Stores at Shops of Saddle Creek are weathering the pandemic. Just one has left, but another will leave soon.

City Silo coming to Germantown

Sur La Table is leaving the Memphis-metro area by closing its store at the Germantown shopping center. There are “no immediate plans” to open another store in the area, according to a spokesperson. Products are discounted until the closure at the end of September.

The cookware shop recently alerted Saddle Creek officials of the plans to shutter. Kenneth Taylor, general manager of Trademark Property, said promotion of the 5,800-square-foot space is already underway.

“This has been an unprecedented year,” Taylor said. “There are chances more spaces may close, but we are working with tenants individually to possibly keep that from happening.”

Raw Girls’ lease expires at the end of the month but it left early due to heating, ventilation and air-conditioning issues. Preliminary discussions are underway with a potential permanent tenant, according to Taylor. The local health food and juice company opened as a pop-up in collaboration with City & State coffee shop. Saddle Creek officials hoped they might become a permanent tenant, but City & State left the space months ago.

The shop would have been forced to leave as part of an agreement with the center’s new tenant City Silo Table + Pantry, according to Taylor. Part of the agreement includes language about clean eating restaurants not competing with the restaurant that has one location on Sanderlin in East Memphis. City Silo moves into the space formerly held for a short time by Grimaldi’s Pizzeria.

“We’ve done a lot of interior work and a lot of kitchen work. We redesigned the kitchen and added a new window to let in some more natural light,” owner Scott Tashie said.

Grimaldi’s had some unique attributes from the bar set up to the look of the ceiling. The new team has gone in and kept some features but made them their own.

“We were able to take all that and then take City Silo and marry them together,” Tashie said.

Rebecca Tashie, co-owner and wife of Scott, said they are excited to join what already exists at Saddle Creek. 

“Growing up in Memphis, Saddle Creek was such a fun and exciting space,” she said. “The vibe is really cool. We were excited to be included.”

Her husband noted the team at Saddle Creek has been great to work with.

“It’s no wonder they have built such an incredible brand,” he said.

When it opens later this fall or early winter, more shoppers will be heading to the center even if some are utilizing curbside and takeout options.

Taylor hopes the pandemic does not hit the Germantown retail center too hard as shoppers continue to grow in numbers monthly.

“We expect that trend to continue,” he said. “We are also following local guidelines to only operate at 50% capacity with a few tenants still not reopened or operating under reduced hours.”

The shopping center is also following guidelines and recommendations of health officials. He looks forward to the coming months and finalizing seasonal and holiday plans recognizes potential of stronger traffic.

Apple remains closed across Tennessee, but the Huntsville, Alabama store opened recently so he hopes the Germantown store reopening is not far behind. Most of the stores at Saddle Creek are the only ones of their kind in the Memphis market, which Taylor knows keeps customers coming.

“What sets Saddle Creek apart is our well-honed tenant and merchandise mix, with 70% of tenants being unique to the market,” he said. “We also focus on innovation and having a strong commitment to the community through events, when it’s safe to do so, as well as through offering local pop-up shops.”