Porch & Parlor Plans Lush Interior and Early 2019 Opening

The opening of Porch & Parlor in the former Bar Louie spot in Overton Square has been pushed back a bit, from late 2018 to early 2019.

In May, Russ Graham and Tom Powers announced they leased the space and would open Porch & Parlor, making it the third in the local restaurant portfolio that includes Flight and Southern Social. The plan was always to offer upscale dining, but researching the building’s history led them to reconsider the interior design.

“We’re embracing when the building was built, which was during the Belle Epoque era,” Graham said.

The era, which encompassed the Gilded Age in the U.S., was a time of prosperity for many around the world, a time when the wealthy spent exorbitantly and the extravagant Art Nouveau style was in demand. The lavish look will figure in the design of the new restaurant.

Read more in the Daily Memphian

Loeb Gets Okay to Move Forward with Overton Square Hotel

A new hotel planned for Overton Square is now one step closer to reality. Loeb Properties wants to build a 7-story, 109-room boutique hotel next to the Hatiloo Theatre. 

During a meeting at city hall Thursday morning, the measure passed, and Loeb was told it could move forward with the development. 

Watch more at Local Memphis

Overton Square launches free outdoor movie series

As part of an effort to attract families and "activate" its courtyard, Overton Square next week will launch a free series of outdoor movies, from vintage black-and-white classics ("Casablanca") to recent rainbow-splashed hits ("Finding Dory").

The movies will be shown on a 16-foot-wide pull-down screen that has been installed inside the stage on the west end of the courtyard behind the main Overton Square complex of connected businesses and restaurants on Madison Avenue. For seating, people are invited to bring chairs and blankets.

"This is a wonderful way to activate the courtyard for family-friendly events," said Ciara Neill, director of marketing for Loeb Properties, the company that manages the Overton Square food, entertainment and retail district. "We think it can be a fun family night. You can eat dinner in the square and then go to a movie."

Read more in the Commercial Appeal

Exclusive: Overton Square brands courtyard, launches movie series

New York may have Times Square, but Memphis is getting Chimes Square. 

The courtyard at Overton Square's new brand plays off the bustling New York intersection and nods to the courtyard's wind chimes — one of the largest sets in the world. 

"We wanted to create a better sense of place," said Ciara Neill, Loeb Properties marketing director. "It's such a catchy name we can say it and people know what we're talking about." 

In conjunction with the new brand, Loeb is kicking off a free film series on most Thursday nights, with the rotating themes of kids, date night, comedy and drama.

Read more in the Memphis Business Journal

Overton Square Adds Two New Restaurants in One Week

Loeb Properties has announced that Bogard, a new upscale restaurant that will serve contemporary Southern-inspired dishes, has signed a 3,790-square-foot lease in Overton Square.

Though the restaurant partially takes its name from co-owner Edward Bogard, it also an acronym for “Buying One Gives Another Rare Dish,” as each meal purchased at the restaurant will provide another meal for a person in need thanks to a partnership with the Mid-South Food Bank.

Ed Cabagiao and Ben McLean have been tapped as operating managers for the new venue that will occupy the former Stanley Bar-B-Que space at 2110 Madison Ave. 

Read more in the Memphis Daily News

New Restaurant BOGARD Planned For Overton Square Will Help Feed Those In Need

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) - A new concept restaurant that aims to feed the need as well as customers is set to open in the former location of Stanley BBQ in Overton Square.

Loeb Properties says the owners behind BOGARD plan to begin construction in the next month on the space at 2110 Madison Avenue. Among those who are behind the venture are co-owners; philanthropist Edward Bogard, Preston Butts Jr. and NBA Coach Lionel Hollins.

BOGARD stands for “Buying One Gives Another Rare Dish.” The concept behind the upscale restaurant is that for every meal purchased, another meal will be provided for someone in need through a partnership with the Mid-South Food Bank.

Stanley BBQ, which had been in the space, closed back in February.

Watch more at Local Memphis

Porch & Parlor to take over Bar Louie spot in Overton Square

"We are looking forward to activating Overton Square's 'gateway' space with Russ Graham and Tom Powers' experienced team and unique, sophisticated fine-dining concept," said Ciara Neill, director of marketing for Loeb Properties.

The pair opened Flight in 2009 Downtown and Southern Social in Germantown in 2016. The fine dining restaurants have a few things in common, but the menus are different and Porch &  Parlor will also have a distinct identity.

"We view it as an opportunity to create something different, to delve into new culinary territory," Powers said.

The renovation will be extensive and the end result a white tablecloth restaurant. With 5,982 square feet and currently seating for more than 275 people inside and out, it will be the largest fine dining restaurant in the area. Bari and Restaurant Iris, both slightly off the square, offer upscale dining but are much smaller. Iris will close in the next month or two for a complete renovation and will reopen with a new menu and a more contemporary interior, but will remain fine dining.

