A new dining option is has come to the South Main area of Downtown Memphis, according to reports in the local business journal. The neighborhood restaurant, known as Café Pontotoc, which is owned by Milton and Cherie Lamb, now serves wine, local beer and small plates at 314 S. Main St. from 4 p.m. to close Tuesday through Saturday, according to The Daily News. The owners will add brunch later this year with no set date at this time.

The South Main area is one that holds a lot of history here in Memphis. After a booming heyday, the area fell into abandonment and was shunned by many. That neglect is what eventually allowed the region’s rebirth. The architecture remains historic as no developers sought to modernize the area, and artists and creative types soon became attracted to the unique vibe of the area. The movie and film community recognized South Main’s gritty time capsule of architecture and began using it as a backdrop for many films. In 1989 the indie film Mystery Train was filmed in South Main, and other movies to follow include: The Firm, Walk the Line, Great Balls of fire, Elizabethtown, Hustle & Flow, and others.

Looking to move to Memphis? South Main is a well-known residential area as well. Today there are more than 2,500 people living in South Main, each of who are drawn to the neighborhood’s charm, walkability and proximity to all of Downtown’s amenities, and unique sense of belonging that many areas nationwide seem to lack. South Main has kept true to its origins by being a neighborhood built on the backs of local entrepreneurs and is the home of Emerge Memphis, Memphis’ start-up incubator for businesses.