On March 3, 2025, the Economic Development Growth Engine’s (EDGE) Finance Committee awarded a $25,000 Inner City Economic Development (ICED) loan to Cafe Noir, a black- and woman-owned digital bookstore. Owner Jasmine Settles will use the funds to open a storefront at 635 Madison Ave in Memphis’ Edge District.
According to The Daily Memphian, the loan will contribute to $128,150 in renovations to transform the 1,960-square-foot building, constructed in 1936, into a unique bookstore and coffee shop combination—the first of its kind in the city.
While Settles briefly confirmed this news with What Now Memphis, she has not yet shared details about the coffee shop’s menu. Like the digital bookstore, the brick-and-mortar shop will focus on BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ authors.
Along with Cafe Noir, the committee granted loans to two other local businesses: longstanding soul food restaurant The Four Way and Dream Academy Learning Center, a preschool.
Though she has not yet announced an opening date, Settles expects to create around 10 new jobs within the first six months of operation.
