Cooper-Young is an

eclectic Eclectic may refer to: Music * ''Eclectic'' (Eric Johnson and Mike Stern album), 2014 * ''Eclectic'' (Big Country album), 1996 * Eclectic Method, name of an audio-visual remix act * Eclecticism in music, the conscious use of styles alien to th ...

neighborhood and historic district in the Midtown section of

Memphis Memphis most commonly refers to: * Memphis, Egypt, a former capital of ancient Egypt * Memphis, Tennessee, a major American city Memphis may also refer to: Places United States * Memphis, Alabama * Memphis, Florida * Memphis, Indiana * Memp ...

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, named for the intersection of Cooper Street and Young Avenue. The entrance to the neighborhood is marked by the Cooper-Young Trestle, a long steel sculpture which depicts homes and businesses found in the neighborhood. Created by metal artist Jill Turman, the sculpture was dedicated in 2000, and has become a source of community pride and identity. In 2012, Cooper-Young was listed on the

American Planning Association The American Planning Association (APA) is a professional organization representing the field of urban planning in the United States. APA was formed in 1978, when two separate professional planning organizations, the American Institute of Pla ...

's 10 Great Neighborhoods in the U.S list.

Economy

The neighborhood is known for its eclectic mix of shops, bars and restaurants. Java Cabana, Cooper-Young's coffeehouse, was once host to the

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shrine, as well as the Viva Wedding Chapel, where hundreds of people were once married in the backroom by Elvis impersonators. Other restaurants such as Cafe Ole, Tsunami, Mulan Bistro, Soul Fish Cafe, Cafe Palladio, Celtic Crossing, Alchemy, Aldo's Pizza Pies, Sweet Grass, Hammer and Ale, Hazel's Lucky Deli, Imagine Vegan Cafe, Stone Soup Cafe, DKDC, Central BBQ, The Beauty Shop, and Young Ave Deli represent diverse cuisines (sometimes several within one establishment) and reflect the creative spirit of the neighborhood. Also in Cooper Young, one will find The House of Mews (a shelter for homeless cats),

Goner Records Goner Records is an independent record label and record store co-owned by Eric Friedl of The Oblivians and Zac Ives and based in Memphis, Tennessee. It is known for releasing albums by punk, garage rock, and more recently post-punk and synth-orie ...

, a local record label, Jay Etkin Gallery and Burke's Book Store. Cooper Young is proud of the local brewery appropriately named Memphis Made Brewing. Cooper Young is also where Memphis' only hostel, Pilgrim House Hostel, is located.Pilgrim House
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Cooper-Young Festival

Each fall, the neighborhood hosts the Cooper-Young Festival, starting with an Art Invitational on Thursday, a 4-mile run on Friday, arts and crafts vendors, and live music performances on Saturday. The Cooper Young Festival is always the second Saturday after Labor Day each year from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The neighborhood is considered one of the more artistic and "hip" areas of the city, and shows evidence of successful urban revitalization in Memphis' core. The Cooper Young Festival, hosted by the Cooper Young Business Association (CYBA), is a popular outdoor celebration in

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in the U.S. state of Tennessee. It is the seat of Shelby County in the southwest part of the state; it is situated along the Mississippi River. With a population of 633,104 at the 2020 U.S. census, Memphis is the second-mo ...

. It is one of Memphis' most highly attended festivals in Tennessee bringing in over 130,000 attendees and is continuing to grow. The festival is the largest single day event in the city where people pack into the neighborhood. It is free admission. 400 artisans from around the country go to sell their music, arts, and crafts along Cooper Street and Young Avenue. The festival came about in 1977 when a group of 500 residents from the area organized and decided to have it. November 5, 1977 was the date of the first festival. It was a community flea market with a stage and playground activities in the parking lot of Galloway United Methodist Church. It turned into a three-day festival called Cooper Young Business Association Street Fair. Starting with 7,000 visitors, the festival grew to entertaining 100,000 visitors. Every year the festival is kicked off with a neighborhood art invitational. An artist from the Cooper Young neighborhood designs a poster to represent the unique style of the Cooper Young area. Bands are brought in to perform on three stages over the weekend.

Community

The Cooper-Young Community Association, founded in 1976, serves as the main advocate for the residents of the area. The CYCA also sponsors the Festival 4-Miler race - a 4-mile race through the neighborhood the night before the Cooper-Young Festival. The Cooper-Young Business Association serves as the primary advocate for the businesses and services of the neighborhood, and produces the Cooper-Young Festival along with other events to help draw attention to those businesses.

References

External links

Cooper-Young Community Association official website

Cooper-Young Festival official website
* http://www.cooperyoung.com Cooper Young Business Association official website {{Memphis, Tennessee Neighborhoods in Memphis, Tennessee