Trap Fusion: What to know about Memphis restaurant on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives'

Whitehaven restaurant Trap Fusion is the first Memphis restaurant to be featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” in more than a decade.

We thought you might like to know a little more about this small, Black-owned restaurant that was founded in Whitehaven and has a second location in Cordova.

Trap Fusion in Whitehaven and Cordova

Trap Fusion opened in May 2019 at 4637 Boeingshire Drive in the space that was formerly Pollard's BBQ in Whitehaven. A year and a half later, a second location opened in Cordova at 670 N. Germantown Parkway in the Trinity Commons shopping center.

Each of the locations has a small seating area, with seats for approximately 30 guests. The Whitehaven location also has an outdoor patio with seats for an additional 25-30 guests.

Service is fast-casual, with a large component of business geared toward takeout.

Who are the owners of Trap Fusion?

Jason Gardner and Monique Williams founded the business, and Markeith McCoy joined the team as a partner shortly thereafter.

Today, the two restaurants are operated by Gardner, who is the chef, and McCoy, who is the business manager.

In 2022, Williams ceased being involved in day-to-day operations and turned her focus on her Bartlett brunch restaurant Biscuits & Jams, which opened in August 2021, and her private chef and catering operation called Chef Mo Creates. Williams said she is excited to see the national attention that Trap Fusion is getting.

McCoy said the partnership with Gardner happened by happen chance.

The two had been friends since college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Gardner was the younger cousin of a good friend of McCoy’s. The two met when Gardner came to tour the school, and their lifelong friendship took off from there.

“I originally thought I would be just be temporarily helping out a friend get his business started,” McCoy said. “Then Jason asked me to be part of the restaurant. I knew it would be a success because I thought his food was the best from the first day I tasted it."

A wish to bring good food to Whitehaven

Gardner grew up in the Whitehaven neighborhood. He said it was important for him to bring something new and good to the community.

"Growing up in this neighborhood and looking around there were chicken wings and fries, a lot of fast food but no good meals that had fresh vegetables in this area," Gardner said.

McCoy said, prior to Trap Fusion, he and his friends would have to leave Whitehaven to get the food they wanted.

“There are a lot of good people in Whitehaven, and a large consumer base. They deserved more than what they were getting from chains,” said McCoy, adding they are honored to be a small Black-owned business in the neighborhood.

What’s on the menu at Trap Fusion?

Trap Fusion is known for its from-scratch and one-of-a-kind spins on soul food and Southern cuisine. Influences of Cajun and Caribbean fare are evident in many of the items made daily from fresh ingredients.

Smoked wings, blackened salmon and stuffed turkey burgers are just a few of the dishes on the eclectic menu at Trap Fusion.

McCoy said the Jerk Chicken Alfredo Pasta is the restaurant’s No. 1 seller, with the lamb chops and oxtails coming in as close seconds.

Trap Fusion has also made a name for itself in the vegan market. Like everything at the restaurant, even the vegan dishes like burgers and vegan "BBQ jack" sandwiches are made from scratch.  “Nothing is prepackaged,” McCoy said.

Trap Fusion also has a line of juices called Juice Mane. The goal is to expand that line of beverages into retail stores.

What’s behind the name Trap Fusion?

McCoy said Williams is the one who came up with the name for the restaurant. Her explanation of the name explains a lot about the philosophy and drive behind the concept.

“We chose the word TRAP because it is our goal to ‘trap’ taste buds with our ‘fusion’ of health conscious Southern-style dishes with other cuisines like Caribbean, Cajun, Asian and more,” Williams said. “TRAP is also an acronym for ‘Take Risk And Prosper’ and that is what we did when we opened a restaurant in Whitehaven, a local food desert.”

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How to watch Trap Fusion on 'Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives'

Trap Fusion will be featured on the “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” episode titled “Southern, Western & North of the Border," which airs at 8 p.m. CST Dec. 15 on Food Network.

The episode will also re-air on these dates.

• Dec. 16 at 11 p.m.

• Dec. 23 at 5 p.m.

• Dec. 30 at 3 a.m.

It will also be available to stream.

The episode’s description states: “Guy Fieri's digging dishes from across the map. In Buffalo, Wyo., it's scratch-made Italian that's hitting all the flavor notes. Then, in Calgary, Alberta, a Venezuelan spot is keeping it fresh, tasty and gluten-free, while in Memphis, Tenn., a Southern-Caribbean mashup is serving oxtail and lamb chops with extra spice.”

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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Trap Fusion

Two locations: 4637 Boeingshire Drive and  670 N. Germantown Parkway, Cordova

Online: trapfusion901.com

Hours: Noon-7 p.m. Monday; noon-9 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; closed Sunday

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Trap Fusion: What to know about Memphis restaurant Guy Fieri visited