Spend a Day Shopping in Memphis

"May we all have the style of Elvis" - Bernard Lansky

No trip to Memphis is complete without visiting some of the city’s finest independent retailers. Check out this guide and spend a day shopping for everything from drums to dancing shoes:

Midtown
Goner Records (2152 Young Avenue) - Goner Records is more than a store – it’s one of Memphis’ most awesome labels. The label’s records (from artists like Harlan T. Bobo, No Bunny, Limes and Cococoma) are sold in the store, along with a huge selection of garage, soul and punk rock 45s and LPs. Goner is also one of the best places for Memphis-themed t-shirts

Burke’s Books (936 S. Cooper St.)- Burke’s in Cooper-Young is Memphis’ oldest independent bookstore. The small, well-curated shop stocks new and used books, magazines, postcards and gifts.

Flashback (2304 Central Avenue)- Vintage lovers will adore this “vintage department store” in Midtown. Flashback carries clothing, housewares, furniture and jewelry from bygone eras (as well as spot-on reproductions).

Maggie’s Pharm (13 Florence Street)- Local favorite Maggie's Pharm has been in Overton Square for more than 30 years. They sell handmade bath and body products, candles, spices, cooking and medicinal herbs, teas, coffees, books, greeting cards and hard-to-find bath and body product lines.

Memphis Drum Shop (878 S. Cooper St.)- The Memphis Drum Shop might be the best drum store on earth. The sprawling Cooper-Young shop carries drum kits, vintage drums, cymbals, hand drums and all kinds obscure percussion instruments. They also offer lessons and workshops for aspiring rock’n’rollers.
Downtown

Hoot + Louise (109 G. E. Patterson Avenue)- The newest boutique in the South Main Arts District carries vintage clothing, styles from small, lesser-known designers, jewelry and handmade housewares. Their locally screen-printed pillows, towels and prints will dress up any space.

Sache (525 S. Main)- All of Sache’s t-shirts are made in-house at the shop’s South Main location. Designer Eric Evans screen prints logos, renaissance designs and graffiti-inspired art on super soft jersey t-shirts. They’ve got t-shirts and tank tops for men, women and kids.

Trolley Stop Market (704 Madison Avenue) - The walls at Memphis’ favorite locavore restaurant are lined with plenty of handmade-in-Memphis goodies. They carry everything from homegrown produce to knitwear, water bottles, handmade soaps and pottery made by local designers.

St. Blues Guitars (645 Marshall Avenue) - Pick up a Bluesmaster guitar from St. Blues to take a piece of Memphis music home. All of their electric guitars are designed and finished in their downtown Memphis shop. If you want quality but can’t pay full price, check out the scratch and dent rack for instruments with minor defects that won’t affect the sound.

Lanksy Brothers (149 Union Ave) - If Elvis is your style icon, look no further than Lanksy’s - proprietor Bernard Lansky is legendary as the King’s favorite designer. Score suits, flashy shirts and the company’s signature blue suede shoes in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel. While you’re there, check out their sister shop, Lansky 126 - they carry edgier, trendier clothes for men and women.

East Memphis
Ms. Post Stationery (3092 Poplar Ave) - If you’re having a party, need to make a major announcement, just want to send some old-fashioned correspondence, Mrs. Post is the place to go for adorable stationery. All of their pieces are designed and printed locally for the shop owners’ brand, Lemon Tree Paper. They do custom work, too.

Spruce (5040 Sanderlin Ave #103)- This adorable home design store is run by an interior designer with a serious eye for style. She carries one-of-a-kind vintage jewelry, unique home decor items, children’s toys and modern furniture.

Village Toymaker (9155 Poplar Avenue) - This colorful children’s shop carries unique and educational toys, dress up clothes, puzzles and games. It’s the place to go for both hard-to-find European lines and basic playsets.

Baer’s Den (4615 Poplar #3)- The Baer’s den is a clothing store masquerading as the ultimate man cave. Owner Jeremy Baer has filled the two-story space with designer jeans, shirts, ultra-fine knits, shoes and outerwear that you can’t find anywhere else in town.

Crazy Beautiful (3536 Walker Avenue) - There’s a reason the shop has dominated the “Best Women’s Boutique” category in the Flyer’s Best of Memphis poll for the past three years. Their stock of trendy and retro-inspired clothing and shoes from independent designers make this shop one of the best places in town to find the perfect party dress.

Suburbs
Avenue Carriage Crossing (4674 Merchants Park Cir., Collierville)- The Avenue Carriage Crossing is mall arranged like an upscale urban shopping district. Walk outside between shops like the Gap, Sephora, Barnes and Noble, Banana Republic and several restaurants.

Shops of Saddle Creek (Poplar Avenue & W. Farmington St.) - This upscale shopping center in Germantown is home to the Apple store, Anthropologie, J. Crew, Strasbourg Children, Origins, Lucky Jeans and more. Find a parking spot and walk the wide sidewalks between the shops.

Dazzle (7730 Poplar Avenue) - Dazzle is an accessories emporium, stocked with reasonably-priced quality jewelry, scarves, sunglasses and bags. The shop’s huge selection caters to a wide range of tastes.

Paisley (112 North Main Street, Collierville) - This adorable locally-owned boutique is perfect for women looking for classic and unique clothes. Paisley carries hard-to-find designers, smaller labels as well as jewelry and accessories.