A Guide to Moving to Memphis TN
Are you moving to the Memphis TN area, or have you recently moved here? Located in Shelby County, this community produces a dense suburban feel for the residents and has many parks available to the public as well. Additionally, the city is host to a number of spectacular and innovative restaurants and breweries that serve to highlight the rich Southern cultural heritage of the area. Here at Storage Sense, being more than just a self storage facility is important to us, and below you can discover our mover’s guide to this beautiful city. Find out what is awaiting you!
Rent storage units in Memphis, TN today!
Explore the Economy
Downtown Memphis by rcogswell lic CC BY 2.0
Population – 651,073
Median Salary – $41,228
Median Home Price – $101,800
Located adjacent to the Mississippi River, Memphis, Tennessee is one of the largest metropolitan area’s in the Southeastern United States. Due to its location on the Mississippi River, the city is one of the largest shipping hubs in the Mid-South, a concept that dates back to the Civil War, when the port was one of the largest on the Mississippi River and served as a prominent shipping hub for the Confederacy. As transportation methods have developed, Memphis has continued to hold significance as an influential transportation hub, further developing its transportation infrastructure to incorporate the second largest cargo airport in the world, Memphis International Airport. Indeed, Memphis International Airport is responsible for a significant portion of the city’s economy, with a recent Economic Impact study showing:
- Direct expenditures (total passenger mile revenue) of nearly $510.9 million are estimated to have resulted in an impact of $436.2 million in indirect expenditures for a total impact of more than $947.1 million in output, while supporting a total of 5,666 jobs and total earnings of nearly $214.8 million.
- Over 900,000 domestic and international visitors were estimated to have come to Memphis via MEM. Direct expenditures of these visitors exceeded $383 million, generated $742 million in output and $221 million in earnings, and supported over 9,000 jobs.
Memphis’s presence as a significant shipping hub has ultimately influenced a number of prominent corporations in establishing their headquarters within the area. As of 2014, the city is home to three Fortune 500 companies, those being FedEx, International Paper, and Autozone. Additionally, the city is host to a number of smaller corporations, the more prominent being First Horizon National Corporation, Mueller Industries, Terminix, and Mid-America Apartments.
Moving forward, Memphis looks to continue its period of sustained economic growth, providing tax incentives to local businesses and corporations, while simultaneously the city will seek to enact a plan that will provide for the modernization of their flagship Memphis International Airport.
Are you considering moving to Memphis, TN this year? Consider Memphis, Tennessee’s thriving and robust economy prior to planning your visit this year.
Explore the Culture
Beale Street by pburka lic CC BY-SA 2.0
Historically, Memphis is known for its distinctive contributions to the culture of the American South and beyond, most particularly its contributions to the history, arts, and cuisine as associated with the culture of the Deep South. Music is at the city’s forefront, and the city is known as the home of founders and establishers of various American music genres that include Blues, Gospel, Hip-Hop, Rock n’ Roll, and “rockabilly” country music. Indeed, in the past the city has been host to artists such as Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, B.B. King, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Elvis Presley, with a number of these artist producing their pivotal records at the city’s historic recording studios that include Stax Records, Royal Studios, Ardent Studios, and the now defunct American Sound Studio.
Fittingly, Memphis is host to an annual month-long festival, Memphis in May, and this festival ultimately seeks to embody the city’s historic cultural values of diversity and innovation. This month-long civic festival honors a specific foreign country every year (its last being Ghana), and is divided into specific events that include the Beale Street Music Festival, International Week, the Great American River Run Half Marathon & 5k, and the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest.
Of the aforementioned, perhaps the festival’s biggest draw is its World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, a contest that is the largest pork barbecue-cooking contest in the world. Previously, the WCBCC was started in 1978 with a competition roster that included 26 teams; however, recent years have seen this competition surge in popularity, and the contest is now host to more than 250 teams from over 20 states, with an estimation of 100,00 people in attendance each year. The competition is divided into three official meat categories – rib, shoulder, and whole hog – run over the course of its four-day schedule, and following tradition contestants can only cook with wood and charcoal.
Are you considering moving to Memphis, TN this year? Consider taking some time to explore Memphis’s rich cultural heritage, including its history with Southern music and Deep South cuisine.
Explore the Excitement
Demographically, Memphis is a remarkably young city, and over 50% of its inhabitants are under the age of 30. The city ultimately caters to this younger crowd with its selection of live sports attractions, the most notable being the Memphis Grizzlies of the National Basketball Association. Playing out of the FedExForum located at the heart of Downtown Memphis, the Grizzlies were previously established as an expansion team in Vancouver during the NBA’s 95-96 season, making the eventual move to Memphis in 2001. Since their move, the Memphis Grizzlies have enjoyed immense popularity within the city, and marginal levels of success in the league, making runs in the playoffs a number of seasons throughout the 2000s.
