A truly great bar is hard to come by. It needs to tap into the right level of comfort and community, alongside food and drink options that keep customers coming back. It is a true alchemy that Memphis’s next great tavern is certain to achieve; founded by a group of trusted hospitality veterans, Gussied Up promises a memorable and unique dive bar experience-and it’s recently received approval from the Downtown Memphis Commission Design Review Board for its design plans, reports Commercial Appeal.
Gussied Up will be opening at 655 Marshall Avenue, Suite 103, adjacent to Hard Times Deli. The bar will be occupying a 1,100 square foot space with a 700 square foot patio.
Gussied Up is entering the scene with some serious hospitality talent behind it. The concept is anchored by Harrison Downing, Coles Jeanes and Schuyler O’Brien, a group who can claim Hard Times and Kinfolk on their resumes. The restauranteers explain their intentions for Gussied Up in their application for the CCDC financial program, saying: “We saw a growing need for casual, community driven spaces that combine thoughtful food with local culture. Gussied Up is our response to that need—a dive bar with intention.”
The Gussied Up team is bringing a great deal of love for the concept of dive bars to the table. However they are adding something many of these beloved institutions lack-delicious food. “Dive bars are sacred. They are where stories are told, games are watched, and friendships begin. But too often, the food is an afterthought. Gussied Up flips that narrative. It is an unpretentious bar with a food program that punches above its weight. Our cult favorite burger pop up, Secret Smash Society, will serve from a hidden drive thru window inside the bar. The space leans into classic dive aesthetics checkerboard floors, neon signs, lived in comfort while delivering quality that surprises. It is a mash up of the old and the new, with Memphis as the heartbeat”
It’s too early to project an opening date for Gussied Up yet; however the bar promises to become an essential Memphis institution. Residents are certain to embrace it, given its mission: “We see Gussied Up becoming a beloved institution in the Edge District, a place where locals and visitors alike gather for comedy nights, live music, Memphis sports watch parties, or just a beer and a burger after work. Always anchored in quality food, local culture, and creating welcoming spaces that feel personal. Above all, we want our patrons to feel like they belong. Whether they are regulars or first timers, we want them to leave full, seen, and smiling.”
