Memphis July 2024

Tiny Houses Get Big.

Tracy Logan on the porch of her new tiny house made possible by Homes for Hearts.

WithaREALTORby yourside,youhave accesstoawealthof knowledgeabout buyingaproperty–fromcontractsto closing,theyhaveyour needscovered. Learnmoreat maar.org.

26 Tiny Houses Get Big

Starting small — literally — Memphis organizations like Hospitality Hub, Homes for Hearts, and My Sistah’s House are helping to create dwellings for folks who might not otherwise have their own homes. ~ by jon w. sparks 36

Sales are up as Memphis’ residential real estate market recovers. ~ by samuel x. cicci

The Kitchen of Her Dreams

With the help of Renovate Memphis, Teresa Liles looked at her carport and started thinking big. ~ by alex

69 SIPS Thinking Global

Juan Viramontes manages a restaurant that helps the immigrant community — and he makes a magnificent margarita. ~ by bruce vanwyngarden

70 DINING OUT

Petals of a Peony

In the heart of Germantown, but all the flavors — and freshness — of a genuine Chinese home. ~ by alex greene

72 CITY DINING

The city’s most extensive dining listings.

79 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

80 CITY SCENE

Santa Clauses Came to Town Jolly Old Elves from around the world spread the Yule spirit on Beale. ~ photographs by karen pulfer focht

2024 MULTI MILLION

Memphis Magazine (ISSN 1622-820x) is published monthly for $18 per year by Contemporary Media, Inc., P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101 © 2024. Telephone: 901-521-9000. For subscription info, call 901-575-9470. Subscription customer service mailing address is Memphis Magazine, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101. All rights reserved. • Periodicals Postage Paid at Memphis, TN. Postmasters: send address changes to Memphis Magazine, P.O. Box 1738, Memphis, TN 38101.

CEO AND EDITOR-IN-CHIEF anna traverse

EXECUTIVE EDITOR michael finger

MANAGING EDITOR frank murtaugh

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

STAFF WRITERS alex greene, chris mccoy

CONTRIBUTORS jesse davis, michael donahue, vance lauderdale

4

CREATIVE DIRECTOR brian groppe

ADVERTISING ART DIRECTOR christopher myers

GRAPHIC DESIGNER neil williams

PHOTOGRAPHERS michael donahue, karen pulfer focht, alex greene, mike kerr, josh looney, kathy mclallen, bruce vanwyngarden

4

SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE shaune mcghee

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES kelli dewitt, chip googe, patrick pacheco

4 published by contemporary media, inc. memphis, tennessee 901-521-9000 subscriptions: 901-575-9470

4 CONTROLLER lynn sparagowski

CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER jeffrey a. goldberg

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER margie neal

DIGITAL SERVICES DIRECTOR kristin pawlowski

ACCOUNTING AND CIRCULATION COORDINATOR mariah mccabe

WAREHOUSE MANAGER chet hastings

NEWSSTAND CONSULTANT joe luca

SPECIAL EVENTS DIRECTOR molly willmott

4 PUBLISHER EMERITUS kenneth neill

july 2024

Moving Business Forward.

Does your accountant understand your business?

At HHM, we’re more than accountants. We’re trusted business advisors. This means we provide proactive solutions and ideas to help you build sustainable growth through every season and situation you face. Discover more reasons HHM is the right partner for you at HHMCPAS.COM.

More Than Just a Room of One’s Own

BY ANNA TRAVERSE

Before 1900, women in all states of this country did not have the right to retain their wages or own property. Before 1974 — the year my mother turned 21 — women could not apply for consumer credit. In 2022, the gender wage gap remained chasmic, with women earning 82 cents for every dollar earned by men; in the 20 years since 2002, the wage gap narrowed by only 2 cents.

ents’ home for college, in 2002, I would not live in a single-family home again for 17 years, when my spouse and I bought our current home. In my 40 years, I have lived in two houses with mortgages, two dorm rooms, and eight apartments. No one should be this good at packing, unless they run a moving company.

All of which is to say, the condition of homeownership continues to feel, to me, not like a given but like a surprising fluke, a roll of the dice. I’m not alone in that feeling, especially in Memphis, where a higher-than-average share of residents are renters — and where lots of folks are struggling in even bigger way.

Most of us share a desire to carve out our own little plot of earth where we might create a life that feels like ours and ours alone.

These figures, and the history they represent, have been on my mind as we’ve been preparing the several stories in this issue concerning real estate. It’s a curious term, “real estate,” seeming to imply the existence of a more elusive property type: “fake estate” (and thus the existence of fake estate agents, fake estate attorneys, and so on). In fact, the “real” in “real estate” denotes the place-permanence of the “estate,” meaning something like “status” or “stake” (not an estate as in, say, the country estate of a member of the landed gentry). Meanwhile, the word “realtor” (or, depending upon whom you ask, Realtor ® or REALTOR®) was coined as a neologism in 1916 by … the National Association of Realtors.

Our cover story this month introduces several local organizations who are working to help those facing housing insecurity. We focus on three groups in particular whose solutions to this very large problem are, paradoxically, very small: tiny houses. For some Memphians, newly built, extremely compact homes are providing the foundations to more stable lives. These groups are working especially to serve marginalized people who would otherwise have a harder time accessing safe, affordable housing. By helping them over the threshold, the organizers are opening the doors to much more than just new domiciles.

We also offer an update on the not-so-tiny residential real estate market, which the experts we interviewed indicate is relatively resilient. I was especially intrigued to read that the Memphis market is on better footing for not having experienced a major price surge in recent years — the higher you fly, et cetera.

Regardless of the terms, most of us share a desire to carve out our own little plot of earth where we might create a life that feels like ours and ours alone. Where we can pursue our quirky projects, where we can check our public personae at the door, where we can simply be, and be safe.

It feels fitting that the two stories would be told alongside one another. In Memphis, neighborhoods of quiet privilege sit right beside areas that have fallen on hard times. When we first conceived of these two stories sharing space in one issue, we wondered how they would resonate off one another. Now, the juxtaposition feels perfectly Memphis: struggle and solution, privilege and potential, all coexisting — as neighbors do.

That desire has become harder to achieve for many in my generation (elder millennial) and younger, as we contend with ballooning student debt, wage stagnation, and a general sense of precarity, unsteadiness. After I left my par-

We all deserve a place to call home, whether we’re rich or poor, men or women, and whether “home” consists of 400 or 4 ,000 square feet. No matter where you might be on your own journey homeward, I hope you find some information here that helps you find the way.

Home To The Extraordinary.

The Coldwell Banker Global Luxury program delivers over $200 Million In Daily Luxury Sales. Our local Global Luxury® team redefines Luxury real estate marketing.

PICTURED FRONT ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: TAMMY DAVIS, JEANNE BILLINGS, LAURA CLARK, NANCY HUDDLESTON, ANGIE WARE.

PICTURED BACK ROW, LEFT TO RIGHT: BILL MAURY, SALLY ISOM, PATTY GREER, MARY CURRIE, SEAN BLANKENSHIP, NANCY CUNNINGHAM.

JULY 2024

COMPILED BY

ABIGAIL MORICI

ALL-AMERICAN WEEKEND Graceland is the place to be this 4th of July. Step into your blue suede shoes and gear up for a “Red Hot Weekend” with music, food, fun, and fireworks. GRACELAND, JULY 4–JULY 6

COOPER-YOUNG 4TH OF JULY PARADE

Join the Cooper-Young Community Association for a very chill 4th of July block party and mini-parade around the block. PEABODY ELEMENTARY, JULY 4

MODERN MASTERS JAZZ SERIES: FAREED HAQUE AND THE TED LUDWIG TRIO Fareed Haque is a modern guitar virtuoso. Steeped in classical and jazz traditions, his unique command of the guitar and different musical styles inspire his musical ventures with tradition and fearless innovation. THE GREEN ROOM AT CROSSTOWN ARTS, JULY 10

1964 THE TRIBUTE The 1964 are hailed by critics and fans alike as THE most authentic and endearing Beatles tribute band. GRACELAND LIVE, JULY 12

COCO QUEENS This compelling play explores the unbreakable bond among four women as they confront the deep and often painful challenges of love, forgiveness, and Black womanhood during the 1970s. THEATREWORKS@THESQUARE, JULY 12-28

HAPPY HOUR IN THE GROVE Enjoy live music from Josh Threlkeld and friends, drink specials, deals on local beer, and $5 wine. Admission is free. GERMANTOWN PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, JULY 12 & JULY 19

MEMPHIS SUMMER COCKTAIL FESTIVAL Get your drink on at the hottest festival of the summer featuring seasonal sips, tasty eats, and throwback vibes. THE KENT, JULY 12

GOO GOO DOLLS The ’90s rock band Goo Goo Dolls takes the stage for the Live at the Garden concert series. RADIANS AMPHITHEATER, MEMPHIS BOTANIC GARDEN, JULY 12

“SOUTHERN/MODERN: 1913–1955” This exhibit explores progressive visual art in the American South,

particularly that which was created in the first half of the twentieth century. DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS, JULY 14–SEPTEMBER 29

“2023 WILSON FELLOWSHIP: DANNY BROADWAY, CLAIRE HARDY, THAD LEE, AND JOHN RUSKEY” This show highlights the Dixon’s partnership with the town of Wilson, Arkansas, through an artist residency program. Will exhibit the work of the inaugural cohort of fellows: Danny Broadway, Claire Hardy, Thad Lee, and John Ruskey. DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS, JULY 14–SEPTEMBER 29

Elaine de Kooning, Black Mountain #6, and Thad Lee, Dusk at the Hudson Wren Memorial Park

DIXON GALLERY AND GARDENS

MAMMAMIA!

GOO GOO DOLLS

SUMMER COCKTAIL FESTIVAL

“HEALTH IN ENAMEL” Themes of health, healing, and spirituality crystallize with a survey of current enamel holdings in the Metal Museum’s permanent collection. METAL MUSEUM, JULY 14–SEPTEMBER 29

HEAT OF SUMMER FLORALS: FLORAL ARRANGING WORKSHOP WITH MIDTOWN BRAMBLE & BLOOM Join the Brooks for an enchanting floral-arranging workshop celebrating peak spring flowers like roses, lilacs, and snapdragons. MEMPHIS BROOKS MUSEUM OF ART, JULY 14

FLOWER HAPPY HOUR (21+) Join Memphis Botanic Garden for this class where you’ll get to try your hand at flower arranging with John Mark Sharpe. The theme is “Everyday Elegance: Transforming Store-Bought Bouquets into Stunning Displays.” MEMPHIS

BOTANIC GARDEN, JULY 18

ASIAN NIGHT MARKET Enjoy authentic Asian street foods at this unique festival. TIGER LANE, JULY 20

MOVIES AND BREWS Join MoSH for its Movies and Brews series, featuring classic films back on the big screen. Up first is Close Encounters of the Third Kind. A pre-show will showcase the career of master Hollywood special-effects artist, Greg Jein. MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & HISTORY, JULY 20

TWILIGHT HIKE Join the Overton Park Conservancy staff for late-night snacks before exploring the park’s nocturnal ecology. OVERTON PARK, JULY 20

MAMMA MIA! Set on a Greek island paradise where the sun always shines, a tale of love, friendship, and identity is beautifully told through the timeless hits of ABBA. ORPHEUM THEATRE, JULY 23–28

WHET THURSDAY Immerse yourself in the celebration of the art of metalwork with cocktails, delicious bites, and adoptable pups. Experience the magic of metal with live demonstrations by skilled blacksmiths. Take a stroll through the museum’s captivating galleries. METAL MUSEUM, JULY 25

CARMEN JONES Hattiloo presents this World War II-era musical about love turned deadly.

HATTILOO THEATRE, JULY 26–AUGUST 18

UNCLE KRACKER Uncle Kracker is a multiplatinum selling artist, with #1 hits such as “Follow Me,” “Smile,” and a Kenny Chesney duet “When the Sun Goes Down.” His Dobie Gray cover of “Drift Away” set a Billboard record for most weeks at #1 on any chart, a staggering 28 weeks. LAFAYETTE’S MUSIC ROOM, JULY 31

To suggest an event for future editions of Out and About, email ABIGAIL@ MEMPHISMAGAZINE.COM. THE SOUTH’S LEADER IN ESTATE JEWELRY AND DIAMOND SOLITAIRES. LOCATED IN NEW ALBANY, OXFORD, AND TUPELO 1.866.VANATKINS | WWW.VANATKINS.COM

Golden India

The Overton Square restaurant has been a family affair for more than 25 years.

BY MICHAEL DONAHUE

Afeeling of serenity prevails inside Golden India Restaurant.

White and blue cloths drape the tables. A photo of the Taj Mahal hangs on one wall. A colorful painting depicting five Indian women in saris, carrying water jugs, hangs on another. Like the diners, the women appear to be talking to each other in hushed tones.

Golden India opened in 1998, says owner Harpreet Singh, 33. “A family member owned the restaurant at that time,” he says. “We moved here in 2005. at’s when we acquired the restaurant from them.”

Bagga Singh, the cousin who owned the restaurant, wanted to sell it so he and his family could move to Seattle. Like Bagga, Harpreet’s family is from Punjab. “We moved from India,” he says, “and either we had to get a job or find something of our own.”

ey chose the latter path. Harpreet’s mother, Mangit Kaur, did the cooking. His dad, the late Satnam Singh, worked in the front of the restaurant. He also bought the groceries and did “whatever he could do

from Northern India, Harpreet says, and they serve a lot of Indian customers who know the food is authentic, Harpreet says. Growing up in India, Harpreet and his family lived on a farm. “We didn’t make some of the dishes you see on the menu. Like most Indian people who live on a farm, we are vegetarian. ey don’t consume much meat.” ey ate mostly lentils, he says. Yellow daal, a lentil dish, was a favorite, eaten with either roti (a flat wheat bread) or rice. Saag, a spinach dish, was a common winter dish in Punjab, he explains.

the pandemic and then did take-outs and pick-ups. “We survived.”

Today, he says, “the restaurant business is a little slow. But it’s not at the point where it’s too much. I guess it’s just the economy that’s affecting every business.”

ey stopped their buffet during Covid, Harpreet says. “It’s just too much work. It’s stressful. We have to work longer hours for it.” Now, he says, “ e lunch menu is more convenient for us — it’s fresh, on the spot.”

Golden India serves lunch platters featuring items from the old buffet. “It’s a little smaller portion, but it’s a good lunch portion. You get everything. And the prices are less than for dinner.”

In addition to cooking, Harpreet does “pretty much everything. Like waiting tables, doing paper work, and accounting for the restaurant.”

other than cooking.”

Harpreet’s father kept the name “Golden India” when he took over the restaurant. “I think the whole Overton Square was dead. ere wasn’t much going on, but it was okay. We were making a living out of it.”

e restaurant really took off by 2013, he says. “I guess people discovered us. We never advertised much.”

Today’s menu is little-changed from the menu in 1998. “Here and there we maybe added a little bit,” he says. Murgh makhani, or “butter chicken,” with garlic naan; chicken korma; and lamb are among the dishes that have retained their popularity over the years, he says, adding, “We are big on curries.”

eir cooking style derives

Harpreet, who has two sisters, began working at Golden India when he was 14. He continued there while majoring in finance at the University of Memphis, where he graduated in 2015, then took over the restaurant after his father died four years ago. “I had to take a step,” he says. “Either give it to someone else or run it. So, I did whatever I could because I had experience.”

He hadn’t planned to make the restaurant business his career, but he took it over because of “the family attachments to it.”

Harpreet, who didn’t cook as a child, now gets in the restaurant’s kitchen from time to time. “I don’t cook as much, but I do cook if I need to if no one’s in the kitchen.”

He cooked for six months during the pandemic in 2020, “because we didn’t have cooks. So, I had to cook.” ey closed Golden India for a week during

Last September, he began hauling food items with his semi-truck from Memphis to New York. He works about three days at the restaurant and the rest of the week on the road. “I just needed something on the side. My dad did that, too, before he started the restaurant business. So, it’s like a family thing.”

Golden India almost moved at one point. “Before Covid, when my dad was around, we had plans to move the restaurant to a new location. But after Covid hit, a lot of things happened. My dad passed away, and I thought it was a little risky to take that step.”

ey still own the land they considered, so a move is still possible, but “not at the moment.”

But not to worry. If they do pick up sticks, the new location is not far from where they’ve been serving authentic Indian food for almost 20 years. In fact, it’s just off Overton Square.

Golden India Restaurant is located at 2097 Madison Avenue.

Restaurant owner Harpreet Singh.

The author at work.

Limbros Restaurant

Our history expert solves local mysteries: who, what, when, where,

why, and why not. Well, sometimes.

BY VANCE LAUDERDALE

VANCE: In the

DEAR K.M.: After delving into the history of Limbros, I admit that the owner of this restaurant, an ambitious fellow named Nick Limberakis, has an “American Dream” success story that rivals that of the Lauderdales. His determined attempt to return to the U.S. from Europe is especially compelling — considering that he was actually born here.

