Shopping South Main & the Riverfront
South Main Street
A place to shop in South Main & the Riverfront, budget-friendly ($) and worth about an hour. Best time to go: Midday.
Why go
Arts district of restored warehouses, galleries and shops along the Main Street trolley line.
It is one of 6 curated places we feature in South Main & the Riverfront, alongside 2 places to eat, 1 activity and 1 sight. 6 more of our picks sit within about half a mile in a straight line, so it pairs easily with Lorraine Motel and National Civil Rights Museum.
- Type
- Shopping · Cities
- Neighborhood
- South Main
- Price
- $
- Time needed
- 1 hr
- Best time
- Midday
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 3 beyond South Main & the Riverfront. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Lorraine Motel
Site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, preserved as part of the National Civil Rights Museum.
Sight · 0.1 mi straight-line - 2National Civil Rights Museum
Museum built around the Lorraine Motel, where Dr. King was assassinated in 1968.
Sight · Memphis · 0.1 mi straight-line - 3Central BBQ
Local favorite for pulled pork, dry-rub ribs and smoked wings across from the museum.
Food · Memphis · 0.1 mi straight-line - 4Arcade Restaurant
Memphis's oldest cafe, a 1919 diner on South Main known for sweet potato pancakes and its neon sign.
Food · 0.2 mi straight-line - 5Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
Downtown outpost of the Mason, Tennessee, spicy fried chicken shop, a short walk from South Main.
Food · 0.2 mi straight-line - 6Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken
Spicy, crackly fried chicken in a casual downtown dining room.
Food · Memphis · 0.2 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
South Main Street is a stop on our Memphis New Year's Eve route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More to do in South Main & the Riverfront
South Main Street is our only shopping pick in South Main & the Riverfront; here is what else we recommend there. See the full South Main & the Riverfront guide.
When to go: weather by month, based on Memphis
Our climate figures for South Main & the Riverfront come from nearby Memphis. Average daily highs in Memphis run from 48°F in January to 93°F in August; May is usually the wettest month. For South Main Street itself, we suggest: Midday.
Modelled monthly averages for Memphis from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Memphis weather by month (covers South Main & the Riverfront).
Getting there
Map links open a live search for South Main Street, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Coordinates
- 35.13532, -90.05835
- Destination
- South Main & the Riverfront, Tennessee
South Main Street: quick answers
How much time do you need at South Main Street?
Plan on about an hour at South Main Street. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit South Main Street?
Our pick: Midday. Insider tip: Many galleries keep short hours on Jan 1, so treat it as a walk rather than a shopping trip.
Which TripsCircle routes include South Main Street?
South Main Street appears on Memphis New Year's Eve, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add South Main Street to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to South Main & the Riverfront.
Plan South Main & the Riverfront
- South Main & the Riverfront travel guide 6 places
- Memphis weather (covers South Main & the Riverfront) weather by month
Lists & regions
Also in South Main & the Riverfront
- Big River Crossing Activity
- Central Station Hotel Stay
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.