The South Main Arts District in

Memphis, Tennessee Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...

makes up the southern portion of

Downtown Memphis Downtown Memphis is the central business district of Memphis, Tennessee, and is located along the Mississippi River between Interstate 40 to the north, Interstate 55 to the south, and Interstate 240 (Tennessee), Interstate 240 to the east, where ...

. It is located along South Main Street and is within the South Main Street Historic District.

Attractions

Points of historical interest

Many great points of historical interest in Memphis reside in this area. One is the

National Civil Rights Museum The National Civil Rights Museum is a complex of museums and historic buildings in Memphis, Tennessee; its exhibits trace the history of the civil rights movement in the United States from the 17th century to the present. The museum is built ar ...

. The others include the Blues Hall of Fame and the historic restaurant the Arcade, located on the south corner of South Main and G.E. Patterson. It is the oldest coffee shop and one of the oldest family owned restaurants in Memphis. Elvis used to hang out at the Arcade and it has become a favorite among filmmakers; several movies have had scenes filmed at the diner-styled restaurant.

Art Trolley tour

On the last Friday of each month, an event called "Trolley Night" is put on by the South Main Association, as well as owners of the South Main businesses and art galleries. From 6-9 pm, this includes free MATA trolley service up and down Main Street, open art galleries, and longer hours for most area shops and restaurants.

Locations and buildings

Several notable locations and buildings are located in the South Main district. *

Central Station Central stations or central railway stations emerged in the second half of the nineteenth century as railway stations that had initially been built on the edge of city centres were enveloped by urban expansion and became an integral part of the ...

Films

The South Main district has been featured in many films, sometimes as just background scenery in Memphis, sometimes masquerading as an older version of

Beale Street Beale Street is a street in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee, which runs from the Mississippi River to East Street, a distance of approximately . It is a significant location in the city's history, as well as in the history of blues music. Today, ...

. Some of the films featuring scenes from the South Main district are: * ''

The Firm The FIRM is a brand of exercise videos and equipment currently owned by Gaiam. First released in 1986, the video series is best known for popularizing a hybrid of aerobic exercise and weight training. History In 1979, Anna Benson founded th ...

'' — Tom Cruise and the FBI meet at The Arcade Restaurant. * ''

21 Grams ''21 Grams'' is a 2003 American crime thriller film directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu and written by Guillermo Arriaga. It is the second installment in the duo’s informal “Trilogy of Death,” preceded by ''Amores perros'' (2000) ...

'' * ''

Hustle & Flow ''Hustle & Flow'' is a 2005 American drama film written and directed by Craig Brewer. The film stars Terrence Howard as a Memphis hustler and pimp who dreams of becoming a rapper. The ensemble cast includes Anthony Anderson, Taryn Manning, Ta ...

'' * ''

Walk the Line ''Walk the Line'' is a 2005 American biographical drama film directed by James Mangold. The screenplay, written by Mangold and Gill Dennis, is based on two autobiographies by the American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash: '' Man in Black: His Own ...

'' — The scenes shown on "Beale Street" are actually South Main, somewhat dressed up and slightly CGI enhanced. * '' Black Snake Moan'' — While most of the movie was shot in the Pyramid, several scenes were shot on South Main as well. * ''

My Blueberry Nights ''My Blueberry Nights'' is a 2007 romantic drama film directed by Wong Kar-wai, his first feature in English. The screenplay by Wong and Lawrence Block is based on a Chinese-language short film written and directed by Wong. ''My Blueberry Nigh ...

'' — Filmed inside Ernestine and Hazel's and the Arcade Restaurant, as well as several exterior shots along South Main and G.E. Patterson. * '' Nothing But the Truth'' — Scenes were shot at the Arcade Restaurant (which is transformed via green screen special effects into a Washington eatery). * ''

Mystery Train "Mystery Train" is a song written and recorded by American blues musician Junior Parker in 1953. Originally performed in the style of a Memphis blues or rhythm and blues tune, it was inspired by earlier songs and later became a popular rockabil ...

'' — Not only shot in Memphis, but the front entrance of the Arcade Restaurant is depicted on the movie poster. * ''

Great Balls of Fire "Great Balls of Fire" is a 1957 popular song recorded by American rock and roll musician Jerry Lee Lewis on Sun Records and featured in the 1957 movie '' Jamboree''. It was written by Otis Blackwell and Jack Hammer. The Jerry Lee Lewis 1957 reco ...

'' * '' Elizabethtown'' — Scenes shown in the National Civil Rights Museum, Ernestine and Hazel's, and the Arcade Restaurant. * ''

Lovely By Surprise ''Lovely By Surprise'' is a 2007 film directed by Kirt Gunn. It stars Carrie Preston, Michael Chernus, Austin Pendleton and Reg Rogers. Synopsis of plot Facing an intense bout of writer's block, novelist Marian Walker ( Carrie Preston) see ...

'' — Scene filmed in the Arcade Restaurant. * '' The Client''

References

External links

Arcade Restaurant

National Civil Rights Museum
{{Registered Historic Places Neighborhoods in Memphis, Tennessee Arts districts Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Tennessee National Register of Historic Places in Memphis, Tennessee