South Main

About South Main

South Main Memphis is widely known as the Arts District. It makes up the southern part of Downtown Memphis and is located along South Main Street. This area is a major meeting point for artists from around Memphis to gather. One very special event that occurs each Friday night in South Main Memphis is the "Art Trolly Tour". Participants are given free access to the trolley system up and down Main Street and are permitted to visit the many unique open galleries. Shops and restaurants on Main Street tend to stay open later on Friday evenings to accommodate the crowds brought in by this event. It is a community project and something of a tradition.

There are several important attractions in South Main Memphis. The National Civil Rights Museum draws a large tourist crowd each year with its rich historical information and welcoming atmosphere. Another feature of the area is the historic and famous Arcade restaurant, which is the oldest coffee shop in Memphis. Elvis himself used to spend much of his time at the Arcade, and it is now a popular location for filming movies. It is located on the south corner of South Main and G.E. Patterson.

South Main Memphis has also been the filming site for many mainstream movies including The Firm, Hustle and Flow, Walk the Line, Great Balls of Fire, The Client, 21 Grams and several more.