Crosstown Concourse is a truly unique Memphis destination, redefining city life by blending art, community and culture within an impressive 1.5 million-square-foot “vertical urban village.” Housed in the historic Sears building, Crosstown has revitalized an iconic Memphis landmark into a thriving community.
Take an afternoon to visit Crosstown Concourse and plan to stay awhile! Start with some caffeine from French Truck Coffee, move into some more serious eats from Srimu Wine & Cheese Cafe or Farm Burger, peruse the Crosstown Arts Galleries with a specialty cocktail from the Art Bar and head home with some fresh flowers from Mili's Flowers & Gifts. Here are a few of the highlights we hit on a recent Crosstown crawl:
French Truck Coffee – Get caffeinated for your Crosstown tour! Choose from a variety of offerings, including Crosstown Espresso, a blend of Ethiopian and Central/South American coffee created exclusively for this roastery. Or choose a Grand Cru Colombian coffee, when available. It scored over 90 points on the coffee scale – think Wine Spectator ratings!
Srimu Wine & Cheese Cafe – Touted as the “next evolution of cheese.” Take home a platter or board full of artisanal plant-based cheese made with pure ingredients (mostly cashews and almonds). The menu includes soft cheese inspired by Camembert and infused with truffle (Bertie), smoked gouda infused with turmeric (Gold Alchemy) as well as a fresh take on the classic cheese ball, mozzarella, brie and pepper jack.
Sweet Magnolia Gelato Co. – Are you ready to satisfy your sugar craving? Sweet Magnolia has a variety of gelatos sure to satisfy. But, you might have to elbow out the locals, Crosstown parcel owners, who stop by weekly (or daily?) for a fresh batch. Favorites include cinnamon brown sugar, apple pie and banana pudding.
Farm Burger – Serving up grassfed burgers as well as vegan and gluten-free menu items, all sourced from local farms. Try the lunch combo, which includes a build-your-own-burger with fries and a drink. Elevated snacks include andouille corn pups, deviled eggs and Greek feta fries with lemon-feta-oregano dressing and pickled red onions. Top it off with a locally sourced seasonal milkshake or rootbeer float.
Crosstown Arts Galleries – Stroll through the 7,000 square feet of exhibition space, housed in two large galleries, to view artwork created by local, national and international artists working in all types of media. The galleries host a yearly roster of ten exhibitions with opening receptions scheduled for the first week of each show that often include artist talks or lectures.
Art Bar – Take in the latest art exhibit or artist lecture with a creative cocktail from the Art Bar. Located in the gallery space, Art Bar serves a curated list of wines and craft beers as well as a menu of artful cocktails, made with local fresh ingredients. Open 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. every day except Mondays and open ‘till 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Memphis Listening Lab – Visit the curated collection of music and music history or listen to a music talk or live performance, all located within a combination state-of-the-art studio and living room space. Listen for free to thousands of different music options in the SoundRoom or create your own recorded music or podcast in the Production Studio, also free by appointment only.
Vibe Foods Superfood Bar – Who doesn’t love a family-owned restaurant with the tagline “in a world full of fake food, we believe that eating to win is essential.” Committed to serving real, clean and delicious food, Vibe’s menu is 100% gluten and dairy-free and includes a wide variety of smoothies and bowls, coffees, cold-pressed juices, wellness shots, bone broth and tasty toast offerings.
Crosstown Brewing Company – Owners Goodwin and Ortkiese say they are passionate about two things: "good beer and the power of a cohesive community." With twelve beers on tap and a facility in which to visit with friends, enjoy some trivia and listen to live music, Crosstown Brewing fulfills that passion. Pair your Bring Your Soul IPA with a Pimiento Cheese Smash Burger or a Fun Guy Pizza.
Snkrr Bar – This is not your ordinary, run-of-the-mill shoe repair shop. The expert team at the Snkkr Bar specializes in restoring and renewing your favorite kicks to their original condition (or as close as humanly possible). Under the tagline “saving soles,” the Snkrr Bar offers various tiers of cleaning services for sneakers, cowboy boots and dress shoes. They also buy and sell used sneakers.
Global Café – Try affordably priced, authentic dishes from around the world all under one roof. With menu items prepared by food entrepreneurs from around the globe, Global Café serves as a gathering place to bring together guests who are interested in learning more about different cultures and enjoying wonderful ethnic food. Pair your meal with an international version of your favorite cocktail, like a Sudanese Mojito.
Mili’s Flowers & Gifts – After a day at Crosstown, bring home a bouquet of locally-sourced flowers or a unique, handcrafted gift from Mili’s. Their team of talented florists is ready to create an arrangement to meet the needs of each customer. Support traditional Mexican craftsmanship by choosing from colorful ceramics, hand-woven baskets, wooden figurines or hand-embroidered clothing.