As the Memphian hotel opens at Overton Square, here are 4 things to know about the property

The new Memphian hotel opened Tuesday at Overton Square, bringing a 106-key hotel to the heart of Midtown.

Developers intended for the hotel to be a celebration of all things Memphis; a space for locals to revel in the lovely quirkiness of Midtown and for visitors to feel like they're getting a slice of Memphis life.

Work continued close to the original timeline despite the pandemic, Micajah Sturdivant, president of MMI Hotel Group, previously told The Commercial Appeal.

Here are four things to know about the new hotel, located at 21 Cooper St.

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Broad Avenue mixed-use project approved

A planning board Wednesday approved the proposed development blending 414 apartments with 10,000 square feet of retail under Broad Avenue's iconic water tower.

The Board of Adjustment voted unanimously in favor of the $50 million project despite concerns — but not opposition — expressed by business neighbors over parking, public access to the development's amenities, and the effect on views of the water tower.

Despite its questions, the Historic Broad Avenue Arts Alliance voiced its support for the Board of Adjustment to grant the zoning variance requested by developer James Maclin of 3D Realty and property owner Loeb Properties.

Maclin and Loeb Properties' Bob Loeb said they will continue to work with neighbors to address their concerns.

Construction could start as soon as September on the development that has not yet been named, Maclin said after the vote.

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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."

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Hawaiian-style restaurant to open in East Memphis

A new seafood restaurant called 'Ono Poke is coming to the Shops of Chickasaw Gardens in East Memphis.

Loeb Properties owns and has been renovating the retail across from East High's practice football field.

The restaurant will feature the Hawaiian-style cubed and seasoned fish. The 1,200-square-foot eatery at 3145 Poplar is to open this spring, according to Loeb Properties.

'Ono Poke, (pronounced POH-keh), is a Hawaiian term for "delicious.''

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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.

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Israeli-Based Mini-Burger Chain Coming to Highland Strip

An Israeli-based chain of restaurants that features small, "gourmet'' hamburgers is coming to the Highland Strip, landlord Loeb Properties announced Thursday.

Burgerim will start construction inside 569 South Highland later this year. Loeb Properties is renovating and redeveloping the Highland Strip entertainment district in the University District.

According to the Burgerim website, the restaurant uses an "always more than one" approach to serving hamburgers from freshly ground meat. Each is 2.8 ounces, and they come in orders of two of the mini-burgers, three or a "party box'' of 16.

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Forget Big 12, Memphis May be in Running for College Cookies

There's about 90 of them in the U.S., including one on Cumberland Avenue in Knoxville, on Lamar in Oxford, on Cotton Mill in Starkville, on Chimes in Baton Rouge, on 11th in Birmingham, on University in Tuscaloosa, and on Hardy in Hattiesburg.

And now Insomnia Cookies has filed for a building permit that indicates possible plans to locate at 545 S. Highland on the Highland Strip.

That site cozies up to the University of Memphis just like those other Insomnia Cookies operate near the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, University of Mississippi, Mississippi State, LSU, University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Alabama and University of Southern Mississippi.

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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."

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Art-filled Overton Square Creates Maps for Self-guided Tours

"Overton Square is so filled now with public art that the entertainment district has enlisted Memphis College of Art to create self-guided tour maps for visitors.

Developer Loeb Properties has installed more than a dozen substantial murals, sculptures, paintings, stained glass and tiled art as well as a growing number of smaller works tucked in the corners and the landscaping.

There's no room for more tenants -- the district is fully leased -- but the art just keeps on coming. 

On Thursday, the lunch crowd on the patio of Boscos Squared watched artist Jay Crum install the shimmering mural he and his wife Kong Wee Pang created for the west wall of Local Gastropub." 

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The Bluff to bring live music, restaurant to Highland Strip

"A new music venue and restaurant called The Bluff is coming to the rejuvenated Highland Strip.

