Shopping

Memphis has always been a destination for shoppers, as people from surrounding farms and towns come to buy the latest fashions, home furnishings, books, antiques, gourmet foods, and other merchandise. In more recent years visitors have been more interested in buying guitars, Elvis souvenirs, and hard-to-find CDs and records. You can find a good selection of all of the above in Memphis, not to mention the things you need for your home, your wardrobe, and your lifestyle.

Although there are a few pockets of retail in downtown Memphis, you’ll probably have to get in the car for serious shopping, as the malls and the best shopping centers are mostly in suburban areas, whereas many antiques dealers, music stores, and gift shops are scattered around midtown.

Two major department stores operate in the Memphis area: Macy’s (part of Federated Department Stores) and Dillard’s (a Little Rock–based chain), both with locations in area shopping malls. Both have a good array of merchandise, but Macy’s tends to be a bit more fashionable. Macy’s arrived in Memphis by taking over Goldsmith’s (founded in 1870), where generations of Memphians shopped for up-to-date fashions, wedding gifts, and furnishings. Additionally, Macy’s offers discount coupons in Commercial Appeal on a monthly basis, while Dillard’s does not.

In Memphis you’ll find plenty of the usual chain stores, including Costco, Target, Walgreens, Sears, JCPenney, T.J. Maxx, Marshall’s, Toys’R’Us, Gap, Ann Taylor, Victoria’s Secret, and Barnes & Noble, just to name a few. Most of these are in suburban malls and shopping centers.

Memphis also has its share of antiques dealers and shops, with the largest concentration on Central Avenue between Cooper Street and East Parkway in midtown. Others are scattered throughout the city, from downtown to the far suburb of Collierville. You’ll find all kinds of antique furniture, with plenty of English, French, and American pieces from the 19th and 20th centuries, as well as collectibles of all sorts. There’s also a large flea market in the city, as well as a number of thrift shops for those who like to search through secondhand goods for vintage clothing and other treasures.

Shopping - The Arts

Memphis has a very active arts scene for a city its size, with a range that takes you from the classics to a funky, homegrown alternative scene energized by the presence of a major art school, Memphis College of Art. The symphony and opera are represented by major professional companies, and, in fact, there are two symphonies currently performing in the city. Ballet Memphis is a professional dance company that performs full-length classical works, a yearly production of The Nutcracker, and some avant-garde work. There are also some smaller dance companies. Local theater, which is very strong, dates from at least 1920, when Front Street Theater (now Theatre Memphis) began featuring local stage talent. The historic Orpheum Theater and other venues bring in a steady stream of Broadway shows and other national acts, something that has been a tradition in this river-port town throughout its history.

Visual arts can be enjoyed at local museums, most notably the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art and the Dixon Gallery and Gardens, and galleries range from snob to funk. Remember that in Memphis visual art isn’t limited to galleries and museums. Artwork can be found in restaurants, shops, theater lobbies, and office buildings all over town, and often it’s for sale.

There are also plenty of opportunities for filmgoers in Memphis, including the city’s two independent film festivals each year.

Arts groups in Memphis, no matter what the discipline, usually incorporate a strong educational element into their programs, offering lessons (and sometimes scholarships) and performing in schools for students. And speaking of education, don’t forget that the University of Memphis, Rhodes College, and other colleges have strong programs in the arts, which include theater productions, concerts, and art shows by their students and faculty as well as programs that bring in important nationally known artists. These are usually listed in local newspapers.

As is the case in any city, the Memphis arts scene changes, as established arts groups shift gears and newer ones emerge. Be sure to check out the listings in the Commercial Appeal Memphis Playbook section or the Memphis Flyer for general information as well as the ticket information, hours, and other specifics on current performances and art shows.