Memphis restaurants: Here are 6 new spots that opened in February and 3 that closed
February brought Memphis five new unique dining concepts, plus a new liquor store.
The new eateries range from a neighborhood bar to a food court restaurant offering authentic Jamaican fare to a spot to pick up healthy prepared meals.
Memphis also said goodbye to three popular spots in February. One closed for good, another closed its original location to focus on a new location across town, and the third had its building torn down and became an online order company.
Here's a look at the new places to dine in Memphis and the spots we will miss.
Eat-N-Vibe
815 Exocet Drive, Cordova
Eat-N-Vibe is a new restaurant and hookah lounge in Cordova. The grand opening celebration was Feb. 2.
The restaurant serves brunch all day on Saturday and Sunday.
Chef Daris Leatherwood, who is a semifinalist for the 2024 James Beard Awards, is both the chef and a partner at Eat-N-Vibe.
Hours: 4-10 p.m. Thursday; 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Saturday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday
Louis Connelly’s Bar for Fun Times & Friendship
322 S. Cleveland St.; (901) 433-9282; louisconnellys.com
Louis Connelly's Bar is the neighborhood bar its namesake was wanting in Midtown Memphis. Located at 322 S. Cleveland St., the bar meant to be a neighborhood gathering spot features a creative menu of bar snacks, a good selection of beers and classic cocktails and a pool table.
Louis Connelly’s Bar officially opened Feb. 3 in the space that was formerly Printer’s Alley. The building was renovated, including the additions of a new kitchen and a pool table.
Expect a full bar menu, with a focus on classic drinks and beers. There are 20 beers on tap, a selection of packaged beers and a limited wine selection.
The food offerings include a wide selection of “bar food” favorites ranging from nachos to smash burgers to Coney dogs.
"We want to be a dive bar with good food," said Connelly, adding he hopes to eventually open for lunch as well.
Hours: 3 p.m.-3 a.m. Tuesday-Saturday
Stud Muffins
8176 Old Dexter Road, Cordova; studmuffinsonline.com
Stud Muffins owners Molly and Trey Jolly opened the second location of their prepared meal shop on Feb. 7 at 8176 Old Dexter Road in Cordova.
The Jollys serve ready-to heat and eat dishes like Baked Ziti, Steak Fiesta Bowls and Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Expect to find 25 to 30 different options for pickup ready to reheat. Most options are refrigerated, with a few items (such as casseroles) available frozen.
Each dish is made with twists to make it healthier. Also, everything at the shop is weighed and labeled so customers can easily track everything from macros to sodium levels.
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The couple started their meal prep business as a side hustle during the COVID pandemic while living in New Albany, Mississippi. The couple moved to Hernando in 2021 and launched their business there for online orders only. In April 2023, they opened their first shop in Southaven at 5847 Getwell Road.
Hours: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday; closed Sundays
Buster’s Liquors and Wines
5851 Poplar Ave.; bustersliquors.com
After 70 years in business, Buster's Liquors and Wines has opened a second location in Memphis.
The new store, located at 5851 Poplar Ave. in the Ridgeway Trace Shopping Center, has been dubbed "Buster's Liquors East," while the original location was renamed "Buster's Liquors University."
The new location is much larger — 18,000 square feet versus 16,000 square feet — leaving room for multiple additions to the layout that wouldn't be possible at the university store.
"We're going to offer out here in East Memphis a one-stop shop to get your wine, spirits, beer, anything you need," co-owner Josh Hammond said. "We've been looking for a couple years... for a space out east. To find this much space out in East Memphis and for us to take the leap to expand our brand and do a second location finally, it's just an incredible moment for us."
Hours: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday
Little Jamaica
2760 N. Germantown Parkway, Cordova; (901) 236-7532
Little Jamaica reopened its stand in the Wolfchase Galleria on Feb. 10. The restaurant had closed at the end of July to move to a new space within the mall. Expect authentic Jamaican dishes like oxtails, curry chicken and jerk chicken.
