Known as the longest pedestrian mall this side of the Mississippi River, the Main Street Mall in Downtown Memphis stretches nearly a mile along North Main from Exchange Ave to Peabody Ave. The Downtown Memphis Commission is the designated management entity for the Main Street Mall.
The Main Street Mall is designed to accommodate pedestrians and MATA transit vehicles. Vehicles driving or parking along the Main Street Mall are unsafe for pedestrians and have damaged the infrastructure.
Vehicles permitted along the Main Street Mall include:
Emergency vehicles (police, fire, and other emergency services)
MATA Buses and Trolleys
City of Memphis, DMC, Shelby County, MLGW
City of Memphis and DMC permitted vehicles performing ride-share services
Vehicles listed above must be performing official duties.
Loading Zones Near Main Street Mall
Following a meeting with Main Street businesses, the DMC worked with the City of Memphis Engineering to establish new loading zones near the Main Street Mall. Businesses operating along the Main Street Mall are encouraged to use the loading and unloading zones for deliveries and operational use.
Peabody Place and Main Street
Gayoso Ave and Main Street
Union Ave and Main Street
Monroe Ave and Main Street
Jefferson Ave and Main Street
Adams Ave and Main Street
Please contact the City of Memphis Engineering Department if you have questions regarding prospective loading zone locations.
engineering@memphistn.gov
Main Street Mall Vehicle Ordinance
No motorized or nonmotorized wheeled vehicles (except for police, fire and other emergency vehicles, official mall transit vehicles, and wheelchairs or similar vehicles for the handicapped) shall be allowed on the common mall area (other than North and South Court Streets from Second Street to the mall) unless a permit for such use shall first have been obtained from the center city commission (dba Downtown Memphis Commission). Permits will be issued only in connection with special events or construction or renovation of buildings facing the mall or for mall maintenance and repairs. Permits will not be issued for regular delivery vehicles, which shall park in designated loading zones or alleys in accordance with applicable city ordinances.
Except as otherwise provided in this section, the common mall area shall be designated as a tow-away zone and any illegally parked vehicles thereon shall be subject to the provisions of section 11-40-3 of this Code.
Manually propelled vehicles such as bicycles, skateboards, etc. and non-motorized wheeled vehicles such as pedi-cabs shall be allowed on the common mall area without a permit and are subject to the following rules of operation:
When operating a bicycle, skateboard, or other manually propelled vehicle or non-motorized wheeled vehicle on the common mall area, such person shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian or trolley.
Any operator of a bicycle, skateboard, or other manually propelled vehicle or non-motorized wheeled vehicle shall give an audible signal before overtaking and passing any pedestrian. The audible signal shall be given verbally or via a bell, and shall not be given via a whistle or siren.
No person shall park a bicycle or non-motorized wheeled vehicle upon the common mall area in such a manner as to obstruct pedestrian or trolley traffic.
Only vehicles listed below are permitted to park or drive along the Main Street Mall:
Emergency vehicles (police, fire, and other emergency services)
MATA Buses and Trolleys
City of Memphis, DMC, Shelby County, MLGW
City of Memphis and DMC permitted vehicles performing ride-share services
Business owners are encouraged to use nearby loading and unloading zones.
All ride-share businesses operating in Memphis are required to obtain a permit from the City of Memphis Permits Office, 2714 Union Ave Ext., #100, Memphis, TN 38112, (901) 636-6711, permits@memphistn.gov.
Once a City of Memphis permit is issued, business operators can visit the Downtown Memphis Commission office to apply for a FREE vehicle authorization tag to operate along the Main Street Mall.
The City of Memphis application fee is $200, and permits for ride-share vehicles are an annual cost of $125/vehicle.
The DMC Vehicle Authorization Tag is FREE, but must be obtained in person at the DMC Office, 114 N Main, Memphis, TN, 38103.