Peabody Place: Come to downtown Memphis and Play!
Written: Dec 16 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Food and entertainment, one block from Beale Street, covered parking
Cons: It can get congested in the area when there's a game downtown.
The Bottom Line: "Peabody Place been instrumental in bringing the heart and soul of the Memphis region back downtown where it belongs."
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| diverpam's Full Review: Peabody Place |
It's wonderful to see downtown Memphis come back to life. As a child it was a great adventure to get dressed up and go to Memphis to spend the day shopping and going to a movie. Back then downtown Memphis was the place to be. Main street was lined with thriving department stores and specialty shops. It was a real treat to dine in the tea room at one of the large department stores with my grandmother dressed in her Sunday finest, including hat and gloves. Okay, that was a long time ago!
Then came malls and suburban sprawl. Downtown Memphis began to change dramatically. Business after business relocated or just closed its doors. Downtown almost became a ghost town.
But there were people who believed in downtown Memphis. Main street became a mall, a trolley system was implemented, the Pyramid was built, Beale Street began to thrive again, Autozone Park was built downtown to house the Memphis Redbirds, farm team for the St. Louis Cardinals. Peabody Place made its debut in 2001. Now construction is underway for a huge basketball arena for the Memphis Grizzlies.
It has been a long recovery process, but downtown Memphis is once again thriving, thanks in part to Peabody Place Entertainment and Retail Center. It is a striking reminder of how great it can be to shop, work, dine, or go to a movie in downtown Memphis. With more than 300,000 square feet of space, Peabody Place offers a variety of entertainment, shopping, and dining options.
This two-story shopping center is the centerpiece of 8 city blocks and 2 million square feet of retail stores, apartment complexes, restaurants, and bars. Peabody Place is connected with enclosed skywalks and trolley stations to much of downtown Memphis.
Visiting Peabody Place
Located just one block from Beale Street and directly across the street from the Peabody Hotel, there is ample parking in the Peabody Place garage.
The parking garage connects to Peabody Place with a skywalk. From the skywalk you can see Beale Street and Handy Park. You also see the colorful entrance to Tower Records and Videos.
Once inside, you find yourself on the second floor. It is very light and airy, designed with lots of skylights and open walkways.
There are fountains in the atrium of the complex, with a bridge where you can drop coins and make a wish. Or you can just sit on a bench and watch the shoppers stroll by.
Shopping
You'll find Gap, Gap Kids and Baby Gap on the first floor, as well as Ann Taylor Loft. You can stop in at Sunglass Hut and at least window shop at Victoria's Secret.
You can also check the large selection of music, videos and magazines at Tower Records & Video. It's located on the first floor and is easily accessed from outside, as well as inside the shopping center.
Be sure to check out the beautifully scented hand-made candles at Breaking the Mold. I love to browse in there among the unique and colorful candle selection.
You can also shop for a wide selection of fun gifts at DAPY. My husband and I played around in the store a little, checking out the various animated gifts and toys. There are plenty of cute gift ideas.
Hot Topic features trendy fashions for the younger crowd and Claire's has accessories for fashionable young ladies, as well.
You can go to Muvico and be overwhelmed with options at this 22-screen 6-story movie complex. You buy your tickets downstairs then take the escalator upstairs to the entrance. There are plenty of refreshments available, as well as a children's play area.
More Activities
Jillian's is an entertainment complex on two floors. You can play one of their 150 electronic games, shoot pool,listen to music, have a drink or a meal. There is also a dance club and a bowling alley. Expect to find this place packed on Friday and Saturday nights.
Other dining options on the first floor include Dan McGuiness Irish Pub (with live entertainment), Puccini and Pasta, as well as Isaac Hayes "Music-Food-Passion" where you can hear some great music and sample some delicious barbecue ribs. You might even get to meet Isaac Hayes.
Okay if you're really good and pass up all the above, you have to stop in Maggie Moo's Ice Cream & Treatery for delicious homemade ice cream, mixed fresh with your favorite ingredients while you watch. It could be worth the visit for Maggie Moo's alone. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is right next door, so your sweet tooth is bound to ache as you try to walk by.
Newest Attractions
The Putting Edge features an indoor glow-in-the-dark miniature golf course. If you like black light, then you'll love this place. Green fees start at $6 and they offer party packages for birthday parties or other special events.
The local CBS affiliate has 9am broadcasts from a small downstairs Channel 3 Studios where onlookers can get a "behind the scenes" view of a newscast. It's not the Today Show, but it is something unique for Memphis.
H2Oasis features water massage inside what looks like hyperbaric chambers. We were told that you wouldn't get wet and you only had to take off your shoes to get a water massage.
There were three units available and prices started at $10 for a 7-minute massage. I was tempted to try it, but decided to wait until I saw someone else doing it first. I then got distracted at some of the shops and never made it back to watch or try it out. I do want to check that out sometime.
Parking
The Peabody Place parking garage features several floors of indoor parking with covered walkways to Peabody Place and the Peabody Hotel.
New Life for Downtown Memphis
Jack Belz, Chairman and CEO of Belz enterprises - the Peabody Place developer - proudly proclaimed, "Peabody Place been instrumental in bringing the heart and soul of the Memphis region back downtown where it belongs."
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
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Epinions.com ID:
diverpam
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 - Top 200 |
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Member: Pam
Location: Collierville, TN
Reviews written: 263
Trusted by: 350 members
About Me:
~~~~So many oceans...so little time!~~~~
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