Memphis threw a celebration at FedExForum that was worthy of Fred Smith’s life. Of course, Smith himself might not have liked all the fuss. He would have told us to get back to work.

“He opened doors for generations of entrepreneurs to proudly go through in the Bluff City,” Memphis Mayor Paul Young said. “Fred Smith didn’t just build a company. He built belief.” 

The new Ford Universal EV Platform is designed to make the manufacturing process faster. The company said it requires less space and offers better ergonomics to improve safety and reduce physical strain on workers. 

A powerful jet overhead made the earth at TPC Southwind tremble during a flyover honoring FedEx founder and former CEO Fred Smith, who died June 21 at the age of 80.

A fun island vibe was served as the backdrop in Bartlett on Friday, Aug. 8, as the Bartlett Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Barty awards gala.

“We are still open, and we’re still selling beer,” Memphis Made’s Andy Ashby told The Daily Memphian. 

Celtic Crossing will close until early fall to construct a new patio. Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe and Uncle Red’s Turkey Legs just opened. Board to Beers is soon to follow. 

The $5.6 billion BlueOval City is where Ford is manufacturing its new electric pickups and BlueOval SK batteries for the truck.

Methodist Olive Branch President David Baytos has served as Methodist University interim president since Tim Slocum left in January. 

Wolf River Hospitality Group is bringing a new concept to the Germantown building where Asaderos Mexican Grill formerly operated. The restaurant company has owned the space since 2021.

“We want to reactivate the space in the near future,” said one of the restaurant’s owners. 

A plan to build a new jail and relocate every criminal and civil justice institution in Shelby County to the former Firestone plant site in North Memphis was presented to the Shelby County Commission.

Also, Hattiloo Theatre backs away from church redevelopment, and Memphis Glass Works bought 8,156 square feet of industrial buildings in Olive Branch.

After Stephanie Feng started a small, local food trailer serving burritos, her lemonade became the star of the show. 

Collierville Chamber of Commerce and Memphis Music Initiative announce an addition and promotion. 

For someone who has spent their entire working life in show business in one capacity or another, Jon Hornyak has avoided the limelight. Until now. 

After closing, Carlisle Development Corp. will take over running the hotel that’s attached to Renasant Convention Center and start the process for redeveloping it.

It was a record-breaking year for the annual telethon, which is hosted in Peoria, Illinois, home to the first affiliate clinic of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. 

New documents shed some light on xAI’s long-term plans for the former Duke Energy Plant in Southaven that it bought last month.

“There’s still some uncertainty out there with the tariffs, but at some point, businesses have to make decisions regardless of uncertainty.”

“This will be the first FedEx St. Jude Championship since the death of Fred Smith. Why did Smith embrace the tournament the way he did? It wasn’t about the golf.”

For Lindsey Donovan Rhea, owner of Alia Wealth Partners, the mentorship of her aunt continues to pay dividends. 

Most local cases of Lyme disease result from travel to other parts of the country where the illness is endemic. But Mid-Southerners do need to be aware of several other tick-borne illnesses that can be contracted locally. 

In February, In-N-Out vice president of store development Mike Abbate told The Daily Memphian that a local store was years away.

The Dame, located at 69 Pontotoc Ave., is part of the restoration of the century-old Downtown hotel. And across town, a Sonic Drive-In is being razed.