. Germantown Road, Suite 117. 755-1471. L, D, $$-$$$

NOODLES ASIAN BISTRO—Serves a variety of traditional Asian cuisine, with emphasis on noodle dishes, such as Singapore Street Noodles and Hong Kong Chow Fun. 7850 Poplar, Suite 12. 755-1117. L, D, $

PETRA CAFÉ—Serves Greek, Italian, and Middle Eastern sandwiches, gyros, and entrees. Hours vary; call. 6641 Poplar. 754-4440; 547 S. Highland. 323-3050. L, D, $-$$

ROCK’N DOUGH PIZZA CO.—Specialty and custom pizzas made from fresh ingredients; wide variety of toppings. 7850 Poplar, Suite 6. 779-2008. L, D, SB, MRA, $$

ROYAL PANDA—Hunan fish, Peking duck, Royal Panda chicken and shrimp, and a seafood combo are among the specialties. 3120 Village Shops Dr. 756-9697. L, D, $-$$

SAKURA—Sushi, tempura, and teriyaki are Japanese specialties here. 2060 West St. 758-8181; 4840 Poplar. 572-1002; 255 New Byhalia Rd. 316-5638. L, D, $-$$

SOUTHERN SOCIAL—Shrimp and grits, stuffed quail, and Aunt Thelma’s Fried Chicken are among the dishes served at this upscale Southern establishment. 2285 S. Germantown Rd. 754-5555. D, SB, MRA, $-$$$

STONEY RIVER STEAKHOUSE AND GRILL—Specializes in hand-cut steaks, a fresh seafood selection, and plenty of house specials. 7515 Poplar Ave., Suite 101. 207-1100. L, D, $$-$$$$

SUFI’S MEDITERRANEAN GRILL & BAR—Offers authentic Mediterranean and Persian cuisine, from hummus shawarma to traditional moussaka. Closed Mon. 7609 Poplar Pike. 779-2200. L, D, $-$$$

TAZIKI’S—Mediterranean-inspired dishes all made from scratch. 7850 Poplar Ave., Suite 26. 612-2713. East Memphis: 540 S. Mendenhall Rd. 290-1091. Bartlett: 7974 US-64. 203-0083. L, D, $

THE TOASTED YOLK CAFE—Churro donuts, signature Eggs Benedict, and plenty other boozy brunch options at this franchise’s first Tennessee location. 9087 Poplar Ave., Ste. 11. B, L, $-$$

UNCLE GOYO’S—More than 30 dishes with a focus on authentic Mexican cuisine, from the brains behind TacoNganas. 1730 S. Germantown Rd. L, D, $-$$

WEST STREET DINER—This home-style eatery offers breakfast, burgers, po’boys, and more. 2076 West St. 757-2191. B, L, D (Mon.-Fri.), $

ZEN JAPANESE FINE CUISINE—A full sushi bar and plenty of authentic Japanese dishes, like Hibachi or Wagyu beef. 1730 S. Germantown Rd. 779-2796. L, D, X, $-$$$

COLLIERVILLE

CAFE PIAZZA BY PAT LUCCHESI—Specializes in gourmet pizzas (including create-your-own), panini sandwiches, and pasta. Closed Sun. 139 S. Rowlett St. 861-1999. L, D, $-$$

CIAO BABY—Specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza made in a woodfired oven. Also serves house-made mozzarella, pasta, appetizers, and salads. 890 W. Poplar, Suite 1. 457-7457. L, D, $

COLLIERVILLE COMMISSARY—Serves barbecue sandwiches, sliders, ribs, shrimp, and nachos, as well as smoked barbecued bologna sandwiches. 3573 S. Houston Levee Rd. 979-5540. L, D, MRA, $-$$

DAVID GRISANTI’S ON MAIN—Serving Northern Italian cuisine and traditional Grisanti family recipes. Closed Sun./Mon. 148 N. Main. 861-1777. L, D, $-$$$

DYER’S CAFE—Juicy hamburgers, split dogs, and milkshakes at the historic Collierville restaurant. 101 N. Center St. 850-7750. L, D, $-$$

EL MEZCAL—Serves burritos, chimichangas, fajitas, and other Mexican cuisine, as well as shrimp dinners and steak. 9947 Wolf River, 853-7922; 402 Perkins Extd. 761-7710; 694 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 755-1447; 1492 Union. 274-4264; 11615 Airline Rd. (Arlington). 8671883; 9045 Highway 64 (Lakeland). 383-4219; 7164 Hacks Cross Rd. (Olive Branch). 662-890-3337; 8834 Hwy. 51 N. (Millington). 872-3220; 7424 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 417-6026. L, D, $

EMERALD THAI RESTAURANT—Spicy shrimp, pad khing, lemongrass chicken, and several noodle, rice, and vegetarian dishes are offered at this family restaurant. Closed Sunday. 8950 Highway 64 (Lakeland, TN). 384-0540. L, D, $-$$

