What happened on Beale St? (Memphis: how much, buy, bankruptcy)

[bjh]

Went there recently and there are some buildings onthe east end of the street that are just the brick fronts of the buildings with metal beams supporting them.

What happened?

Any news on what further repair or refurbishment might take place?

[UofMGrad92]

I think that they are that way because they have been designated as historic sites or something like that. If you tear down the facade, you lose the designation. So the rest of the building has been demolished and the facades maintained hoping someone will buy and rebuild using the old facade.

I'm sure there is some tax or other benefit associated with this, but I don't know what it is.

[Pearlbob]

Like how Silky's has the metal braces holding up the old facade?

I haven't noticed more buildings like that on the street, but I haven't paid attention either. I think it's nice to keep the old buildings as much as possible, while still renovating everything behind the scene.

[mzloolue]

I believe it has been that way for a long long time.

[Kabluey]

That's Silky's. No, it's not an indication of a decline of the street. It's part of the eccentric personality of the owner to preserve it and turn the inside into a part-stomping ground for his pet goat. It's been like that for years, despite how much Silky's is commercially thriving, and they've thrived enough to build an annex along Third to cater to the opening of FedExForum... So, no, there won't be any reconstruction there for a while. I think he likes it like that, and while it might be nice to see it repaired, it kind of fits the gritty nature of the city to keep part of the street like that.

In other words, nothing happened on Beale. It's just part of the idiosyncratic, eccentric charm of the street, a side many seem to think is being covered up by the disneyfication/over-commercialization of the street. So, Beale can't win. It's too successful for those who don't want the disneyfication, yet not disneyfied enough for others...

I think it strikes a nice balance between historic and commercial; I'd like to see how they address the Pat O'Brien's departure/bankruptcy.

[bjh]

Originally Posted by Kabluey

I think it strikes a nice balance between historic and commercial; I'd like to see how they address the Pat O'Brien's departure/bankruptcy.

What/who is Pat Obriens? A restaurant or bar?

[Pearlbob]

Pat O's is the famous bar in New Orleans. They have a few off-shoots in random cities, Memphis was one of them. It closed this past weekend after years in the red.

[Kabluey]

Yeah, they're famous for their Hurricane drinks...