# Memphis Neighborhoods **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2007, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175 "2007-05-15T13:27:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nightsong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nightsong/32/3083_2.png) [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2007, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/21 "2007-05-16T23:09:35Z")
[QUOTE=AHoosierMama] There was reference earlier to the big five employers. I’m guessing Fed Ex is one. Who are the others? My skill set is a combination of marketing, technical writing and illustration, graphic design and web development. Who should I be trying to work for? [/QUOTE] Let’s see, off the top of my head I can think of these companies: FedEx Autozone St. Jude’s International Paper ServiceMaster Not sure how they rate in terms of employment figures. Hilton Hotels has some sort of HQ here as well. FedEx always seems to be hiring IT types. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/22 "2007-05-17T00:03:44Z")
[QUOTE=AHoosierMama] My skill set is a combination of marketing, technical writing and illustration, graphic design and web development. Who should I be trying to work for? [/QUOTE] I wonder if [Rhodes College](http://www.rhodes.edu/about/default.asp) would have a place for you. That seems like it would be a fun place to work. ---
**Author:** ![DistendedPendulousFrenulum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@DistendedPendulousFrenulum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DistendedPendulousFrenulum)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/23 "2007-05-17T03:03:01Z")
Hi, Ninetywt’s brother here. . . You might try U of Memphis. Also, it seems like The Memphis Flyer was advertising for a graphics person recently. What you’ll need to do in Memphis is develop a network of contacts. I’ve been here since '03 and finally know where to go to find stuff. . ---
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/24 "2007-05-17T03:16:53Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] More like Dresden, circa 1946. Miles and miles of adandoned strip malls, rundown houses, etc. No amusement park, no water park, no _real_ arts to speak of. No aquarium, **no attractions at all to speak of really.** High crime, high gang activity, bad schools, etc. etc. I recommend 100% NOT moving there, if you have a choice. I honestly cannot think of one positive, and I have no hidden agenda. At least with big cities like LA and NYC, high crime and the like is a tradeoff for the good things the city has- Memphis has all the negatives no perks. . [/QUOTE] I disagree with with this. There’s athletics - University of Memphis basketball and football are exciting, The Liberty Bowl is there every year, professional basketball with the Grizzlies, Memphis Redbirds (AAA farm club for the St. Louis Cardinals), the zoo, mall, plenty of blues, jazz and hip hop, Graceland, Memphis in May is a big attraction, casinos within driving distance, etc. And the property is so low because it’s low pretty much everywhere in Tennessee. This isn’t California. I have heard second-hand that the schools aren’t that bad either. I won’t gloss over the overall high crime though it is bad, and if that isn’t bad enough drive 80 miles down the road to Jackson, TN. Another top 10 high crime area. But I don’t think you would have problems if you moved to the right areas people have already mentioned. [Here are some links for things to do in Memphis.](http://www.elvis.com/graceland/visiting/elvis_links.asp) ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 8:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/25 "2007-05-17T08:27:23Z")
[QUOTE=DistendedPendulousFrenulum] What you’ll need to do in Memphis is develop a network of contacts. I’ve been here since '03 and finally know where to go to find stuff. . [/QUOTE] Isn’t that true of any Southern town? I’ve been here in Jackson Miss for 19 years now, and finally know _who_ to go to for different issues. Actually, its kinda funny to have my name pop up. I recently got a phone call from a gentleman who was shopping engineers to do a dam breach analysis. He said that the convo always ended up with “You need to call the Ditch Witch”. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/26 "2007-05-17T12:57:18Z")
And just so I don’t appear to be a totally negative nancy, I will say the zoo has panda bears, and the tap water is probably some of the best tasting in the world. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/27 "2007-05-17T13:17:08Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] no hard feelings, **miss e** , but as you said, you don’t live in the city limits. And I am fairly certain no large scale stores or malls are being built in the city limits. Agree to disagree. [/QUOTE] What about Peabody Place, in downtown? ---
**Author:** ![Wee\_Bairn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/90db22/32.png) [@Wee\_Bairn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wee_Bairn)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/28 "2007-05-17T13:43:35Z")
[QUOTE=miss elizabeth] What about Peabody Place, in downtown? [/QUOTE] 5-10 years old, probably 50% vacancy rate already, and just lost its only large anchor store (Tower Records). ---