It’s true. Though most reporters usually referred to Limberakis as Greek, he was born in 1918 in Birmingham, Alabama. His parents were Greek, though, and when the boy was only two years old, the family decided to return to the old country. As Limberakis grew up, he decided to return to his own birthplace.

“American people, they have good hearts,” he told a Memphis Press-Scimitar reporter (“in his groping English which has a British accent,” wrote that reporter). “The American country, I like it from the first

time I hear of it.”

Obstacles stood in his way everywhere he turned. At the age of 16, he was conscripted into the Greek Army, and during World War II, during a skirmish at the Athens airport, he was captured by the Germans and sent to a prison camp in Austria. When the war ended, he moved to England, “figuring it would be easier to get to the United States from England,” according to reporters, and he worked there for several years as a coal miner, “learning the language” (which explains the British accent).

All this time, he stayed in contact with members of the Limberakis family who had remained behind in the United States. Finally, in 1949, two uncles arranged for a temporary visa that would allow him to visit his “home country.” The problem, it seems, was that the U.S. government felt he had renounced his American citizenship when

left: The stylish dining room of Limbros featured “air-foam booths in gold leatherette” with jukebox consoles and modern lighting fixtures. Note the cigars for sale at the front counter.

he joined the Greek Army. But that wasn’t going to stop him. He left England aboard the Queen Mary, and then took trains to Memphis, where he held a much-anticipated reunion with his uncles.

“He will be a son to me,” Uncle Pete Limberakis told the Press-Scimitar. “I have no children. I will let him run my business. I’m getting old and want to rest. I want my nephew to have his chance in America.”

I don’t have the space here to explain the legal efforts that finally resulted in U.S. officials agreeing that the young man born in Alabama was indeed a bona fide American. But after months of battling red tape, he began working at Uncle Pete’s restaurant, the One-Minute Lunch Room at 1323 Madison.

“I always dream of coming to America,” he told reporters, “and now I’m here, I like it better than my dreams.”

Within a year, he saved up enough money to buy the City Coffee Shop Café, facing Court Square, aided by “a handshake loan from the bank.” The Commercial Appeal said the tiny place “became a downtown staple for everyone from mayors to Millington sailors who met dates there.”

In 1952, he met and married Betsy Argol and moved into a nice bungalow on McNeil, where they raised two sons. By 1959, Limberakis was ready for bigger and better things. He opened a full-scale restaurant at

DEAR

1960s, my family enjoyed dining downtown at Limbros, but after all these years I can’t recall the location. Where was this restaurant, and what happened to it? — K.M., MEMPHIS.

86 North Main, a narrow space in a row of nineteenth-century buildings formerly occupied by a Kroger grocery. Calling his new establishment Limbros, it was an ideal location, right across from Bry’s (later Lowenstein’s) department store, next door to Easy Way #3, and within an easy walk of the city’s major downtown attractions.

The postcard (left) shows an attractive restaurant, “receiving much acclaim for its pleasing appearance,” according to The Commercial Appeal. “A complete new building was erected inside the old building, with new walls, floor, ceiling, and lighting fixtures. Fourteen sets of airfoam booths, upholstered in gold leatherette, with antique cherry finish tables and chairs, create an attractive dining area to seat 107 persons.” Note also the little jukebox consoles mounted on the wall at every booth.

I managed to turn up a 1960s Limbros menu, with a personal message to all customers: “Your genial host, Nick, with many years of restaurant experience, will do his very best to see that you get the finest food and unexcelled service.”

For such a relatively small place, the selection was impressive; I took the time to count more than a hundred different dining options. For breakfast (“Served Any Time”) diners could start their day with Tennessee country ham, bacon, sausage, eggs, omelets, hominy, “golden creamy waffles,” buttermilk hotcake, sweet rolls, biscuits, and even fresh donuts. For lunch or dinner, entrees included steaks, pork chops, sugar-cured ham, roast prime rib, calf liver, chicken liver, panfried trout, stuffed deviled crab, select oysters, Tennessee River catfish, rainbow trout, whole

“I always dream of coming to America, and now I’m here, I like it better than my dreams.”

— Nick Limberakis

flounder, and lots more. The Italian section tempted diners with spaghetti, ravioli, chicken cacciatore, and veal cutlets, all with or without meatballs.

Diners could also have six flavors of pizzas, still quite a novelty in Memphis in those days.

Anyone just wanting a sandwich could choose from Tennessee turkey, Southern barbecue, kosher-style salami, roast beef, pork shoulder, baked ham, corned beef, sliced chicken, pimiento cheese, braunschweiger, and of course a regular hamburger or cheeseburger.

“South of the Border” specialties included homemade chili, chili mac, and hot tamales.

It’s rather surprising that only one dish on this extensive menu hinted of the owner’s Greek heritage — a “Grecque Sparta Salad.” (For that matter, another “foreign” option was “Chilled Norwegian Sardines Garni.”)

In 1966, Limberakis hired a partner, Jimmy Anaston. A Press-Scimitar ad announced, “Memphians can now enjoy the ultimate in eating pleasure. With Jimmy’s kitchen know-how and Nick’s ‘as your host’ know-how — they KNOW HOW to buy, prepare, and serve good food.”

So what happened to Limbros?

Well, Main Street and other parts of downtown — once a perfect location for restaurants and retail — turned into a ghost town following the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. About this time, newer shopping centers — Poplar Plaza and Laurelwood — along with a new concept called shopping malls — lured customers east.

In November 1972, Limberakis announced he was closing the restaurant he had operated for 23 years. “I’m really sorry to leave, but I have to,” he told reporters. “Breakfast and dinner are nothing. Business at lunch is terrific, but you can’t support a business like this on one lunch a day.” Not with an extensive menu like that, certainly.

A Commercial Appeal reporter spoke with a Limbros customer, who shared the bleak situation: “We’ve all eaten at Limbros during the noon rush and waited for tables. Recently, my wife and I ate there at 7 p.m. For most of the meal, we were the only ones there, dining to the sweet strains of the Hoover vacuum cleaner taking care of the carpet and the TV entertaining the bored employees.”

Limberakis told reporters he would auction off all the restaurant equipment within a few weeks and said, “I’m looking for a spot out east.”

That never happened. It seems Limberakis left the restaurant business entirely, taking a job as a security guard at the Shelby County Administration Building. He made the news in 1976 when, during a power outage, he tumbled down an open elevator shaft. Luckily, he was on the ground floor and landed in the basement. Newspapers said he was in “fair condition” at St. Joseph Hospital and soon recovered.

Nick Limberakis passed away in 1999. He had remained active in the community most of his life. For several years, he was president of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church on North Highland and was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, and Al Chymia Shrine Temple. In his obituary, the newspaper noted that he was always known to friends and family as “Mr. Nick” and “he kept his pockets full of peppermints, which he doled out always with the same joke, ‘Sweets for the sweet.’”

His first restaurant, the City Coffee Shop Café, located at 103 South Court, is now empty. Limbros Restaurant later became home to a Sandwich Chef for years, but now also stands empty, along with the rest of that building.

A 2021 structural survey by the Downtown Memphis Commission revealed that the entire structure needs a new roof, but concluded: “Overall, in our engineering judgment, the existing condition of the structural system is good for a building of this age and comparable construction type. The building does require repairs but can be remediated to meet the accepted existing building code standards.”

With upgrades, the old building could someday house new businesses. But I doubt if the owners could tell an “American Dream” story quite like that of Nick Limberakis.

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.

Bewitching

Tara M. Stringfellow’s Magic Enuff casts a spell.

BY JESSE DAVIS

The first time I interviewed author and former attorney Tara M. Stringfellow, she told me that after her now-bestselling debut novel Memphis was published (in 2022 by Penguin Random House), she planned to release a poetry collection.

At the time, having just finished reading Stringfellow’s fiction debut — a tour de force — I expected her editor or agent to talk her out of a poetic pivot. e New York Times called Memphis a “rhapsodic hymn to Black women”; the novel was the Today show’s book club pick; and it was longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. e Center for Fiction called Memphis spellbinding and “a triumphant ode to the power of art.” In short, Stringfellow’s powerful story and unique authorial voice earned her debut novel the kind of attention and acclaim that’s usually reserved for established writers. Why move to poetry — not known for generating book sales — when one’s prose is such a proven success?

e reader can probably guess where that little anecdote leads. Stringfellow’s poetry collection Magic Enuff ( e Dial Press) was published on June 25, just two years after her debut novel, and it is a triumph. Oh, and the reader has no cause for alarm — though she has enjoyed this foray into poetry, Stringfellow told me this spring that she was hard at work on her next novel.

PROS & CONS; POETRY & PROSE

Perhaps “foray” is the wrong word. e author’s first major published work was, yes,a novel, true, but she has written — and published — poetry for years. In fact, many of the poems included in Magic Enuff are pieces that Stringfellow has lovingly edited and re-edited for years, like a well-tended garden. She has worked on some of the poems for up to 15 years.

“You can rework a poem for 20 or 30 years,” she tells

me. “ at’s why it may be my favorite artform.” She continues, “I never thought these poems would see the light of day. I wrote them mostly for myself.” As such, the works on display in Magic Enuff are unguarded in the extreme.

Another difference between poetry and prose — besides the page count, usually, and the amount of blank space on a given page — is the intimacy of poetry. Where a novel requires some conflict, characters, and even the most basic of plots, poetry can be much more freeform, and so, correspondingly more vulnerable for its author.

“Memphis was based on my childhood, but it had a narrative voice. I had a narrator. Even Joan in the first person isn’t me,” Stringfellow says. Her poetry, on the other hand? “It’s like journal entries. I’m telling really personal stories about my life, but I think it’s in the same vein as Memphis, thematically.” at theme is one of survival and resistance.

Tara Stringfellow

A FORM OF PROTEST

Stringfellow’s work, both her novel and her new collection of poems, tends to deal with her personal and family history. The work certainly intersects with and comments on the world at large, though.

“I think my writing really centers on Black, Southern womanhood,” Stringfellow muses, “so the poems do, too,” even though some are set in Chicago and Okinawa. And where some authors might confess that their focus rarely strays beyond middle age or childhood, Stringfellow’s work touches on childhood, adolescence, and beyond. Her work deals not only with herself, but with her mother, grandmother, sister, and friends.

The poem is a strange delight. On the surface it’s quite simple, but even in this short piece, Stringfellow constructs multiple layers. The surreal situation — of making small talk with neighbors who want you dead — pays homage to the lived experience of generations of Black Americans who knew the identities of their persecutors but were powerless to do anything about them. Her execution is flawless, and her mastery allows the reader to focus on the author’s subject matter rather than her skill.

In making her focus Black Southern women, Stringfellow has been forced to accept the burdens of writing about a struggle for freedom and agency that goes back generations and continues, albeit in an altered state, to this day. Her poetry is a celebration, but it is more than that.

“I

see poetry as a form of protest, as my own revolutionary way to get out my anger at the injustices this country deals Black folks — it’s a way of channeling my rage.”

Indeed, though Stringfellow rages against injustices small and large, there is more at work in the collection than justified anger. There is undeniable emotional weight to her words, a rushing undercurrent of a river of raw pain and sadness and fear. So, too, is there joy, pride, and beauty. Poetry has power, Stringfellow reminds me. “We no longer use mustard gas, likely because of T.S. Eliot’s The Wasteland,” she says.

LOVE AND MAGIC

U“I see poetry as a form of protest,” Stringfellow says, “as my own revolutionary way to get out my anger at the injustices this country deals Black folks — it’s a way of channeling my rage.”

In one poem, “I Dreamt the KKK Were in My Living Room,” that rage is palpable. “I had made everyone lemonade,” she writes, before listing an absurd and surreal litany, then finally concludes with, “I poisoned y’all lemonade.”

What other changes might be wrought by those who are inspired by Stringfellow’s words, who carry for a moment the weight of her emotions? It’s a responsibility, but one for which she is prepared. “I think about the fact that a few hundred years ago I would have been executed just for holding a book, let alone writing a book,” she says. That awareness of history has informed Magic Enuff, and it’s clear that the author set out to create something lasting and worthy.

nsurprisingly, given the name, magic is a motif of the collection, Stringfellow tells me. Indeed, from transformation to the cosmic to the timeless to simple spells bound by a comb buried in the clay, the otherworldly haunts the pages of Magic Enuff.

In some poems, magic is a thread that connects Black women through the ages. In others, magic is a last-ditch effort, a desperate plea to change an unyielding world. Sometimes it’s an outburst of exultant joy, of beautiful life, thriving in spite of harsh circumstances. Finally, magic can be the simple conjuration of making dinner for the man you love, of transforming disparate ingredients into a delicious meal, of transforming a room into a

home. The author tells me that cooking dinner for a loved one can be an example of the most ancient and powerful magic. And it can give people hope.

In this way, Stringfellow expertly weaves in a thread of everyday into the tapestry that is Magic Enuff, and even alongside such poems as “I Dreamt the KKK Were in My Living Room” or “For Trayvon’s Mother,” the love poems and poems about lost loves fit perfectly, because they too are about a different kind of magic.

“Black women,” she says, “have done everything since we got here in chains to make [America] great, make it beautiful, make it magical.”

With her new collection Magic Enuff, Stringfellow has made the world a bit more magical.

SUPPORTINGMID-SOUTH REALTORSSINCE1910.

Formorethan100years,theMemphisArea AssociationofREALTORS®(MAAR)hasserved realestateprofessionalsinShelby,Fayette, Tipton,Hardin,HardemanandMcNairycounties. Throughongoingeducationopportunities, networkingevents,advocacywork,MLS managementanddatasharing,wehave supportedavibrantcommunityofprofessionals whoarepreparedtosupportyourupcoming transaction.

THEMEMPHIS MARKET

TheMLSshowedan 8%increaseinMay totalhomesales whencomparedto 2023.

Themonthlysales volumeinMaywas nearly13%higher thantheprevious yearandisupmore than10%year-todatecomparedto 2023.

FBACK ATTACK!

How do we fight — and better, prevent — muscle spasms?

BY FRANK MURTAUGH

ew ailments immobilize a human body quite like back spasms. For those of you among the physically blessed who have never experienced this kind of lower-back trauma, I’ll describe. It’s as though the groups of muscles in your midsection decided, as a team, to clench — as tightly as possible — and hold the clench. Plus, now and then, those clenched muscles will further contract. I’m guessing this is the closest a man will come to the experience of childbirth contractions. It is agony.

According to Dr. Moacir Schnapp, though, back spasms aren’t so much a group of our muscles misbehaving, but muscles reacting to another problem, another alarm your body is sounding. “If you look at the vertebrae in the back, they work like a tripod,” explains the medical director of Mays & Schnapp, a prominent Mid-South neuro-spine and pain clinic founded in 1985. “You have the biggest part of the bone in front, then you have the two smaller joints in the back. ey’re called the facet joints, and they have capsules. If you overstretch them, you can cause a small tear in the ligament or tendon. en you get a back spasm, trying to hold it. Now you’re walking like the hunchback of Notre Dame. People think it’s the muscles causing [the pain], but in fact, the problem is deeper. e muscles are actually firing to protect.”

Not long ago, I bent over to grab a plate out of our dishwasher. Few acts are more mundane. And I felt like an electrode fired in my lower back. Couldn’t stand up straight. Tried lying down on the floor to straighten my back, only to have trouble getting back up without excruciating pain. All to get a plate out of the dishwasher.

But here’s the thing: There’s nothing “mundane” to one’s back about bending over. at’s 50-plus pounds being supported by certain muscles, joints, and bones in the lower back. And they don’t necessarily want the extra work.

“If there’s any weakness [in the back], any arthritis, something mundane can create a lot of problems,” emphasizes Schnapp. “It doesn’t take much damage to the facet joints for it to hurt terribly. There are a lot

of nerves in there.”

Among the curses of back spasms is the lingering discomfort, enough to alter a person’s gait, to make sleeping a challenge, and getting into the driver’s seat of a car an ordeal. e sad truth: back spasms subside when your body is ready, and not sooner. “If you damage any part of the back,” says Schnapp, “the pain can last for weeks and, for some, it becomes chronic pain. It’s a vicious cycle where the nerves become too sensitive.” From my experience, the pain and stiff ness gradually reduce, but without that “happy morning” of pure relief. Back spasms attack suddenly, but leave quietly.

How are back spasms treated? A quiet body — rest — is the first form of medicine. Alternating heat and cold can reduce symptoms, if not hurry the release of the muscles. Some activity can be healthy, but you don’t want to aggravate an already aggravated area.

“Learn from it,” says Schnapp. “Bend at your knees, so you don’t abuse your back. Heat, cold, or Novocaine can help, but that’s a little like Mama kissing a boo-boo. If it’s a single event, time is the best solution. You learn from it, and avoid doing it again. Now if it’s chronic, there are exercises that can

“If you damage any part of the back, the pain can last for weeks and, for some, it becomes chronic pain. It’s a vicious cycle where the nerves become too sensitive.”

— Dr. Moacir Schnapp

be used to strengthen the spine. If that fails, there are nerve blocks, and [treatment] can go so far as burning certain nerves in the back. ere’s a procedure called radiofrequency ablation. It’s almost like a dentist doing a root canal.”

