Joe Zeeben and Jesse James are giving their business the brick-and-mortar treatment, and in doing so, giving customers a new way to deliver uniquely Memphis gifts to anywhere in the country. Memphis Gift Basket is working on its first storefront, which will feature the titular baskets alongside a coffee bar and some delicious bites, reports Daily Memphian.
Memphis Gift Basket was issued a commercial addition permit from the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development for 183 Chelsea Avenue earlier this year. The application provides a look at the work entailed to turn the space into the concept’s first storefront, as well as a peak at the scope of what the shop will offer once opened: “We will remove the existing attached shed at the south end of the building. We will follow the construction documents provided in this application. This is to be a gift basket business with a commercial kitchen in the new addition as well as a grab and go convenience store in the front of the building.”
The space will afford Memphis Gift Basket 2,704 square feet and will have an occupant load of 28.
The store does not yet have an opening date, however Zeeben is hopeful that it will be customer-ready after Christmas. He assures future customers that the opening will be an event, saying: “We’ve got a lot of people in the Uptown neighborhood excited about it, so (we will) definitely have a big (grand) opening.”
While visitors will doubtless be excited to grab a cup of coffee from Memphis Gift Basket’s coffee bar, snag a grab-and-go bite, or enjoy a homemade treat, the gift baskets are, of course, the star. The website-which Zeeben states will have holiday baskets available later this month-explains what makes the concept’s wares so special: “Our one-of-a-kind gift baskets deliver a selection of hand-picked, genuinely Memphis merchandise produced by locally owned and operated businesses. These homegrown products reflect the true heart and soul of our beloved city and many of them are solely available from Memphis Gift Baskets.”
