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Memphis, TN
Here we note noteworthy people and landmarks of the area that have now passed into history.
 | Overton Square 1970-present |
 Overton
Square is not the happening place it was 30 years ago and a developer
proposed to tear down the existing buildings on the south side of
Madison Avenue. Below we'll tell you a little of the history of Overton
Square and the circumstances it is in today. What will eventually
happen with the Overton Square is unclear. On January 12, 2009,
The Commercial Appeal reported "Preservationists apparently have won
the battle over Overton Square," writing that the property owners have
decided not to give the developer, Sooner Investment, any more time to
gain approval of their redevelopment plan. Furthermore, it is reported
that the property owners from out of state, Univest and Fisher Capital,
will not pursue city permission to demolish the old retail and
restaurant buildings on the south side of Madison Avenue.Discussions about the future of Overton Square are not over, so we take note below of two special meetings open to public participation which might have some bearing on the future of Overton Square. ___________________________________________________________
Saturday, January 16, 2010 10:00am to 12:00pm Special notice: The Memphis Regional Design Center in conjunction with the Memphis & Shelby County Office of Planning and Development and Memphis Heritage will host 2 public meetings to discuss the future of Overton Square Callicot Auditorium, Memphis College of Art, 1930 Poplar Avenue (in Overton Park) This meeting will be a public informational meeting with a presentation by Sooner Investment, potential developer of Overton Square January 23, 1020 MEETING CANCELLED From Memphis Heritage: Some of you may be aware that orginally there was a meeting regarding Overton Square scheduled for Saturday, January 23rd. This meeting will NOT be held due to the developer putting their plans on hold indefinitely. We will hold additional meetings in the future to discuss the area and keep you updated. ___________________________________________________________
For the moment, the buildings and name remain, but the essence of Overton Square, is only history now. The hustle and bustle that once marked the night life of Overton Square is gone. The landmark buildings on the south side of Madison Avenue now appear ground zero for the wrecking ball. Buildings owner Tom Lowe of Univest/Fisher Capital says he will delay his request to demolish several buildings on the south side of Madison Avenue until early February, 2010. The delay comes after a city hall meeting to discuss his intent to ask the City Council for permission to pursue the demolition. The meeting was crowded with those wishing to preserve the existing buildings, urban planners and city staff members. Developers want to replace the buildings with new ones designed to house retail shops and restaurants. In the large parking lot behind (south of ) Overton Square, a 53,000 square foot grocery fronted by a parking is planned. On November 25, 1969 voters in the city of Memphis authorized the selling of liquor by the drink and in 1970 a new entertainment district was born in Memphis. The very popular Overton Square area at Madison Avenue and Cooper Street came roaring into Memphis history with nightclubs, restaurants, gift shops, and other retail establishments. It was, for many, the place to go in Memphis for an evening of revelry. Many of the new establishments made their home in the existing buildings that had held more mundane businesses previously. It is those buildings, renovated numerous times, that now are in jeopardy of being torn down in late 2009. Forty years later after a gangbuster opening of Overton Square, many of the shops and restaurants are empty. The decline probably can be traced to the mid 1980s, but it was a slow and sometimes agonizing process involving many factors. A competing area began in 1983 when the first club opened on the renovated Beale Street in downtown Memphis. The City had taken over the Beale Street properties and partnered with others to establish it as a major entertainment district. Very slowly the focus for downtown/midtown nightlife shifted there. In 2003, the cornerstone establishment of Overton Square, a restaurant and bar called T.G.I. Friday's, the first Friday's not in New York City, which opened in that location in May, 1970 and which once had booming business, closed. As of autumn, 2009, leases for some of the few remaining businesses on the south side of Madison are not being renewed. An out of state developer is showing plans to tear down the buildings along the south side of the street, including the old Friday's building, and replace them. A large parking lot south of the buildings which was created to handle the huge crowds in Overton Square's heyday, would be replaced by a 50,000 foot grocery, however, the demolition and redevelopment were put on hold. In mid January, the property owners say they will not give the developer any more time, so it appears that proposed redevelopment is terminated. The Memphis Heritage Foundation has expressed concern with the plans and has hosted a tour and meetings for those with interests in the future of the area.     |