They made music that inspired legions of fans. Rock 'n' roll founding fathers Chuck Berry and Fats Domino, rockers Tom Petty and Gregg Allman, grunge icon Chris Cornell, country superstar Glen Campbell and jazz great Al Jarreau were among the notable figures who died in 2017, leaving a void in virtually every genre of music.

2. Cai to Lead Memphis Chamber’s International Business Efforts - Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Jinliang (Jin) Cai has joined the Greater Memphis Chamber as vice president of international business development. In that role, Cai will be directing efforts both to grow foreign direct investment in Memphis and Shelby County and to increase the volume of local exports to foreign markets. 

3. Del-Nat Sells Warehouse, Newby’s Makes A Comeback - Friday, June 12, 2015

Del-Nat Tire Co. has unloaded a 500,000-square-foot warehouse in Southwest Memphis.

Sunhill Holdings LLC acquired the warehouse at 2365 Texas Drive for $6 million from Del-Nat Realty.

4. Conn’s Inc. to Open Second Store in Memphis - Friday, December 19, 2014

Specialty retailer Conn’s Inc. will open a second store in Memphis, the second of possibly three stores the Texas-based home appliances and furnishings chain plans to open in Tennessee.

5. FedEx Supply Chain Expansion Wins Tax Freeze - Thursday, November 27, 2014

FedEx Supply Chain Services appears poised to move ahead with an expansion in Memphis.

The third-party logistics arm of FedEx, recently won a five-year tax freeze for a $6.8 million expansion to its 454,713-square-foot warehouse at 5050 E. Holmes Road.

6. Mixed-Use Project Looms for Former Lakeland Mall - Friday, October 31, 2014

Get used to the name Lake District. You’ll probably be hearing more about it in the near future. Lake District is the new name for the revamped project being planned at the old Lakeland Factory Outlet Mall site.

7. TGI Fridays Franchisee Buys 3 Local Restaurants - Friday, October 10, 2014

A New Orleans-based restaurant group has acquired three local TGI Fridays restaurants.

Southeast Restaurant Group bought the restaurants at 8325 U.S. 64, 7733 Winchester Road and 176 Goodman Road in Southaven, part of a broader 20-restaurant deal.

8. Poplar Plaza to Undergo Renovation - Friday, July 4, 2014

The venerable Poplar Plaza shopping center at Poplar Avenue and Highland Street near the University of Memphis is slated to undergo a second facelift.

Finard Properties LLC is expected to soon launch extensive exterior improvements to the massive retail center at Poplar and Highland, starting with a fresh coat of paint.

9. Gestalt Schools Signs Lease in Hickory Hill - Friday, June 20, 2014

A charter school operator has inked a lease for space on Winchester Road in Hickory Hill.

Gestalt Community Schools has leased 57,000 square feet of space at 5360 Winchester Road inside the Mendenhall Square shopping center.

10. Conn’s Plans Home Store in Memphis - Friday, April 25, 2014

Texas-based retailer Conn’s will be opening a store in Southeast Memphis, one of possibly three stores the home appliances and furnishings chain plans to open in Tennessee.

The retailer will open a Conn’s HomePlus in May in 42,296 square feet at the Cross Creek Shopping Center at Riverdale and Tenn. 385 that Babies “R” Us vacated.

11. Lakecrest II Sells for $4.6 Million - Friday, March 7, 2014

The Lakecrest II office building in East Memphis has changed hands again.

Southland Primacy LLC acquired the 129,104-square-foot office building at 6055 Primacy Parkway from Jefferson-Pilot Investments Inc. Feb. 28 for $4.6 million.

12. Call Center ‘Gratifying’ for Local Office Sector - Friday, January 24, 2014

Conduit Global’s announcement this week that it is locating a call center in Shelby County that will employ 1,000 people was a breath of fresh air for local office real estate professionals.

13. Midtown Medical Office Building Sells for $2.6 Million - Friday, January 10, 2014

A partnership of two Utah-based companies has acquired a medical office building on Union Avenue near Overton Square.

Trivalis LLC and Novalis LLC, both based in Utah, acquired the medical office building built in 1967 at 2076 Union Ave., next door to the IHOP restaurant, for $2.6 million. The property, at the corner of Union Avenue and Florence Street, was appraised at $1.3 million in 2013, according to the Shelby County Assessor of Property’s office. The sellers, Missouri-based Roundabout Real Estate LLC and Visual Projects LLC, acquired the property in 2008 for $2 million.

14. Bioventus Inks Deal for 40,000 Square Feet - Thursday, November 22, 2012

A Durham, N.C.-based biologics company is relocating its Memphis presence, signifying a boon to the Northeast office submarket.

Bioventus LLC has inked 38,880 square feet of office and manufacturing space in Goodlett Farms Business Campus, 1900 Charles Bryan Road, in Cordova.

