VOL. 127 | NO. 1 | Monday, January 2, 2012
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton Jr. plans to roll out a 100-day plan for goals for his administration now that he has started a full four-year term of office.
Food trucks prove viable real estate option for owners
The local food truck scene is proving to be a viable alternative for Downtown lunch-goers, with plenty of repeat customers.
Electrolux's Major Appliances Division has picked W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co. as general contractor for construction of its manufacturing center in southwest Memphis.
Trane U.S. Inc. has finalized its 625,875-square-foot industrial lease in Southeast Memphis, confirmed Brad Murchison with CB Richard Ellis Memphis. The residential and commercial heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems provider also has a location in Southaven.
Scottsboro, Ala.-based Associated Pharmacies Inc. has bought a roughly 59,000-square-foot warehouse at 5375 Mineral Wells Road from Renasant Bank for $1.2 million.
The first meeting of the Memphis City Council for 2012 offers some familiar issues and some new moves that point toward a break with the past in city operations.
The bank that controls the biggest chunk of customer deposits in Tennessee and is one of the top two in the Memphis area is likely to post a small profit for the quarter as well as the full calendar year when it reports earnings Jan. 24.
Just two and a half weeks before he goes on trial for racketeering, drug conspiracy and murder-for-hire charges, Clinton Lewis wants a new attorney.
The former Schnucks supermarket building at 975 Goodman Road in the Southaven Commons shopping center has been leased to Stepherson’s Superlo Foods.
GOVERNMENT AGENDA
The Memphis City Council will meet Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 3:30 p.m. in the council chambers in City Hall, 125 N. Main St. Click on the meeting icon for a full agenda.
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Scott Blake’s home office in a historic building at 671 Jefferson Ave. is clearly the abode of a man with a deep love of art, history and design.
REAL ESTATE RECAP
2881 Lamar Ave., Memphis, TN 38114, Loan Amount: $3.5 million -
The beleaguered Lamar Crossing Apartments recently changed hands again – this time landing under the ownership of a community development corporation that in recent years built affordable housing north of Chelsea Avenue.
LOCAL COLUMNISTS
Happy New Year! I hope you and your family enjoyed the holiday season and I wish you all the best for a wonderful 2012. Last week we discussed how a New Year’s resolution focused on recognizing and affirming the efforts of at least one person each day could have a profound impact on our community.
Sometimes a slight mental adjustment can make all the difference in the world. For example, how you choose to view the passage of time can lead to significant frustration or ongoing peace of mind.
THE MEMPHIS NEWS
Memphis puts finishing touches on historic year
If the grand sweep of 2011 could be captured on celluloid and presented to an audience on the big screen, all the components of a great film would be readily apparent.
2011 was another year where what had once glittered wasn’t always what was of value.
The Memphis Symphony Orchestra has made a point of playing with hip, up-and-coming, contemporary artists, but old favorites are still on the program as well.
New Year’s Eve! What a scary night! Not only because people have to stand around at midnight with a bunch of so-called friends and sing that dreary “Auld Lang Syne” and put each other’s eyes out with supersonically zooming champagne corks (see Memphis Grapevine for advice on avoiding this), but because this artificially imposed deadline for the ending of one year and the beginning of another sets the scene for trend-spotting galore.
New Year’s Eve and bitter chill it was. Oops, no, that was St. Agnes Eve; once an English teacher always an English teacher! Anyway, the point is bubbles, as in the bubbles that make Champagne and sparkling wine what they are.
STATEWIDE
NASHVILLE (AP) – Tennessee traffic fatalities declined sharply this year, reaching their lowest figure in 49 years.
NATIONAL BUSINESS
NEW YORK (AP) – After a customer backlash, Verizon Wireless on Friday dropped a plan to start charging $2 for every payment subscribers make over the phone or online with their credit or debit cards.
NEW YORK (AP) – For the first time, the top export of the United States, the world's biggest gas guzzler, is – wait for it – fuel.
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT
NASHVILLE (AP) – There are nine Republican presidential candidates on Tennessee's primary ballot, but four of them have no committed delegates to the party's nominating convention.
HONOLULU (AP) – President Barack Obama is delaying his request for another $1.2 trillion increase in the United States' debt limit at the request of congressional leaders.
All too often workers with 401(k) accounts are in the dark. They view their retirement plan as a benefit and are unaware they're paying for the privilege of investing for retirement.
HEALTH CARE
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Walgreen CEO Greg Wasson said Friday chances are probably "slim to none" that the drugstore operator will reach an agreement with pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts before their current contract ends Saturday.
NEW YORK (AP) – The last time Mark Stella went to the dentist he didn't need an insurance card. Instead, he pulled out a Groupon.
SPORTS
Vanderbilt linebacker Chris Marve will have his own cheering section for the Liberty Bowl. It will include about 100 family and friends, and he couldn't help everyone asking for tickets.
KNOXVILLE (AP) – Trae Golden, Tennessee's leading scorer, has undergone a surgical procedure to correct a minor nasal fracture.
KNOXVILLE (AP) – Tennessee will allow freshman wide receiver DeAnthony Arnett to transfer to a program to be closer to his ailing father, as long as that school is not one Tennessee plays or competes against for recruits.