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Blight remediation, economic growth and a delicious sandwich to boot

By , Daily Memphian Updated: March 23, 2025 7:47 AM CT | Published: March 23, 2025 4:00 AM CT

At about 11:30 a.m., a steady trickle of cars pulls up on a quiet stretch of College Street for the lunch specials at Green Leaf Container Cafe+Farm Stand. Even with no advertising, its microgreens salads and salmon panini with homemade red-onion marmalade is pulling traffic from across South Memphis.

Marlon Foster, executive director of Knowledge Quest, is counting on a bigger reach — and soon.

“We haven’t even officially opened yet,” he said, watching the lineup from the curb outside Green Leaf, “and look at these customers.”

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Green Leaf Container Cafe+Farm Stand Marlon Foster Subscriber Only

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Jane Roberts

Jane Roberts

Jane Roberts has reported in Memphis for more than 20 years. As a senior member of The Daily Memphian staff, she was assigned to the medical beat during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also has done in-depth work on other medical issues facing our community, including shortages of specialists in local hospitals. She covered K-12 education here for years and later the region’s transportation sector, including Memphis International Airport and FedEx Corp.


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