Not long after Bar Louie closed, so did Stanley Bar-B-Que at 2101 Madison. The space, which was Paulette's for many years and Schweinehaus for several before changing its concept to barbecue, remains unoccupied.

Read more in the Commercial Appeal

With Loeb mural collaboration, art class is in session at Overton Square

Bob Loeb was flipping through the pages of Memphis magazine when he saw a piece of art he had to have. It wasn't a gallery piece, but a mural created by local elementary school students using recycled plastic bottle caps.

The article led to the latest educational collaboration between Loeb Properties Inc. and Shady Grove Elementary.

Loeb orchestrated a trade in which students would create a bottle cap mural for Overton Square in exchange for an educational field trip in which 75 fifth-graders received an art lesson from The Art Project, lunch from Belly Acres and a guided public art tour.

The serendipitous way in which Shady Grove Elementary found itself partnering with Overton Square is a microcosm of Memphis itself, said school principal Kiersten Schnacke.

"That really and truly is what our world should be about — people coming together," Schnacke said. "Through those connections, our students were able to have an amazing experience."

Like Memphis, Shady Grove is a diverse public school with a mix of races and incomes. Five of the school's buses are dedicated to transporting students from a nearby apartment complex.

Read more in the Memphis Business Journal

Coming Full Square

For the first time in a while, Overton Square isn’t 100 percent leased. And while no one really expects that to be the case for very long, these rare vacancies provide a good chance to stop and examine what the popular entertainment destination has going on.

In terms of current construction, one has to look no further than the southeast corner of Overton Square to see the changes Austin, Texas-based burger chain Hopdoddy is making to one of Memphis’ more recognizable intersections.

But when it comes to potential impact, the square’s most ambitious project has yet to break ground.

“We … had more than 1.2 million visitors last year, which makes us one of the most visited entertainment destinations in Memphis,” said Ciara Neill, director of marketing for Overton Square landlord Loeb Properties. “Once the hotel comes on line, we are really looking at attracting regional visitors at a much higher rate.”

Read more in the Memphis Daily News

Loeb expands Overton Square brand with new infill development

The latest infill development in Midtown will officially expand the boundaries of Loeb Properties Inc.'s Overton Square redevelopment — or the use of its trademarked brand at least.

A three-story, infill apartment building, planned for a vacant lot at the corner of Diana Street and Monroe Avenue, will be the first new development to use the official Overton Square brand.

A conceptual rendering of the Diana Street Apartments being proposed by PMT investments LLC. The apartments are designed by Memphis-based architecture firm Arch Inc.

As detailed in the Memphis Business Journal's June 2017 cover story, "Loeb trademark defines shape of Overton Square," Loeb has a federal trademark for “Overton Square” and “Overton Square Memphis” from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for advertising and marketing purposes.

"Since 'Overton Square,' the name, is trademarked, [Loeb] is licensing us the ability to use the name 'Overton Square' in our name 'The Flats at Overton Square,'" said Aaron Petree, Loeb's vice president of properties and a principal of PMT Investments, which is developing the project. "For them, it was a benefit because they can expand the geographical footprint."

Read more in the Memphis Business Journal

Business Booming in the Bluff City

From the number one employer in Memphis expanding to new retailers moving in. These are more signs that the local economy is turning around. A global fashion retailer announced plans Tuesday to open new stores in the coming months. That means job creation and more money being pumped into our local economy.

Memphians should prepare for a new 22,000 square foot retail space. H&M announced it's coming to Cordova as well as east Memphis. This is just the latest in a series of businesses set to open its doors this year.

Watch more on Local Memphis

Overton Square Restaurant Planning Expansion

Lafayette's Music Room is planning to expand in Overton Square.

The construction will expand the business to 1,300 square feet.

They plan to open the expansion mid-February. Loeb Properties, Inc. said Lafayette's Music room will remain open while the expansion is underway.

The venue recently upgraded their current location with the addition of indoor/outdoor bar serving two stories of patio space.

Watch more on Fox 13 Memphis

Lafayette's expanding in Overton Square

Lafayette's Music Room is expanding to create 60 to 80 more seats, a new space for the stage and a green room for performers, landlord Loeb Properties announced Wednesday.

Construction has begun to enlarge the music and bar venue into the 1,300 square feet next door at 2121 Madison that had been occupied by The Attic. The clothing store closed Dec. 31, but the owner still operates another Overton Square business, The Ivory Closet.

Read more in the Commercial Appeal

Loeb: Tax incentive would make Overton Square hotel 'feasible'

A new, boutique hotel of 100 rooms and parking structure of an estimated 235 spaces will rise in Overton Square, but only if the project is made feasible with a tax incentive.