Beyond the NBA, FedExForum is host to a number of additional live events that include hockey exhibition matches, boxing, WWE and MMA fights, and standup performances and live concerts. Additionally, the arena has been a significant venue for the city’s regional men’s college basketball team, the Memphis Tigers. Indeed, the facility has hosted the Conference USA men’s basketball tournament from 2005 to 2009, and was the site of the South regional semifinals and finals of the March Madness tournament in 2009, 2014, and 2017.
Fittingly for the South, college football has a large presence in Memphis, and the city is known for its University of Memphis Tigers team, an organization that plays out of the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium. Throughout the years Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium has also hosted several professional sports teams, including the NFL’s Houston Oilers in 1997, the Memphis Maniax of the XFL, and the Memphis Rogues of the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980.
Are you considering moving to Memphis, TN this year? Consider taking some time to explore the city’s exciting live sports scene this year during your visit.
Explore the Cuisine
Memphis Dry-Rub Barbecue by SFA lic CC BY 2.0
Previously mentioned, Memphis is rich in Southern tradition, and this influence extends to its culinary scene, notedly exemplified in the city’s definitive regional style of barbecue: Memphis-style Barbecue. This style is one of the four predominant regional styles of barbecue in the US, the other three being Carolina, Kansas City, and Texas, and is a style that is largely characterized by its two distinct styles of ribs – “dry” ribs and “wet” ribs. “Dry” ribs are covered with a dry rub that consists of salt and various spices, and are typically eaten without sauce, whereas “wet” ribs are brushed with sauce before, during, and after cooking.
Fittingly, Memphis is host to a number of celebrated and revered barbecue establishments that highlight this approach. We’ve listed a few of our area favorites, as well as some additional notable restaurants worth visiting below.
- Cozy Corner BBQ – This Memphis establishment has served up authentic Memphis-style barbecue since 1977, and specializes in barbecued ribs, sausages & poultry served in a no-nonsense setting.
- Commissary BBQ – For more than 25 years, The Commissary has been a staple of culture and cuisine in Germantown, Tennessee, an area on the outskirts of the Memphis metropolitan area. This restaurant specializes in homemade, slow cooked, Memphis-style BBQ, and the restaurant has been a favorite of celebrities that include Faith Hill, Tim McGraw, Jimmy Buffett, and Jack Nicklaus, among others.
- Bar-B-Q Shop – Known for their selection of acclaimed sauces & dry seasonings, this restaurant was previously voted “Best Ribs in America” by the Food Network. The restaurant itself is known for its generous portions, laid back atmosphere, and its selection of barbecue classics that include “dry” and “wet” ribs, and their famous slow-cooked pork shoulder.
- Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken – Originally founded over 60 years ago in the small community of Mason, Tennessee, Gus’s has since expanded to the Memphis area, and this Fried Chicken institution now features more than 30 locations across 14 states in the US. This acclaimed restaurant has previously been featured in Memphis Commercial Appeal, Saveur, and GQ magazine, and in January 2001 GQ named Gus’s Fried Chicken one of the top ten meals in the United States worth flying for.
- Soul Fish Cafe – This Memphis favorite serves up soul food, southern classics, and po’ boys and tacos in a casual and relaxed setting. Looking for a great catfish dish in Memphis? The Soul Fish Cafe is your number one stop!
- The Majestic Grille – Celebrating 15 years in business, The Majestic Grille is a popular Downtown restaurant that serves steaks & upscale American fare in a grand 1913 movie house showing silent films. This elegant and elevated setting is the ideal choice for a romantic night spent on the town.
Alternatively, outside of the city’s numerous celebrated restaurants, Memphis is host to a number of spectacular breweries and brewpubs. Be sure to check out some of these favorites!
- Wiseacre Brewing Co. – Wiseacre is a brewery committed to top quality, uniquely flavorful beer that appeals to passionate and progressive people. The brewery itself has won numerous accolades that include a Gold Medal at the Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer for their Bourbon Barrel Aged Barleywine, and a Gold Medal at the Great American Beer Festival for their American Stout.
- Ghost River Brewing Co. – Memphis’s very first craft brewery, Ghost River has been independently owned and operated since 2007. This brewery prides itself in creating fun, eclectic, exciting and delicious brews.
- Crosstown Brewing Co. – Crosstown Brewing Company is a scrappy, quirky, and driven brewpub that serves as a reflection of the city and its spirit. Subsequently, its taproom and beers represent a wide variety of influences, tastes and personalities. Be sure to check the brewery’s event calendar prior to planning your visit!
Are you considering moving to Memphis, TN this year? Be sure to visit one of the city’s many fantastic restaurants or breweries this year during your visit!
Storage Sense in Memphis TN
Whether or not you have moved or are completing your spring cleaning, Storage Sense can be your answer for storage. This secure facility is the ideal location for affordable self storage units in Memphis, TN, as well as the surrounding areas. Our fully secure and gated facility comes equipped with drive-up units and indoor temperature controlled units. Additionally, we have units for commercial use and keypad access at entry points. If you are ready to start storing today and know the unit type you would like, save yourself time and begin your process by renting online today. However, if you have questions or concerns, you can come by our facility or give us a call and our managers will happily assist you.
