Memphis restaurants that closed in 2023: These 5 are the spots we miss the most
Restaurants come and go, but there are some we wish had never closed.
For many people, restaurants are more than just a place to eat. They are places where memories are made — evenings full of laughter, romance, friendship, good times and even a few sad occasions.
Here are five Memphis restaurants that closed in 2023 that we know Memphians will miss.
From upscale Southern fare to burgers to a world famous bar, each was a unique and special dining spot. All were Memphis favorites that we wish were still open.
Holiday Deli & Ham Co.: 30 years of pimento cheese and ham
Trey Jordan founded Holiday Deli & Ham Co. in 1993 with his father, Don Jordan. The restaurant was known for its made-to-order signature deli sandwiches and salads, spiral-sliced honey-glazed hams and grab-and-go frozen prepared side dishes.
This November, the local chain celebrated its 30th anniversary during the same month that it closed.
The first restaurant was located at the corner of Poplar and Perkins and started with four sandwiches — Papa's Pimento Cheese (Don's signature recipe), Trey's mother's tuna salad, turkey and ham.
In 1999, the East Memphis restaurant moved to 585 Erin Drive. That same year, a second location was opened at 7652 Poplar Ave. in Germantown. Those two locations closed on Nov. 3. The chain also had a restaurant in Midtown that closed earlier in 2023.
Jordan sold the retail grocery division of his businesses before the restaurants closed. He said he is focusing on helping the new company Pimento's Brands expand into grocery stores across the country. The line currently includes Papa's Pimento Cheese (both the original and the jalapeno) and plans are in the works to expand with what Jordan describes as "other favorite items." The pimento cheeses are available in Kroger stores in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi, as well as in grocery stores in Texas.
The Gray Canary: Wood-fire cooking in a historic warehouse
Located in the Old Dominick Distillery in the South Main Arts District of Downtown Memphis, The Gray Canary at 301 S. Front St. was opened by chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman in 2018. The duo’s sixth restaurant — the fifth restaurant here in Memphis — closed on Jan. 28.
The Gray Canary featured an open kitchen and wood-fire cooking. A sampling of the creative small plates included Country Ham served with brown butter, horseradish, cornbread panna gratta and Gruyere and Lamb Ribs with mushroom conserva, baby kale, brussels, cherry and mint. The house-made Parker House Rolls with onion, lardo and butter were a must-order on every visit.
The restaurant in the 100-year-old warehouse was closed when the distillery decided to use the former restaurant space for event rentals.
Roxie’s Grocery: Home of the Mr. Good Burger
For four decades, Roxie's Grocery at 520 N. Third St. had been serving Memphians. The grocery was founded by Floyd (who is known as Red) and Roxie Miller, and until it closed on Aug. 23 had been run by the couple and several of their children.
The unassuming and windowless grocery and restaurant was home to what many considered the best burger in Memphis.
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The locally famous "Mr. Good Burger" consisted of two giant hand-packed beef patties, four strips of thick-cut bacon, slices of hoop and pepper jack cheese, grilled onions, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, mayonnaise and mustard.
Hard Rock Café: 26 years on Beale Street
When Memphis’ Hard Rock Café closed its doors on July 30, it ended a 26-year era for the music-themed bar and restaurant on Beale Street.
Rufus Thomas' platform boots, a Furry Lewis guitar, Elvis Presley nunchucks and the other pieces of rock 'n' roll culture were just a handful of items on display inside the restaurant that officially opened on Nov. 16, 1997.
Co-founded by Jackson, Tennessee-born sometime Memphian Isaac Tigrett in 1971 in London, the Hard Rock Cafe chain of restaurants preceded the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (which opened in Cleveland in 1983) as tourism attractions packed with museum-quality music memorabilia. The Memphis Hard Rock was the chain's 78th restaurant, including 51 outside the U.S.A.
Originally located at 315 Beale, the Memphis Hard Rock relocated in 2014 to a more appropriate address, from a rock-and-roll-history standpoint: 126 Beale, original home of Lansky Brothers, the clothing store that outfitted Elvis Presley.
Edge Alley: Coffee, brunch and creative fare
Since 2017, Edge-Alley was a popular lunch and brunch spot in the Edge District of Downtown Memphis run by Chef Tim Barker and his wife, Lena.
Known for his creative fare, Tim Barker has always done everything he could by scratch. His passion for his craft is evident from the first conversation you have with him. He roasted his own coffee beans, made oat milk from scratch when he wasn’t happy with what was available from purveyors, and even made crackers from leftover grains from his neighbors at High Cotton Brewing Company. If he could make it, he did.
Edge Alley’s signature items included an elevated version of Steak N’ Eggs. Pan roasted beef medallions were served with a pair of farm eggs, vegetable salad and a chimichurri butter came to the table looking like a fine dining dish.
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Regulars knew to save room for dessert. Barker’s pots de cremes made chocolate lovers swoon. The S’mores-inspired pots de crème were a velvety chocolate custard served with bruleed marshmallow fluff. A house-made graham cracker with dark chocolate provided the finishing touch.
The restaurant at 600 Monroe Ave. closed Dec. 10.
More Memphis restaurants we lost in 2023:
Cafe Society
Lost Pizza (Poplar Avenue location)
Pearl's Oyster House.
Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at [email protected] and you can follow her on X and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Biggest Memphis restaurant closures of 2023: Spots we miss the most
