Beale Street Merchants Association president defends shutdown club

Submitted by Nick Kenney, Reporter

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 5:15pm

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - While Beale Street prepares for a busy barbecue fest weekend a popular Beale Street club is closed for business.

The Shelby County District Attorney General indicted five Club 152 employees. Police are still searching for them, and names and pictures are not available.

"Do I think 152's a nuisance? No, I do not. I personally do not," said Miss Polly's owner and Beale Street Merchants Association president Ty Agee. "Actually, I do enjoy them as a neighbor."

District Attorney Amy Weirich said undercover officers witnessed repeated drug sales by employees. Also that 130 calls were made to police from the club in the past 16 months.

Agee estimates that only FedExForum has more people walk through is doors annually than Club 152.

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Memphis chef tells stories through chocolate

Submitted by Ashli Blow, New Media Content Producer

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 3:31pm

(Photo Source: Philip Ashley Chocolates)

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Law firm sponsors new Mid-South race series starting at zoo

Submitted by Joe Birch, Anchor

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 3:31pm

Law firm sponsors new Mid-South race series starting at zoo

In the space of 41 days, some of the fastest runners in the Mid-South will have the opportunity to race for the M-Town Crown. Race directors of four evening races have united to create the M-Town Race Series.

“It’s a good idea,” said Bob Kirk, an attorney at the forty lawyer firm Farris Bobango that stepped up to become title sponsor the all new running series.

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New Firehouse Subs to open

Submitted by Karen Bray on Friday, May 17th, 12:04 pm

Another restaurant is opening on Union Avenue in Midtown Memphis. Firehouse Subs will be the latest restaurant to call Midtown home.

Firehouse Subs is planning to be open by mid-July in the same shopping center as FedEx Office and Verizon Wireless. The space is currently being leased by FedEx Office and will undergo renovations to split the current FedEx Office store into two spaces.

Firehouse Subs has a fast casual restaurant concept. This will be the sixth Firehouse Subs to open in the Memphis area. The Union Avenue location will join locations in East Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, on Stage Road in Memphis, and Southaven, Mississippi.

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Quincy Pondexter, Memphians enjoy BBQ Fest

Submitted by Anna Marie Hartman, Anchor/Reporter

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 4:10am

Coming off an historic conference win Grizzlies Guard Quincy Pondexter relished his time at the Memphis in May Barbecue Festival.

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - Memphis does a lot of celebrating in May, but this year is special. The Memphis in May World Champtionship Barbecue Cooking Contest is kicking off downtown. The Grizzlies are smoking hot, and the crowd is still buzzing about Wednesday's win.

DJ Paul of Three Six Mafia conjured up a fresh battle cry to take the Memphis Grizzlies through the Western Conference Finals. The slogan "We Don't Bluff" is not new, but the occasion is historic.

Coming off an historic conference win Grizzlies guard Quincy Pondexter relished his time at the festival.

"It's great to have this down time. I literally laid in bed all day, and watched Entourage, and now to come to Barbecue Fest. It's great to let my hair down a little bit," he said.

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Club 152 raided, closed by authorities

Submitted by WMCTV Web Staff

Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 10:54pm

Between January 2012 and April 2013, police responded to 130 calls at the club.

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - Authorities shut down a popular Beale Street club Thursday afternoon.

According to the district attorney and Memphis police, Club 152 on Beale Street is being closed due to drug sales, violence, and other crimes that have happened at the establishment.

District attorney Amy Weirich said in their investigation patrons and employees were selling drugs to undercover officers.

"They violated the law," said Weirich. "Judge Potter has issued a temporary injunction shutting them down until further notice. There will be a court date on May 20 in which their lawyers will appear, and we will begin this nuisance action in court."

Between January 2012 and April 2013, police responded to 130 calls at the club.

"The good businesses of Beale Street, the wonderful tourists, and our own residents of Shelby County who frequent this location deserve better," said Weirich.

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'Hoop Dreamers' remember bringing the Grizzlies to Memphis

Submitted by Anna Marie Hartman, Anchor/Reporter

Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 10:11pm

Rose was one of the movers and shakers behind bringing an NBA team to Memphis.

MEMPHIS, TN- (WMC-TV) - Twelve years ago the idea of an NBA franchise was pulling Memphis apart. If not for a group of believers, Memphis might still be having hoop dreams.

"When Tony Allen said, 'Grit and Grind', we all that live here know what that means because we do that every day," said Gayle Rose who is part of the NBA pursuit team.

Rose was one of the movers and shakers behind bringing an NBA team to Memphis.

"Twelve years we were really pursuing this team because we believed that it would pull the community together, and there's no question that it's done that," said Rose.

What Rose and other members of the NBA pursuit team did not anticipate was how the Memphis Grizzlies would reflect the personality of the city itself.

"For example, they don't have a star, and they're pulling together as a team and they're grinding out every win," said Rose.

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