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Living In

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Memphis is Thriving

A big city with a small-town feel, Memphis enjoys a low cost of living and a profound connection to community. With a taste of city life through great food, entertainment and museums, the city’s culture is rooted deep in history, music and tradition. With a vibrant downtown, tree-lined neighborhoods and one of the largest parks in the nation, Memphis provides recreational and cultural activities that appeal to anyone year-round.

More than 60,000 local residents from all backgrounds rely on SCO for their eye care through The Eye Center and through a number of Community Outreach initiatives. Our students experience the gratifying impact of making a difference in the lives of people who benefit from SCO’s unique status as one of the nation’s top optometry colleges. SCO is proud to be one of the Tennessee treasures that makes Memphis great. Take a look to discover some of the many attractions near our campus!

Family Friendly

There's something in Memphis for the entire family. From zoos to museums to theaters to shopping in a giant pyramid boasting breathtaking views of the Mighty Mississippi; children, teens and adults alike will all find something to enjoy when they explore the city we call home.

Family Friendly Attractions
zoo image
friends outdoors

Food

If you know Memphis, then you know that our barbecue is second to none. You'll be delighted to find that's not all we have to offer. From funky little kitchens to modern, sleek steakhouses, the food in Memphis is diverse and exquisite. Dive in to a one-of-a-kind foodie paradise, and find something that will make your taste buds sing.

Restaurants

Outdoors

If you love immersing yourself in the outdoors, Memphis has tons of greenspace to explore. The beloved Shelby Farms Park Conservancy offers 4,500 acres of green space and 6.5 miles of urban trail in the heart of Shelby County. If organized sport is more your thing, the city has eight municipal golf courses, several parks and recreation centers, as well as the Memphis Redbirds, the Triple-A affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. Check below for more great outdoor activities in the Memphis area.

Outdoor Attractions
outdoor fun
memphis shopping

Shopping

The lively shopping scene in Memphis is as robust as it is eclectic. From gallery shopping in Cooper Young, Overton Square and Broad Avenue, to big name retailers at Laurelwood and Oak Court, there are a variety of shops around the town that have just what you need. For shopping near campus, check out our list for a few notable options.

Memphis Stores

Housing

Finding a place to live is important for your future at SCO. We regularly hold housing fairs that can help you learn about different areas near campus and other options for you to consider. In fact, there are a variety of student-friendly living options that neighbor the SCO campus. Take a look at some of the options below.

Memphis Housing
house
memphis grizzlys basketball

Cultural

Immerse yourself in the Memphis community and you will find that the makeup of Memphis is not only diverse but defines our richly diverse culture. The listings below offer just a small glance at what makes Memphis great.

Cultural Listings
Memphis Culture
Memphis groups

Memphis Life

Living in Memphis opens up opportunities to explore and really get to know the community. We encourage students and families to experience the true essence of Memphis by participating in local events, festivals, taking in the local scene and making it your own.

Memphis Life Events

Near SCO Campus

Memphis Life

Here is a sampling of the variety of festivals and fair hosted in Memphis each year. To learn more about an event, click through to visit their website.

Art on Tap

dixon.org 

Blues on the Bluff

www.wevl.org

Elvis Week

graceland.com

Festival Latino

latinomemphis.org/festival

River Arts Fest

riverartsmemphis.org

Memphis Greek Festival

memphisgreekfestival.com

Southern Heritage Classic

southernheritageclassic.com

Memphis Italian Festival

memphisitalianfestival.org

St. Jude Marathon & Half Marathon

stjudemarathon.org 

Sunset on the Square Concerts

sunsetjazzmemphis.com

Memphis Airshow

midsouthairshow.com

Memphis in May International Festival

memphisinmay.org

Native American Days at Chucalissa

memphis.edu

Live at the Garden Series

liveatthegarden.com

The World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest

memphisinmay.org

Indie Memphis Film Festival

indiememphis.com

Beale Street St. Patrick's Day Parade

bealestreet.com/st-patricks-day-parade

Beale Street Labor Day Music Festival

bealestreet.com

Cooper Young Festival

cooperyoungfestival.com

Africa In April Festival

africainapril.org

Carnival Memphis

carnivalmemphis.org

Germantown Festival

germantownfest.com

Delta Fair & Music Festival

deltafest.com

International Blues Challenge

blues.org/international-blues-challenge/

Down to Earth Festival

shelbyfarmspark.org

Mid-South Fair

landerscenter.com/mid-south-fair

Israel Festival

memphisfoi.org

The Pink Palace Crafts Fair

https://www.memphismuseums.org/join/friends-of-the-pink-palace/the-pink-palace-crafts-fair/

Near SCO Campus

Cultural

Expedia has called Memphis one of the 15 Best Places to Experience American Culture. Experiencing Memphis culture through a variety of ways will paint a vivid picture of why Memphis is great. 