As with so many inconvenient ailments — particularly as middle age arrives — prevention is the best treatment for back spasms. ose who practice yoga or Pilates are already fighting back spasms before the enemy even enters the room. Among stretches, look up “child’s pose” or “cat-cow pose.” e idea is to stretch the back its full length, but gently. Furthermore, strengthening core muscles — yes, planks are our friends — provide a larger, more stable support system for those moments your back bends in a way it shouldn’t.

And here’s something important: Ignore the mantra, no pain, no gain.

“Once you damage a joint,” notes Schnapp, “there’s some bleeding, some inflammation. You don’t want to push too much. Your body won’t allow it anyway. Once the pain subsides, you start with regular activities. Walking is fi ne. But physical therapy should be involved; start with supervision. Find a good fitness center. If you keep a good ex-

•

• All patients seen by MD Cardiologist

• All Insurances accepted

Those who practice yoga or Pilates are already fighting back spasms before the enemy even enters the room. Among stretches, look up “child’s pose” or “cat-cow pose.” The idea is to stretch the back its full length, but gently.

ercise program, you’re less likely to have an episode.”

My fi rst bout with back spasms occurred shortly after I turned 40 and they surfaced because I dusted off my golf clubs for the fi rst time in a decade and started twisting my back muscles in a manner they’d long forgotten. is is a critical lesson in avoiding such an attack: Don’t overdo something new. I didn’t stretch for golf, just hit the driving range and started swinging. We all use our back muscles differently, with different anatomical priorities (for some this includes hitting the fairway). Treat your core and back muscles like partners for those priorities.

“We have to be careful,” says Schnapp, “because one formula does not fit everybody. For some people, the downward-dog position feels great. For others, it’s painful.”

Among the adjustments I’ve made recently in my daily exercise routine are knee bends. I’d like to keep my legs strong (or at least not weak) as I do my cardio, push-ups, and such. But I do my daily knee bends in an unusual place: my kitchen. I do them as I empty the dishwasher. ank you, back spasms. Lesson learned.

Tiny Houses

Starting small —literally —

Memphis organizations

like Hospitality Hub,

Homes for Hearts, and My

Sistah’s House are helping to create dwellings for folks who might not otherwise have their own homes.

BY JON W. SPARKS

The headquarters of the Hospitality Hub sits on Washington Avenue heading towards downtown, right on the spot where Memphians used to line up for the motor vehicle inspection station in years past. Walk inside and it’s buzzing with intention as staff, volunteers, and unhoused people give and receive help. This building is the nerve center but the action extends to locations around town, with clusters of housing units fulfilling different missions such as the Hub Hotel for women and Hub Hall for young adults. Hub Studios fills in the gaps that have long prevented home ownership for people in tough — although not uncommon — situations, including couples, families with older children, and individuals with severe PTSD. And Hub workers on the Street Outreach team go to where many of unhoused Memphians live, whether that’s parks, underpasses, or abandoned buildings.

The Hub has designed various housing solutions to meet the various needs of the unhoused, but one of the important answers now comes in the form of tiny houses. A tiny house has the advantage of providing shelter and safety, while also being economical.

Get Big

Most people who are aware of tiny houses have seen them for sale online or for rent on vacation-booking sites, in a variety of sizes and prices. Some are barely more than sheds, but others boast amenities and heftier price tags. If you acquire one, you’ll need a place to put it and a way to connect water and electricity. The smallest tiny houses, of around 400 or 500 square feet, may work fine if you can hook up a water hose, an extension cord, and provide for wastewater. Some are mounted on a trailer but aren’t a traditional mobile home. Going much larger may require more substantial connections and will draw the interest of city or county inspectors.

But it may be worth it for homeowners who need a separate structure for short-term rentals, guests, extra room, or whatever they require. The Memphis and Shelby County’s Develop901 Permit Guide says a dwelling to house a second household on the same lot as the main house — called an Accessory Dwelling Unit — would require separate utility meters and is only allowed on lots more than 10,000 square feet.

Lower-income people might find a tiny home brings an economical benefit as a primary residence if they don’t need space for a lot of belongings. Options to acquire a tiny home kit can be delivered fairly quickly and

put up easily. That flexibility is contributing to the increased interest in tiny houses, but much of the activity going on locally is being done by organizations seeking to provide shelter for the previously unhoused.

People end up homeless for a wide variety of reasons: Health issues, job loss, a broken relationship, addiction, poverty — any of these may be a factor. Government response is typically to offer some sort of temporary shelter, but often regulations are rigid and not comprehensive enough to meet the problem, tending to triage the situation rather than address root causes.

This is where organizations like Hospitality Hub, Homes for

OPPOSITE PAGE: An assortment of tiny homes shows how it’s possible to provide housing for a variety of needs. They have the advantage of flexibility with lower costs and relatively simple construction, and can fit into and enhance neighborhoods.

lEfT: Hospitality Hub’s demonstration Hub Studio, recently on display at Crosstown Concourse, will be part of the nonprofit’s Hub Village community. The concept provides not only shelter but support and case management from the organization and will include a shared kitchen, bathroom, and laundry.

above:

aesthetically pleasing homes that meld well with the neighborhood.

Hearts, and My Sistah’s House Memphis come in. They each work a bit differently but all have been able to build or acquire small homes to house those in need. Some may be for an emergency situation, some for transitional purposes, and some offer more permanent housing.

Hospitality Hub was founded in 2007 by the Downtown Churches Association to address the needs of the homeless. Kelcey Johnson, who has been executive director since 2018, has long been involved in working with the homeless as well as providing addiction counseling. He graduated from Memphis Theological Seminary in 2013 with an M.A. in religion and a graduate certificate in addiction counseling. He projects competence, patience, and kindness while being entirely no-nonsense.

Asked about the role of tiny

homes, he says the Hub doesn’t use them as a solution to housing.

“For us, these structures — we call them Hub Studios — are used as non-congregate shelter. It’s a way to be able to shelter by yourself or with your child or

“For us, these structures — we call them Hub Studios — are used for non-congregate shelter. It’s a way to be able to shelter by yourself or with your child or with your husband, loved one, whatever.”

— Kelcey Johnson executive director, hospitality hub

with your husband, loved one, whatever. We’ve had one studio that had a mother, a daughter, and a granddaughter all living together while we waited for them to get into permanent housing, which took us about 60 days.”

Johnson says the Hub also took

in a married couple although, he says, “In Memphis, there’s almost zero shelter for married people — you have to separate.” It’s those sorts of limiting conditions that Johnson wants to overcome with the Hub’s variety of options. One such is the planned Hub Village community of what will be 20 studios and larger cottages, with a shared kitchen, bathhouse, and laundry facilities. It will also have dedicated, on-site case management and support services to make sure residents can move on to permanent housing rather than being put back out on the streets.

“With many shelters here in Memphis,” he says, “you come in at 3:30 or 4 o’clock in the afternoon and you eat, shower, go to bed, and about 5:30 or 6 [in the morning], they wake you up and by 7 o’clock you’re out the door. You have to find something to do with yourself during the day. The rationale is you should

My Sistah’s House is building smaller housing units with the aim of having them be high-performing and

be working on your case, you should be working on getting a job. We don’t believe in that. How productive is that going to be? You don’t have money. Do you have clothes to interview in? Who do you know that’s going to give you a job?”

The Hub helps close the circle by providing an outreach counselor and a housing navigator. The organization helps with job placement, because, as Johnson says, “Income is the way out of homelessness.” Whether someone is staying in a transitional space or is in the Hub’s main shelter, they can take classes from yoga to life skills, from cooking to financial planning. “There’s all these things that you can take part in that are going to help you when you leave here.”

Johnson says the idea of small housing units evolved in his discussions with Jarad Bingham of Dragonfly Collective, which handles the Hub’s compliance, HR,

grant writing, and much more. Bingham was pastor of Shady Grove Presbyterian Church for many years and founded Dragonfly in 2016. His mission statement is plain and revealing: “I like to build solutions for complicated problems.”

“[We

have] a 91 percent success rate of our people getting housed and them continuing to pay their landlords.”

— Kelcey Johnson executive director, hospitality hub

“Jarad and I both have always been amazed at the container houses out in California, Oregon, and Washington,” says Johnson. “They’re all over the country now because there was this glut of shipping containers. We didn’t have money, but we had good ideas and we always thought we could get a dozen of these containers and turn each one into a

two-bedroom apartment. But the city frowns on using containers for humans to live in. You’ll never get it permitted in Memphis.” So, instead of containers, Bingham sketched out his ideas for small houses on a cocktail napkin and hired a crew to build units that would pass muster. “He and his friends built five of these right here in our parking lot.”

The Hub, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, gets funding from various sources, including city and county governments, churches, and foundations including the Kresge Foundation, Assisi Foundation, and Community Foundation of Greater Memphis among others.

Hub Village is a concept of developments that would form a neighborhood with common spaces, amenities, and larger units for families. It has been funded and Johnson is hoping to find a place to put them. The Hub had proposed putting them in Scenic Hills in Raleigh, but

below: Workers sod a yard at one of the homes built by My Sistah’s House. Kayla Gore, a co-founder of the organization, says that more than simply providing shelter, she wants to revitalize neighborhoods.

above: Tracy Logan and her faithful companion, Marley, on the porch of her new small home made possible by Homes for Hearts. After health issues left her jobless and having to live in her car, she has managed to overcome adversity and now has a good job, is rebuilding her credit, and making a home.

ran into opposition from nearby residents. “They’re very proud of their community but they associated homelessness with crime and drugs,” he says. “But of course they would be for women and children. There are close to 4,000 homeless children in Shelby County.”

The perceptions remain, although Johnson says the Hub has “a 91 percent success rate of our people getting housed and them continuing to pay their landlords.”

It’s an ongoing challenge, but Johnson persists. “We do everything one person at a time. Everybody’s story is different. There’s no cookie-cutter solution for this.”

Tracy Logan lives in the Buntyn neighborhood in a small, comfortable home. It was not always so. She’s there now thanks to Homes for Hearts, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2020 by Zach Waters, who was determined to help Memphians get out of homelessness and move toward homeownership.

Waters developed partnerships with Room in the Inn, Dwayne A. Jones Construction

on her front porch overlooking a neat garden, and her dog, Marley, wants to be part of the interview. He has to stay inside, though, so as not to aggravate a medical condition.

“I’m adapting to it quite well,” she says. “There wasn’t cabinetry in the kitchens, but I told them not to put anything like that in so I could just adapt it to my scale of things the way I wanted it.”

Logan began working at Sprouts as a cashier when she was staying at Room in the Inn, a ministry involving dozens of congregations to provide temporary shelter. She has since been promoted to manager at the grocery and is grateful for where she is now. “I thank God every day that I’m cancer-free now and have the opportunity to wake up every day.”

Company, Arch Inc., and Binghampton Community Land Trust to build single-family tiny homes in accordance with city regulations throughout the Memphis area, while also offering supportive services to each of their residents as they transition toward homeownership.

“Two weeks before my last surgery, I had to call my surgeon and tell him I had nowhere to live and that I couldn’t have the surgery.”

— Tracy Logan

Logan was one such person in a dire situation. “I got diagnosed with cancer,” she says. “I had stage-three breast cancer, and at that time I became homeless because I could no longer work.”

She stayed in her car a while and then lived in a tent in a friend’s backyard. “Through that journey, I ended up at Room in the Inn and met Zach. He described to me the program and I put my application in and was approved.”

She remembers the date she moved in after waiting for the home to be built — February 10, 2023. Logan is telling her story

But she remembers the worst of it, when she had cancer and no place to stay. “I didn’t have chemo or radiation,” she says. “I just chose to have the surgeries instead. Two weeks before my last surgery, I had to call my surgeon and tell him I had nowhere to live and that I couldn’t have the surgery.” She had her service animal, so wasn’t eligible at the first place her doctor reached out to, but Room in the Inn accepted Logan and Marley. She was able to have her surgery — her fifth in four years — and stay at Room in the Inn while recuperating.

Meanwhile, she’d made arrangements with Homes for Hearts, which partners with Dwayne A. Jones Construction and Room in the Inn. And she would visit the site as the home was being built. “When I found out they were framing it up, I came over and I parked in the middle of the street because I wasn’t sure where to park,” Logan says. “I didn’t have the driveway at that time or anything. A lady asked, ‘What are you taking pictures of?’ I said, ‘That’s going to be my house.’”

Logan wasted no time in making the most of her new abode. She points around her small, neatly arranged yard. “I dug all this. All my flower bed and all these rocks are what was in the

Making Moments Together Extraordinary

Speed, plunge, race, and relax at SoundWaves water attraction! Embrace the extraordinary together here.

Find thrills and adventure with our SoundWaves Experience Package. Book your stay today.

back that I dug up and brought up here. And I built a fire pit in the back and I cleared the entire backyard pretty much. I’ve got one little corner that I’ve been working on clearing. I stay busy.”

Inside, Logan has created space for living, sleeping, and storage. “Each room, I have created little nooks for storage and for entertaining here in the living room, and a portion of it is a dining area. And then a portion of it is where I do my painting and my artwork. I’ve a created a nice little space.”

She’s been rebuilding her credit, has acquired a vehicle, and is planning to start paying on the home this summer. “I’m prepared to move forward and begin buying it so it can be my home. I just turned 56, so I’m good with the moving around and things. I want to be stable and settled for the last portion of my journey.”

It is her outlook that gives her strength. “It’s kind of hard to present yourself to go face the world each day when you’re living in a tent and don’t have a home,” she says.

“We’ve found it to be quite habitable, quite incredible for one individual, especially with our demographic.”

— Zach Waters founder, homes for hearts

“But I did it, got through it. It definitely taught me that I can survive, I can handle it, I can take care of myself. But going through things like that let you know really your inner strength. As long as you have the will to continue living, I think you can do anything you would like to do.”

Zach Waters is eager to talk about his passion for providing homes for the homeless. And the smaller houses fit the need well. “We’ve found it to be quite habitable, quite incredible for one individual, especially with our demographic, we’ll say 50 and older. When people are aging in place and when they’re getting older, they don’t seem to have as much need to take on an average-size home.”

It certainly helps that a tiny house and small lot size make taxes, utilities, and insurance more affordable. Plus, agencies offer zero-profit, zero-interest mortgages. Dwayne Jones, who builds the homes, is committed to the work as well. Waters describes how it is in another house he built.

“Dwayne had the idea immediately of nine-foot ceilings, so that makes a huge difference,” he says. “You come in and it feels very open. It feels a lot bigger inside than you

would imagine. For instance, in the living room, our resident has a recliner that he’s able to fully recline on, and he’s got a little entertainment area set up with a TV and a little desk area with a couple of shelves, and it all fits in. We’ve actually extended the kitchen into the living room a bit. So, he has more cabinetry for kitchen items and it’s a lot more space than one would think.”

Jones brought a lot of experience to the project. “He grew up in Orange Mound, so he is extremely passionate about rebuilding Orange Mound, although he’s built homes in North Memphis, South Memphis, and all over,” Water says. “I started talking to him and I said, ‘I’ve got this idea for this really tiny house.’ And he said, ‘Me too, and I’ve got the plans for it already.’ We were raising money, so I founded Homes for Hearts. We raised a few thousand more dollars, and we built the first house. Dwayne built this house, and a resident moved in the day after Thanksgiving.”

My Sistah’s House is led by Kayla Gore and provides services for primarily Black and Brown transgender and non-binary individuals. The organization offers a variety of programs such as case management and mental-health resources, but Gore has found that many of the people her group aims to help are homeless or experiencing housing insecurity.

Gore got involved working at the first trans program at OUTMemphis: The LGBTQ Center for the Mid-South. “I realized that I was just turning trans adults away who were looking for shelters,” she says. “At that time, Memphis didn’t provide housing. There were only maybe 71 to 81 beds in Shelby County and Memphis.”

Eventually, she got a grant from the Trans Justice Funding Project and was able to start My Sistah’s House. “We did an emergency shelter for two and a half years and now we’re doing transitional and permanent housing,” she says. “We’ve been doing that for two and a half years, and we’re at house number 10 now.”

Gore says, “There’s a significant need; my phone blows up all day with people needing housing, whether it is trans people, non-binary people, cisgender women and their children, or men. There’s a huge population of people who are houseless, but there’s not enough housing stock.”

While explaining these circumstances, Gore is standing on a block in the Glenview neighborhood where some of the properties stand. And she knows the area well — this is where she grew up. She remembers how busy it once was with shops and bus service

and activity. It’s not nearly as bustling now, and she’s getting accustomed to the new vibe of the neighborhood. Gore will tell you she’s learned that what she’s doing is not just building houses, but creating spaces, interacting with the community. That’s where the value comes in. More than simply providing shelter, she’s revitalizing the neighborhood, including the development of a community green space.

The size of a house determines its building cost. Gore wanted to keep the houses affordable, but also make sure that they were high-performing and aesthetically pleasing homes that would meld well with the neighborhood.

