Orange Mound - Memphis, TN Area Guide

The rural area around Cherokee Park grew immensely in the 1940s through the 1960s. At the time, Memphis served as the country's largest mule market; it was also the largest market for hardwood lumber and spot cotton. Cherokee Park and surrounding neighborhoods were some of the first to develop outside the city's downtown core after World War II, when the automobile became a household mainstay. The local arts scene shines less than five miles away from Cherokee Park along Poplar Avenue, including the University of Memphis Art Museum and the upscale David Lusk Gallery. Cherokee Park residents also enjoy nearby annual events such as the Memphis College of Art's Holiday Bazaar, where students and staff of the College showcase and sell their work.

Lamar Avenue, the main thoroughfare in Cherokee Park, houses the majority of restaurants and bars in the area. An abundance of diverse fare characterizes the restaurants here, running the gamut from Chinese and Mexican to Italian and southern soul food. When you get a craving for authentic southern fried seafood that tastes as if Grandma prepared it herself, Lamar Avenue has the perfect place for you: Fish Net, a family-owned restaurant with an amazing staff in the dining room as well as in the kitchen. Friendly servers make diners feel like they're in mom's kitchen as they chow down on fried fish smothered in homemade tartar sauce and served with fresh hush puppies. Even better, the prices run so low that many locals find it more economical to eat at Fish Net than to cook at home. World class barbecue has long been one of Memphis's biggest draws, and few places in town do it better than Tops Bar-B-Q on Lamar Avenue. Specializing in slow-cooked barbecue classics such as pulled pork and brisket, along with burgers, baked beans and other southern favorites, Tops has served as the area's go-to barbecue joint since 1952. Six decades of satisfied diners can't be wrong when they recommend coming to Tops for true Memphis barbecue. Every bite you take of pulled pork or brisket has been in the smoker for a minimum of 10 hours, locking in the flavor for you to soak up. Memphis provides world class nightlife along Beale Street, accessible from Cherokee Park in less than 15 minutes. For residents who want to have fun even closer to the neighborhood, the Southern Avenue corridor a mile north houses several local dives and lounges such as Oasis Hookah Lounge and Cafe, where patrons enjoy flavored tobacco while sipping on specialty drinks.

Many Cherokee Park residents enjoy walks around the neighborhood to visit neighbors or for exercise. Though the streets do not feature sidewalks or bike lanes, the low traffic volumes and flat landscapes make walking during daylight hours reasonably safe. Residents should take care when walking after dark. Driving remains the top method of transportation in Cherokee Park. Abundant free parking and quick access to Lamar Avenue and I-240 make for an easy commute from the neighborhood to other points of interest in Memphis. If you prefer for someone else to do the driving, numerous taxi companies operate in the area; call them in advance for a pick-up, as you cannot hail a cab in Cherokee Park. Uber, the popular ride-sharing service, also operates in the neighborhood. The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) operates a public bus system that features a stop near Cherokee Park.

Located in the center of the neighborhood is the eponymous Cherokee Park. It doesn't have annual events, but it offers plenty of green space where you can enjoy playing games with your kids or pets, and then have a picnic afterward. Tone up and burn calories on the park's half-mile fitness trail, or shoot some hoops on the basketball court. Free parking and admission make Cherokee Park an affordable and fun place to spend a weekend afternoon.

The cost of living in Cherokee Park runs lower than the average cost of living for the Memphis metro area. Residents pay an average of $514 per month for a one-bedroom residence and about $2.75 for a beer in a local bar. Area gas prices usually hover between 10 and 12 percent lower than the national average, and $1.75 buys a bus ticket to downtown.

For large shopping trips, Cherokee Park residents drive five miles to Oak Court Mall, located on Poplar Avenue. This large, enclosed shopping mall houses large retail stores, high-end boutiques and discount shops. Closer to home, residents enjoy access to several locally-owned boutiques and specialty auto repari shops, including Lucille's Boutique. A mile north of Cherokee Park you can dig for treasure at Flashback Memphis, a vintage department store featuring items from the 1930s through the 1980s. Flashback provides vintage clothing and accessories, as well as gifts and furniture dating throughout the 20th century. The Aldi on Lamar Avenue serves Cherokee Park residents for everyday grocery needs. Locals also give high marks to Song's Grocery, a smaller, locally-owned market less than a half-mile north on Lamar. A five-minute drive gets you to the closest farmers market, Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market, which operates every Saturday year-round and carries fresh produce, meats and baked goods from local vendors.