That's part of the message Overton Square owner Loeb Properties will take to the Economic Development Growth Engine ) board on Wednesday in seeking a "Community Builder" payment in lieu of taxes. The 15 years of tax breaks would cut the project cost by $6.1 million.

The idea is to round out Overton Square's position as an entertainment and theater district, providing a convenient place to stay for out-of-towners who come for a weekend of dining and performances at Playhouse on the Square, Hattiloo Theatre and the new Ballet Memphis headquarters.

Read more in the Commercial Appeal

Loeb Properties Planning $24M Overton Square Hotel

Loeb Properties wants to build on the revival of Overton Square by adding a $24 million, 100-room hotel in the district.

The Memphis-based company and its partners – boutique hotel developer LRC2 Properties and hospitality management company MMI Hotel Group – are seeking a 15-year tax abatement to construct a 100-room boutique hotel at the southwest corner of Cooper Street and Trimble Place, south of Madison Avenue in Midtown Memphis.

According to Overton Square LLC’s application filed with the Economic Development Growth Engine for Memphis and Shelby County, the project’s owners are seeking a 15-year Community Builder payment-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) incentive to build a $24.2 million hotel on the 1.3-acre lot that is currently home to a parking lot situated between the Hattiloo Theatre and Bar Louie.

Read more in the Memphis Daily News

Golden India, Overton Square and the Loeb trademark

This week it was revealed that a longtime Overton Square restaurant tenant planned to move — slightly.

Golden India filed an application with the Shelby County Land Use Control Board to have a piece of property at 20 N. Cooper St. changed from its current residential zoning to accommodate a new, 2,900-square-foot restaurant. The site is immediately next door to Ballet Memphis.

If approved, the new Golden India location would be about a three-minute walk from its current home at 2097 Madison Ave. It's a small move geographically, but it's one that would take them outside the Overton Square parameters.

This week’s MBJ cover article, “Defining the shape of the Square,” looks at the federal trademarks for “Overton Square” and “Overton Square Memphis” granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and registered to Loeb Realty Co. Inc.

Read more in the Memphis Business Journal

Cover Story: Loeb trademark defines shape of Overton Square

A person is standing at the corner of Florence Street and Madison Avenue — where are they? An answer of “Overton Square” may or may not be correct — depending on what side of the street the person is standing.

Are they in front of Memphis Pizza Cafe, at 2087 MadisonAve.? “Overton Square” is the right answer. Standing in front of Maggie’s Pharm, at 13 Florence St.,just a few yards away from Memphis Pizza Cafe? “Not Overton Square.”

But, if the person crosses Madison Avenue to the parking lotnext to Bayou Bar & Grill, they’re back in “Overton Square.”

The Square got its start when a group of young developers brought it to life after liquor-by-the-drink was legalized in 1969. The entertainment district boasted the first franchised location of T.G.I. Friday’s and was renowned for special attractions such as an ice skating rink and performances of “A Dickens Christmas.”

However, after a few changes in ownership, the Square began to decline in the 1980s, and in the following decades was all but abandoned by many businesses — the nadir might have been the closing of Friday’s in 2003 — until brothers Robert and Louis Loeb of Memphis-based Loeb Properties Inc. purchased the development in 2012. Overton Square has since gotten its second wind.

Read more in the Memphis Business Journal

First Look at New Overton Square Restaurant Hopdoddy

Overton Square developer Loeb Properties and brg3s architects are moving forward with their plans to bring a Texas-based burger bar to Midtown.

New signage has been installed depicting the first glimpse of what the new site at 6 S. Cooper St. will look like. Anchoring the block will be newcomer hopdoddy Burger Bar, a popular restaurant chain that will replace YOLO Frozen Yogurt & Gelato’s former location, while Lenny’s Sub Shop will get an upgrade but remain in the same location.

Earlier in March, Loeb announced construction and renovations on the new site will begin by the end of the month, with the new restaurant set open this fall.

Read more in the Memphis Daily News

Hopdoddy Burger Bar coming to Overton Square

An Austin-born hamburger-and-beer chain called Hopdoddy Burger Bar will go into the building now inhabited by Yolo in Overton Square.

Loeb Properties revealed on Monday the new tenant for the building which the landlord had previously said will be expanded, renovated and given a new look.

Construction is to start this month and Hopdoddy will open this fall at 6 S. Cooper, according to Loeb Properties.

The building anchoring the southeast corner of Madison and Cooper also houses a Lenny's Sub Shop, which was to stay.

Read more in the Commercial Appeal

Loeb to Renovate Square building; YoLo Moving Down Madison

"Overton Square's landlord plans to redesign and expand what is perhaps the entertainment district's dullest-looking building, the one that houses YoLo Frozen Yogurt and Lenny's Sub Shop."

Read more in the Commercial Appeal