One of Downtown Memphis' most notable restaurants, The Lobbyist,will be getting a slight makeover with the addition of a dining patio.
The Center City Development Corp., an affiliate board of the Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC), approved Sept. 16 an exterior improvement grant for The Lobbyist. The grant is worth $34,893.
The Lobbyist, 272 S. Main St., on the ground floor of The Chisca on Main apartment community and once a historic hotel, opened in January 2023. The grant funds will help offset renovation costs for an improved outdoor patio space at The Lobbyist.
The restaurant will add a covered walkway area between the indoor restaurant site and the existing outdoor patio space (the walkway leads into The Chisca apartment building's main entrance).
Additionally, motorized patio screens and improved lighting will be added around the patio area. The improvements are designed to allow The Lobbyist to activate the patio space year-round.
The estimated total cost of construction is $69,786. Construction will begin in late 2026, according to the DMC staff report.
The restaurant made The Commercial Appeallist for one of the best "date night" spots in town,while its dishes have been revered.
Its signature corn mash made The New York Times list of "The 26 Best Dishes We Ate Across the U.S. in 2024," thanks to the creativity of chef Jimmy Gentry.
Neil Strebig is business and development reporter with The Commercial Appeal.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: What's that happening at The Lobbyist in Downtown Memphis?
