The Pinch District took its name in the 1800s from a pejorative term for the emaciated Irish immigrants fleeing the potato famine (“pinch gut”). The Pinch was home to the city’s earliest Irish, Italian, Russian, and Greek immigrants, as well as Memphis’ Jewish community through the 1930s. Suburban expansion post-World War II decimated the Pinch’s population, and it has since struggled to maintain stability. There are hopes that the newly repurposed Pyramid, now a Bass Pro Shop flagship store, will anchor new growth in the area.
In a city as car-reliant as Memphis, getting people to explore alternate ways to travel is tough. But that's the task before Suzanne Carlson, who joined the Innovation Team this year. Along with a growing list of strategic partners, she is improving transit choices in Memphis, particularly for those dependent on public options.
In the fourth year of The Downtown Memphis Commission’s anti-blight initiative, several high-profile eyesores have been turned around, but challenges remain.
With the imminent opening of the Bass Pro Shops megastore at the Pyramid and a flurry of redevelopment happening in other areas of downtown, the Pinch District is ready to kickstart its renaissance on the north end with this weekend's MEMFix.
Memphis is one of 20 communities nationwide who will benefit from TechHire, a new initiative initiative designed to connect employees and employers.
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