Memphis Local, Sports, Business & Food News | Daily Memphian | Sophia Surrett

Pat Neely back with another barbecue show

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 09:06:03 -0500

Twelve years ago, Memphis pitmaster Pat Neely co-hosted the last episode of Food Network’s popular show “Down Home with the Neelys” with his then-wife, Gina. Now, he’s back with a new show.

New cafe to open beside East Memphis' One City Church

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 09:21:28 -0500

“The Hub (inside Mission Church) was proof of concept,” said Breadie’s co-owner Chris Conlee said. “It proved this works.”

Food Files: Are you HungryAF? This restaurant is for you

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Fri, 9 Oct 2026 06:20:01 -0500

HungryAF’s owner said her menu items have “a little razzle dazzle.”

Table Talk: Keeping tallies on Tally, Kroger's new stocking robot

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Wed, 7 Oct 2026 19:36:15 -0500

If you’ve been startled by Kroger’s newest — and autonomous — employee, you’re not alone.

New restaurant headed for former Alchemy space

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Wed, 7 Oct 2026 12:44:41 -0500

Alchemy Memphis closed in June 2025 after serving tapas and cocktails in Cooper-Young for almost 15 years.

Home Place Pastures products now go from 'farm to Kroger'

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Tue, 6 Oct 2026 04:00:10 -0500

Four Kroger stores will now carry pork and beef products from the Como, Mississippi-based farm.

Empanada trailer brings Argentinian flavor to Midtown

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Mon, 5 Oct 2026 12:52:34 -0500

Prior to launching at the Memphis Farmers Market, Argento Foods mostly did small catering orders, but the business recently secured its first food trailer.

Babalu restaurants have a new owner

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Sat, 3 Oct 2026 08:39:45 -0500

Spell Restaurant Group has sold both Babalu locations to longtime employee Jesse Robertson.

Food Files: Midtown's No Comment to close

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Fri, 2 Oct 2026 04:00:12 -0500

A permit also suggests Flying Biscuit Cafe could open in the former Belly Acres spot in the Regalia Shopping Center.

Gussied Up, Hard Times' attached bar, to open this month

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Thu, 1 Oct 2026 17:16:51 -0500

The retro-inspired Gussied Up will serve as extra space for the Edge District’s Hard Times Deli until 4 p.m. and then operate as a standalone bar starting at 5 p.m.

Table Talk: Local chefs to use surplus foods and produce rejects in food competition

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:13:51 -0500

The seventh annual Reharvest Memphis competition at Crosstown Concourse will challenge chefs to create dishes with imperfect produce and surplus ingredients.

Highland Strip's getting a 'high-end honky-tonk'

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 04:00:02 -0500

“Take a honky-tonk, sweep up all the sawdust, replace a couple of shots with a couple of glasses of wine, with some cool Memphis music and Western memorabilia,” said one of the three owners.

Two years after opening, Starbucks on Covington to close

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Sat, 26 Sep 2026 09:32:01 -0500

Starbucks is planning to close about 1% of its 18,000 North America locations.

Food Files: American comfort food takes over former Maciel's space

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 04:00:07 -0500

“Initially, it could be a turnkey business; however, we decided that we wanted to do a bigger restaurant idea,” the restaurant’s owner said.

Table Talk: Ronnie Grisanti's rolls out an $11 bar menu

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 17:51:36 -0500

Ronnie Grisanti’s executive manager wants to bring people back into the restaurant instead of just watching the “food go out the door.”

Former Coletta's sold to Casa Mexicana group

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 15:20:32 -0500

Jerry and Diane Coletta sold the 8,800-square-foot building on Monday, Sept. 21, to Dulce Lucero Mejia and Humberto Camarena Padilla, the owners of a nearby Casa Mexicana location.

Wing Wars hopes to showcase Memphis as more than barbecue

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 16:44:16 -0500

Carmeon Hamilton’s Wing Wars competition brings local favorites to Stax for bragging rights and big cash awards.

Food Files: Second area Big Bad Breakfast to open soon

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 04:00:01 -0500

Plus, a Mexican restaurant in Collierville is closing.

Smashburger food truck to open in Poplar Avenue space

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:05:18 -0500

Food truck Addiction Smash Burger is opening its first brick-and-mortar location.

Table Talk: The restaurant franchises we'd like to see in Memphis

ssurrett@dailymemphian.com (Sophia Surrett) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 17:51:20 -0500

In some ways, Memphians seem to have a love/hate relationship with restaurant franchises.