*Central Station Hotel hosted us for our stay in Memphis. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
History of the Hotel
I love that my job allows me to share such cool places to stay with you guys. Central Station Memphis Hotel is truly a one-of-a-kind hotel! For over a century, the Central Station has stood watch over South Main Street in downtown Memphis. It is a direct reflection of the success, struggle, and spirit of the city that grew up around it. It was built simply for arrivals and departures, but the life that churned through on its rails gave South Main a vitality that turned it into one of the most iconic and dynamic neighborhoods in the city. Today, Central Station Hotel lets you experience the verve of this town in ways unlike any other, just like a real Memphian would.
Memphis’ Grand Central Station was opened on October 4th, 1914 on what was then the corner of Calhoun and Main. It was built by the Illinois Central Railroad for $1.5 million dollars as their primary headquarters and station for all IC passenger lines.
Up until the late 1960s, Central Station also served the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley, Rock Island, and Frisco Lines. The station thrived for decades during the height of the passenger rail travel in the 20th century, boasting more than 50 arrivals and departures daily at its height. Central Station’s success lead to a marked rise of the surrounding neighborhood, with stores, dining, and hotels springing up to capture the volume of traveler traffic coming to and from Memphis. You can still see physical evidence of this boom time all around the station, such as the world famous Arcade Restaurant just across the street and still in operation since 1919.
Due to the drastic decline in passenger train travel in the 1960s, Amtrak remained as the only rail tenant by 1971. Central Station fell into disrepair over the next two decades, its downfall evident in its effects to the surrounding South Main neighborhood. Then, in 1995, the Memphis Area Transit Authority gave Central Station new life, leading a $20 million renovation to save the building and re-solidify Central Station as the lynchpin of the South Main neighborhood. The investment paid off, bringing new generations to the South Main area and giving birth to Memphis’s very first arts district. Today, The Central Station Hotel remains an active train station, served daily by the City of New Orleans and the local Main Street trolley line.
Our Stay
This hotel is open and spacious with an eclectic style that I love! If you have the Hilton Honors app, you can check-in and request a digital room key for a completely contactless check-in if you wish. You can check-out this way, also, which is super convenient.
Our room was nice and clean, and it had just the right amount of space. The beds were very comfortable and I loved that the hotel has their own curated playlist that you can listen to on custom designed EgglestonWorks speakers.
Central Station’s bar & lounge is the best sounding music room in town and home to a one-of-a-kind, Memphis Inspired vinyl record collection. You can savor the Memphis sound as you never have before, while sipping on fine craft cocktails alongside locals and visitors alike.
Bishop is Central Station’s own restaurant that showcases locally and regionally influenced Southern cuisine, featuring bold, contemporary flavors in a relaxed, yet attentive environment. Enjoy your meal paired with an extensive wine list that offers a selection of unique wines from smaller, family-owned wineries that deserve a place at your table.
Conclusion
We loved our stay at this beautiful, historic hotel. It has everything that you need and is in close proximity to everything you would want to do in Memphis. You can follow Central Station on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/centralstationmemphis/ and check out their website here: https://centralstationmemphis.com/
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