Latoria Taylor has been named vice president of development for Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South. She oversees all fundraising and marketing efforts for the nonprofit, which is dedicated to teaching children “how business works” and inspiring them to own their economic success.

2. Construction Begins On Lamar Avenue Hotel - Saturday, August 27, 2016

Sean Radford Construction recently filed a $1.5 million building permit for construction of a new hotel at 2876 Lamar Ave.

3. Construction Begins On Lamar Avenue Hotel - Friday, August 26, 2016

Sean Radford Construction recently filed a $1.5 million building permit for construction of a new hotel at 2876 Lamar Ave.

4. Hotel Napoleon Joins Growing List of Unique Downtown Lodging - Tuesday, August 16, 2016

A Downtown property’s ample windows, turn-of-the century architecture and an interesting backstory attracted hotel developer Suna Investments to the historic Winchester Building at 179 Madison Ave.

5. New Owner to Revive South Main Eyesore - Thursday, March 3, 2016

The long-maligned building at 107 S. Main St. has a new owner who has signed on to long-term redevelopment and short term-beautification. Prau Investments LLC purchased the 34,200-square-foot building on Dec. 11 for $720,000.

6. Room Service - Monday, February 27, 2012

The good news for the local hotel industry is that last year notched the most rooms ever sold on a daily basis with 4.8 million – 115,628 more than 2010 and 76,780 more than the previous high set in 2007.

7. French Quarter’s New Owners Meet With Residents - Friday, February 3, 2012

Two new local owners are under contract to buy and convert the former French Quarter Suites Hotel in Midtown’s Overton Square district to a Comfort Suites in a $6 million project.

At a public meeting Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Memphis Heritage Inc.’s office, 2282 Madison Ave., partners Jay Kumar and Rishi Chopra revealed plans to purchase the vacant 103-room hotel at 2144 Madison Ave., at the northeast corner of Cooper Street and Madison from FQI LLC for $2.3 million and pump about $3.7 million into renovations.

8. Former French Quarter Hotel to Become Comfort Suites - Thursday, February 2, 2012

Two new local owners are under contract to convert the former French Quarter Suites Hotel in Midtown’s Overton Square district to a Comfort Suites in a $6 million project.

At a public meeting Wednesday, Feb. 1, at Memphis Heritage, 2282 Madison Ave., partners Jay Kumar and Rishi Chopra revealed their plans to purchase the vacant 103-room hotel at the northeast corner of Cooper Street and Madison Avenue from FQI LLC for $2.3 million and pump about $3.7 million into renovations.

9. From Yellow to Green - Thursday, September 29, 2011

Yellow is the color traditionally associated with taxicabs, but in Memphis another cab color – albeit a metaphorical one – is gaining ground.

Local cab companies Yellow Cab and Checker Cab – both of which are sister companies – in addition to Metro/Advantage Cab Co. have all officially gone green, with new environmentally friendly rides having been added to each company’s fleet.

10. Kumar Beats Drum For Lamar Ave. Hotel - Thursday, September 10, 2009

Local cab company owner Jay Kumar has tweaked the site plan for an upscale motel he’s developing along the Lamar Avenue corridor in South Memphis.

11. Motel Developers Meet Different Fates With Council - Wednesday, August 27, 2008

As a whole, the Memphis City Council over the last several years usually has responded to development applications for new motels in the inner city with a mix of incredulity, skepticism and pointed questions for developers.

12. Kumar’s Proposed Lamar Ave. Motel Gets Nod at Last - Friday, June 20, 2008

Two years ago, developer Jay Kumar began his effort to build a new upscale motel off Lamar Avenue. He finally got the green light this week.

To reach that point, it took several meetings with elected officials and appearances before local government bodies. He frequently encountered rejection and resistance as he doggedly attempted to pitch his idea.

13. Lamar Ave. Hotel Developer Struggles for Approval - Friday, May 23, 2008

Local cab business owner Jay Kumar has tried for two years to build an upscale, 35-room motel along Lamar Avenue, a project for which he estimates spending $2.5 million. And because he temporarily failed to get the final approval from city officials that he needed this week, he’s still trying.

14. Kumar Works Toward Building Lamar Motel - Again - Thursday, March 13, 2008

Local cab business owner Jay Kumar is taking his application for a 35-room motel along Lamar Avenue back before the same government body this afternoon that said no to a different version of the plan almost two years ago.

15. Archived Article - Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Six acres north of
Lowrance Road

Loan Amount: $6.5 million

Loan Date: March 30, 2007