“People will start off in tiny houses, and they’re 400 square feet,” Gore says. “We have another one in Orange Mound that’s also 400 square feet. We’re sticking with the guidelines when we’re building the biggest of tiny homes. We’re not building out in Shelby County where we can build as small as 240 square feet, but for adults, we want to give them a little more space to be able to grow.”

he role of the tiny house can be as flexible as the needs of people everywhere. It’s not just the homeless who can benefit, but people of varied means, interests, and pursuits. With relatively lower costs and simpler construction, they provide a way for people to adapt to a wider set of circumstances.

They’ll be appearing more and more in areas around the city and county if local governments will allow for code alterations. And the payoff is a wider population living comfortably in secure homes, while offering the personal touch that has so long been out of reach.

As Waters put it: “It is just incredible to see a resident take it on themselves to have the initiative and say, you know what? I’m going to throw a couple of hundred dollars together to make this mine and to make it something that I really value.”

Tiny homes with lower costs and simpler construction provide flexibility.

SaveTime

ER Online Check-in

Emergency Care

When an emergency changesyour plans, plan to get great care. Our experienced teams are readyfor emergencies at any time. With online check-in,you can let us know that you’re onyourway.

For life-threatening emergencies, call 911

LIFE MEMBERS

Jon Dickens

Elizabeth DukeShannan McWaters

Mike Parker Cat Wright GaNelle Roberts

Nick Aylward

Peterson Wellford

Elizabeth Bran

Katrina Grubb

Alexis Oetter

Alicia Teeter

Sarah Aylward

2024 FIVE STAR WEALTH MANAGERS

MIA ATKINSON of eXp Realty has earned the top 1% ranking of Real Estate Agents in the Memphis Region. She is a Lifetime Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Club, has achieved the “Icon Status” award within her brokerage, and has appeared on the cover of Top Producer magazine. Her Faith in God and love for her Family and Clients are what matters most. Mia believes in delivering a customized approach to helping her clients achieve their goals. In addition to selling real estate, Mia is also a host of the Emmy Nominated and Telly Award winning show American Dream. The show features the lifestyle and different neighborhoods of Memphis and surrounding areas. As a real estate expert within her community, she enjoys sharing stories about the businesses and people that make living in Memphis so special. Whether it’s a first-time buyer who needs guidance or someone who is purchasing their forever luxury residence, she truly listens and delivers. In fact, relationship-building and constant communication with her clients are key. Mia holds a bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism and believes that everyone has a special story and that helping people is her calling. Mia and her family call Germantown, Tennessee their home!

MIA ATKINSON

Affiliate Broker

Licensed in TN & MS

Icon Agent, Lifetime MMDC Member, ABR, MRP

Realtor Miaatkinson.com | 901luxurydreamhomes.com 901.316.6552 | mia.atkinson5@gmail.com

AS A RESIDENTIAL SPECIALIST with a deep understanding of what makes the Mid-South unique, I have acquired extensive knowledge of our local real estate market, neighborhoods and pricing trends. I pride myself on providing personalized guidance to clients while helping them navigate the selling process with ease. With a focus on delivering exceptional customer service, I strive to ensure sellers achieve their desired outcomes in a timely manner. Licensed in Tennessee and Mississippi.

JENNIFER ANTHONY

Affiliate Broker / SRS, CLHMS

JENNIFER ANTHONY, a third generation property investor, has excelled in helping clients in and around the Memphis area. Even though specializing in land and luxury is her niche, helping clients from all over the world is her passion.

As an affiliate broker at Keller Williams Realty she has helped her clients succeed in navigating the complexities of the local market. Jennifer has earned certified SRS and CLHMS designations, one of which less than 1% of Realtors hold nationwide. She is dedicated to providing the best service for her clients to make their dreams come true!

In 2024, Jennifer had the honor of being included in the 40 over 40 Women in Memphis 2024. Jennifer also was chosen to become the host for American Dream TV Memphis. With this honor, she chooses to spotlight community members who have positively impacted the Mid-South.

Keller Williams Realty

901.517.1083 (c) | 901.261.7900 (o) jenniferanthony@kw.com #339472

FARA CAPTAIN

GRI®, SRS, CRS, PSA, ABR®, Ninja, At Home with Diversity®, SRES, C2EX Real Estate and Lifestyle Expert with The American Dream TV:Selling Memphis

EMBARK ON A JOURNEY of unparalleled real estate experience with Fara Captain, Founder of Captain & Co. Real Estate LLC. Her achievements have been recognized by prestigious platforms like the Memphis Business Journal from “Super Woman in Business” to “Executive of the Year” Honoree and the Residential Real Estate Council “Young Professional of the Year”. Armed with a solid foundation in Civil Engineering from the University of California, Davis, and a spectrum of real estate certifications, she crafts experiences tailored to your unique needs.

Fara navigates the intricacies of strategic marketing, negotiation, and meticulous transaction management on your behalf. From personalized consultations to nationwide speaking engagements, her influence extends far and wide, ensuring an elevated real estate journey for every client.

Excellence is not just a goal but a way of life. Elevate your real estate experience to new heights from Residential, Investments to Commercial, look no further. Call the Captain!

Captain & Co.

Real Estate LLC

901.390.HOME (o) | 901.500.8034 (c) captainandco.realestate

FRANCES ANDERSON

VP, ABR, CRS, ePro, GRI, SRES, ABR, Broker Associate

FRANCES ANDERSON has 23 years of experience in real estate. A member of the Women’s Council of Realtors and past state president 2023, Welcome Home Memphis, RPAC Major Investor President’s Circle, Lifetime MAAR MMDC member and past president 2019, & NAREB. Has been a licensed realtor since 2000. Frances was inducted in Washington, DC to the RPAC Hall of Fame on May 7, 2024. In December 2023, she was recognized as the number 1 agent for 20+ years at the Crye-Leike Southeast Office. Frances takes the stress out of listing, selling, & buying homes. Call Frances today! CRYE-LEIKE, INC.

REALTORS®

901.857.2276 (c) | 90.260.5844 (o) fanderson@crye-leike.com francesandersonsellsmemphis.com

VICKI GANDEE

ABR, CRS, SNP, SRES Affiliate Broker

BORN AND RAISED IN MEMPHIS, Vicki Gandee is a full-time Affiliate Broker with CryeLeike Realtors in the Forest Hill Irene office.

Vicki has earned her Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), Relocation Specialist Certification, Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and is a lifetime MMDC member.

Vicki strives to serve her clients with dignity and grace, and to work diligently to meet her client’s needs. Living and raised her 5 sons in Memphis and Germantown areas equips Vicki better than most to assist families. Why not let someone with a lifetime of experience assist you with the purchase or sale of your home. Vicki Gandee will help you move in the right direction.

HUGH MALLORY

Realtor / GRI, SRES, SRS, PSA

HUGH IS A LIFELONG MEMPHIAN and a member of the MultiMillion Dollar Club.

He is a certified Seller Representative Specialist, a Senior Real Estate Specialist, Pricing Strategy Advisor, and holds the Graduate Real Estate Institute designation.

Hugh is extremely proud of his involvement in the betterment of our community and has served as a leader in numerous non-profit organizations. He has most recently served as the President of Carnival Memphis as well as the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, a supporter of St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Hugh is equally proud of his considerate, energetic, and highly professional representation of buyers and sellers from Germantown to East Memphis and from Midtown to Fayette County. He will manage the arduous process of either buying or selling your home. Hugh provides genuine peace of mind navigating today’s challenging real estate market.

Hugh will MOVE you!

Marx-Bensdorf, Realtors®

5860 Ridgeway Center Drive, Suite 100 Memphis, TN 38120

901.682.1868 (o) | 901.497.9756 (c) hmallory@m-brealtors.com

GOSS

RACHEL GOSS LOVES real estate and helping people find “home”. She is known for her dedication and clientfocused approach, knowing that details matter. Specializing in residential properties, she leverages her eye for design and extensive local network to achieve optimal results. Rachel’s love for her family and faith deeply influence her personalized service, ensuring a seamless buying or selling experience for her clients.

WITH A PASSION for helping clients find their dream homes, Melvin Guy brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the real estate market. As the Managing Broker at Reid Realtors in the Greater Memphis area, he is committed to providing exceptional service and expertise to all of his clients. Melvin’s involvement in the MMDC showcases his dedication and leadership in the industry.

901.412.2691

Cardiac Electrophysiology

901.857.9371

rachelgoss@reidrealtors.com reidrealtors.com/agents/rachel-goss/

901.451.9282

melvin@reidrealtors.com

reidrealtors.com/agents/melvin-guy/

ALLISON E. HOLDEN

ABR, C2EX, MMDC Realtor

ALLISON HOLDEN practices heart-centered real estate. She understands that real estate is about people more than property and that the concept of home is greater than the sum of four walls. She loves her clients like family and takes exceptional care of them throughout the buying or selling process and beyond. Allison purposely works with a limited number of clients at one time to ensure she is available and fully present the whole way through.

BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES

MCLEMORE & CO., REALTY

901.634.4979 (c) | 901.457.8515 (o) 981 S. Cooper St. | #366560

Cardiac Electrophysiology

JULIE SZURPICKI

ABR, LSR, PSA Affiliate Broker

JULIE IS A NATIVE MEMPHIAN with over 22 years as a Top Producing Realtor with Crye-Leike and recently ranked in the top 10% of all Memphis agents. Julie is certified as a Leading Relocation Specialist working with both buyers & sellers in the greater Memphis area plus Germantown, Collierville, and Piperton. She is known to go ABOVE & BEYOND for her clients! License # 291081.

MICHAEL JACQUES Owner/Broker

MICHAEL JACQUES IS the third generation Owner/Broker of Reid Realtors with over 15 years in the industry and 40 years of family business experience. He values relationships and family in every transaction. As a dedicated father, husband, and business leader, Michael provides exceptional service to help clients achieve their real estate goals. You can trust in Michael for an authentic and personalized real estate experience. Michael is a Lifetime Member of MMDC.

REID REALTORS®

901.246.8916 michael@reidrealtors.com reidrealtors.com/agents/michael-jacques/

Cardiac Electrophysiology

AMY D. WOODS Vice-President

TN Broker

AMY WOODS, your agent “From the WOODS to the City,” excels in finding perfect properties, from condos to single-family homes, farms, land, and recreational properties. Specializing in Residential Real Estate, Relocation, Investment Properties, and New Construction, she is a trusted name in Memphis and North Mississippi, recognized as “The Best of the Best” at Crye-Leike. Amy is also a member of National Association of Realtors and Memphis Area Association of Realtors.

CRYE-LEIKE, INC. REALTORS®

CHERYL MUHAMMAD

ABR, CRB, C-RETS, CRS, GRI, RENE, SFR, SRS, Realtor, CEO

I HAVE PROUDLY SERVED the Mid-South full-time in the real estate industry for 24 years, specializing in residential real estate and assisting move-up buyers transitioning to larger homes or downsize. It’s an honor to work with buyers, sellers, and investors acquiring houses or multi-family units. I also love volunteering to enhance our city and industry, contributing to community growth and improvement. I am also the Broker/CEO of Assured Real Estate Services; licensed in Tennessee & Mississippi; Course Instructor, TN & MS (CDEI); NWMR Board of Director FMR; and FMR NAREB Memphis President.

ASSURED REAL ESTATE SERVICES

901.590.1527 (o) | 901.406.9885 (c) assuredrealestate.org

Cardiac Electrophysiology

WENDY QUINN ABR,

THE HOME TEAM is a mother-daughters trio with a combined 36+ years of Memphis real estate experience. They specialize in market preparation and offer complimentary staging along with custom-tailored marketing plans. They have consistently ranked in the Top 10 teams at Crye-Leike. They serve both buyers and sellers in Tennessee and Heather serves Mississippi as well.

Cardiac Electrophysiology

| TheHomeTeamMemphis.com

901.896.7710

szurpicki@mac.com

julie.szurpicki@cyre-leike.com

901.485.7005 (c) | 901.766.9004 (o) woodsrealestate901@gmail.com amywoods.realtor #310857 | MS #S-45007

Cardiac Electrophysiology

MEET THE MEMBERS

of the Multi Million Dollar Club

The Multi Million Dollar Club is an honor society created to give recognition to Realtor and Realtor-Associate members of the Memphis Area Association of Realtors, who have achieved outstanding sales performance during any one calendar year.

In line with its objective of encouraging cooperation and goodwill within the real estate industry, the club hosts several social events and networking opportunities throughout the year, including its annual holiday party, awards gala, and an election celebration.

e club has hosted educational events to provide club members with free CE credit from nationally renowned speakers in recent years. e MAAR Multi Million Dollar

Club has also contributed to the MAAR Benevolent Fund.

The chapter is governed by the MMDC Bylaws, as approved by the MAAR Board of Directors.

Membership in the Multi Million Dollar Club is open to MAAR members in good standing who meet MMDC’s eligibility requirements. To qualify for membership, an applicant must be a Realtor or Realtor-Associate member of MAAR and meet one of the following criteria for sales volume in the previous calendar year:

◗ A minimum of $4.25 million in accumulative total gross sales or leases.

◗ A minimum of 30 sales units.

Multi Million Dollar Club | BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Melvin Guy Reid, REALTORS

Mallely Tackett Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Nadia Fares BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty Third

Second Year Director

Ginny Tibbels ReMax Experts

First Year Director Heath West Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Nancy Huddleston Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Multi Million Dollar Club

LIFE MEMBERS

Cathleen Black, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Bernie Black-Garwood, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Vicki Blackwell, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Melanie Blakeney, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Harold Blockman, Keller Williams

Ashley Bonds, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Melody Bourell, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Ric Bowman, Weichert, REALTORS-BenchMark

Steve Boysen, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Marina Brinkley, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Jeffrey Britt, REMAX Experts

Jeff Bronze, Premier Realty, Inc.

Deborah Brooks, Main Street, REALTORS

Juan Brooks, Process Realty Services

Leanne Brooks, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Alexis Brown, Emmett Baird Realty, LLC

Jennifer Brown, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jessica Brown, REMAX Experts

Mary Brown, Oak Grove Realty, LLC

Sharon Brown, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Steve Brown, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Tiffany Brown, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Jeannie Bruce, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

April Bryan, Bryan Realty Group

Barbara Acree, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Todd Adams, Keller Williams

Helen Akin, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Stephen Akindona, Kairos Realty

Fontaine Albritton, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Linda Allad, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Michelle Amen, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Frances Anderson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Kent Anderson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Stephen Anderson, Emmett Baird Realty, LLC

Tammy Anderson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Tina Andrade, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Jennifer Anthony, Keller Williams

David Apperson, McWaters & Associates

Jennifer Arendale, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Paige Arnold, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Ryan Arthur, Oak Grove Realty, LLC

Mia Atkinson, eXp Realty, LLC

Rhonda Avant, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Sarah Aylward, The Firm

Lynda Baddour, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Patti Baggett, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Erin Baker, Regency Realty, LLC

Lisa Ballard-Martin, D R Horton Memphis

Sarah Bard, Oak Grove Realty, LLC

Bill Bates, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Amy Batson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Barbara Baxter, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Pam Beall, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Amber Beard Bean, Groome & Co.

Barbara Becker, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Pat Beech, Arlena Enos, REALTORS

Sandra Beibers, Clearpoint, REALTORS

Linda Bell, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Cassandra Bell-Warren, 4 Success Realty, LLC

Dustin Benetz, Emmett Baird Realty, LLC

Tracie Benetz, Emmett Baird Realty, LLC

Carrie Benitone, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Stacey Berry, Keller Williams

Ashleigh Bettis, Bluff City Realty Group, LLC

M. Scott Bettis, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Jeanne Billings, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Anna Bishop, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Felix Bishop, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Billye Bryan, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Michael Bryan, Bryan Realty Group

Tammy Bunnell, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Kenneth Burden, New Home Realty

Vickie Burgess, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Danny Burke, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Julie Burke, Keller Williams Realty

Margaret Burke, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Carole Ann Burns, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jeff Burress, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Angela Burross, Crews Realty, LLC

Shannon Byers, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Angela Cage, Harris & Harris Realty Group

Lisa Cannon, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Lauren Cansler, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Carolina Capote, Hobson, REALTORS

Fara Captain, Captain & Co. Real Estate, LLC

Julianne Carney, Keller Williams

William Carr, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Nancy Carroll, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jen Carstensen, Real Estate Agency

Betty Carter, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jeanette Carter, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Juan Casem, BHHS Taliesyn Realty

Chase Chasteen, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Joyce Chasteen, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jean Childress, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Lisa Chou, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Alli Clark, Keller Williams

Kevin Clark, Keller Williams

Laura Clark, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Ginger Coggins, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Debbe Coletta, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Jessica Collier, Collier REALTORS

Doug Collins, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Abby Cook, Keller Williams

Laurie Cooper, Keller Williams

Angela Correale, Correale Builders and Realtors

Meagan Coscia, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Violetta Couture, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Barbara Cowles, Hobson, REALTORS

Lisa Cox, Groome & Co.

Cyndi Craft, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Michelle Creamer, Groome & Co.