FIREBIRDS—Specialties are hand-cut steaks, slow-roasted prime rib, and wood-grilled salmon and other seafood, as well as seasonal entrees. 4600 Merchants Circle, Carriage Crossing. 850-1637; 8470 Highway 64 (Bartlett). 379-1300. L, D, $-$$$

JIM’S PLACE GRILLE—Features American, Greek, and Continental cuisine. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun. 3660 Houston Levee. 861-5000. L, D, MRA, $-$$$

MAROON BREW CO.—Family-friendly restaurant serving up gourmet hot dogs, smash burgers, chicken, and shareables, all made to pair with beers brewed on-site. Closed Mon. 642 W. Poplar Ave., Collierville. 799-0354. L, D, $-$$

MULAN ASIAN BISTRO—Hunan Chicken, tofu dishes, and orange beef served here; sushi and Thai food, too. 2059 Houston Levee. 8505288; 2149 Young. 347-3965; 4698 Spottswood. 609-8680. L, D, $-$$

NASHOBA—Offers live music, sports games, and pub classics. Specialties are hot honey flatbread pizza, brisket fried rice, and the Nashoba burger. 4600 Merchants Park Circle, Suite 111, Collierville. 630-4683. L, D, wheelchair accessible, $-$$

OSAKA JAPANESE CUISINE—Featuring an extensive sushi menu as well as traditional Japanese and hibachi dining. Hours vary for lunch; call. 3670 Houston Levee. 861-4309; 3402 Poplar. 249-4690; 7164 Hacks Cross (Olive Branch). 662-890-9312; 2200 N. Germantown Pkwy. (Cordova). 425-4901. L, D, $-$$$

RAVEN & LILY—Eatery offers innovative Southern-inspired cuisine with such dishes as crispy shrimp and cauliflower salad, spiced lamb sausage and parmesan risotto, and bananas foster pain perdu. Closed Mon. 120 E. Mulberry. 286-4575. L, D, SB, $-$$

STIX—Hibachi steakhouse with Asian cuisine features steak, chicken, and a fillet and lobster combination, also sushi. A specialty is Dynamite Chicken with fried rice. 4680 Merchants Park Circle, Avenue Carriage Crossing. 854-3399. 150 Peabody Place, Suite 115 (Downtown). 207-7638 L, D, $-$$

WOLF RIVER BRISKET CO.—From the owners of Pyro’s Fire Fresh Pizza, highlights include house-smoked meats: prime beef brisket, chicken, and salmon. Closed Sun. 9947 Wolf River Boulevard, Suite 101. 316-5590; 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 165. 791-4389 L, D, $-$$

ZOPITA’S ON THE SQUARE—Cafe offers sandwiches, including smoked salmon and pork tenderloin, as well as salads and desserts. Closed Sun. 114 N. Main. 457-7526. L, D, $

OUT-OF-TOWN

BOZO’S HOT PIT BAR-B-Q—Barbecue, burgers, sandwiches, and subs. 342 Highway 70 (Mason, TN). 901-294-3400. L, D, $-$$

CITY GROCERY—Southern eclectic cuisine; shrimp and grits is a specialty. Closed for dinner Sun. 152 Courthouse Square (Oxford, MS). 662-232-8080. L, D, SB, $$-$$$

COMO STEAKHOUSE—Steaks cooked on a hickory charcoal grill are a specialty here. Upstairs is an oyster bar. Closed Sun. 203 Main St. (Como, MS). 662-526-9529. D, $-$$$

ELFO GRISANTI’S NORTHERN ITALIAN CUISINE—Grisanti family classics like lasagna, homemade ravioli, garlic bread, and Northern Italian pizza. Closed Sun. 5627 Getwell Rd. (Southaven, MS). 662-4704497. L, D, $-$$

MANILA FILIPINO RESTAURANT—Entrees include pork belly cutlet with lechon sauce, and shrimp and vegetables in tamarind broth; also daily combos, rice dishes, and chef specials. Closed Sun.-Mon. 7849 Rockford (Millington, TN). 209-8525. L, D, $

MARSHALL STEAKHOUSE—Rustic steakhouse serves premium Angus beef steaks, seafood dishes, rack of lamb, and more. 2379 Highway 178 (Holly Springs, MS). 628-3556. B, L, D, $-$$$

MEMPHIS BARBECUE COMPANY—Offers spare ribs, baby backs, and pulled pork and brisket. 709 Desoto Cove (Horn Lake, MS). 662-536-3762. L, D, $-$$

PIG-N-WHISTLE—Offers pork shoulder sandwiches, wet and dry ribs, catfish, nachos, and stuffed barbecue potatoes. 6084 Kerr-Rosemark Rd. (Millington, TN). 872-2455. L, D, $

SAINT LEO—Offering sophisticated pizzas, pastas, sandwiches, and salads. A James Beard nominee for Best New Restaurant in 2017. 1101 Jackson (Oxford, MS). 662-234-4555. D, L, WB, $-$$

SIMON’S—A unique dining experience situated in a charming small town. Closed Sun./Mon. 201 N. Main St. (Bolivar, TN). 731403-3474. L, D, $$-$$$$

