The Edge District is getting a new bar and restaurant as Gussied Up celebrated its arrival with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 14 hosted in partnership with the Downtown Memphis Commission.
Created by Harrison Downing, Cole Jeanes and Schuyler O’Brien, Gussied Up is located at 655 Marshall Ave., Suite 103, next door to Hard Times Deli, which is also owned by the trio.
And according to co-owner Jeanes, the official opening can’t happen soon enough.
“We’re all very excited,” he said. “It’s been a long time coming. We’ve been working on this for little over a year. So we’re really happy to finally be at this stage and have everyone enjoy what we’ve come up with.”
The
new venture builds on the owners’ existing presence in the Edge District, bringing a fun, boozy nighttime destination to the area.
The menu at Gussied Up pairs classic bar fare with a creative twist. Offerings include smash burgers from the owners’ Secret Smash Society pop-up, along with wings, street tacos and nachos.
But Jeanes’ go-to menu item?
“You’re gonna laugh, but I love the shrimp. I mean, I do love the smash burger. If it was a question — and I had to save somebody’s life with it — Harrison and Schuyler would definitely say the shrimp is my favorite.”
The neighborhood bar will also offer a large selection of cocktails, wines and specialty frozen drinks including rum-based Fernet (an Italian liqueur) and Coke, as well as frozen margaritas featuring Jaguar Tequila.
Getting the new neighborhood spot ready for its debut also involved improvements to the space, with support from the Downtown Memphis Commission.
Renovations were supported through a Retail Tenant Improvement Grant from the Center City Development Corporation, an affiliate board of the commission, helping prepare the space for its opening.
Now, with preparations nearly complete, the team is counting down to opening day. According to Jeanes, that will happen Saturday, Oct. 24.
“We have friends and family on Friday night. And then our grand opening will be next week, actually next weekend. On Saturday.”
And what about the name? Where did it come from?
“Harrison's mom used to say, 'I'm going out and getting gussied up,'” Jeanes explained. “And we were just trying to create a neighborhood bar that was in the space in the back that we weren't using and just gussied it up a bit.”
Brian Strickland is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. Contact him at brian.strickland@commercialappeal.com.
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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Gussied Up celebrates arrival in Edge District ahead of opening