John Criswell, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Lauren Criswell, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Tommie Criswell, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Melinda Crosslin, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

William Crosslin, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Alicia Croteau, eXp Realty, LLC

Michele Crump, Hobson, REALTORS

Harold Crye, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Suzanne Culpepper, The Murphy Company, REALTORS

Nancy Cunningham, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Mary Currie, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

David Da Ponte, Sowell, Realtors

Doug Damico, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Barbie Dan, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Jaron Darnell, Real Estate Agency

Katie Davidson, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Lisa Davis Wills, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Curt Davis, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Tammy Davis, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Cindy Diaz, MidSouth Residential, LLC

Jon Dickens, The Firm

Clarence Dickson, BEST Real Estate Company

Tracy Dougan Lombardo, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Joseph Doughton, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Rhea Douglas, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Barbara S. DuFour, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Tracy Duggan, BHHS McLemore & Co., Realty

Elizabeth Duke, The Firm

Jim Duke, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Mark Duke, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Heather Durham, Groome & Co.

Loura Edmondson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Rebecca Edwards, Keller Williams

Susan Edwards, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Griffin Elkington, River City Land Co., LLC

Cindy Elliott, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Sharon Ellis, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Kelly Erb, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Stephanie Evans Taylor, Sowell, Realtors

Patty Everitt, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Rosemarie Fair, One Source Commercial, Inc.

Robin Fauser, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Karla Fayne, Keller Williams

Lisa Fields, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Scott Fields, Fields of Dream Homes. LLC

Jimmie Finch, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Isaac Fisher, Redkey Realty

Lisa Fitzgerald, Main Street, REALTORS

Barbara Fletcher, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Marsha Fletcher, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Steven Ford, The Carter Group LLC, REALTORS

Trey Foster, Emmett Baird Realty, LLC

Susan Fouse, Groome & Co.

Lana Fowler, Real Estate Agency

Maureen Fraser, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Danny Freeman, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jason Gaia, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Laura Gaither, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Vicki Gandee, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

J. Gary Garland, Garland Company Real Estate

Kathryn Garland, Garland Company Real Estate

Ken Garland, Ken Garland Co., REALTORS

Abbey Garner Miesse, Oak Grove Realty, LLC

Jodi Gibbs, Keller Williams

Katy Gillespie, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Rachel Gilliam, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Ashley Gillihan, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Beth Glosson, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Greg Glosson, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Patrecia Goldstein, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jan Gordon, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Robert Gorman, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Misty Gossett, Real Estate Agency

Karen Gray, REMAX Experts

Allen Green, John Green & Co., REALTORS

John Green, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Michael Green, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Michael Greenberg, Makowsky Ringel Greenberg, LLC

Carolyn Gregory, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Billy Groome, Groome & Co.

Jeanna Groome, Groome & Co.

Melvin Guy, Reid, REALTORS

Kim Hairrell, Crye-Leike Inc., REALTORS

Lisa Haley, Keystone Realty, LLC

Rita Hallum, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Kesha Hamilton, Keller Williams

Kendall Haney, 901 Real Estate Services

Rip Haney, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Sherry Harbur, Harbur Realty

Lauren Harkins Wiuff, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Tamara Harrald, Epique Realty

Kenneth Harris, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Reginald Harris, Harris Realty Services

Shirley Harris, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Gary Harte, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

James Harvey, Keller Williams

Whitney Harvey, Oak Grove Realty, LLC

Janis Hasen, Hobson, REALTORS

Michelle Hayes Thomas, Hayes Homes and Realty, Inc

Meatha Haynes Tapley, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Michele Haywood, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Elizabeth Hendricks, Weichert REALTOR-SPM

Camela Henke, Enterprise, REALTORS

Thomas Henze, Hobson, REALTORS

Jerry Hewlett, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Lexie Hicks-Johnston, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Carole Hinely, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Kelli Hobbs, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jennifer Hobson, Hobson, REALTORS

Joel Hobson, Hobson, REALTORS

Hank Hogue, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Danielle Holland, Reedy Group II, LLC

Paige Holmes, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Stan Holmes, Welch Realty, LLC

Debbie Holtermann, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Larry Holtermann, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Jimmie Hopson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Richard Howle, Keller Williams

Neil Hubbard, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Regina Hubbard, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Nancy Huddleston, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Marcia Hughes, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Shawn Hughes, MidSouth Residential, LLC

Sherry Hulen, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Cathy Hunter Banks, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Barbara Huntzicker, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Christie Hurst, List 4 Less Realty, LLC

Lita Hurston-Reed, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Sally Isom, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Carol Iverson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Cathy Ivey, Enterprise, REALTORS

Michael Jacques, Reid, REALTORS

Susie James, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Kelly Jankovsky, Epique Realty

Katy Jeffrey McAlexander, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Gail Johnsey, eXp Realty, LLC

C. Lauren Jones, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Faye Jones, 1 Percent Lists Midsouth

Jan Jones, Groome & Co.

Michael Jones, Regency Realty, LLC

Worth Jones, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Louise Jordan, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

David Kam, REMAX Experts

Angie Kelley, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Betsy Kelly, Hobson, REALTORS

Laurence Kenner, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Angie Kirkpatrick, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Michelle Koeppen, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Nataraja Krishnaraju, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Rebecca Kuntzman, D R Horton Memphis

Marjo Labonte, McWaters & Associates

Cheryl Lamghari, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Dana Landry, Life, REALTORS

Randal Lankford, Lankford Realty Co.

Janice Latimer, Keller Williams

Jake Lawhead, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Lilly Leatherwood, The Home Partners Realty

Amanda Lee, McWaters & Associates

Nan Lee, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Dick Leike, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Barry Less, Vylla Home

Connie Lester, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Pat Lichterman, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jeanette Lin, Pinnacle Realty

John Linthicum, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Verna Littleton, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Dominey Long Shaw, Myers Cobb Realtors, LLC

Amanda Lott, BHHS McLemore & Co., Realty

Carol Lott, BHHS McLemore & Co., Realty

Karen Love, Groome & Co.

Theresa Lucas, Patterson & Assoc. Real Estate

Jerry Lucius, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Christine Lundy, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Brian Lurie, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Felecia Magro, The Stamps Real Estate Company

David Maley, RE/MAX Right Way

Diane Malkin, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Bill Malone, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Enarn Malvezzi, Regency Realty, LLC

Anthony Mannie, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Tamara Manuel, BenchMark REALTORS, LLC

Thomas Marchbanks, eXp Realty, LLC

Brandy Marek, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Jan Mars, Keller Williams

Lewis Marshall, BHHS McLemore & Co., Realty

Vanessa Marshall, BenchMark REALTORS, LLC

Pamela Martello, Real Estate Agency

Mary Martin, Regency Realty, LLC

Melody Martin, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Kathryn Anne Matheny, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Monica Mauricio, REMAX Experts

Bill Maury, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Christie May, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Eleanore Maynard, Hobson, REALTORS

Deborah Mays, Hobson, REALTORS

Laurie McBride Connors, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Veronica McCasland, List 4 Less Realty, LLC

Meredith McDonald, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Emily McEvoy, Keller Williams

Joyce McKenzie, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jill McKnatt, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Judy McLellan, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Tiffany McLemore, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Shannan McWaters, The Firm

Brenda Medling, Keller Williams

Melinda Merkle, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Chris Meyer, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Beverly Michalek, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jason Miller, eXp Realty, LLC

Karen Miller, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Dianne Milner, eXp Realty, LLC

Crystal Mitchell, Crye-Leike Inc., REALTORS

William Mitchell, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Livona Monday, Groome & Co.

Leah Mooney, Keller Williams

Dianne Moore, C21 Home First, REALTORS

John Moore, Keller Williams

Juliette Moore, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jolynna Morales, Groome & Co.

Matt Morgan, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Christina Morris, Hobson, REALTORS

Ruth Morris, Hobson, REALTORS

Donnie Morrow, eXp Realty, LLC

Christopher Mosby, ResiAmerica, Inc.

Jon Moultrie, Enterprise, REALTORS

Holly Mount, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Cheryl Muhammad, Assured Real Estate Services

Cynthia Murden, One Stop Global Realty

Brad Murphy, MidSouth Residential, LLC

Natalie Murphy, MidSouth Residential, LLC

Amy Murrah, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Karen Newton, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Bang Nguyen, REMAX Experts

Saeed Nia, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Katherine Nichols Cook, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Mary Lynn Nicholson, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Debbie Nixon, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Tammy Norman, MidSouth Residential, LLC

Thomas North, The Carter Group LLC, REALTORS

Jonathan Nunez, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Leslie O’Leary, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Kaylee Oaks, Hometown Realty

Kirby Oldham, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Ashley Onsby, MidSouth Residential, LLC

Claire Owen, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Janet Pace, Heritage Homes Co.

Robbie Ann Pahlow, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Mike Parker, The Firm

Mike Parker, REMAX Experts

Kay Paul, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Alicestine Payne, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Shay Payne, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Milleigh Pearson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Marla Pennington, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Weesie Percer, Keller Williams

Pablo Pereyra, 901, REALTORS

Diane Peterson, Keller Williams

Pam Phillips, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Silvana Piadade, eXp Realty, LLC

Pam Pierce, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Preston Pittman, Doorstep Realty

Mary Frances Pitts, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Kimmer Plunk, Centric Realty LLC

Molly Plunk, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Layne Popernik, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Terri Porter, The Porter Group

Billy Price, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Landra Pryor, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Lola Putt, REMAX Experts

Heather Quinn, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Wendy Quinn, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Patty Rainey, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Shelly Rainwater, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Amanda Rathbone McGill, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Morgan Ray, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Evette Reaves, Grant & Co., REALTORS

Jimmy Reed, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Melissa Reed, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Bradley Reedy, Reedy Group II, LLC

Greg Renfrow, NextHome Cornerstone Realty

Karen Reyes, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Michelle Reynolds, Bryan Realty Group

Jane Riggen, MidSouth Residential, LLC

GaNelle Roberts, The Firm

Connie Robertson, Bridgetowne Homes

Josie Robinson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Debbie Rodda, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Billy Rodgers, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Cheryl Rogers, RE/MAX Right Way

Stephanie Rooks, Keller Williams

Stacia Rosatti, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Sheldon Rosengarten, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Jaime Ross, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Nan Rountree, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Robert Rowe, Hobson, REALTORS

Max Rubenstein, Keller Williams

Laquita Rucker, Rucker Realty, LLC

Mary Ruleman, Hobson, REALTORS

Aven Russell, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Jennie Sampson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Kathleen Sampson, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Harry Samuels, Pinnacle Realty

Itzel Sanchez Bustamante, Keller Williams

Ronald Sandefer, Emmett Baird Realty, LLC

Marc Scheinberg, Keller Williams Realty

Taj Schuerman, Keller Williams Realty

Hedda Schwartz, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Elizabeth Scott, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Sherry Scott-Chambers, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Debbi Scruggs, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Donna Scruggs, BHHS Taliesyn Realty

Edwin Scruggs, BHHS Taliesyn Realty

Virginia Sharp, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Michelle Shaver, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Channing Shaw-Wright, Emmett Baird Realty, LLC

Stephanie Sheahan, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Myra Sheddan, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Alta Simpson, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Wally Sisk, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Donna Skaarer, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Lynn Slayton, Sowell, Realtors

Brooke Smith, REMAX Experts

Cheryl Smith, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Crissy Smith, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Hannah Smith, Enterprise, REALTORS

Jeffrey Smith, JASCO Realty

Judy Smith, Enterprise, REALTORS

Kaye Smith, Property Place

Lynn Smith, C21 Home First, REALTORS

Marty Smith, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Mary Jean Smith, Banyan Tree, REALTORS

Suzanne Smith, Enterprise, REALTORS

Allyson Smothers, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Macky Sneed, Sneed Company, REALTORS

Steve Solomon, Sowell, Realtors

Linda Sowell, Sowell, Realtors

Joe Spake, InCity Realty

Thomas Spencer, Main Street, REALTORS

Joshua Spotts, The Best Spotts

John Stamps, The Stamps Real Estate Company

Dian Stanley, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Laurie Stark, Hobson, REALTORS

Tracie Stephens, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Molly Stevens, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Bill Stewart, REMAX Experts

Carrie Stewart, Regency Realty, LLC

Rae Ann Stimpson, The Carter Group LLC, REALTORS

Sue Stinson-Turner, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Carol K. Stout, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Gloria Strawn, Century 21 Prestige

Donna Strazi, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Conlee Stringfellow, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Camille Sudduth, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Sally Summerlin, Summerlin & Associates, LLC

Sarah Surratt, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Matthew Talley, Keller Williams

Tim Tanner, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Tyler Tapley, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Annie Taylor, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Alicia Teeter, The Firm

Loyd Templeton, Ware Jones, REALTORS

David Tester, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Lisa Thomas, BEST Real Estate Company

Meleah Thurmond-Edwards, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Aubrey Tilson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Richard Travers, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Eric Trotz, Trotz Real Estate Serv., Inc.

Ana Trujillo, Trujillo Realty

David Truong, eXp Realty, LLC

Alexandra Turner, Hobson, REALTORS

Paul Turner, Germantown Properties

Julie Upchurch, McWaters & Associates

Christy Utterback, BHHS McLemore & Co., Realty

Nasreen Valiani, Pinnacle Realty

Raymond Vallier, Purple Reign Realty

Sissy Vaughan, BHHS McLemore & Co., Realty

Robert Vaughn, The Carter Group LLC, REALTORS

Meredith Vezina, Keller Williams

Mindy Wagerman, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Petra Walker Jones, Keller Williams

Karen Walker, Karen Walker Realty Group, LLC

Jason Wallace, Keller Williams Realty

Laura Wallace, Keller Williams Realty

Matt Wallace, REMAX Experts

Ray Wallace, REMAX Experts

Edward Walthal, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Curtis Ward, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Michael Ward, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Angie Ware, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Denise Ware, Ware Jones, REALTORS

William Ware, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Ashley Weatherly Stafford, eXp Realty, LLC

Barbara Weir, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Sheryl Wells, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

John West, Marx-Bensdorf, REALTORS

Jill White, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Sam White, Keller Williams

Suzanne White, Keller Williams

Ryan Whiteside, Lankford Realty Co.

Halle Whitlock, Oak Grove Realty, LLC

Chet Whitsitt, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Judy Whitsitt, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Dana Whitworth, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Melissa Wilbanks, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Randall Wilder, Sowell, Realtors

Deborah Williams, 4 Success Realty, LLC

Jennifer Williams, Hobson, REALTORS

Mary Williams, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Mig Williams, eXp Realty, LLC

Winona Williams, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Barbara Wilson, Unique Properties

Kelly Wilson, Adaro Realty, Inc.

R. Annette Wilson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Amy Woods, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Pamela Worley, Unique Properties

Adam Wright, Duane Wright Realty

Cat Wright, The Firm

Duane Wright, Duane Wright Realty

Clara Yerger, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Rosemarie Yoon, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Gay Young, eXp Realty, LLC

Patricia Young, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Staffardnett Young, REMAX Experts

Steve Young, eXp Realty, LLC

Leslie Zarshenas, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Andres Zuluaga, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Multi Million Dollar Club

FIRST THROUGH MULTI-YEAR MMDC MEMBERS

Vivian Denogean, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Patricia Didlake, Didlake Realty Group, LLC

Alan Durham, Groome & Co.

Alli Echlin, Bluff City Realty Group, LLC

Cynthia Edwards, Assured Real Estate Services

Lauren Edwards, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Anthony Elliott, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Meredith Ewen, Keller Williams Realty

Nadia Fares, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Mary Grayson Fauser, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Cecilia Fernandez, H and V Ventures, GP dba Epique Realty

Lorraine Fields, Fields of Dream Homes. LLC

Alisha Finley, Keller Williams Realty

David Fraser, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Michael Frizzell, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Luci Gann, Melissa Thompson & The Your Key To Memphs Team, Brokered by Exp Realty

Elizabeth Gant, REMAX Experts

Palmer Gardner, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Gary Garrison, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Valencia Gathwright, Keller Williams Realty

Jason Gendron, Oak Grove Realty, LLC

Kim Golden, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Anna Acosta, Centric Realty LLC

Katherine Aiken, Bryan Realty Group

Andrew Akins, CB Properties of Memphis, LLC

Chelena Allen, BenchMark REALTORS, LLC

Samiha Alward, Grand Point Realty, LLC

Cristian Amparan, Pinnacle Realty

Casey Armstrong, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Taliesyn Realty

Kira Auvert, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Richie Averill, D R Horton Memphis

Nicholas Aylward, The Firm

Kendra Bell, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jacob Benetz, Emmett Baird Realty, LLC

Flor Bernal, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Niki Berry, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Rik Berry, Keller Williams Realty

Jaya Bhatlapenumarthy, Adaro Realty, Inc.

