Courtesy Memphis CVB
Memphis — The beat goes on
Thanks to three blocks of blues, jazz, rock ’n’ roll and rhythm and blues called Beale Street, Downtown Memphis has long been lively.
But now, with the reimagining of its most iconic building — the early 1990s Pyramid Arena — more energy is arriving in the north end of downtown Memphis.
The pyramid-shaped structure, formerly an arena for sports and concerts, will become a Bass Pro Outdoor World. More than a retail store, the Bass Pro complex will be the outdoor retailer’s version of an urban resort, with a restaurant, a bowling alley, retail shops and a small hotel, all under the Bass Pro umbrella. The complex should open by early next year.
In addition to drawing tourists from the region, Bass Pro Outdoor World will be “a great activity of convention attendees with free time,” said Jonathan Lyons, public relations manager at the Memphis CVB.
It is also expected that the Bass Pro complex, located a couple of blocks from the Cook County Convention Center, will entice more development to the area around it, known as the Pinch District.
On downtown’s south end, at the foot of Beale Street, a riverfront park and wharf is aiming, after several delays, for a 2014 grand opening.
Passengers who take cruises offered by four riverboat cruise companies board at Beale Street Landing.
A space created for a restaurant at Beale Street Landing has not yet found a tenant, and for now, the space is being used for special events. Built into the riverbank, the space has a glass front that has led many to call it “the front porch of the Mississippi,” said Lyons.
A trolley system that loops downtown makes getting around the long, narrow city easier. Restaurants and other businesses that have opened to support a growing population of downtown residents give downtown a neighborly feel. “If you have a group of 1,000 rooms on peak, downtown is almost yours,” said Lyons.
For assistance, visitors simply look for downtown’s Blue Suede Brigade, a team of goodwill ambassaders who wear blue suede athletic shoes, appropriate footwear in Elvis’ town. Brigade members carry two-way radios and backpacks stuffed with maps and brochures for visitors.
901-543-5300
www.memphistravel.com
