Madison Avenue and B.B. King Boulevard are set for a transformation a century in the making. HiFi Memphis has closed on two long vacant buildings on this corner, one dating back to the 1920s and the other a former bank from the 1960s, and together they are becoming the Memphis Public Market.
The 94,000-square-foot space will bring the market to street level, with 24 stalls for farmers, butchers, bakers, prepared food vendors, and local makers, plus office space, event space, and a rooftop bar, along with business incubation programs and workforce development initiatives. This gives small business owners a place to grow right alongside the people shopping for dinner!
Public markets have become cultural landmarks in cities across the country, drawing millions of visitors and reshaping the neighborhoods around them. Memphis Public Market is modeling its approach after Findlay Market in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, a market that helped turn its entire area into a destination.
The corner sits directly across from the Sterick Building, another historic downtown structure currently being brought back to life. Together, the two projects are giving downtown Memphis a fresh identity built on both its history and its future.
There is no opening date yet, with building stabilization set to begin soon.
