In Memphis, the mom-and-pop corner store is now a nostalgic relic of a time
when residents rode the streetcar or walked to work and did some grocery
shopping every day at the store just up the street or around the corner. Not
every neighborhood had corner stores; they were usually in lower- and middle-
income suburbs developed before World War I. Idlewild, Rozelle-Annesdale,
Cooper-Young, Lenox, and Tucker-Jefferson in Midtown and many older
neighborhoods in North and South Memphis still have a good collection of these
small commercial buildings.
These stores were pretty much legislated out of existence for suburbs
developed after Memphis adopted its first building ordinance in 1909; their
demise was assured with the adoption of the city’s first uniform zoning code
in 1921. The stores that remain were “grandfathered” into their
surrounding residential zoning as “non-conforming uses.” Some of the
remaining buildings have been converted to residences and some still take
advantage of their “non-conforming” status to serve as artist’s
studios, offices, or retail shops.
The cast-stone building at the corner of Meda and Walker in Cooper-Young
was a neighborhood market that opened around 1905. A two-bedroom apartment
connected to the store provided lodging for the storekeeper. Over the years,
the building suffered from a serious lack of maintenance, and the store closed
about two years ago. A total rehab of the property has resulted in a
distinctive residence with a huge, loft-like open space for living and dining
areas, a separate kitchen and laundry area, and three rooms and two baths up a
short run of stairs. The former store area has a 12-foot-high plank ceiling,
and the new, exposed ductwork contributes to the loft look. One end of the
room is all glass — two big, square windows and double doors. A jaunty,
striped awning would dress up the facade a bit and screen the interior from
the afternoon sun.
The kitchen has new white cabinets with granite-like, plastic-laminate
countertops, and a south-facing window provides good light. There’s room for a
small table and a couple of chairs if someone wanted a variety of dining
areas. Since the property’s front yard is the sidewalk, installing French
doors in the kitchen to give a view of the fenced backyard would enhance the
residential feel of the site.
The former apartment three steps above the store area now has a master
suite at the rear, with a full bath and walk-in closet, and a large front
bedroom. A small middle room has a fireplace and would be a pleasant library
or home office. The rehabilitation work was extensive and the building is
ready for occupancy, but a new owner could add some Midtown touches, such as a
mantel and wall-bracket lights for the fireplace and five-panel wooden doors
throughout.
Because this building has not been used for commercial purposes for more
than a year, zoning issues would probably have to be considered if a retail or
office use were proposed. But whether it has a commercial or residential use,
this once-neglected corner in Cooper-Young now has an active future in store.
1016 Meda Street
1,250 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, $138,500
Realtor: Coleman-Etter Fontaine, Agent: Clay Templeton, 767-
4100
www.cef-realtors.com