Jeffrey Blakeney, Marx-Bensdorf Real Estate & Investment Co

Lauren Bogart, Real Estate Agency

Brooke Boone, Harris & Harris Realty Group, LLC

Tyler Bowman, Weichert, REALTORS-BenchMark, LLC

Elizabeth Bran, The Firm

Hattie Brawley, 2 Rivers Realty, LLC

Kevin Brown, eXp Realty, LLC

Margie Brown, H and V Ventures, GP dba Epique Realty

Victoria Brown, 4 Success Realty, LLC

Seth Bryan, Bryan Realty Group

Monica Bynum, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Michelle Campbell, MEM 1, LLC dba Keller Williams Realty

Ken Cannon, Crye-Leike of MS, Inc.

Stacy Cardwell, Keller Williams Realty

Ashlyn Clark, Keller Williams Realty

Jennifer Clark, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Brittany Cobb, Myers Cobb Realtors, LLC

Marq Cobb, Myers Cobb Realtors, LLC

Marcia Coleman, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Frank Colvett, REMAX Experts

Carson Cook, Keller Williams Realty

Julie Cook, REMAX Experts

Theresa Cook, eXp Realty, LLC

Teresa Coop, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Joshua Cooper, Sowell and Company

Corey Crosslin, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Evans Cummings, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Audrey Davis, REMAX Experts

Christina Davis, MEM 1, LLC dba Keller Williams Realty

April Davison, Regency Realty, LLC

Adam Dawson, Weichert, REALTORS-BenchMark, LLC

Kayla Delk, MidSouth Residential, LLC

Rachel Goss, Reid, REALTORS

Kris Goudy, 360 RealtyPRO llc

Anna Grace Green, Keller Williams Realty

Haley Griffith, H and V Ventures, GP dba Epique Realty

Mary Grodsky, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Katrina Grubb, The Firm

Rachel Guthrie, McWaters & Associates REALTORS

Caleb Hall, Keller Williams Realty

Amanda Hamilton, Regency Realty, LLC

Charles Harris, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Crystell Harris, Harris & Harris Realty Group, LLC

Jeffrey Hatchett, Bryan Realty Group

Susan Hatfield, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Jaime Hathcock, Bryan Realty Group

William Haynes, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Tona Heard, D R Horton Memphis

Marissa Hertzog, Captain & Co. Real Estate, LLC

Lauren Hill, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Leana Holcomb, John Green & Co., REALTORS

Allison Holden, BHHS McLemore & Co., Realty

James Hooker, Tiger Realty

Jeffrey Howard, Bluff City Realty Group, LLC

Katie Hughes, Tiffany Jones Realty Group

Jeri Isham, Keller Williams Realty

Luke Jackson, Morrow Group, LLC dba eXp Realty, LLC

“MIFA goes into places that I can’t go. MIFA helps people that I may never reach.”

Aaron Jacques, Reid, REALTORS

Tracy Jefferson, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Julie Jenkins, REMAX Experts

Dylan Johnson, Catalyst dba 901, REALTORS

Alie Jones, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Elizabeth Jones, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Lillian Jones, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Tiffany Jones, Tiffany Jones Realty Group

Adam Kalin, Keller Williams Realty

Emily Kalmon, Collier REALTORS, LLC

T.J. Kebede, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Hart Burke Kelman, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Tara King, Tiffany Jones Realty Group

Varma Kosuri, The Buyer’s Agent

Tarra Kruzan, REMAX Experts

Devarrio Lakes, Patterson & Associates Real Estate

KC Lam, Cordova Realty, Inc.

Daniel Lane, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Kelly Leonard, Real Estate Agency

Jason Lowe, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Brian Maclin, Unique Properties

Hugh Mallory, Marx-Bensdorf Real Estate & Investment Co

Gena Marie, Keller Williams Realty

Marty McClatchy, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Laurie McClerkin, MidSouth Residential, LLC

Africa McCloy, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Tonya McDowell, The Stamps Real Estate Company, LLC

LaTonya McGowen, Patterson & Associates Real Estate

Margaret Mikkelsen, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

LaJuana Miller, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Shirley Miller, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Crystal Mitchell, Paradigm21 Realty, LLC

Paul Morris, Morris and Morris

Joshua Moss, Franchise Realty, LLC

Cali Neal, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Amber Nichols, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Jordan Nichols, Marx-Bensdorf Real Estate & Investment Co

Mark Nichols, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Ashley Nowlin, List 4 Less Realty, LLC

Alexis Oetter, The Firm

Christy Palmer, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Caleb Parr, Renshaw Company, REALTORS

Lloyd Patterson, Patterson & Associates Real Estate

Travis Patterson, Patterson & Associates Real Estate

Molly Phillips, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Emily Pilkinton, BHHS McLemore & Co. Realty

Adam Pitt, Bryan Realty Group

Hillary Pitt, Bryan Realty Group

Amber Poe, D R Horton Memphis

Andre Pruitt, TRG Real Estate Services, LLC

Carl Purifoy, Redfin Corporation

Sarah Ramey, D R Horton Memphis

Austin Randall, Keller Williams Realty

Brooke Redmon Benton, Action Realty

Rebecca Reid, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Rollin Rosatti, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Austin Rowe, PARKS

Gabrielle Rowe, eXp Realty, LLC

Kristi Ryan, Coldwell Banker Collins-Maury

Rene Sanchez Bustamante, Keller Williams Realty

Court Satterfield, Faith Management & Realty Group, LLC

Logan Scheidt, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Sherri Schmid, Groome & Co.

Kirsten Sciacchetano, eXp Realty, LLC

Emma Simpson, Unique Properties

Lorna Skelton, Crews Realty, LLC

Brandon Smith, Smith Family Real Estate, LLC

Michelle Smith, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Tina Marie Smith, PottersHouse Realty, LLC

Vincent Smith, REMAX Experts

Jennifer Stachowski, Bryan Realty Group-Lakeland

Venytra Stephens, Keller Williams Realty

Alan Stricklin Crenshaw, Ware Jones, REALTORS

Julie Szurpicki, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Mallely Tackett, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Ginny Tibbels, REMAX Experts

Ashley Tinker, Reid, REALTORS

Haider Tiwana, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Juan Torres, Fast Track Realty, LLC

Christian Townsend, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Carlye Tulley, eXp Realty, LLC

Adam Underwood, Heritage Homes Co.

Jenny Vergos, Marx-Bensdorf Real Estate & Investment Co

Renee Victory, Oak Grove Realty, LLC

Sandra Villamil, MEM 1, LLC dba Keller Williams Realty

Samantha Wallace, REMAX Experts, The Heart to Home Group

Gary Walls, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Randall Weatherall, Memphis Metro Realty

Dawn Welch Kinard, Welch Realty, LLC

Peterson Wellford, The Firm

Heath West, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Ethan Whitley, Crye-Leike, Inc., REALTORS

Ginia Williams, Centric Realty LLC

Stacy Williams, KAIZEN Realty, LLC

Patrice Williams-Wooten, Keller Williams Realty

Jenna Williamson, Green Bee Realty DBA Green Bee Real Estate

Shimar Willis, Progressive Realty Services

Myles Wilson, Keller Williams Realty

Ashley Wisch, eXp Realty, LLC

Mary Wood, REMAX Experts

Kenneth Woods, Regency Realty, LLC

REmodel

TPresident’s

By Darin Halford with West Tennessee Home Builders Association

he Battle for Home Affordability and the “American Dream” Our association works daily to fight for the American Dream…homeownership! In the state of Tennessee, the average home cost is $346,540. With every $1,000 increase in the cost of a home, 4,004 potential home buyers in Tennessee are priced out the market. Seeing that 23.8% of the cost of a new home is state, local, and federal mandates, the dream of home ownership is slipping away from Tennesseans. The West Tennessee Home Builders Association, along with the Home Builders Association of Tennessee, are working with our local and state to tame shelter inflation and face the housing affordability crisis. We have proposed, and continue to work this year, to implement the following steps to lower the costs of our homes:

1. Eliminate Excessive Regulations – the nearly 25% of home costs accounted for by the local, state, and federal regulations.

2. Promote Careers in Skilled Trades –in any given month, our industry is at a shortage of 400,000 skilled tradesmen.

3. Fix Building Material Supply Chains and Ease Costs – building materials have surged 38% since the pandemic.

4. Pass Federal Tax Legislation to Expand the Production of Affordable and Attainable Housing – the low-income housing tax credit finances the production of affordable housing, but demand greatly exceeds availability.

5. Overturn Inefficient Local Zoning Rules – local governments need to rework their plans to increase housing density and allow lower development costs.

6. Alleviate Permitting Roadblocks – delays in housing projects raise construction costs.

7. Adopt Reasonable and Cost-Effective Building Codes – new homes are already resilient and energy efficient, yet there is a constant push to raising housing costs by new regulations that provide little energy savings to the consumers.

8. Reduce Impact Fees and other Upfront Taxes –these fees must be imposed fairly with the homebuyer in mind and not be used in city or country services unrelated to new home construction. Ultimately excessive impact fees act as a barrier to new home ownership.

We will continue as an association to, not only provide our consumer with a quality product but also, work to provide an attainable cost for new homes and remodeling projects.

For a complete list of remodelers, go to www.westtnhba.com

AChairman’s Message

By Scott Trimble with Business Development, Revival Restoration Services

re you considering remodeling a space in your home? Whether it’s updating your kitchen, renovating your bathroom, or adding an extension, choosing the right remodeler is crucial for the success of your project. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to make a decision. However, one excellent choice that stands out is selecting a remodeler from the West TN Home Builders Remodelers Council. Here’s why:

1. Expertise and Professionalism: Remodelers associated with the West TN Home Builders Remodelers Council are professionals who have demonstrated their expertise in the field. They adhere to high standards of professionalism and ethics, ensuring that your project is handled with care and proficiency from start to finish.

2. Quality Workmanship: When you hire a remodeler from the council, you can trust in the quality of their workmanship. These professionals have the skills and experience to deliver exceptional results that meet or exceed your expectations. From craftsmanship to attention to detail, you can expect nothing but the best when you choose a remodeler from this reputable organization.

3. Knowledge of Local Building Codes and Regulations: Every region has its own set of building codes and regulations that must be followed during a renovation project. Remodelers affiliated with the West TN Home Builders Remodelers Council are familiar with local requirements, ensuring that your project complies with all necessary regulations. This knowledge helps streamline the permitting process and avoids potential delays or issues down the line.

4. Access to Resources and Networks: Being part of the West TN Home Builders Remodelers Council provides remodelers with access to a vast network of resources. Whether it’s sourcing high-quality materials, collaborating with other industry professionals, or staying updated on the latest trends and technologies, remodelers from this council have access to valuable resources that can enhance the outcome of your project.

5. Commitment to Customer Satisfaction: Customer satisfaction is paramount for remodelers associated with the West TN Home Builders Remodelers Council. They prioritize clear communication, transparency, and responsiveness throughout the remodeling process, ensuring that your needs and preferences are met every step of the way. Your satisfaction is their top priority, and they go above and beyond to deliver results that exceed your expectations.

6. Peace of Mind: By choosing a remodeler from the West TN Home Builders Remodelers Council, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your project is in capable hands. From initial consultation to project completion, you can trust that your remodeler will handle every aspect of the renovation with professionalism, integrity, and expertise, leaving you free to relax and enjoy the transformation of your space.

In conclusion, when it comes to remodeling a space in your home, choosing a remodeler from the West TN Home Builders Remodelers Council is the best decision you can make. With their expertise, professionalism, and commitment to customer satisfaction, you can trust that your project will be completed to the highest standards, delivering results that you’ll love for years to come.

The Kitchen of Her Dreams

With the help of Renovate Memphis, Teresa Liles

looked at her carport and started thinking big.

BY ALEX GREEN E

W

hen reimagining your home, sometimes you have to put all options on the table. Say you’d like a new kitchen. Given your home’s layout and your budget, you may have to imagine that kitchen where something else now exists — a dining room, for example, or a laundry area, or even a closet. Or, in the case of homeowner Teresa Liles, a carport.

Picturing a kitchen in place of a carport is something “a lot of people could not imagine,” says Dewayne Gammel, owner of Renovate Memphis, yet he’s recently worked closely with Liles to do just that. “Most people can’t envision something that’s not there. It’s different when you do a refreshed kitchen, or something where a kitchen’s already there. You’re putting in new countertops, new cabinets, whatever. But to put one in that didn’t exist before, it’s hard for people to envision it.”

With the help of Renovate Memphis, though, Liles was able to make the leap of faith that her dream kitchen could be a reality. “That’s the whole reason design services are so popular,”

says Gammel, as Liles nods in agreement, “because we can give you a 3D rendering of this before we ever do construction.”

In Liles’ case, that meant carefully reviewing the plans before destruction: Most of her home needed a complete rethinking, from the inside out, including substantial demolition. That was in part due to the age of the building. “I was born in this house,” says Liles. “The house was built in 1957, and when my folks died I bought my brothers out — though I lived in Colorado — in case I ever needed it. I rented it out for a while. Then Covid happened, and I’m getting older, so I just decided to come back, because here, my brother lives only a mile away. So I came back and then we did this.” She gestures around the house, indicating just how much of it has been renovated. The kitchen was only one part of a massive project.

A Whole-House Remodel

“This house is a new house except for the studs on the outside wall,” says Liles. One indication of that is the sheer openness of the space once you walk in the front door. A dining area near the entrance opens to the living area with a couch and chairs, a glass cabinet displaying quilts that Liles’ mother

OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP: A wide view of Teresa Liles’ new pet project, a spacious kitchen complete with Three Little Pigs centerpiece where a carport once stood.

BOTTOM LEFT: The carport as it appeared before Renovate Memphis extended the house’s foundation and walled in the space. BOTTOM

RIGHT: The home’s small original kitchen was completely removed to create more living room area.

RIGHT: The black glaze lends an antique look to birch cabinets, nestled amid the light quartzite countertops and the complementary colors of classic wall tiles.

ABOVE: A flexible faucet above the Thermador range allows for filling pots directly while cooking.

OPPOSITE RIGHT: Tucked under the island, the book shelf lends a homey touch. On the other end of the island is the dishwasher, facing the kitchen sink.

made, and large double doors leading to the back patio and yard. To the left, these spaces segue into a generous kitchen space, glowing warm with green and beige, bedecked with wall-to-wall counters and a large island in the center. Combined, the three “rooms” together comprise a single great room with an area of more than 600 square feet.

Such spaciousness, unbroken by any supporting walls, was the first step towards realizing what is now the home’s crown jewel: the kitchen of Liles’ dreams. “We did all this,” she says, surveying her “new” home, “but the kitchen was my main focus.”

That first required taking out the old kitchen, which, true to design trends of the 1950s, occupied a small corner of what’s now the living room. All signs of it are gone now, replaced by the sitting area, its windows and doors revealing the back yard. Rebuilding the living and dining spaces was a prerequisite for building the new kitchen, and that in turn required some advanced carpentry.

As Gammel explains, two

LVL (laminated veneer lumber) load-bearing beams were the key to such a long ceiling span. “They’re intersecting each other, and their tension strength is a lot higher — that’s the reason she doesn’t have any walls in here at all,” he says. “That causes some challenges. But the framers that I used and Renovate Memphis know what we’re doing at this point.”

It was all part of the wholehouse project, as the pre-existing wall once marking the edge of the carport had to be demolished, the foundation had to be extended, and new walls had to be framed. Yet that was in keeping with the complete modernization of the house Liles was born in.

“It’s a 1957 house,” she says. “So I’m coming back here, retired. I didn’t want to worry about maintenance. So we ripped every piece of sheetrock off, pulled all the old wires, all the old everything, and rewired the whole thing, replumbed it, re-ran the gas lines. New windows, new insulation, and new flooring in the attic.”

As Gammel points out, the new insulation was important. “In the

’50s there was a transition from plaster walls to sheetrock walls, and plaster didn’t have insulation in the walls. So the house was drafty. Being able to pull all the walls off and run new everything provided for a more efficient house.”

The Main Attraction

After all this work, bringing “new everything” to the entire home, work on the kitchen itself could begin in earnest. And that final project was, in a way, an expression of all Liles had learned in a lifetime of cooking. Before returning home, she’d enjoyed a kitchen with larger, more modern dimensions, and wanted to build on that. “I had a fairly big kitchen in Colorado, but it wasn’t new and updated. I had updated it cosmetically, partially to live there and partially to sell it.” Working with that knowledge while remodeling her Memphis home, “I kind of built this,” she says. “Dwayne and I brainstormed a lot. How to lay it out…”

“More of the functionality of it,” adds Gammel.

“Working with Dwayne was good,” says Lyles. “If there was

something I didn’t like, he came in and changed it. If we had any problems, he came over and made sure they were taken care of. So working with him was a really good experience.”

Gesturing to the kitchen, she says, “And this is what I came up with.” “Space” is the operative word, with acres of counter space on the central island and lining the kitchen’s perimeter. The countertops also catch the eye with the natural elegance of the quartzite they’re made of. Not only is the material a cheaper alternative to marble, “I wanted quartzite because I like the veining,” says Liles.

Gammel notes how deeply involved Liles was in the aesthetics of the space. “It was 100 percent her eye in the design aspect. She was dead-set on her quartzite countertops. And she selected every color, every piece of hardware, the backsplash. I mean, all of that. We provided the birch cabinets, which is a higher-end cabinet. So they’re made a little bit more sturdily, bringing a little bit more of a higher class to the to the cabinet. And then it just all came together.”

