Tacky Elvis souvenirs and made-in-China trinkets can be found all over town, especially on Beale Street and in the shops surrounding Graceland. For more discriminating tastes, The Peabody hotel downtown has some high-priced boutiques offering designer clothes, fine art, jewelry, and collectibles. Otherwise, your best shopping bets are going to be in East Memphis and the affluent suburbs. Although downtown had attracted a good array of new retail tenants as recently as 5 years ago, with the recent economic recession, most have closed up shop, leaving vacant storefronts in their wake. Hopes are high that the scene will eventually rebound, however. Meanwhile, there are plenty of good retail therapy options in other parts of the metro area.
The Shopping Scene
As in Nashville and other cities of the New South, the shopping scene in Memphis is spread out. If you want to go shopping in this city, you'll need to arm yourself with a good map, get in the car, and start driving. Most people head to the shopping malls and plazas (there are dozens) in East Memphis to find quality merchandise. However, in recent years, a few funky shops and worthwhile boutiques have started to pop up in the South Main Historic District of downtown.
Shopping malls and department stores are generally open Monday to Saturday 10am to 9pm and Sunday noon to 6pm. Many smaller mom-and-pop stores located outside malls and shopping centers are closed on Sundays. Call ahead to check store hours.
Antiques -- Memphis's main antiques district isn't what it once was. There used to be loads of good stores clustered at the intersection of Central Avenue and South Cooper Street. The two listed below are still going strong. However, you can find shops selling antique jewelry, furniture, and collectibles in shopping districts throughout the greater Memphis area. In addition to these stores, most businesses are open Monday to Saturday, with the exception of large shopping malls, which are open 7 days a week.
Shoes & Boots -- In addition to the shoe and boot stores listed in this guide, you'll find an excellent selection of shoes at the Dillard's department store in the Mall of Memphis shopping mall.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