Remodeling of the 5,952 square feet at 535 S. Highland should start within a month, landlord Loeb Properties announced Monday.

The Bluff will include two downstairs bars, a large stage and green room, a 1,300-square-foot mezzanine with an additional bar, outdoor patio seating next to the stage, and another patio facing Highland that offers an outdoor/indoor atmosphere. The Bluff will have entrances on Highland and in the rear closer to the renovated, back parking lot.

Among The Bluff owners are Hudson Chadwick, who owns Rafters Music and Food and The Corner Bar in Oxford, Mississippi.

"The venue will feature live music including country and rock-and-roll acts appealing to nearby University of Memphis students and Memphis residents alike while also offering a great place to watch sporting events on the multiple televisions and projectors,'' states a release by Loeb Properties."

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Commercial Appeal: Construction Starting on Innovative Stage

"Construction could start next month on Broad Avenue Arts District’s pioneering project to turn a loading dock into shared space, used alternately for warehouse operations by weekday and an outdoor performance stage by night or weekends.

The Water Tower Depot should take about six weeks to build, finishing just in time for the eight-week “Dance on Broad” festival of performances, dance lessons and live music starting May 10. The old Broad Avenue commercial district between Midtown and East Memphis has been resurgent for about five years. New businesses continue to move in and renovate under-used or vacant buildings."

Read more at the Commercial Appeal

Local Gastropub Comes to Overton Square

"Local Gastropub, a popular downtown restaurant and bar, will open its second location in Overton Square. Following the recent Chiwawa lease at the old Chicago Pizza Factory, Local is the next to lease a spot in the commercial redevelopment of Midtown’s historic arts and entertainment district.

Local Gastropub will open in the former Yosemite Sam’s at 2126 Madison Ave., at the northwest corner of Madison and Cooper.   The 100-year-old, 5,826 square foot, two-story building housed Yosemite’s Sam’s for 39 years.  “It’s always been one of the gateways to Overton Square and that will continue with Local,” said Aaron Petree, vice president of leasing for Loeb Properties. Petree represented Loeb in the lease negotiations.

“We are excited to be part of this exciting vision for Overton Square,’’ Local Gastropub owner Jeff Johnson said. “Downtown is a destination and Overton Square will be, too.  I’m glad to be there from the beginning.”  Local Gastropub, now located at 91 South Main Street, will be replicated in Overton Square, featuring upscale food in a casual, pub-like setting. 

The Overton Square site for Local Gastropub has undergone “significant renovation,” according to Tom Hayes, vice-president of construction for Loeb Properties. “The building had major structural problems when we purchased it, and we knew going in that the rehab would cost as much as the purchase price.  My working concept has been a ‘rebirth’ because the building was at the end of its functional life, but it had good bones and given its history, it was worth saving,” he said.

Matt Prince, senior vice-president of Loeb Properties, said the contract with Local Gastropub is the “first step in an effort that will not only revive Overton Square but surpass our memories of it.”   Loeb Properties will invest about $20 million to revive the arts & entertainment district and Overton Square’s footprint to about 115,000 square feet, including the redesign of existing buildings and construction of new buildings. 

Local is an important and symbolic tenant for Overton Square, said Prince, because “it’s a local company with local ownership and that was, and will continue to be, an important part of the district’s personality and vibe.”  He said Loeb Properties is encouraged by the enthusiasm and the interest of retailers and restaurateurs in leasing opportunities in Overton Square.

“We see Overton Square as the linchpin between Overton Park and Midtown, capitalizing on the hundreds of thousands of people drawn there by Playhouse on the Square,’’ said Prince. “With the relocation of Hattiloo Theater to the Overton Square arts & entertainment district, the number of theater-goers will only grow,” said Prince.

Loeb Properties owns and manages a portfolio of more than two million square feet of retail, office, multifamily and industrial properties in Tennessee and Mississippi, and is the largest developer in the Midtown area."

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