Yet it came together rather slowly, due to Liles’ uncompromising eye, and her patience while searching for elements that were complementary. The choice of cabinets dictated the colors of everything else that followed.

“I mean, I got ahead of the curve!” says Liles. “This kitchen was my main focus of the house. So I was really on top of what I wanted in here. The cabinets we bought, ordered, and had months before we ever needed them.

And I had the stove in my storage building outside before we even started the kitchen.”

“They’re painted cabinets,” Gammel adds. “But they also have a black glaze on top of them, which gives them more of an antique look. And inside the cabinets there’s some bells and whistles to her liking. The soft-close drawers and doors. The garbage can that pulls out, and some rollout trays.”

“And I’ve got a pull-out spice drawer that I really like,” says Liles. “It’s not the tall skinny kind like you see all the time. This is one of those double-wide pull-out drawers, where the spices are laying in there at an angle, and then underneath is room for more backup stuff.”

Then came the wait for the countertop. “The countertop was at the place where they cut it to size for months.” More months of waiting ensued during and after that, chiefly because, as Liles says, “I couldn’t find the tile.”

In this case, calling the tile a “backsplash” is an understatement. Where that feature would typically go up the wall a couple of feet behind the counter, this is a wall of tiles that reaches to the ceiling. Not only do their colors complement all the other elements, the tiles also bring an Old World charm to the kitchen.

“The tile was a nightmare!” Liles says now. “I struggled. I don’t know how many tile samples I ordered before I ran across this one, and I thought ‘This has every color. It’s got my green, it’s got my cream, and it’s got the black accents.”

“Yeah, I think we went through like 10 samples,”

Gammel chimes in.

“Well, I looked at stuff you never knew about!” Liles tells him. “I probably looked at double that, that you never even saw.”

Meanwhile, other bells and whistles were being built into the space. Over the Thermador gas stove hangs a faucet dedicated to filling pots directly where they’ll be used. The stove itself, as well as the lights and other appliances, can all be controlled by her phone via WiFi. The dishwasher, also remotely controlled by phone, is built into the large central island, behind the sink rather than next to it, making for an easy load-in while freeing up cabinet space under the wall counter. Despite such modern conveniences, the kitchen chiefly suggests tradition. The lighting fixtures over the island evoke carriage house lanterns, reinforcing the Old World feel.

That’s exactly what Liles wanted, as the warm colors and details lend themselves to entertaining friends and family in an ambiance of old-fashioned sentiment. And since the kitchen was completed, that’s just what she’s been doing.

“I’m starting to cook again, because I love cooking on my stove!” she says. And with cooking comes company, who all respond the same way. “Everybody that comes in the front door looks at the kitchen and just stops. Everybody that has visited me is like, ‘Wow!’ over the kitchen!”

Learn more at renovatememphis.com.

WTNHBA 2024 Remodelers Council Members List

Revival Restoration Services Scott Trimble — 901-401-8500 scott@revivalrestore.com

Maximus Building Supply Hunter Cooper — 901-598-4868 hcooper@maximusbuildingsupply.com

Remodeling Consultants Inc. Patrick Mahoney — 901-870-5471 pat@remodelingconsultantsinc.com

The Dave Moore Companies Dave Moore — 901-870-7372 dave@davemoorecompanies.com

RKA Construction Ryan Anderson — 901-465-3400 ryan@rka.build Kip Gordon — 901-465-3400 kip@rka.build

Williamsburg Home Services Julia Bey — 901-614-3100 Julia@weilliamsburg.build

Catmur Development Eric Catmur — 901-680-8200 eric.catmur@gmail.com John Catmur — 901-680-8200 catmurdc@comcast.net

Art Gettings Construction Art Gettings — 901-605-9178 artgettings@gmail.com

Byrnes Ostner Investments Tommy Byrnes — 901-681-0499 tommy@byrnesostner.com

Colonial Electric Company Cory Wheat — 901-356-1026 cory@colonialelectriccompany.com

John Heard Company John Heard — 901-7566167 jheardhomes@gmail.com

Savage Tile Company Ned Savage — 901-3639607 savagetileco@bellsouth.net

Fonseca Construction, LLC Adam Fonseca — 901-496-8403 Fonseca.built@gmail.com

EZRA52, LLC Robert Whitsitt — 901-848-4033 Bob@ezra52.org

Iron Crafters Joseph Coster — 662-224-6658 joseph@ironcraftersusa.com

Countertops of Memphis Grace Shaw — 901614-0200 grace@countertopsofmemphis.com

Hatcher Homes Chris Hatcher — 901-831-0975 hatcherhomesgc@gmail.com

Rapid Roofing and Construction Robert McCage — 731-617-0249 Rapidroofingandconstruction@gmail.com

Renovate Memphis, LLC Dwayne Gammel — 901-300-6805 info@renovatememphis.com

McLemore Home Builders Thomas Sheddan. (901-553-0349 thomas@mclemorehomes.com

Gardner Construction Solutions Patrick Gardner — 901-205-8305 patrick@gardnermemphis.com

Ethos Solutions Sharon Fuller — 404-543-7546 sharonpfuller@hotmail.com

D & H Desings, Inc. David Salazar — 901-774-2195 sales@dhdesignsinc.org

Thinking Global

Juan Viramontes manages a restaurant that helps the immigrant community — and he makes a magnificent margarita.

BY BRUCE VANWYNGARDEN

While training for the 2012 Boston Marathon in his hometown of Ventura, California, Juan Viramontes ran into his future.

“I started talking with Sabine [Langer] on a long run — 22 miles at a conversational pace,” says Viramontes. “She was in Ventura, also training for Boston, and joined my group for a run. We stayed friends on social media, and then in 2017 she called and asked if I wanted to be part of a project she had in mind, and if I’d be interested in moving to Memphis.”

Inspired by her own immigration experience, Langer’s project was Global Café, an enterprise dedicated to helping immigrants and refugees in Memphis by investing its proceeds in its employees — paying them a living wage, offering English lessons, free shoes, profit-sharing, and helping them transition to life in the U.S.

Viramontes was intrigued enough to move here in early 2018. He got to work creating a menu, developing recipes, and concocting cocktail ideas. (More about those soon.)

“My family moved from Mexico to Ventura when I was 10 years old,” says Viramontes. “We were in the heart of California’s agricultural country, and I’ve worked in the food and restaurant business since I was 14. My first real job was being a dishwasher for a Mexican restaurant. Since then, I’ve worked as a busboy, buffet attendant, line cook, bartender, chef, and restaurant manager.

“Sabine is also an immigrant, like me, and the restaurant is her vision,” he continues. “We are empowering immigrants and refugees to bridge the gap and to become a part of the culture and society. We’ve had employees from Guatemala, Burundi, Ukraine, Pakistan, Nepal, Sudan, Syria, Mexico, Venezuela … more than 20 countries.”

Global Café, located in Crosstown Concourse, features

“We are empowering immigrants and refugees to bridge the gap and to become a part of the culture and society. We’ve had employees from Guatemala, Burundi, Ukraine, Pakistan, Nepal, Sudan, Syria, Mexico, Venezuela … more than 20 countries.” — Juan Viramontes

a varied international menu that includes dishes from Venezuela, Somalia, Colombia, Sudan, Mexico, and the Middle East — everything from street tacos to African peanut soup. Viramontes’ cocktails are equally international and include “Syrian Sangria,” “Sudanese Sundance,” and “Mexican Mule,” to name just three.

“Because of my agricultural background, I can work with almost any food,” he says. “For our cocktails, I focus on fresh fruit. If peaches are in season, I turn them into a drink I call ‘Peaches and Cream.’ Watermelons? I make a ‘Watermelon Pucker.’ Our ‘Kiwi Lime Drop’ is also very popular.”

So far, Viramontes hasn’t mentioned the elephant in the room, and that would be his famous ‘Mangorita,’ the most Instagrammable cocktail in Memphis — and probably the largest — so I ask him about it.

“We sell a ton of those,” he says, smiling. “It’s our most famous drink. I take a mango and cut it into a flower and put

it on a stick in a glass filled with 20 ounces of ‘Juan’s Famous Margarita.’ I buy the largest mangos they sell and ripen them myself. at’s why they’re so creamy and buttery, with no tough fiber. After I cut it, I drizzle it with fresh-squeezed lime juice, fresh orange juice, tajin [a spice blend], and Cholula hot sauce. With this drink, you have to give in and get messy with it.”

After that introduction, I have to try one. (And reader, let me just add that this interview was happening before lunch. On a Tuesday.) Watching Viramontes put this masterpiece together, I feel a bit like I’m watching Picasso at his canvas.

He slides it across the bar in my direction, and it’s … it’s huge . ankfully, there’s a straw. Otherwise, I’m not sure how I would get to the drink itself. I take a sip and, bam! It’s really good. But this is a drink with a punch.

“How much alcohol is in here, Juan?”

“ ree and a half ounces of tequila.”

“Whoa.”

“You’re supposed to savor it,” he advises. “Take a bite. Have a sip. Take your time.”

“It’s 11:14 in the morning. I think I’ll have to just drink a sample, if that’s okay.”

“No worries,” says Viramontes. “Some people come in and order it for dinner,” he adds, helpfully. “ ey use a knife and fork.”

I make a note to myself to come back and try a few of the intriguing-sounding dishes on the menu. And to bring a cohort to help me tackle the “Mangorita.”

I figure we’ll need two straws and an Uber. And it will be well worth it. Do yourself a favor and put Global Café on your restaurant list, if you’re not already a patron. It’s an opportunity to eat well, drink well, and do some good for your community. Tell Juan I sent you.

Global Café is located inside Crosstown Concourse, 1350 Concourse Ave., Suite 157.

Juan Viramontes with his famous “Mangorita.”

Petals of a Peony

In the heart of Germantown, but all the flavors — and freshness — of a genuine Chinese home.

BY ALEX GREENE

During my recent visit to Petals of a Peony, the Sichuan restaurant off Germantown Road, I felt transported to the welcoming, cozy spirit of home.

Though I’m of mixed European ancestry, the snapping of beans reminded me of summers on my grandmother’s farm in Nebraska, where my family would do much the same thing. And it certainly indicated how fresh the produce in the meals was likely to be. But the homespun feeling didn’t stop there.

waitress handed me said it all. There, in a place of honor at the top of the menu, was a dish dubbed “Mom’s Noodle Soup.” Petals of a Peony takes the flavors of home very seriously. Under a photograph of an enormous bowl of soup dotted with fresh greens and beef was this introduction:

“I remember Mom and I used to eat noodle soup. We didn’t have a lot of money when I was a kid. Noodle soup is cheap and easy to make. It kept me full and warm. When big celebrations happened, she would put beef in the soup. Now, my mom is thousands of miles away, but I miss her and the flavor. She let me know the recipe and our chef made it for me. I also want to share the flavor and my mom’s love with everyone else.”

The room’s décor provided an unpretentious, minimalist backdrop for the tableaux, this seasonal keeping of time through shared labor over green beans. It being late afternoon, I was the lone customer, though I’d heard that evenings there can be crowded. In any case, this was a perfect space for some solitary rumination. The first of two menus the

Signed by Bo Zou, the restaurant’s general manager, it was a lovely sentiment that, in my mind, went hand-in-hand with snapping beans at the table. I ordered a bowl immediately. And to complement that opener, I ordered the most intriguing-sounding dish on the appetizer menu, the black wood-ear mushroom salad. When they both arrived, I

left: The unassuming entrance to Petals of a Peony barely hints at the delights within. above : Mao Family’s Braised Pork with tatsoi in a savory sauce.

was struck by the paradox of unfamiliar comfort food. Is that an oxymoron? In any case, my experience was of the most earthy, nourishing sustenance, yet found in forms and flavors that were new to me.

Of course, noodle soup is noodle soup, and this had all the basic elements that make such a dish beloved across cultures: large, smooth, succulent wheat noodles swimming in a beef broth blended with the spicy chili-pepper oil sometimes served as a condiment in its own right. Nestled in all that were tender beef strips, as savory as a backyard grill, along with cabbage and fresh cilantro sprigs.

Bo Zou’s words struck me:

perfect for sharing. (I took half of mine home.)

Then there was the salad, which brought all the sensory contrasts that a salad should. The cool crunch of lettuce, however, was replaced by the simultaneously chewy-butcrisp texture of black woodear mushrooms, bathed in a light, slightly tart soy dressing, flecked with scallions and pickled, tingly Sichuan pepper bits that greatly enlivened the flavor profile. The blend of the mushrooms’ savory nature with the zing of raw scallions and pickled pepper was exquisite. This dish was perhaps my favorite part of the meal.

That made it all the more difficult to order an entrée.

with chicken gizzard, fish head with pickled pepper, or the Chongquing Mao Xue Wang, described as “duck blood, ham, beef tripe, bean sprouts, tofu,

Carried away in a culinary reverie, I slowly came to my senses and it dawned on me that no, I wasn’t sitting in a treehouse overlooking the Yangtze River, but nestled in between a Party City and a Chili’s in Germantown.

lotus, wood-ear mushroom and cilantro in spicy soup.” (If you are more in the mood for Kung Pao chicken — never fear, that’s here, too.)

cooked with that fat, was the most moist and tender pork I’ve encountered in some time.

The Mao family was clearly onto something, and the experience got me wondering about them. Wolfing down the balanced elements of the dish, the dark pork complemented so perfectly with the tatsoi, I had a glimpse of the kind of inspiration one could glean from a perfectly executed rice bowl.

Carried away in a culinary reverie, I slowly came to my senses and it dawned on me that no, I wasn’t sitting in a treehouse overlooking the Yangtze River, but nestled in between a Party City and a Chili’s in Germantown. That

“It kept me full and warm.” My soup was certainly doing that, especially since I’d ordered the “spicy” version. I look forward to ordering it again once the cold weather returns — this would be perfect for a chilly, overcast day. And they aren’t kidding about the “full” part, either. The soup is served in a large bowl that would be

Tempted to simply choose another delicious salad, I instead forged into more flavorful adventures. It should be noted, for the record, that there is an adventurous side to the homespun, rustic way of eating in any culture, and that held true at Petals of a Peony. While there is plenty of more conventionally approachable fare, made with the freshest of ingredients, a wide range of other choices might appeal to those seeking more of a culinary journey.

In any case, that’s how I interpreted such fare as spicy beef and tripe, pickled pepper

Wanting to dabble a bit in the more authentic, rustic style on offer, I carried on with my “down home” theme and ordered the Mao Family’s Braised Pork, the description of which simply read “thick cuts of braised pork belly.”

When the entrée arrived, I did not regret my choice. The glistening pork mingled with the freshest of fresh tatsoi greens in a savory sauce, and sat beautifully on a bed of rice. True, I do not eat a lot of pork belly, and this finicky Westerner was moved to cut the fat from each piece of pork and set it aside. Yet the meat, having been

mattered little, though. For one thing, the owners confirmed that Petals of a Peony would be opening a second location in Midtown’s Overton Square this summer — closer to my home. But beyond that, for a delectable moment, I had taken a trip far from the city I knew, sampling the subtleties of a place my hosts called home. That, I realized, was the best feeling any meal can offer.

Petals of a Peony is located at 1250 N. Germantown Parkway #105 and plans to open a second location this summer at 2110 Madison Avenue.

above: The chewy-but-crisp texture of black wood-ear mushrooms makes for a delightful cold salad.

above right: Mom’s noodle soup is the ultimate comfort food.

