Black Lodge owners have announced they will close the venue, citing “exorbitant rent” and “crippling debt” as reasons for the move.
Black Lodge opened on Cleveland in the Crosstown area in 2019. That move came after it closed its original location in Cooper-Young in 2014. That location opened in 2000.
The original location was, primarily, a video-rental store, housing a collection of more than 30,000 VHS tapes, DVDs, and more, according to a post on the Crosstown Concourse website. The new location rented movies but it was also a restaurant, bar, and a venue for live music, and events.
The owners announced the move to close in a Facebook post Tuesday evening.
Here’s the post in full:
”Dear Black Lodge Community,
“With heavy hearts, we must announce that Black Lodge is closing its doors after five unforgettable years. Your unwavering support, especially through the challenges of a global pandemic, has made this journey more magical than we ever could have imagined. Together, we created something truly special — a place where friends, art, music, and memories were made.
“Despite our modest financial backing, we poured our blood, sweat, and tears into building a venue that stood out in this city.
“Unfortunately, the weight of exorbitant rent and the crippling debt we incurred during Covid-19 have made it impossible to continue.
“We’ve fought hard, but the reality of a struggling economy means that nights out have become a luxury that many can no longer afford.
“For those still interested in Lodge’s movie library and rentals, the video store will be moving to a new location. We’ll be announcing about its new home soon.
“As we close this chapter on the venue, we hope that the memories you’ve made at Black Lodge will live on. Thank you for being part of our story. We will be open this weekend, so if you’d like to come say goodbye and party one last time, come on by!
“If you have any amazing photos or videos of your experiences at Black Lodge please post them in the comments.
Longtime environmentalist Scott Banbury posted a video to Facebook this week showing “the un-permitted turbines currently running at Elon Musk’s xAI facility in Memphis, spewing low-level ozone-forming emissions into our air that is already out of attainment [of national air quality standards].”
Social Bikin’
Posted to Reddit by u/ChillinDylan901
The Memphis Social Bicycle Club meets every Thursday at 7 p.m. at Veterans Plaza in Overton Park, according to Reddit user ChillinDylan901. “The only important part is to make it to our destination before they run out of beer!” the poster said.
‘Insanely rampant’
Posted to YouTube by Versed
Video essayist Versed compared the Memphis and Nashville economies in a YouTube video in July. The GDP of the cities were both around $65 billion in 2000, he said. Nashville exploded to $136 billion in 2023 versus Memphis’ $69 billion that year. Memphis’ “insanely rampant” crime and a consolidated Nashville government were two reasons given for the difference.
He also mysteriously shows a shot of the Hennepin Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis and pronounces it “Appalakkian Mountains.” So … y’know.
Sounds like Baron Von Opperbean is traveling through time in his new adventure and he needs your junk to get there … or then.
Baron Von Opperbean and the River of Time is a massive undertaking at Mud Island, set to transform the old Mississippi River Museum into a new immersive experience. The installation will combine “an adventure-play labyrinth, fantastical stories, interactive games, community spaces, special events, food and beverage, and more.”
And that labyrinth needs junk. The project’s creators are asking for unused materials you may have around the house — e-junk, architectural elements, furniture, tools, construction materials — to help create the new exhibit.
“Baron summons your discarded treasures to forge an epic, dimension-hopping experience.”
Baron Von Opperbean
“Baron summons your discarded treasures to forge an epic, dimension-hopping experience,” reads a Facebook post. “E-waste, old furniture, forgotten relics — all fuel for extraordinary art across time and space.” The BVO crew is also looking for paper, fabric, foam, electronics, auto parts, playground equipment, tools, and more.
Taxes for Shelby County homeowners could surge in the wake of the 2025 reappraisal, warned a local official.
Melvin Burgess, Shelby County’s assessor of property, issued a warning Monday of “an anticipated substantial increase in property taxes” ahead of next year’s scheduled countywide reappraisal.
Home values here haven’t been appraised since 2021. Burgess said recent property sales data and escalating property values since then suggest “a significant increase” in tax assessments for homeowners.
His office will conduct a series of public meetings to offer guidance on how to manage potential tax ramifications, explain the reappraisal process, and examine the factors raising property values here.
“We recognize that property reappraisal can be a complicated and bewildering process,” Burgess said in a statement. “Our goal is to ensure that all properties are appraised equitably and accurately, and we are dedicated to fostering transparency and open communication throughout this process.”
We’ve seen a lot of photos of Sputnik over the years but maybe never one so dramatic as Danielle Lewis posted to the Memphis In Pictures, Places and People Facebook group last week.
Kinfolk
Posted to GoFundMe by Josh Clark
Josh Clark started a GoFundMe for Kinfolk restaurant last week after a water main busted and flooded their shop.
“They are gonna be out of business for a little bit so they won’t have any cash flow to come in and help cover employee cost,” Clark said. “In a city where all of our favorite restaurants are closing down, let’s show our support to our favorite spot.”