SNACKBAR—An intriguing mix of “French Bistro with North Mississippi Cafe.” Serving a confit duck Croque Monsieur, watermelon-cucumber chaat, pan-fried quail, plus a daily plate special and a raw bar. 721 N. Lamar (Oxford, MS). 662-236-6363. D, $-$$$

TEKILA MODERN MEXICAN—Modern interpretations of classic dishes from all over Mexico. 6343 Getwell Rd. (Southaven, MS). 662-510-5734. B, L, D, $-$$

WILSON CAFE—An impressive culinary destination in the heart of the Arkansas Delta. Serving jambalaya, Waygu flatiron, butternut ravioli, swordfish & shrimp kabobs, burgers. 2 N. Jefferson (Wilson, AR). 870-655-0222. L, D, WB, $-$$$

CASINO TABLES

Sears Crosstown

BY VANCE LAUDERDALE

One of America’s greatest retail success stories began in 1886, when a Minnesota railroad station agent, Richard Warren Sears, decided he could sell a box of watches that had been rejected by a local jeweler. Other railroad employees bought them so quickly that he teamed up with a watch repairer, Alvah Curtis Roebuck, and opened a mail-order company, oﬀering customers watches and jewelry.

As their business grew, they added other products, moved Sears, Roebuck & Company to Chicago, and their newspaper advertising evolved into 500-page yearly catalogs. Known to customers as “Wish Books” and carrying the slogan “ e Book of Bargains: Money-Savers for Everybody,” these oﬀered merchandise that many rural Americans had never encountered in the cluttery stores where they previously shopped. By the early 1920s, Sears was selling tools, hardware, furniture, clothing, sewing machines, bicycles, musical instruments, toiletries, motorcycles, and Lincoln automobiles. Until the 1940s, Sears even sold houses — by mail.

One innovation often overlooked was Sears’ creation of its own brands, which quickly became household names: Allstate (auto parts), Craftsman (tools), Kenmore (appliances), Silvertone (guitars), and more. Customers simply completed the form in the catalog, or called in their orders, and within weeks, their “wishes” were delivered to their doors. In these days of Amazon and FedEx, it is simply impossible to convey what a marvel this was at the time, and how eagerly Sears customers waited for the next issue of the catalog.

opening day, it was a beehive of activity. In his book Sears Crosstown in Memphis, author Bill Haltom noted, “Each day, more than 45,000 orders were processed by more than 1,500 workers.”

Like many of the other buildings in the Sears empire, the Memphis operation followed the same general style of architecture — a multi-story building of buﬀ-colored brick, with an eye-catching tower that served two purposes: It carried an illuminated Sears sign visible for miles, and it also held a 75,000-gallon tank that provided water to the ﬁre sprinklers inside.

e location of Sears Crosstown, well outside of downtown, was intentional. It separated the complex from other retailers, and unlike the department stores on Main Street, it provided a special convenience for shoppers: off-street parking. In later years, a parking garage was erected, linked to the main building by a tunnel. The ground floors served as a spacious retail center, while the upper floors were packed with merchandise available in the “Wish Book.” Clerks processed the orders, and a complex system of chutes and conveyers moved products from floor to floor, and fi nally outside, to the railroad line that carried purchases to customers’ homes.

For decades, Sears Crosstown was a smooth-running machine, and in Memphis Sears — they eventually dropped “Roebuck & Company” — opened modern retail stores, in the newly opened Laurelwood shopping center, and as anchor stores at several new shopping malls. Over the years, however, customers’ needs changed. Mail order was no longer a novelty, and new competitors like Kmart oﬀered lower prices and diﬀerent merchandise.

e company became the largest retailer in America, opening a massive warehouse and distribution center in Chicago in 1906. Here merchandise was stocked, orders were filled and shipped, and — for the first time — the ground floor housed a retail store. But even this 40-acre complex couldn’t keep pace with demand, so Sears opened other regional distribution centers across America, in Boston, Dallas, Seattle, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and Kansas City.

In 1927, decades before Memphis promoted itself as “America’s Distribution Center,” Sears management selected our city to join this prestigious group, erecting the structure on Cleveland (shown here shortly after it opened), to handle orders for a seven-state region. From

Sears went into a decline. e retail store on Cleveland became an outlet center, but that didn’t save the company. When they stopped printing their giant catalogs in 1993, the Crosstown distribution complex closed. e future of the iconic structure, so well-known here, seemed bleak. After all, other cities had dynamited their dormant Sears catalog centers to make way for new uses, and it was only a matter of time, Memphians feared, before Sears Crosstown shared their fate.

at never happened. As we demonstrate in this issue, entrepreneurs stepped forward to renovate the structure, top to bottom, and — as it approaches its 100th birthday in 2027 — gave it new life as a multipurpose urban village. Much like the old Sears catalogs, Crosstown Concourse today seems to oﬀer something for almost everybody.

Sears Crosstown shortly after it opened in 1927.

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