Maybe it should’ve been named Macbeth Food Hall, for yet another misfortune has befallen the cursed South Main food hall that just can’t seem to get going.

Outdoor dining space to open off South Main

This time Daniel Masters, who took over food operations at Puck Food Hall about six weeks ago, has had to close down his operations.

“It’s just too expensive to run that kitchen, and there are not enough people coming out to support us,” Masters said.

South Main Market opened in the 409 S. Main location in December 2017 and had a fine collection of independent restaurateurs, but they kept erratic hours and many didn’t stay long. It languished, but it never died.

In May 2019, it was spiffed up, new vendors came in, and the space was rebranded Puck Food Hall. Masters had Civil Pour, his bar, and changed the name to Bar 409 and moved the location inside the hall when it became Puck.

Nick Scott’s Salt | Soy opening in old Lucky Cat spot

Sweet Magnolia Gelato moved in, Nick Scott was there now and again with a Salt | Soy popup, City Block Salumeria made its home there, Dr. Bean’s, Wok’n in Memphis, Venga, radical. and more vendors brought new life to the food hall and for a time, at least through Summer 2019, it was hopping.

Those erratic hours were a problem still, though: Consumers need to know if they go to lunch, they get to choose from all the vendors, not the handful that are open at that time on that day. Customers voiced frustration but stuck with it.

Then COVID came, and the world changed for everyone. Small businesses — and these were all tiny — had a hard time staying afloat during the mandatory shutdown. Add to that no indoor dining at Puck even after reopening, and some just couldn’t make it.

In late August, Masters decided to take over the food service. LuLu’s Bakery, Sweet Magnolia and Dr. Bean’s operated independently, but Masters, who also owns Pontotoc Lounge and Silly Goose, took over the rest, offering pizza, pasta, burgers, sandwiches and so on from one main kitchen.

Last month, he opened Huling Station, the outdoor dining platform that extends off the north side of Puck onto Huling. It provides outdoor seating for 50 plus more directly on the street if needed, and also serves as outdoor work space with solid Wi-Fi, as well as eating space for Grecian Gourmet and Memphis Soul Southern Cooking. 

$10 Deal: Grecian Gourmet

He planned to keep it open until the end of the year, but now can’t promise he can do that. Right now Bar 409 will still serve, and Masters is figuring out a way to get some grab-and-go items available from one of his other restaurants at the bar. Sweet Magnolia, LuLu’s and Dr. Bean’s are still there, and you can still order food from Grecian Gourmet and Memphis Soul. But none of those places except the bar belong to Masters, and Grecian Gourmet and Memphis Soul aren’t even in the food hall.

A grant from the Downtown Memphis Commission paid for the platform build-out, but Masters has to pay rent on the scaffolding, the tent and so on.

“We didn’t exactly get off to a rip-roaring start since the temperatures fell so low during the first two weekends and we had all the rain this weekend,” Masters said. “My plan is to keep it up through the end of the month and see what it does, but I can’t commit to it longer than that.”

Coming up this week

The annual Italian dinner at St. Ann Catholic Church is usually part of it big Fall Fest fundraiser, but COVID is having its way with those. So instead of a big event at the church, this year you can pick up dinner to go from Coletta’s and sign on Facebook at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 15 for a blessing, a preview of the auction items coming up for bid and a performance from Mandi Thomas of “The Voice.”

There are three adult and three children’s dinner choices, which you’ll pick up at Coletta’s, 2850 Appling Road. Click here to choose your meal, pay for it, and get details about the other upcoming festival events.

McMillins’ new dinner series, Restaurant Phoenix Project, launches next week

There are a few tickets left for the Restaurant Phoenix Project dinner on Oct. 16 at Claire’s House of Merge Memphis, a recently opened facility for homeless women. The dinner will be prepared by Ryan Trimm, Spencer McMillin and Kristin McMillin. Wines will be presented by Bobby Maupin and Mac Edwards is the host for the event. Tickets are $75 and you can get yours by emailing restaurantphoenixproject@gmail.com.

Pork farm hogs the spotlight at fund-raiser

This is an outside dinner at the facility, 1755 Eldridge, and it starts early. Cocktails at 5 p.m. and dinner at 5:40 p.m. How’s that for being exact?

This came as welcome news to me: The dining rooms have finally reopened in two of my favorite places. New Asia, 2075 Exeter Road in Germantown, is serving and Sakura’s dining room is open at both locations, 4840 Poplar Ave. and 2060 West St. in Germantown.

Now let’s do something fun: Who wants to have a pumpkin carving contest? We won’t do it in person, because it wouldn’t be appropriate to have that much fun, but we will pick a winner and some runners-up. Are you a creative carver? Do your jack o’ lanterns scare away the tricksters? Do you carve local celebs on your pumpkin? (Some sent me one of Zach Randolph a few years ago.) Well, send a photo and your contact information to jbiggs@dailymemphian.com. We want to show off your hard work and get some tips to share, too.