‘How did this happen’ to once-spectacular 100 North Main
Towering gem of Downtown is filled with blight, but future’s bright
Since the elevators don’t work, the spectacular view is only for those who climb 37 floors to the top of Memphis’ tallest building. Built in 1965, it’s been vacant since 2014. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
The former revolving restaurant atop 100 North Main offers a dizzying view of Memphis and eastern Arkansas. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
Vandals have trashed the roof 100 North Main. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
The rooftop once included an area called the Japanese Rock Garden. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
A June 1965 photo from the old Memphis Press-Scimitar newspaper shows the Japanese Rock Garden in its heyday. (Courtesy Memphis Public Library)
Fearless graffiti artists have made their way to the top of the city’s tallest building. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
A fire in a former office on the 34th floor left two windows open. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
Debris, apparently left by squatters, litters a former office in 100 North Main, which has been vacant since 2014. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
A once-luxurious private lounge is filled with broken glass and trash. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
The Tennessee Club emblem is still visible on a podium. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
An audit book for the Tennessee Club sits next to club members’ cards. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
An abandoned dentist chair sits in a former office. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
File cabinets stand open in another abandoned dentist office at 100 North Main. (Neil Strebig/The Daily Memphian)
Led by Kevin Woods and Billy Orgel, 100 North Main Development Partners share updated plans for condos in the historic building and outline the next steps in the property's renovation.
Topics
100 N. Main Commercial Real Estate Downtown Memphis Downtown development Billy Orgel Kevin Woods 100 N. Main Development Partners Downtown Memphis Commission Brett Roler Subscriber Only2025 is almost over. Now is the time to support your trusted local news source.
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Neil Strebig
Neil Strebig is a chef turned journalist covering economic development and commercial real estate for The Daily Memphian. He grew up in Pennsylvania and has worked at media outlets including the York Daily Record/USA Today Network and most recently as Report for America Corps Member with Lookout Santa Cruz. He is a graduate of Point Park University in Pittsburgh.
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