The University District is home to Memphis’ largest institution of higher learning, The University of Memphis. The district is made of several distinct neighborhoods, including East Buntyn, Sherwood Forest, and Normal Station. Its main drag, a two-block strip of Highland Avenue known as the Highland Strip, is a staple of Memphis nightlife and offers food and drinks to fuel any study session. Recently, planning has focused on prioritizing pedestrians, including building standards for storefronts and updated railroad crossing to suit the university’s 20,000-plus students.
When most Memphians think of trains in the University District, they think of lines of traffic stuck at Southern Avenue. But in the early 1900s, those tracks carried passengers from distant Memphis to the fledgling school and shaped the district we know today.
The city wants to increase density but residents in the University District say they’re already facing congested streets and a serious lack of parking. One possible solution — giving people more options instead of more parking.
For nearly 21 years Trilogy Tattoos and Piercing has been a fixture on the Highland Strip. Owner Richie Jarvis said their secret to success is simple.
It's been a long time since Messick High's glory days, but Memphians still remember it fondly and its neighbors wonder if there might be a future for the 101-year-old landmark.
The Autism, Behavior and Communication program housed at the Memphis Speech and Hearing Center of the University of Memphis meets the needs of children with developmental disabilities. Therapists work with children who have high-functioning autism and are between the ages of three and five. Launched in 2017, the clinic has helped many children learn the necessary communication and behavior skills to manage the demands of a mainstream preschool.
CommuniTech Research Park opens its doors as a new home for innovative technology companies like SweetBio, a medical device startup developing medical applications in wound care for honey.
Normal Station residents have partnered with the University of Memphis to transform a historic but long-neglected family cemetery into a peaceful neighborhood greenspace.
"Memphis Studios: A Visual Tour," a newly published book, details the diverse nooks and crannies that Memphis artists have claimed as home.
“If people feel good about the university, they want to show off. You want to wear that hoodie or have that decal on your car," said Jeremy Stinson, general manager of Tiger Bookstore.
Jainaba Johnson started her first business in her native country of The Gambia at 16 years old. Now 53, she's recently opened her third Memphis-based, family-run shop for African goods and hair styling.
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