Table Ready Program encourages local food businesses to set up shop in Downtown Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Downtown Memphis Commission (DMC) is hoping to help elevate local food entrepreneurs with a new program.

The Table Ready Program is inspired by the DMC’s Open on Main program that is catered toward retail businesses. Brian Mykulyn, Program Manager with the Downtown Memphis Commission, told FOX13 the organization wanted to find a space to allow food service businesses test out the downtown market.

“The idea behind the program is that we find local food service operators and we partner with them, so that way they have the opportunity to test out the downtown market at a reduced rental rate,” said Mykulyn.

Because the program is so new, there is only one space the DMC is looking to fill — for now. It’s on the ground floor of the Van Vleet Apartments on Gayoso Avenue and Second Street. It’s where Tamp & Tap Coffeehouse used to be.

“We started talking with the property owner. They were interested in partnering with us to find some creative solutions to fill the space and ultimately, that led to this Table Ready Program,” said Mykulyn.

The program allows a local food business to test the downtown market in the available space for one year. During that year, Mykulyn told FOX13 the DMC will cover the majority of the rent and utility costs.

“We’re the ones on the hook for the whole rent, but we do ask that the tenant pay a portion, which would be about $500 a month,” said Mykulyn.

Interested business owners do have to apply. While it’s not required, Mykulyn highly recommends having a business plan already in place, so the DMC can know if the business concept fits the available space.

“We’re really trying to get a sense of what is it going to look like within the space, so an idea for how they’re approaching their business, how many employees they have, what their annual revenue is, things of that nature,” said Mykulyn.

The first round of applications for the Van Vleet space has closed, but Mykulyn told FOX13 the DMC still encourages interested business owners to apply. As the program grows and more spaces become available, the DMC will look to the pool of applicants to fill the available spaces.