**Author:** ![Nightsong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nightsong/32/3083_2.png) [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2007, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/29 "2007-05-17T16:14:59Z")
[QUOTE=Wee Bairn] no hard feelings, **miss e** , but as you said, you don’t live in the city limits. And I am fairly certain no large scale stores or malls are being built in the city limits. Agree to disagree. [/QUOTE] And what shows up on the front page of the daily paper today? [An article](http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/business/article/0,1426,MCA_440_5540796,00.html) about a developer buying 22 acres in midtown for a mix of retail and residential. Current rumor is that Target will be moving in. While I’m thinking abot it don’t forget; there’s now a Lowe’s (@ Sam Cooper & Perkins) and Home Depot (Poplar Ave., where Seesel’s used to be) in the mid-town-ish area, along with apparent plans for Kroger to put in a new grocery store at the south end of all of the new downtown area construction (somewhere near the Amtrak station, last I had heard anything about it: haven’t seen anything in the paper recently). Then there’s talk about Wal-Mart looking at putting in a Supercenter at the old Mall of Memphis site, but I haven’t heard anything more about that either. In many ways, Memphis seems to me like a city that wants to get bigger and better and is pulling itself up by its boot strings to do so, with varying degrees of success (urban renewal) and failure (how many people actually use the Madison St. trolley line?). ---
**Author:** ![DistendedPendulousFrenulum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@DistendedPendulousFrenulum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DistendedPendulousFrenulum)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/30 "2007-05-18T02:10:56Z")
[QUOTE=NinetyWt] I He said that the convo always ended up with “You need to call the Ditch Witch”. 😛 [/QUOTE] Um, witch isn’t the word I heard them say. ---
**Author:** ![DistendedPendulousFrenulum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/43a26b/32.png) [@DistendedPendulousFrenulum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DistendedPendulousFrenulum)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/31 "2007-05-18T02:14:34Z")
BTW, I can hook you up with a few decent resources, pediatrician, dentist, contractor–stuff like that. Heh. I was in the Costco the other day, and those old ladies were like giving away the free samples of stuff, and one lady (old ladies love to be flirted with) was giving away ice cream, so I went over there and started eating all her ice cream. I said “can I get some barbecue sauce on this?” And she said “This is Memphis, ain’t it?” . ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 8:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/32 "2007-05-18T08:23:31Z")
[QUOTE=DistendedPendulousFrenulum] Um, witch isn’t the word I heard them say. [/QUOTE] BWAHAHA > [@DistendedPendulousFrenulum](#): > > I went over there and started eating all her ice cream. Admit it, you were hoping this would turn out like that time you ate all the stewaredess’ crabs on that Asian flight. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![AHoosierMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/258eb7/32.png) [@AHoosierMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AHoosierMama)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/33 "2007-05-18T12:32:47Z")
[QUOTE=DistendedPendulousFrenulum] BTW, I can hook you up with a few decent resources, pediatrician, dentist, contractor–stuff like that. Heh. I was in the Costco the other day, and those old ladies were like giving away the free samples of stuff, and one lady (old ladies love to be flirted with) was giving away ice cream, so I went over there and started eating all her ice cream. I said “can I get some barbecue sauce on this?” And she said “This is Memphis, ain’t it?” . [/QUOTE] I’m probably headed that way in June for a long weekend. Where should I try my first authentic Memphis BBQ? I know I should be more concerned about dentists and such but the recommendation that first pops into my mind is hair stylist. I will SOOOOOOOO miss mine! Who works Memphis Magic with hair? ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/34 "2007-05-18T19:20:48Z")
I have a buddy that lives north of I-40 near Hwy 64 (close to Exit 18). You have to drive right by the Bartlett water tower to get to his house, but his mailing address is Memphis. Anyway, seems like a nice neighborhood, right by the Davies Plantation neighborhood. Pretty good sized houses, mostly 2 story. Doesn’t seem like high crime, his garage is left open sometimes. You can drive through a golf course to get back to 64. His buddy that lives in Cordova just bought a place in Lakeland to get a little further away. ---
**Author:** ![Nightsong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nightsong/32/3083_2.png) [@Nightsong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nightsong)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/35 "2007-05-18T19:29:26Z")
[QUOTE=AHoosierMama] I’m probably headed that way in June for a long weekend. Where should I try my first authentic Memphis BBQ? [/quote] _passes out baseball bats so all the suggestions can fight themselves out_ 😉 I’d vote for these in no particular order: Rendezvous (lamb riblets!), Whole Hog Cafe (only place with a mustard-based sauce that I like which is admittedly more of a Carolinas thing), The BBQ Shop. Corky’s to me is just too ‘meh’: it’s not bad, but I didn’t find it all that appealing either. Haven’t been to Tops BBQ in ages, so I’m not sure how they’re doing these days. Neither have I been to Interstate BBQ, which seems to be another favorite. (Or at least Food Network likes 'em.) [QUOTE=AHoosierMama] I know I should be more concerned about dentists and such but the recommendation that first pops into my mind is hair stylist. I will SOOOOOOOO miss mine! Who works Memphis Magic with hair? [/QUOTE] Actually, that is a good question. I know of a good barber shop, but since I simply grab the nearest person who’s handy with scissors when I need a trim I can’t help on hair styling. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/36 "2007-05-18T20:29:40Z")
For hair, I recommend Paggios. It’s located in Midtown (on Poplar). They are very nice, very cool, and a friend of mine owns it. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2007, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175/37 "2007-05-18T21:32:12Z")
My daughters are there at the barbecue festival as we type… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/memphis-neighborhoods/404175.md?page=1)