Yesterday, after a run home to do some stuff on my laptop, I decided to walk up to Roma at Third and Court to get their lasagna to take back to work. As I walked up Third, I saw this at the entrance of the parking garage next door to Roma:
Looks like a new club is about to open up… the sign to the right of the entrance says, “Coming soon – Memphis Sounds – Hot Blues, Cool Jazz.” Always good to see new music venues in the area. The location is going to be something of a disadvantage – it’s on Third between Court and Madison, not near any other clubs, and the fact that it’s inside the entrance to a parking garage won’t help either. However, if they bring quality entertainment, people will hear about it and come. We’ll see. I’m hoping for the best.
If you read the Memphis Business Journal print edition and website, you already know the rest of the news. Dunkin’ Donuts is moving into Memphis, and according to this week’s print MBJ, they’re looking at 66 S. Main (corner of Main and Union, the Radio Flats) as a location, possibly a joint Dunkin’ Donuts/Baskin Robbins location. Dunkin’ Donuts is looking at itself as direct competition to Starbucks in the Memphis neighborhoods it’s invading. The Downtown store is said to be the flagship store for the city (2800 SF) and could open as early as January 2009.
Earlier in the week, I walked down to McAlister’s in the SunTrust building to pick up lunch… but there was a sign that said, “Closed for remodeling.” However, according to the MBJ it’s not just for remodeling – they’re closed permanently. That’s a loss for people who work in the area. They had good food there, and they were so professional, too. I always enjoyed lunches at McAlister’s.
Another big loss is a store we never even knew – Ceriello, the New York-based Italian deli that was scheduled to go into the first floor of the Lincoln-American Tower, has decided to pull out. The MBJ could not reach their corporate management for further comment.