Brooks Museum of Art

Overton Park
(901) 544-6200
brooksmuseum.org

10 minutes from SCO
 
Center for Southern Folklore and Café

119 South Main
(901) 525-3655
southernfolklore.com

5 minutes from SCO
 
Dixon Gallery and Gardens

4339 Park Avenue
(901) 761-5252
dixon.org

25 minutes from SCO
 
Metal Museum

374 Metal Museum Drive
(901) 774-6380
metalmuseum.org

20 minutes from SCO
 
National Civil Rights Museum

450 Mulberry Street
(901) 521-9699
civilrightsmuseum.org

10 minutes from SCO
 
Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum

826 North Second Street
(901) 527-3427
slavehavenmemphis.com

10 minutes from SCO
 
Smithsonian Rock ’n’ Soul Museum

191 Beale Street at FedEx Forum
(901) 205-2533
memphisrocknsoul.org

5 minutes from SCO
 
Stax Museum of American Soul Music

926 East McLemore Avenue
(901) 942-7685
staxmuseum.com

5 minutes from SCO
 
Victorian Village Historic District

671 Jefferson Avenue
(901) 523-0235
victorianvillageinc.org

5 minutes from SCO

Near SCO Campus

Entertainment

The listings below are a few of the major entertainment hotspots from around town. We invite you to visit their websites for more information and to immerse yourself in the local flavor of the city’s nightlife.

Beale Street

bealestreet.com

Orpheum Theatre

orpheum-memphis.com

Minglewood Hall

minglewoodhall.com

Mud Island Amphitheater

mudisland.com

Levitt Shell

levittshell.org

FedEx Forum

fedexforum.com

Sun Studio

sunstudio.com

Landers Center

landerscenter.com

Tunica Attractions

tunicatravel.com

Snowden Grove Amphitheater

bankplusamphitheater.com

Near SCO Campus

Housing

There are several options for housing throughout Memphis and surrounding areas. Midtown Memphis offers a number of affordable and practical housing options with close proximity to the SCO campus, and food and entertainment options in the thriving Overton Square area. Harbor Town is also popular with students for its convenient Mud Island location.

The Office of Student Services assists all students in locating housing that’s affordable and safe. A housing fair is held each Spring, a roommate wanted list is maintained online, and brochures with direct links to the apartments our students find most popular are provided before an applicant comes for an interview. To contact the Office of Student Services to discuss housing, please call (800)238-0180.

To view a current listing of apartments throughout the Mid-South that SCO staff or students recommend, please visit our Housing Virtual Marketplace.

Near SCO Campus

Shopping

From local designers to legendary brands, Memphis has it all. Check out these well-known shopping areas, throughout Memphis.

Harbor Town

movoto.com/guide/memphis-tn/harbor-town-memphis-upscale-and-trendy/

Overton Square

overtonsquare.com

Cooper Young

cooperyoung.com

South Main

gosouthmain.com

Laurelwood

laurelwoodmemphis.com

Oak Court

oakcourtmall.com

The Edge District

edgedistrictmemphis.org

Broad Avenue Arts District

broadavearts.com

Saddle Creek

shopsofsaddlecreek.com

 

Near SCO Campus

Memphis Parks

memphistn.gov/parks/parks

Outdoors

Memphis has endless options for getting outside and enjoying yourself. Visit the websites below to learn more about all the activities and events happening around the city.

Memphis Zoo and Aquarium

memphiszoo.org

Galloway Golf Course

https://memphispubliclinks.com/galloway

Memphis Parks

memphisparks.com

Shelby Farms Park Conservancy

shelbyfarmspark.org

Memphis City Bike Lanes

http://www.memphistravel.com/memphis-bike-map

Arkabutla Lake Trail

www.mvk.usace.army.mil

Wolf River Conservancy

wolfriver.org

Memphis Botanic Garden

memphisbotanicgarden.com

Levitt Shell Open Air Theater

levittshell.org

Near SCO Campus

Restaurants

Memphis cuisine is best known worldwide for its barbecue, but don't limit your taste buds to just one delicacy. Listed below are some local restaurants in close proximity to the college. In no way should this be considered an all-inclusive list of the city's best; just a sample of a few within a short drive.

