Shopping · Memphis · United States
Shopping in Memphis
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Fallaner, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Memphis shopping is about music and local character: vintage records, Elvis memorabilia, Southern crafts and barbecue sauce rather than big designer names. Best souvenirs: Vinyl records, Elvis memorabilia and Barbecue sauce and dry rub.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 1
- Top souvenir
- Vinyl records
Where to shop
Beale Street
Music shops, souvenir stores and A. Schwab, a 19th-century general store selling everything from voodoo candles to overalls.
Cooper-Young
Record shops, bookshops and independent boutiques.
Crosstown Concourse
Shops, cafés and galleries inside the vast former Sears distribution building.
Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid
A giant outdoor-gear store in the city's landmark pyramid.
Markets
Memphis Farmers Market
A Saturday-morning market of local produce and food stalls at the pavilion near Central Station in season.
What to buy
Vinyl records
Original and reissued blues, soul and rockabilly records from local record shops.
Elvis memorabilia
Everything from posters to vintage-style clothing from the Graceland shops.
Barbecue sauce and dry rub
Bottles of sauce and packets of rub from local barbecue restaurants.
Stax and Sun Studio merchandise
Record-label T-shirts, posters and recordings from the studio and museum shops.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Street · Downtown and Beale Street
Beale Street
Three blocks of neon-lit clubs, bars and shops mark the street where W.C.
- Time needed
- An evening
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- After dark
- Free
- History
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Landmark · Pinch District
Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid
The 32-storey Memphis Pyramid, built as an arena in 1991, now houses a huge outdoor-gear store with an indoor cypress swamp, aquariums, a hotel and bowling.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Kids
- Shopping
- Rainy day
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Barbecue nachos and Banana pudding. Barbecue restaurants and at Grizzlies games at the FedExForum. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| South Main Arts District | $$$ | Galleries, restored warehouses and the National Civil Rights Museum |
| Midtown and Overton Square | $$ | Theatres, restaurants and the green space of Overton Park |
| Cooper-Young | $$ | Bungalows, independent restaurants and bars around the Cooper and Young intersection |
| East Memphis | $$ | Leafy suburbs with museums, gardens and the city's largest park |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in USD. Tipping is expected: about 18–22% at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, cash for bands and 15–20% for taxis and rideshares.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in February; the busiest months are the peak holidays.
- May: Memphis in May International Festival (throughout May)
- September: Cooper-Young Festival (usually mid-September)
- December: Christmas at Graceland (December)
Staying near the shops
$$ · Best for families, quiet stays and shopping
East Memphis
Leafy suburbs with museums, gardens and the city's largest park
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Memphis?
Vinyl records, Elvis memorabilia, Barbecue sauce and dry rub and Stax and Sun Studio merchandise.
+Where is the best shopping in Memphis?
Beale Street: Music shops, souvenir stores and A. Schwab, a 19th-century general store selling everything from voodoo candles to overalls.
+What are the best markets in Memphis?
Memphis Farmers Market.