As of late last week, the GoFundMe had raised $1,380 of its $2,500 goal.
Damn
Posted to Facebook by The Damn Weather of Memphis
The Damn Weather of Memphis can’t stop messing with AI. He recently asked it to write a weather forecast for the city.
“Yo, listen up, cuh!” it began. “It’s finna be hot as hell out here, mane. On god, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., it’s gon’ feel like 112 degrees. Not gonna lie, fam, it’s serious out here.”
Tourism in Tennessee hit a record $30.6 billion in direct visitor spending last year, according to new data from Tourism Economics and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD).
The figure is up 6.2 percent since 2022. The new record follows two consecutive years of double-digit growth. Overall, tourism in Tennessee has grown 125 percent over 2019 pre-pandemic levels.
“Tennessee tourism is soaring, leading to benefits to Tennesseans,” said Mark Ezell, commissioner of the TDTD. “Thanks to our destination marketing organizations across the state, in addition to our leisure and hospitality businesses in this amazing accomplishment.”
Total visitors to Tennessee topped 144 million last year. That is up 3 million people since 2022. This was pushed by growth in more day visits to the state.
Here are some other highlights from the new data:
• Tennessee tourism generated $30.6 billion in direct visitor spending last year, a 25 percent increase over two years.
• Tennessee visitors spent $84 million each day in 2023.
• Tourist spending generated $3.2 billion in direct state and local tax revenues in 2023.
• Without tourism, each Tennessee household would have to pay an additional $1,160 in taxes each year.
• The state of Tennessee collected $1.9 billion in tax revenues.
• City and county governments collected $1.25 billion in tax revenues.
• Visitor spending sustained 191,522 direct jobs, one of every 24 jobs in the state.
• Employment supported by visitor activity increased 3 percent in 2023, rebounding to 98 percent of pre-pandemic levels.
• Domestic visitor spending is 127 percent recovered to pre-pandemic (2019) levels.
• International visitor spending is 81.6 percent recovered to pre-pandemic (2019) levels.
“When tourism grows, Tennessee reaps the benefit with increased sales tax revenue,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “Tourism boosts local economies, supports businesses and jobs, funds public services, and creates a better quality of life for all Tennesseans. We welcome visitors from around the world to experience Tennessee’s music, scenic outdoor beauty, culture, and food from Mountain City to Memphis.”
More data — including county-level data — will be released next month, the TDT said.
Memphis Shelby County Schools will pay more than $15,000 to settle a suit with The Satanic Temple over what the group calls “serious First Amendment violations.”
Credit: The Satanic Temple
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) filed the lawsuit in March against the Shelby County Board of Education on behalf of The Satanic Temple over what the club said were discriminatory practices.
In November, the group sought to bring its After School Satan Club to Chimneyrock Elementary School.. The program is “not interested in converting children to Satanism” but only to focus on “free inquiry and rationalism,” the group said. The Satanic Temple says it “does not worship or believe in the existence of Satan” and will “only open a club if other religious groups are operating on campus.”
The Satanic Temple said the board rents space to another group for the Christian Good News Club. That club is run by Child Evangelism Fellowship, “a Bible-centered organization composed of born-again believers whose purpose is to evangelize boys and girls with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to establish (disciple) them in the Word of God and in a local church for Christian living…”
The After School Satan Club was allowed to meet at Chimneyrock on January 10th after what it described as a laborious process involving attempts to thwart its efforts. The group then submitted four new rental requests for monthly meetings at the school.
The school board assessed a “special security fee” of $2,045.60 on the Satanic Temple for “additional security.” It also levied a $250 fee for field lights. The Christian Good News Club were not charged any of these fees, according to Satanic Temple. But Satanic Temple paid the fees anyway. These fees are the crux of the FFRF lawsuit.
”The district’s discriminatory and illegal behavior left The Satanic Temple and FFRF with no choice but to sue,” the group said in a statement Friday. “The lawsuit sought fair treatment. The Temple didn’t want special privileges, just to be treated the same as all other organizations renting from the district. The lawsuit asked the court to order the district to approve The Satanic Temple’s reservation requests, treat the Temple fairly, and refund it the discriminatory fees the district forced it to pay.”
The board settled the lawsuit this week. MSCS will pay $14,845 in attorney fees and costs to the FFRF and its counsel. The board will also pay $1 for nominal damages to The Satanic Temple and $196.71 for various fees previously paid by the Temple in connection with rental reservations that had not yet been refunded.
MSCS also agreed not to discriminate against the organization with regard to its requests to rent and use school board property at Chimneyrock Elementary School. The Temple will be subject to the same rules and requirements as other nonprofit organizations looking to rent or use the school’s facilities. Also, the school board’s administration has promised not to hold any press conference with regard to the Temple’s lawful rental or use of school property.
The controversy gained national attention in December when the MSCS officials held a press conference in which school board members, administrators, and other leaders were surrounded by clergy members. They expressed “hostility” toward The Satanic Temple and ”validated community members’ hostility” toward the After School Satan Club’s then upcoming first meeting at Chimneyrock Elementary, the group said.
