Overton Square Restoration Project
In March 2011, Loeb Properties, a Memphis owned property developer, presented plans to the Memphis City Council to rebuild newly purchased Overton Square property.
In August 2011, Loeb Properties expanded their Overton Square ownership by purchasing Yosemite Sams, staple of the Overton Square and Memphis entertainment since 1972.
As of September 2011, Loeb Properties reorganized their plans for Overton Square by nixing the grocery store development. Their new plans are now completely centered around arts and entertainment and will be unveiled at a public meeting at 6 p.m. Oct. 12 at Playhouse on the Square.
Loeb Properties had planned to build a 53,000-square-foot grocery store on the presently desolate parking lot on Cooper Avenue, in between Union Avenue and Madison Avenue. The City of Memphis had agreed to pay 6 million for an adjacent dual purpose parking garage, underground the garage will house a drainage system which will lessen the affects of a flooding issue with Lick Creek. However, these plans have been thrown out.
In the past year, Memphis' Overton Square has peaked interest in a number of property developers, but not without public opposition. Out-of-state property owners Univest and Fisher Capital and Sooner Investment both failed passing the application process. Each of their development plans included demolishing parts of Overton Square's historic buildings. This brought out resistance from the Memphis Heritage, a non-profit historic preservation society, and the Memphis community which resulted in their downfall.
Check back here for the best up to date information regarding Overton Square's Restoration!
Overton Square History
In 1969, James D. Robinson Jr., 23, Ben Woodson, 25, Charles H. Hull Jr., 24, and Frank Doggrell III, 25 created a referendum which voters did pass that would allow establishments to sell liquor by the drink. By 1970 in Overton Square, they had opened T.G.I. Friday's first franchised location. It quickly became a success and an anchor for other shops, restaurants, pubs, and other attractions to safely establish themselves.
At its most successful period, Overton Square was flooded with 11 restaurants, 27 shops and employing 800 Memphis locals. Some attractions, shops, pubs, and restaurants included an ice skating rink, Solomon Alfred's, the Mississippi River Co, the Public Eye, Bombay Bicycle Club, Gonzales & Gertrude's, the Hot Air Balloon, Lafayette's Music Room, Yosemite Sam's (originally a disco), Godfather's Supper Club Trader Dick's, and the still-going-strong Huey's anchored the west end of what generously might be identified as "the Square." When the famous pub crawls would commence, over 40,000 people at one time would saturate Overton Square.
View Overton Square Shops, Restaurants, and recent Developments...
View Overton Square's Historical Images
