|
|
For more information, Everything Old is New Again It may sound cliché, but not if you have been to Peabody Place the hottest block in Downtown Memphis. New restaurants and businesses have brought back life to the block that once served as the social center of the city more than fifty years ago. Then, Memphians headed Downtown to Goldsmith’s on Main Street, now Pembroke Square, valet parked their cars for $.20 and stopped for lunch at Gerber’s Tea Room. A luncheon menu in 1947 might have consisted of Jell-O salads and tiny finger sandwiches. Now lunch faring Memphians enjoy margarita crawfish and linguini pasta at Breckenridge Brewery, bratwurst and beer cheese soup at The Flying Saucer or perhaps the antipasti bar at Ciao Cucina. These new restaurants have sparked nightlife in the historic district that downtown has not seen in years. The success has been so tremendous that people have lined up outside the three restaurants to try a taste of Memphis’ new culinary treats. Breckenridge Brewery & Pub Breckenridge Brewery, located in the former Majestic Theater, offers an upscale yet casual dining experience with a full menu designed to complement the fresh, handcrafted beers brewed on-site. It offers Memphis a product and atmosphere that is unique in the metropolitan area; an open air environment enables guests to see tanks where the brewing and aging process takes place. Adding to its uniqueness, an upstairs lounge allows customers to relax on leather sofas and chairs while enjoying their favorite cigars and martinis. Ciao Cucina Italian Mediterranean Trattoria Ciao Cucina Italian Mediterranean Trattoria, the first retail component of Peabody Place which opened in February 1996, is located in the former historic Gayoso Hotel. Ciao combines casual elegance, a contemporary flare and the historic charm of the original structure. Some features unique to the Ciao concept are the display kitchen, the permanent antipasti table, the storefront-style bakery and gourmet coffee shop (Ciao Expresso) and the extensive premium wine-by-the-glass list. The menu features an extensive array of dishes with influences from the Italian, Mediterranean, Spanish and French regions. The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium The Flying Saucer presents many hand-crafted beers from around the United States and abroad, allowing patrons to compare flavors, brewing techniques and styles of beer. Seventy-five beers are offered on tap with an additional 150 beers presented in bottles. In addition to the extensive beer selection, The Flying Saucer presents a very laid-back environment and a menu featuring grilled bratwurst, gourmet sandwiches, sausages and cheeses. Not only have Downtown menus changed, so has parking. New parking garages are springing up everywhere to accommodate the influx of people rediscovering the allure of Downtown Memphis. The newest parking facility in the city is connected to The Tower at Peabody Place. The garage offers six levels of parking and provides 700 spaces to Peabody Place tenants and the public. Belz has not only restored the social scene Downtown once knew and loved, but also plans to bring shopping and convenience back to Downtown residents and visitors. Early this fall the much-anticipated City Grocery, located in Pembroke Square, will open its doors on Front St. to offer gourmet foods as well as staple items such as bread and milk. City Grocery will cater to its customers by offering a drive-up service that can not be found anywhere else in Memphis. If your time is limited, City Grocery will accept grocery lists via facsimile and will have grocery orders ready when you drive up. This idea of convenience ties into Belz’ overall objective of creating Peabody Place to be a city within a city. Pembroke Square will also house a market place that will offer a quaint urban shopping village featuring a "Taste of Memphis" food court. This summer, Peabody Place promises to serve up some of Memphis’ finest entertainment. Whether it’s enjoying the river breeze while sitting outside at The Flying Saucer, relishing an Italian specialty over candlelight at Ciao Cucina or sampling homemade Memphis brew at the Breckenridge Brewery, Peabody Place has something for everyone.
### |
|