15. Company Buys 11 Acres On Thousand Oaks - Friday, September 30, 2011

NAI Saig Co. has negotiated a pair of investment sales in recent weeks. Corolla Management Corp. has purchased two sites totaling 10.6 acres on Thousand Oaks Cove from Bank of Bartlett for $925,000.

16. Tiger Gift Shop Moves To Larger Space - Friday, August 5, 2011

Tiger Gift Shop is relocating a few doors down from its current location on the Highland Strip near the University of Memphis.

The university retailer, now at 549 S. Highland St., has signed a new 5,000-square-foot lease at 531 S. Highland, in the space formerly occupied by From One Greek to Another.

17. LensRentals.com Moves Into Trinity Ridge - Friday, July 22, 2011

A local camera- and lens-rental company is expanding into a significant amount of space in the already tight Northeast submarket.

LensRentals.com has signed a 16,800-square-foot lease in Cordova’s Trinity Ridge Business Center, 7730 A Trinity Road, suite 110.

18. Cable Service Provider Signs New Lease - Friday, June 3, 2011

A Madison, Tenn.-based cable service provider is taking advantage of lower rates in a competitive leasing environment.

FTS USA has signed a 4,002-square-foot lease in East Pointe Business Center, 3915 S. Mendenhall Road.

19. Family Dollar Signs 2 Leases for Stores - Friday, February 11, 2011

Family Dollar has signed a 12,000-square-foot lease at 2754 Lamar Ave. Shawn Massey, partner with The Shopping Center Group LLC, represented the tenant. Harold Blockman with Keller Williams Realty Inc. represented the landlord, Chong K and Dul S. Pae.

20. Yogurt Craze Continues with TCBY Store - Friday, January 21, 2011

A TCBY franchise has signed a 1,225-square-foot lease in University Center, 3445 Poplar Ave., at the southwest corner of Poplar and Highland Street.

21. Menlo Deal Tops Noteworthy Leases - Thursday, December 30, 2010

The Daily News in September launched a new weekly column called “Inked” to spotlight Memphis’ commercial leasing landscape.

Despite tough times, local commercial real estate firms were able to ink plenty of deals in the past four months. Here’s a rundown of some of the most noteworthy commercial leases since Inked’s debut:

22. Menlo Bolsters Local Presence With New Lease - Friday, November 26, 2010

Menlo Worldwide Logistics LLC is expanding its Memphis-area operations with a new 181,000-square-foot lease in ProLogis Park DeSoto in Olive Branch.

23. Schlimmer Joins CBU - Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Jim Schlimmer has joined Christian Brothers University as vice president of enrollment.

Hometown: High Point, N.C.
Education: Bachelor of arts degree, Luther College in Decorah, Iowa; Master of science in Education degree, Higher Education Administration, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
Work Experience: Francis Marion University, director of admissions, 2008 to 2010; Louisburg College, vice president for enrollment, 2007 to 2008; Luther College, vice president for enrollment, 2006 to 2007; High Point University, dean of enrollment management, 1982 to 2006.
Family: Dr. Alexa Schlimmer, associate professor of fine arts, High Point University; Philip Schlimmer, son, second-year law student at Ohio Northern University; Kathryn Schlimmer, senior, Roanoke College, Salem, Va.
Last book read: “The World is Flat”
Favorite music: Rock ‘n’ roll
Sports team: Carolina Panthers
Activities you enjoy outside of work: I run a lawn service with our two children – A&J Lawn Service
What talent do you wish you had? I wish I could sing.
Who has had the greatest influence on you? Enrollment mentor John Klockentager
What drew you to CBU? The opportunity to be on an active enrollment management team. I was impressed with the commitments the school had made in the enrollment area. Most of all, I was pleased to return to a church-related university.
What will your role as vice president of enrollment management entail? I am responsible for leading enrollment management initiatives and overseeing the undergraduate enrollment office, the office of financial aid and the career services office.
What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishments? Creating an atmosphere for successful recruitment at High Point University that also attracted students to on-campus living.
What do you most enjoy about your work? I enjoy the opportunity to set up enrollment systems that engage students with the university. I also enjoy monitoring the success of the admissions recruitment cycle from the initial contact to the student’s first day on campus.

24. Calif. Investor Buys Midtown Apartments - Friday, November 12, 2010

A vintage apartment complex in Midtown is under new ownership.

Gabrion Properties LLC closed on approximately 20,000 total square feet of space in Cherokee Arms Apartments for $455,000. The three-story apartment complex, 1508 Madison Ave., contains 30 studio apartments with historic vintage architecture.

25. Omni Visions Deal Headlines Leasing Activity - Friday, October 29, 2010

Omni Visions Inc. recently signed a new lease at Kirby Gate Business Campus, 2725 Kirby Parkway, for 3,523 square feet.