”We’re glad the district has mutually resolved this case and agreed to treat The Satanic Temple’s club fairly going forward,” said Patrick Elliott, FFRF’s legal director. “This settlement should send a message to public schools that the First Amendment applies to all organizations, including minority groups.”
The largest capital project in the history of Memphis International Airport (MEM) got officially underway Thursday.
The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority (MSCAA) board of commissioners approved the $653 million, multi-year modernization of the main terminal building in its monthly meeting. The dollar figure is an early estimate and will likely increase, airport officials said.
The funds will come from airport revenue bonds, grants from the state and federal government, passenger facility charges, and other airport funds. No Memphis or Shelby County tax dollars will fund the project.
The project got underway Thursday, as the board approved a construction contract to demolish Concourse A. The space was built in 1974 and has not been used since 2022, when the modernized B Concourse was opened. Once Concourse A has been demolished, the space may be used for a new rental car facility, office space for the MSCAA, and a new checked baggage inspection system.
The biggest piece of the project will be the modernization of the Terminal B arrival and departure areas. It will feature:
• Expanded open space in the baggage and ticketing areas, with improved passenger flow.
• Larger security screening checkpoint
• Relocation of escalators and stairs to the front of the terminal building
• Preservation of the original architectural design
• New in-line checked baggage inspection system for the Transportation Safety Agency
• Seismic upgrades
This part of the project is expected to get underway in 2026 and be complete in 2030.
In October, crews will begin work on creating a new commercial ground transportation lane on the baggage claim level of the short-term parking garage. Once completed, ground transportation services such as taxis, shuttles, limos, and ride share services (like Lyft and Uber) will be relocated to this new lane. This project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Once the commercial lane project is completed, the outer commercial drive on the ticketing and departures level will be closed for demolition and reconstruction. The outer drive replacement is expected to begin in 2025 and is expected to take about two years to complete. The project will result in a seismically enhanced, expanded departures-level drive. This phase of the project is necessary to facilitate the subsequent expansion of the terminal building by allowing the terminal to move outward into the existing inner-curb lane.
“MEM is definitely on the move,” said Terry Blue, MSCAA president and CEO. “More than two years ago, MEM reinvented the Memphis travel experience by introducing our modernized concourse. Now, we carry that momentum forward as we embark on our largest project ever, one that is designed to enhance our travelers’ experience and support our airport’s long-term growth.”
A Memphis company is bringing outdoor guide services to the Digital Age and just got a huge infusion of cash to do it.
AnyCreek connects outdoor enthusiasts with guides and outfitters for experiences such as hunting and fishing. The platform has already reached thousands of adventurers in 183 markets to discover, book, and pay for fishing and hunting experiences.
The company completed a $1.8 million round of seed funding last month. The money brings AnyCreek’s total funding to $3.3 million since its launch in 2022.
“With so many guides and outfitters offline, it can be challenging and intimidating to find great, local guides,” said Nick Larson, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at AnyCreek. “Our platform is stress-tested by the best guides and outfitters and makes discovering, booking, and paying for high-quality hunting and fishing trips easy and convenient for any adventurer.”
The platform offers guides and outfitters a set of tools — calendar management, payments, referrals and easy guide assignments, SEO, marketing, customer communication, CRM, and 24/7 support.
Credit: AnyCreek
It gives consumers an online experience similar to AirBnB. Type your destination (such as South Carolina) or your activity (such as fly fishing) into the website’s search bar. It returns a host of guides and outfitters working in the area who offer the experiences that you’re looking for, giving you prices, guide bios, and reviews.
Credit: AnyCreek
With its new round of funding, AnyCreek says it will continue to enhance its technology and expand its services into new markets.
””We believe that humans in nature represent the best of human nature, and we have a profound respect for the businesses facilitating this connection,” said Benjamin Lazarov, co-founder and CEO of AnyCreek. “It’s our mission to equip guides and outfitters with the latest technology to get more people outside. This funding will help us continue this momentum as we expand into additional markets and offerings.”
Follow the Facebook group called Through the Eyes of Black Memphis for some cool history and fun photos. Top contributor Don Johnson posted the photo above of Penny Hardaway stopping by the Nike store on Shelby Drive in the 1990s.
The city invited everyone to stay positive about, well, the city last week. An Instagram Reel features Memphis Mayor Paul Young, Al Kapone, Greater Memphis Chamber president and CEO Ted Townsend, and more sharing what they love most about Memphis.
If you need a shot of positivity, search #MemphisProud, #PositiveMemphis, and #CelebrateMemphis.
@Memphis
Posted to X by Memphis Depay
After years of saying we wouldn’t feature him just because of his name, here we are. Dutch footballer Memphis Depay, owner of the @Memphis X handle, helped push the Netherlands to the Euro 2024 semifinals with a win over Turkey last week.
