90 years ago this August, the Sears, Roebuck & Company catalog order plant and retail store opened in Memphis with great fanfare.
The 1.5 million square foot facility shut down in 1993, the result of population shifts and buying habits.
But after eight years and $200 million, the building that sat vacant for more than 20 years was transformed into Crosstown Concourse. A place described as a vertical village, scheduled its grand opening celebration on Saturday, August 19.
The effort resulted in what has been described as a vertical village, featuring apartments, restaurants, health and wellness facilities, and office space, breathing new life into the community.
“We’re not here to just sell burgers. we’re here to be part of something, not just Crosstown Concourse but Memphis,” said Charlie Cage, general manager at Farm Burger. The restaurant held their grand opening Monday and became one of the newest additions to Crosstown Concourse.
Farm Burger, located off the building’s central atrium, has been known for its focus on sustainable agriculture and locally sourced ingredients and beer.
Monday’s grand opening served almost as a practice run for Farm Burger before the upcoming grand opening celebration of Crosstown Concourse.
“I hear there’s going to be thousands and thousands of people and music and food trucks. We are just absolutely excited,” said Cage.
“Go big or go home is what we’ve said. It’s a big building and it’s eight years in the making,” said Todd Richardson, co-leader of Crosstown Concourse.
Richardson said there continues to be plenty of preparation for the celebration’s expected crowd of 8,000 – 10,000.
“We were told over and over again just tear it down just tear it down don’t waste your time. And here we are eight years later almost entirely leased,” said Richardson.
The grand opening will showcase the building’s diversity of tenants from restaurants to education and health wellness facilities and more.
But Richardson said it is also about the spirit behind Crosstown.
“It’s really about celebrating the creativity and tenacity of this city about this project to get done in the first place,” said Richardson.
The Crosstown Concourse opening day celebration is a free event set for Saturday, August 19.
It will go from 3:00 to 9 p.m.
For the full schedule of events go to localmemphis.com and click on the “Find It” tab.
