Java Blues’ Opening Continues
Rush of Activity at Peabody Place

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, May 13, 1998 – Officials of Belz Enterprises this week lifted their coffee mugs and toasted the fourth new business opening in six weeks at Peabody Place, one of the nation’s largest multi-use developments.

Wednesday, May 13, marked the official opening of Java Blues in the Peabody Place Grand Lobby at 125 South Main Street. The colorful shop that offers a variety of coffees, specialty beverages and unique, high-quality breakfast and lunch food items, marked the day with live jazz music and taste samplings.

"It has been a busy spring for us – we’ve accomplished a great deal during the past few months," said Andrew Groveman, senior vice president of marketing and administration for Belz Enterprises. "Right now, Peabody Place is an exciting place to be – you can feel the growth. Our challenge is to build on this momentum and fulfill our goal of creating a thriving downtown community."

Last week (Thursday, May 7), Carlton Cards, a retail greeting card and gift shop at 119 South Main – just a few doors down from Java Blues –officially opened for business in 1,700 square feet of space on the first floor of Pembroke Square.

In late April, Lifestyle Ventures, a new Memphis-based entertainment and restaurant company, leased 5,000 square feet on the sixth floor. The firm, which created Java Blues, manages the B.B. King Blues Club in Los Angeles as well as the one at 143 Beale Street in Memphis.

The company also creates destination restaurants with various themes as well as other entertainment ventures in the United States.

Meanwhile, across the Main Street Mall at the southwest corner of the Peabody Place Tower, the newest location of NationsBank stands ready to serve customers at 123 Peabody Place. The banking center opened April 6, about six months after the November grand opening of the Peabody Place Tower itself.

In addition to NationsBank, some of its tenants include Arthur Anderson, LLP; Belz Enterprises; and JMGR Inc.

Peabody Place is the country’s largest mixed-use development, providing apartments, retail, restaurants, entertainment and office space. Peabody Place includes The Tower at Peabody Place, The Gayoso House Apartments, The Apartments at Pembroke Square, Pembroke Square and 50 Peabody Place.

Belz Enterprises plans to break ground this year on the 250,000-square-foot Peabody Place Urban Retail and Entertainment Center, featuring a 23-screen movie complex, an IMAX Theater and retail space.

Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, Belz is a national leader in real estate development. The company owns and manages more than 25 million square feet of industrial warehouse and distribution centers, shopping centers, office buildings, mixed-use centers, and corporate campuses. Belz also owns a group of premier hotels including the Peabody Hotels in Memphis and Orlando, Florida.