When the Grind City Coffee Xpo began in 2018, it included eight coffee vendors, which was nearly everyone in town. Since then, the local coffee scene has blown up.

“The space has been such a landmark here,” said one of the restaurant’s new owners. “It’s exciting to be able to take the space and do something different.”

After an outpouring of negative publicity, Local on the Square closed late last month. Memphis restaurateur Tim Quinn plans to open Madison Tavern — with a lodgelike feel and a large menu of American classics — in its place. 

More than 50 Downtown restaurants are set to take part in this year’s Downtown Dining Week.

The latest version of Cameo’s Fancy Dinner pop-up, which showcases new talent on Memphis’ culinary scene, will be lead by Acre’s Colleen Kohl. 

Over the years, late Daily Memphian food and dining editor Jennifer Biggs supported efforts by The Kindness Revolution to “pay it forward.” But now the nonprofit is returning the favor. 

In our new food-related news roundup, a Chicken Salad Chick and three new coffee shops are opening within the Memphis area. 

In addition to offering a classic American menu chock-full of comfort foods, The Public Bistro also plans to focus on notable cocktails — with a twist. 

Franchisee Loay Abdallah, who signed a five-location, five-year deal with Bonchon, tried Korean fried chicken in Chicago and couldn’t forget the taste.

The Memphis Mushroom Festival returns for its third year with music, cooking demos from local chefs, workshops and, of course, plenty of fun ... gi. 

Crosstown Concourse is homebase for SriMu’s online, subscription-based vegan cheese operation, but the storefront also offers grab-and-go options — and will soon include a small cafe.

In 2022 alone, 29 billion pounds of food materials moved through the Memphis metropolitan area.

An auction for two Holiday Deli & Ham locations, plus all the business’ extras, is ongoing through Thursday, Oct. 26, at noon. 

The 1,300-square-foot Memphis restaurant, 706 S. Mendenhall, will include a covered patio when it opens in late February or March. 

The 7,200-square-foot building will house Fanatic Sports Bar, the Wing Fanatic and a 1,000-square-foot entertainment zone known as the “living room.”

As Belly Acres focuses on its East Memphis and forthcoming Southaven location, it’s looking to breakfast and “ultimate Belly shakes.”

The 5,200-square-foot, 140-seat restaurant is at 255 S. Front St., which was formerly Ellis & Sons Machine Shop.

“It’s not some high-pressure cooking competition where people are investing a ton of money and expecting a lot of return,” said the reigning grand champ. “We put forth whatever time or money or effort we can, and ... everybody has a blast.”

The menu is enormous, complete with Indian cuisine ranging across the board from North to South, but with a heavy emphasis on the latter.

Some local restaurants have added service fees to attract and retain quality workers. 

Fable will be located on the first floor of 409 S. Main St., where Puck Food Hall once was.

The general manager of Doc’s Wine, Spirits & More in Germantown says nearby construction has impacted the store’s business. 

The building’s former restaurant tenant, Red Hook, closed Sunday, Oct. 8. 

Local food truck Taco Cat plans to open its first conventional restaurant on Germantown Parkway next month.

The owner of Maciel’s Tortas and Tacos plans to open a third location of the popular restaurant — with even more of an emphasis on tacos — early next spring.