Owner Yvonne Crawford said she opened Little Jamaica after seeing that Memphis was lacking options for authentic Jamaican fare. She uses family recipes she grew up cooking with her mother in Jamaica.
When she originally opened her spot in Wolfchase Galleria in April 2023, she knew that spot was temporary and that she would eventually move to the bigger location within the food court that she now is in.
Hours: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily
Mrs. Hippie Eats
2595 McIngvale Road, Hernando; (662) 469-9276; mrshippieeats.com
Mrs. Hippie Eats reopened in its new location at 2595 McIngvale Road in Hernando on Feb. 13.
The prepared foods shop by chef and owner Heather Ries is in its fourth year of operation. Ries said she decided to move to the new location due to its increased visibility and better parking.
At 1,241 square feet, the new shop is just slightly larger than the original, allowing for additional coolers and freezers on the sales floor.
Expect popular take-and-bake items like Mississippi Pot Roast and Chicken and Artichoke Baked Tortellini. Grab and go soups and pasta sauces are also part of the offerings.
A variety of chicken salads and pasta salads are also offered on a daily basis, as well as Mrs. Hippie Eats “Liquid Gold” (a spin on Pancho’s tropical salad dressing).
Baked goods (like freshly baked breads, brownies and bars) are available on Friday and Saturday.
Hours: 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; 10 a.m.-2p.m. Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday
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Memphis restaurant closures
Chef Tam’s Underground Café
Chef Tam's Underground Cafe at 668 Union Ave. closed on Feb. 7.
"Thank you Memphis. It's been real," chef and owner Tamra Patterson said. "I have learned so much. This is not goodbye, but see you later."
Patterson said she is stepping away from the restaurant business all together, closing not just her flagship Memphis restaurant, but her locations in Texas and Rhode Island as well.
Since opening in March 2017, Patterson has made a name for herself for her creative Southern soul food dishes. Dishes like Patterson's Deep Fried Ribs and Peach Cobbler are often over the top, but delicious. She has garnered national attention on shows like Food Network’s “Guy’s Grocery Games” (which she won in 2018) and A&E’s “Deliciously Twisted Classics." Her restaurant and dishes have been featured in national publications like Forbes, the New York Times and Taste of the South.
Her eatery in a historic building in the Edge District of Downtown Memphis was filled with family memorabilia and included a store that sold her signature seasoning blends and cookware.
"I need some peace, and to recalculate, restructure and rebuild," she said of the decision to close her restaurants.
Muggin Coffeehouse in Whitehaven
Muggin Coffeehouse closed its Whitehaven coffee shop on Feb. 17.
“Being a part of this community over the past 4 years has been a blessing. But having the opportunity to serve the community in Whitehaven has truly been our honor. We are sad to say that we have encountered unfortunate circumstances that have resulted in the decision to close our Muggin location in Whitehaven,” read a statement on Muggin Coffeehouse’s Instagram page.
Ken and Mary Olds opened the first Muggin Coffeehouse at 1139 Brownlee Road in Whitehaven in 2020. When the coffee shop opened, it was the only locally owned independent coffee shop in Whitehaven.
The Oldses opened a second location of Muggin Coffeehouse in the Uptown neighborhood last September at 606 N. Main St. #101. The new location offers Muggin’s staple coffee drinks and the same focus on customer service as the Whitehaven location.
Whimsy Cookie Company
Whimsy Cookie Company has closed its original shop and bakery at 4704 Poplar Ave. The bakery known for its decorated sugar cookies is now a mail order company, operating out of a commercial kitchen. Orders can be placed at orders@whimsycookieco.com.
The building at 4704 Poplar Ave. was torn down in February, and the lot will become additional parking for Soul Fish Café.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at jennifer.chandler@commercialappeal.com and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis restaurant openings and closings in February | Here's the list