Automatic Slim’s

Hip decor accents the tasty Caribbean and Southwestern dishes.
83 South Second Street
(901) 525-7948
automaticslimsmemphis.com
 

Babalu Tacos & Tapas

Table-side guacamole is a must try at this popular Mexican restaurant.
2115 Madison Avenue
(901) 274-0100
eatbabalu.com
 

Gus’s World-Famous Fried Chicken

Legendary restaurant known for its fried chicken and other Southern comfort foods.
310 South Front Street
(901) 527-4877
gusfriedchicken.com
 

Huey’s

Perennial winner of “Best Hamburger in Memphis”. Jazz bands on Sunday.
1927 Madison Avenue (Midtown)
(901) 726-4372
77 South Second Street (Downtown)
(901) 527-2700
hueyburger.com


Lunchbox Eats

A soulful sandwich shop known for its quirky lunchroom theme and twist on traditional Southern food.
288 S 4th Street
(901) 526-0820
lunchboxeats.com

 

Majestic Grille

A 1940’s style bar and grille specializing in steaks, fresh seafood, and gourmet burgers.
145 South Main Street
(901) 522-8555
majesticgrille.com
 

McEwen’s

Bistro-like atmosphere, offering daily lunch and dinner specials.
122 Monroe Avenue
(901) 527-7085
mcewensmemphis.com
 

Memphis Pizza Café

Charming pizza restaurant located in the Overton Square district.
2087 Madison Avenue
(901) 726-5343
memphispizzacafe.com



Phillip Ashley Chocolates

World-renowned luxury chocolate boutique, named one of the Top 5 Chocolate Boutiques in the South by Garden & Gun.
1200 Madison Avenue
(901) 572-1011
phillipashleychocolates.com

 

The Second Line

A taste of New Orleans from one of Memphis’s top chefs.
2144 Monroe Avenue
(901) 590-2829
secondlinememphis.com
 

Soul Fish Cafe

An American restaurant with Southern flair situated in the heart of the Cooper-Young District.
862 South Cooper
(901) 725-0722
soulfishcafe.com

 

Wrapzody Gourmet Wraps

A Downtown deli specializing in affordable dining both health and delicious, from gourmet wraps to vegetarian specials.
99 N. Main Street
901-791-2512
https://www.wrapzodymemphis.com/

 

Young Avenue Deli

Midtown eatery and watering hole.
2119 Young Avenue
(901) 278-0034
youngavenuedeli.com


Local Examples of Memphis’s World-Famous BBQ:

 

The Bar-B-Q Shop

1782 Madison Avenue
(901) 272-1277
thebar-b-qshop.com
 

Central BBQ

2249 Central Avenue
(901) 272-9377
eatcbq.com
 

Corky’s BBQ

5259 Poplar Avenue
(901) 685-9744
corkysbbq.com
 

Interstate Bar-B-Que

2265 South Third Street
(901) 775-1045
interstatebarbecue.com
 

The Rendezvous

52 South Second Street
(901) 523-2746
hogsfly.com

Near SCO Campus

Family Friendly

Bring the whole family to these fun-for-all local spots. Please visit the websites below for more information regarding hours, tickets and more.

The Children’s Museum of Memphis

cmom.com

Graceland

graceland.com

Memphis Zoo and Aquarium

memphiszoo.org

My Big Backyard

membg.org

The Peabody Hotel

peabodymemphis.com

The Pink Palace Museum, CTI-IMAX Theater and Sharpe Planetarium

memphismuseums.org

The National Civil Rights Museum

civilrightsmuseum.org

The Crosstown Concourse

crosstownconcourse.com

Sun Studio

sunstudio.com

Bass Pro Shops at the Pyramid

stores.basspro.com/us/tn/memphis/

Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

www.nba.com/grizzlies

Memphis Redbirds (St. Louis Cardinals AAA baseball)

https://www.milb.com/memphis

Memphis 901 FC (United Soccer League)

memphis901fc.com

1245 Madison Ave.
Memphis, TN 38104

(901)722-3200

The Eye Center

1225 Madison Avenue
Memphis, TN 38104

(901)722-3250

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