New businesses in Memphis

Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Rebuilt each month from the Downtown Memphis Commission’s news, City of Memphis news releases and the Shelby County Clerk’s Business Tax Division forms. Tell us about an opening, a ribbon cutting or a move through our contact page.

The newest openings in Memphis this fall are downtown. Gussied Up, a nighttime bar and restaurant, is coming to 655 Marshall Ave. in the Edge District, and Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid relaunched its restaurants, including Wahlburgers Wild, on Sept. 8. On South Main, the Downtown Memphis Commission walked about 400 would-be tenants through 11 vacant storefronts. To open a business in Memphis, start with the Shelby County Clerk’s Business Tax Division, which takes first-time license applications online.

Who to call

• Business license (first-time): Shelby County Clerk, Business Tax Division; forms and online application
• Beer, liquor-by-the-ounce, special event and vehicle-for-hire permits: City of Memphis Permits Office, 901-636-6711
• Building permits and zoning: Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development, 901-222-8300 (permits), 901-636-7384 (zoning)
• Food service permit: Shelby County Health Department, 901-222-9158
• Downtown space and incentives: Downtown Memphis Commission, 901-575-0540, 114 N. Main St.

Opening and reopening

• Gussied Up, 655 Marshall Ave. (Edge District): a new nighttime bar and restaurant that will soon open as the other half of Hard Times Deli, the sandwich shop in the same building. The two share an owner group, Harrison Downing, Cole Jeanes and Schuyler O’Brien, and a kitchen, but keep different hours, the Downtown Memphis Commission reported on Oct. 9.
• Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid, 1 Bass Pro Drive: Big Cypress Lodge and Wahlburgers held a first-look event on Sept. 8 for renovated dining outlets, including The Lookout and a new menu at Wahlburgers Wild, according to the commission.
• The Lobbyist, 272 S. Main St. (Hotel Chisca): the restaurant finished a first phase of a more than $200,000 renovation, a roof and steel beams over its patio, and is seeking a commission grant to make the patio a year-round space, the commission said.

Space for new businesses

On Sept. 17, the Downtown Memphis Commission’s Property Crawl drew about 400 people to tour 11 vacant spaces on South Main Street between Talbot Avenue and G.E. Patterson Avenue. Small business owners, investors and entrepreneurs were invited. The commission keeps a downtown commercial listing and lists its grants and incentives.

How to open a business in Memphis

1. Business license. The Shelby County Clerk’s Business Tax Division posts the Business License Application and a Steps to Starting a Business sheet. Its online application is for new businesses applying for their first license; do not file a new one to renew.
2. Zoning and building permits. Check your site’s zoning and pull permits through the Develop901 Citizen Portal; see our permits and zoning guide.
3. City permits. Beer, liquor-by-the-ounce, dance, special event and vehicle-for-hire permits come from the city’s Permits Office, 2714 Union Ave. Extended, Suite 100.
4. Food businesses. Restaurants and food trucks need a county food service permit and inspections; see our restaurant inspections guide.

What this means for you

• Downtown is where the openings are this month: the Edge District and the Pyramid.
• Thinking of opening on South Main? The commission’s listing and grants are the place to start.
• Tell us about your opening and we will include it next month.

More guides: who to call at City Hall and things to do this month.

Frequently asked questions

What new businesses are opening in Memphis in October 2026?

Gussied Up, a nighttime bar and restaurant, is set to open alongside Hard Times Deli at 655 Marshall Ave. in the Edge District, and the dining outlets at Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid reopened in September with a relaunched Wahlburgers Wild.

How do I get a business license in Memphis?

New businesses apply for a first business license through the Shelby County Clerk’s Business Tax Division, which posts the application and a Steps to Starting a Business sheet on its forms page. Do not file a new application to renew an existing license.

Where can I find empty retail space downtown Memphis?

The Downtown Memphis Commission keeps a downtown commercial listing and in September 2026 led about 400 people on a property crawl of 11 vacant South Main spaces between Talbot and G.E. Patterson avenues.

Do new Memphis restaurants need a health permit?

Yes. The Shelby County Health Department issues food service permits and inspects restaurants; call its food safety program at 901-222-9158.