Broad Avenue Arts District

Originally the main street of the Binghampton township, Broad Avenue served as the major commercial thoroughfare for the Binghampton neighborhood until the early-2000s extension of Sam Cooper Boulevard rerouted the street’s heavy traffic and shuttered most of its once-successful businesses. Beginning in the late 2000s, a concerted effort was made to reimagine the area as a thriving arts and entertainment district. Today’s Broad Avenue, which is classified as Memphis’ first mixed-use district, is a hotspot of artisan shops, nightlife and some of the city’s best eats and drinks with a focus on the local.

Paint the town: Community invited to join professional artists at this year’s Paint Memphis Festival

“We want the public to be part of this artistic endeavor, to meet the artists and take part in enhancing the neighborhood, during a day of work (for us), art appreciation, learning, and entertainment,” says Karen B. Golightly, Executive Director and Founder of Paint Memphis.

Recycled tires serve as art and safety features along Broad Ave. bike lanes. (submitted)
Recycled tire art makes Broad Ave. bike lanes safer and creates jobs
Transit Equity Day events are scheduled for Feb 1-4, 2022 in Memphis.
Public invited to Transit Equity Day events, online and in-person Feb 1-4
Sugar Ghost ice cream shop and Falling Into Place gift shop on Broad Avenue. (Sarah Rushakoff)
A walk down Broad Avenue: new spots, treasured favorites

Like Memphis as a whole, Broad Avenue has changed exponentially over the last decade.

PRIZM Ensemble executive director Gavin Wigginson (submitted)
PRIZM Ensemble’s new leader helps kids explore social issues through music
(Lisa Ferdinando, Wikimedia Commons)
Need a COVID-19 test? Want to get your vaccine? Where to go in Shelby County.
University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are four of the anchor institutions partnering with the Memphis Medical District Collaborative for Hire Local 901. (Submitted)
Hire Local 901 helps Memphians work closer to home

The Memphis Medical District Collaborative’s workforce development program connects residents to training, education and employment opportunities in and around the Medical District.

A young girl plays hide and seek in front of shuttered apartment buildings on Tate Street. (Andrea Morales)
Seeing Red I: Mapping 90 years of redlining in Memphis

This two part series explores how race built Memphis. From a newly discovered 1930s redlining map to recent lawsuits, discriminatory housing policies have kept Black families from home ownership and Black neighborhoods from thriving. 

Pastor Shun Abram in front of Binghampton Community Church, located in east Binghampton. (Ziggy Mack)
Bing-Boom II: A tale of two Binghamptons

Once one of the city's most distressed neighborhoods, the west side of Binghampton is now one of its hottest properties. Can the east side follow suit? And should it?

Lisa and Luis Toro pose outside of their newest purchase, 509 North Hollywood, which will soon be a unique indoor-outdoor bar. (Cole Bradley)
Broad Avenue power couple expand reach with new bar venture

Lisa and Luis Toro opened their first business on Broad Avenue four years ago. Next spring they'll open their third business a bit off of Broad Avenue, and they've learned a lot about entrepreneurship along the way. 

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