Good Neighbor Grant aids building renovations on Jackson Avenue
By Andy Greenman
Eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, homestyle tots with a side of grits. Meet the Bonds’ Classic. This breakfast dish, named after entrepreneur Roosevelt Bonds, is all the craze in North Memphis.
Bonds and business partner Billy Irby launched Memphis Toast, an upscale restaurant and coffee shop, at 954 Jackson Ave. on July 29. The black-owned partners are excited to drive new life into a once-vibrant street in Smokey City.
“[For] Three years I had visions. I wanna bring something to my community that we ain’t got,” Bonds modestly stated. “We dreamed about it, and we make dreams come true.”
That vision turned out to be a building renovation showcasing the landmarks and legends of Memphis. You can fill your belly next to The King of the Blues in the Beale Street Room, and feel the Memphis breeze on the outdoor patio called Elvis Presley Boulevard, or survey a collage of downtown landmarks in the Memphis room like the FedExForum, the Peabody and Autozone Park. Even with these downtown views, parking is free.
The 1,400 sq. ft. building brings the best of Memphis to Jackson Ave. The structure, built in 1942, has housed everything from a barber to bbq shops. Commuters along Jackson Ave. may recall the lime green color of the building that sat vacant for nearly a decade. That is long gone thanks to Bonds’ vision and help from the CRA.
The CRA in partnership with the Downtown Memphis Commission, provided a Good Neighbor Grant for $25,000 for exterior improvements. These funds helped the owners build an inviting metal facade with an awning. A mural of a hen serving bacon, eggs and you guessed it, toast, can be found facing Hastings Street. The Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE) also provided a $24,200 Inner City Economic Development (ICED) Loan. These funds supported the renovation of bathrooms, interior floors and other improvements.
While the restaurant offers a variety of options, the menu takes it one notch further. Bonds sought out the former head chef at the legendary B.B. King’s Blues Club, Carlos Scurlock.
When approaching his potential chef, Bonds’ advised, “As long as you can bring the heat, bring the food.”
And Chef Carlos Scurlock is on fire. Scurlock curated a menu with 901 flair. Popular items include chicken and waffle, Cajun shrimp and grits bowl, Smokey City melt and the Bonds’ Classic — if you can handle “the whole nine yards.”
Memphis Toast is here to serve the community. This is a safe place for Smokey City and other neighboring residents. A place many doubted would ever come to fruition.
“‘People [are] gonna steal everything. People [are] gonna break in. We just couldn’t have nothing civilized over there,’” Bonds heard the chatter. “Seeing it (Memphis Toast) is changing people’s mind.”
Memphis Toast is open for business, but Bonds continues to dream.
“My vision is to bring back Jackson Strip. The new Jackson Strip. I want coffee shops, I want office space, I want people to be happy, I want a food court park, I want [car] charging stations…”
Dream away. ▲