Memphis Dining Guide

A Curated Guide to Eating Out

MemphisMagazine 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  MemphisMagazine; 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

117 PRIME—Restaurateurs Craig Blondis and Roger Sapp team up with Chef Ryan Trimm to recreate the traditional American steakhouse. Serving oysters on the half shell and a variety of surf and turf options. 117 Union. 433-9851. L, D, WB, X, $-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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

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, X, MRA, $-$$ BEDROCK EATS & SWEETS—Memphis’ only Paleo-centric restaurant, offering such dishes as pot roast, waffles, enchiladas, chicken salad, omelets, and more. Closed for dinner Sun. 327 S. Main. 409-6433. B, L, D, X, $-$$

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, $-$$

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, X, MRA, $-$$$

CHEF TAM’S UNDERGROUND CAFE—Serves Southern staples with a Cajun twist. Menu items include totchoes, jerk wings, fried chicken, and “muddy” mac and cheese. Closed Sun. and Mon. 668 Union Ave. 207-6182. L, D, X, $-$$

DINING SYMBOLS

B — breakfast

L — lunch

D — dinner

SB — Sunday brunch

WB — weekend brunch

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

X— wheelchair accessible

MRA — member, Memphis Restaurant Association

$ — under $15 per person without drinks or desserts

$$ — under $25

$$$ — $26-$50

$$$$ — over $50

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. 51 S. Main St., 779-4125. L, D, X, $-$$

BISHOP—Ticer and Hudman’s newest venture at the Central Station Hotel features upscale dishes in a French brasserie style. 545 S. Main St., 524-5247. L, D, X, $$-$$$

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, X, $ 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, X, MRA, $-$$$$

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, X, $-$$

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

FEAST & GRAZE—Whipped goat toast, open-faced grilled cheese, and other local pantry snacks and charcuterie boards. Closed Sun./Mon. 55 S. Main. 654-5926. L, X, $

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, X, $ 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, X, $-$$

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

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, MRA, $

HAPPY MEXICAN—Serves 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, X, $ 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 with superb city views 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. 3331229. D, X, $

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, X, $

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, X, $-$$

INKWELL—Unique craft concoctions, charcuterie plates, flatbreads, and sandwiches at this dope cocktail bar. Closed Mon.-Tue. 631 Madison Ave. 334-9411. D, X, $-$$

ITTA BENA—Southern and Cajun-American cuisine served here, conveniently 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, X, MRA, $$-$$$

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, X, MRA, $-$$$

LITTLE BETTIE—New Haven-style pizzas and snacks from the AndrewMichael 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, $$-$$$$

LOCAL—Entrees with a focus on locally sourced products include lobster mac-and-cheese and rib-eye patty melt; menu differs by location. 95 S. Main. 473-9573. L, D, WB, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

LONGSHOT—A wide variety of international fusion dishes and craft cocktails with a side of shuffleboard. 477 S. Main. D, $-$$

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, X, $-$$$

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.), X, $-$$$

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

MOLLIE FONTAINE LOUNGE—Specializes in tapas (small plates) featuring global cuisine. Closed Sun.-Tues. 679 Adams Ave. 524-1886. D, X, 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, $

NEW WING ORDER The award-winning food truck cooks up its signature hot wings at its first physical location, at Ghost River on Beale. Closed Mon./Tue. 341 Beale. L, D, $-$$

THE NINE THAI & SUSHI—Serving authentic Thai dishes, including curries, as well as a variety of sushi rolls. Closed for lunch Sat. and Sun. 121 Union. 208-8347. L, D, X, $-$$

PAPER PLATE PAVILION—Popular food truck serves up brisket mac and cheese and more favorites at Tom Lee Park. Riverside Dr. L, X, $-$$

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, X, MRA, $-$$$

PENNY’S NITTY GRITTY—Coach Penny Hardaway brings plenty of Southern flavors and lots of customizable grits. 220 S. B.B. King Blvd. 334-5950. B, 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, $-$$

RAW GIRLS—Raw and hot plant-based food alongside cold-pressed juices made from seasonal, locally grown sources. Closed Sun. 150 Peabody Pl., Suite 118. 207-5463. B, 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, X, $-$$

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

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $

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, X, $-$$

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

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, X , $-$$

SOUTH POINT GROCERY—Fresh and delicious sandwiches made to order at Downtown’s new grocery market. 136 Webster Ave. B, L, D, X, $ 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, X, $-$$

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, X, MRA, $

SUPPER CLUB ON 2ND—Fine dining and urban bistro styles collide at this snazzy, chic restaurant, featuring gold-encrusted tomahawk steaks, a deep sea lobster dawg, fancy cocktails, and plenty of other elevated goodies. 85 S. 2nd St. 453-6334. D, WB, X, $$-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, X, $$-$$$

THE GARDEN BRUNCH CAFÉ—Leaving their Nashville roots, a unique and healthy brunch spot in the heart of Downtown. Closed Mon.—Thurs. 492 S. Main St. 249-7450. B, SB, WB, X, $-$$$

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, X, $$-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $

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

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $ ASHTAR GARDEN—Southern twists on classic brunch dishes, and plenty of cocktails. Closed Mon.-Wed. 898 Cooper St. 4431514. L, D, $-$$

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

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, X , MRA, $

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

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

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, X, 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, X, 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), X, MRA, $-$$

BOUNTY ON BROAD—Offering family-style dining, Bounty serves small plates and family-sized platters, with such specialties as chicken-fried quail and braised pork shank. 2519 Broad. 410-8131. L (Sat. and Sun.), D (Mon.-Sat.), SB, X, 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, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, X, 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, X, 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, X, $

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, X, 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, X, 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, X, $

EAT AT BLACK LODGE—High-end breakfasts, like waffle grilled cheese sandwiches, nacho and tater-tot “tot-chos,” and other entrees like sweet spicy thai pork at the longtime video store. Now with Masquerade cocktail bar. Closed Mon./Tue. 405 N. Cleveland. 672-7905. L, D, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

EVELYN & OLIVE—Jamaican/Southern fusion cuisine includes such dishes as Kingston stew fish, Rasta Pasta, and jerk rib-eye. Closed for lunch Sat. and all day Sun.-Mon. 150 N. Avalon St. 748-5422. L, D, X , $

FABIOLA’S KITCHEN—Longtime caterer Fabiola Francis serves up burgers, tacos, fish, and much more. 1353 Jackson Ave. B, L, $ 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, X, $

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $

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, X, $-$$

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

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

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, X, $-$$

GUAC FRESH MEX—Authentic Mexican cuisine and four types of guacamole. Closed Sun. 782 Washington Ave. 587-4100. L, D, X, $

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, X, $

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, X, 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, X, $

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $

JACK’S BROWN 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, X, $-$$$

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, X, 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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

MAXIMO’S ON BROAD—Serving a tapas menu that features creative fusion cuisine; entrees include veggie paella and fish of the day. Closed Mon. 2617 Broad Ave. 452-1111. D, SB, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, $-$$

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, $-$$

ROBATA RAMEN & YAKITORI BAR—Serves ramen noodle bowls and Yakitori skewers as well as rice and noodle dishes. 2116 Madison. 410-8290. L, D, X, $

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, X, $$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $ 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, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, X, $

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, X, $-$$

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. #1 (Cordova). 756-4480; 2821 N. Houston Levee Rd (Lakeland). 377-9997. L, D, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X,, 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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $

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, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, X, 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. 512-4963. L, D, X, $$-$$$

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, X, $

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. 779-2200. B, L, D, X, $-$$

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. #65. 766-0831. L, D, X, $-$$

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. 761-9898; 4040 Park Ave. 754-2520. B, L, D, X, $ 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, X , MRA, $

FANATIC SPORTS BAR AND WING FANATIC—Sports bar and hot wing joint folded into one, with plenty of screens to watch the big game. 2857 Appling Way. 695-3243. L, D, $-$$

LA TAQUERIA GUADALUPANA—Fajitas and quesadillas are just a few of the authentic Mexican entrees offered here. A bonafide Memphis institution. 4818 Summer. 685-6857; 5848 Winchester. 365-4992. L, D, X, $

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

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. 7619321. L, D, X, $-$$

NAGASAKI INN—Chicken, steak, and lobster are among the main courses; meal is cooked at your table. 3951 Summer. 454-0320. D, X, $$

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, #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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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

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, X, $-$$$

THE BLUFF—New Orleans-inspired menu includes alligator bites, nachos topped with crawfish and andouille, gumbo, po’boys, and fried seafood platters. 535 S. Highland. 454-7771. L, D, X, $-$$

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, X, $

CELEBRITY’S SOUL FOOD—Classic soul food dishes coupled with a Hollywood-esque VIP experience. 431 S. Highland St., Suite 105. L, D, X, $$

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, X, 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, X, MRA, $-$$

MEDALLION—Offers steaks, seafood, chicken, and pasta entrees. Closed for dinner Sunday. 3700 Central, Holiday Inn (Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality). 678-1030. B, L, D, SB, X, 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, X, $$-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, X, 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, X, $

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $$-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $

BUCKLEY’S FINE FILET GRILL—Specializes in steaks, seafood, and pasta. (Lunchbox serves entree salads, burgers, and more.) 5355 Poplar. 683-4538; 919 S. Yates (Buckley’s Lunchbox), 682-0570. L (Yates only, M-F), D, X, $-$$

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, X, $$$-$$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, X, $

COASTAL FISH COMPANY

—Upscale offerings of international fish varieties utilizing styles ranging from Carribbean, East Coast, West Coast, Chinese, to Filipino, and more. 415 Great View Dr. E., Suite 101. 266-9000. D, X, $$-$$$

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, X, 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, X, $

DORY—Chef David Krog whips up Southern specialties with classic French techniques and locally sourced ingredients. Current specialties include pork tenderloin, beef bourguignon, or cocoa-dusted chocolate truffles, with new weekly additions. 716 W. Brookhaven Circle. 310-4290. L, D, X, $$-$$$

ERLING JENSEN—For decades, 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, X, 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, X, $-$$$

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, X, 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, X, MRA, $$$-$$$$

FORMOSA—Offers Mandarin cuisine, including broccoli beef, hot-andsour soup, and spring rolls. Closed Mon. 6685 Quince. 753-9898. L, D, X, $-$$

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, X, $

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, X, $

FRANK GRISANTI ITALIAN RESTAURANT—Northern Italian favorites include pasta with jumbo shrimp and mushrooms; also seafood, filet mignon, and daily lunch specials. Closed for lunch Sun. Embassy Suites Hotel, 1022 S. Shady Grove. 761-9462. L, D, X, $-$$$

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, X, MRA, $-$$$

HEN HOUSE—Hybrid wine/cocktail bar and tasting room with plenty of cosmopolitan eats. Closed Sun. 679 S. Mendenhall. 499-5436. D, $-$$$ HIGH POINT PIZZA—Serves a variety of pizzas, subs, salads, and sides. Closed Mon. A neighborhood fixture. 477 High Point Terrace. 452-3339. L, D, X, $-$$

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. And with a few surprises this time around. Closed for lunch Mon. 707 W. Brookhaven Cir. 207-7396. L, D, SB, X, 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), X, 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, X, $ 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. (Novel). 800-2656. B, L, D, SB, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, X, $

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, X, 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, X, $

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, X , $

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, X, 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, X, $ 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, X, 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, X, $-$$$ PF CHANG’S CHINA BISTRO—Specialties are orange peel shrimp, Mongolian beef, and chicken in lettuce wraps; also vegetarian dishes, including spicy eggplant. 1181 Ridgeway Rd., Park Place Centre. 8183889. L, D, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, X, $-$$

RED HOOK CAJUN SEAFOOD & BAR—Cajun-style array of seafood including shrimp, mussels, clams, crawfish, and oysters. 3295 Poplar. 207-1960. L, D, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $$-$$$

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, X, $$$

RONNIE GRISANTI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT— This 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, X, $-$$$

ROTOLO’S CRAFT & CRUST—Louisiana-based pizza company’s 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, X, $-$$

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE—Offers prime steaks cut and aged in-house, as well as lamb, chicken, and fresh seafood, including lobster. 6120 Poplar. 761-0055. D, X, $$$-$$$$

SALSA—Mexican-Southern California specialties 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, X, $-$$

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, X, $$-$$$

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, X, $ SWANKY’S TACO SHOP—Taco-centric eatery offers tortas, flatbreads, quesadillas, chimichangas, burgers, and more. 4770 Poplar. 730-0763; 6641 Poplar (Germantown). 737-2088; 272 S. Main. 7793499. L, D, X, $

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, X, $

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, X, $ TORCHY’S TACOS—Plenty of Tex-Mex variety, with creative monthly special tacos. 719 S. Mendenhall. 343-8880. B, L, D, X, $ 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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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., Ste. 6 (Collierville). 2217488; 8253 Highway 51, North Suite #103 (Millington). 872-0849; 4130 Elvis Presley Blvd (Whitehaven) 791-4726; 5224 Airline Rd., Ste. 107 (Arlington). 209-0349. L, D, X, $-$$

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, X, $

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $$-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $ OPTIONS Burgers, wings, philly cheesesteaks, and more comfort food options. Closed Mon.-Thu. 7940 Fischer Steel Rd. 245-6048. D, SB, $-$$

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, $

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $$-$$$

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, X, $

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$ ROCK’N DOUGH PIZZA CO.—Specialty and custom pizzas made from fresh ingredients; wide variety of toppings. 7850 Poplar, Suite 6. 779-2008. L, D, SB, X, MRA, $$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, 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, X, $$-$$$$

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

WEST STREET DINER—This home-style eatery offers breakfast, burgers, po’boys, and more. 2076 West St. 757-2191. B, L, D (Mon.-Fri.), X, $

ZEN JAPANESE FINE CUISINE—A full sushi bar and plenty of authentic Japanese dishes, like Hibachi or Wagyu beef. 1730 S. Germantown Rd. 7792796. L, D, X, 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, X, $-$$

CIAO BABY—Specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza made in a wood-fired oven. Also serves house-made mozzarella, pasta, appetizers, and salads. 890 W. Poplar, Suite 1. 457-7457. L, D, X, $

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, X, 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, X, $-$$$

DYER’S CAFE—Juicy hamburgers, split dogs, and milkshakes at the historic Collierville restaurant. 101 N. Center St. 850-7750. L, D, X, $-$$

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). 867-1883; 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, X, $

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). 3840540. L, D, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, MRA, $-$$$

MULAN ASIAN BISTRO—Hunan Chicken, tofu dishes, and orange beef served here; sushi and Thai food, too. 2059 Houston Levee. 850-5288; 2149 Young. 347-3965; 4698 Spottswood. 609-8680. L, D, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X,$

CASINO TABLES

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 RACING—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 Thu, July 4 7 PM & 8:30 PM

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $$-$$$

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, X, $-$$$

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, X, $-$$

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, X, $

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, X, $-$$$

MEMPHIS BARBECUE COMPANY—Offers spare ribs, baby backs, and pulled pork and brisket. 709 Desoto Cove (Horn Lake, MS). 662-536-3762. L, D, X, $-$$

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, X, $

SAINT LEO’S—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, X, $-$$

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, X, $-$$$

TEKILA MODERN MEXICAN—Modern interpretations of classic dishes from all over Mexico. 6343 Getwell Rd. (Southaven, MS). 662-510-5734. B, L, D, X, $-$$

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, $-$$$

Dear Editor,

When I was 6 years old and was in the first grade at Treadwell, my family lived on a dead-end street named Henry a couple of blocks north of Blackard’s Grocery (“Ask Vance,” May 2024 issue). My mother had me, my 2-year-older brother, and my sister who was 13 months old. Around this time she had my twin brothers so now three in diapers (not disposable).

One summer day she gave me a $20 bill and told me to go to Blackard’s and get a loaf of bread. They put the bread in a paper bag that it just fit in and I put the paper bills on top of the bread and walked home. When I got there, the paper money was gone. My mother was frantic as that was a lot of money in 1956 and she told me to go back retracing my steps and see if I could find it as she had three babies and couldn’t leave the house. I walked back up to Holmes and turned left headed to the store. Luckily, I found all of the paper money in one of the front yards. It had blown out of the top of the bag without me noticing.

I am now 77 years old and an artist. I paint places all over Memphis and sell them at Novel, the Fire Museum, and Gourmet to Go in Germantown. I have done a watercolor of the charming little store using the photo in the article. Thank you for helping me relive that memory.

Carolyn Pollan

memphis

Dear Editor,

My family and I took great interest in your story about Blackard’s Grocery on Given. In the photo is a teenager that we are 100 percent sure is our uncle, David Fisher. He often ran errands on his bicycle for Blackard’s. He passed away just two months ago and I would love to get that photo for my 94-year-old mother, his sister. We all remember Blackard’s but my mother especially enjoyed the story and photo. Thank you so much for telling our history, and for brightening my mother’s day!

Caroline Carman

memphis

Dear Editor,

We enjoyed reading the story about my husband’s great-grandfather’s grocery. My husband is a child of the Sixties so he barely remembers this time, and we were delighted to see this history in the magazine.

Glynis Blackard

memphis

Write to us at:

letters@memphismagazine.com

Santa Clauses Came to Town

Jolly Old Elves from around the world spread the Yule spirit on Beale. PHOTOGRAPHS

BY KAREN PULFER FOCHT

Do you believe in Santa? Elvis Presley — who was known to be a pretty generous gift-giver — certainly did. He’s quoted as saying (well, singing), “Here comes Santa Claus riding down Santa Claus Lane.” Elvis probably meant to warble “walking with his feet ten feet off of Beale,” which, using the sublime elfin peppermint magic that pulls all good things together, meant that it was perfectly normal for scores of Santas from around the globe to parade down Beale Street past the Elvis statue on April 28th, a decidedly non-wintry Sunday afternoon. The big biennial International Santa Celebration convention had just finished a three-day run at the Renasant Convention Center, where Santas had Clausian discussions and then adjourned to wink and wave and ho-ho-ho at astonished passersby. And then they dashed away all. How could you not believe? — Jon W. Sparks

Imagine having a transitional living space to enjoy the best of the outdoors in your own backyard. With Phantom Screens, it’s possible. Fully customizable and professionally installed, Phantom Screens appear at the touch of a button providing fresh air and shade from the sun without worrying about the bugs. They preserve your home’s design and won’t get in the way of your view by retracting completely out of sight when not in use.

At Roadshow BMW, it has always been our mission to provide excellent service to the Memphis community. Thanks to your patronage, we are honored to receive the 2024 BMW Center of Excellence Award in recognition of outstanding customer satisfaction and operational performance.

Contact a Client Advisor at Roadshow BMW to learn more about our award-winning service.