New attractions coming soon
It’s not difficult to understand why a new business owner would want to buy an old warehouse in the Broad Avenue Arts District.
Over the past decade, the neighborhood has seen a revival with anchors like Wiseacre Brewing, T Clifton art gallery and City & State coffee shop and retail store bringing waves of visitors to the street.
A new skate shop recently opened in the neighborhood while a board game lounge and pinball pub plan to open in the first half of 2019.
For business partners Mark Horrocks and Matthew Wrage, their idea for Society Skatepark & Coffee started with the location — 583 Scott St., a warehouse off Scott Street between Broad Avenue and Summer Avenue.
Shortly after that, the two heard about an Atlanta skate park shutting down and selling off its equipment.
“We went down to Atlanta and spent five days dismantling it and put it on six semis and brought it back to Memphis,” Horrocks said.
Remodeling started in February
Desiree Stennett Memphis Commercial Appeal USA TODAY NETWORK - TENNESSEE
and after weeks of code enforcement delays the skate park hosted its grand opening Dec. 22.
The skate park — 9,000 square feet with a 10-foot vertical halfpipe — is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 to 10 p.m. Sundays. Skateboarding is allowed every day, and BMX bikers are allowed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Guests can purchase a day pass for $12 or a membership for $75 per month. Minors are required to come with a parent for their first visit to sign waivers.
“A skate park is a community gathering place come rain or shine, hot or cold,” said Horrocks, who grew up skateboarding and now prefers longboarding. “This definitely was a missing niche for our community. Once we announced our plans, the response has been tremendous.”
In addition to the skate park, there will also be a coffee shop and a skate shop on site.
901 Games to bring play-and-buy shop
By late January, 901 Games, a board game lounge and retail shop, is expected to join the neighborhood, about five blocks east on Broad between North Merton Street and North Hollywood Street.
Shannon Merritt, who is also coowner of 901 Comics, will open the board game lounge with his wife, Erin Buck.
Merritt got the idea while traveling around the southeastern part of the country. He kept seeing similar lounges that allowed people to try out board games then buy them if they wanted. He came back home and pitched the idea to his then fiance, and the two started planning both a business and a wedding at the same time.
“You can bring a date and drink a couple beers and play games,” Merritt said.