Memphis

Memphis is an excellent choice for those wanting a small-town atmosphere for their forever home. “It’s a stable area, meaning people like to go and stay,” says Rick Landuyt, Associate Broker/Realtor at Coldwell Banker Professionals. This tiny community sits along Highway 19. You can connect to Interstate 94 from this route and head south to Detroit.

Along the charming streets of Memphis, you’ll find an eclectic mixture of homes. Memphis is a buzzing market as the city is continuously building new homes just along the outskirts of downtown. Most houses will be in the neighborhood’s downtown, so they are closer together. The further out from downtown, homes will have larger lot space and distance between neighbors. When you stroll along the well-paved sidewalks, you’ll see that homes carry neatly manicured lawns. With prices between $100,000 to $300,000, you can grab a bungalow-style home with a medium-sized porch. Ranch-style homes are given detached garages or long pull-up driveways. You'll find charming colonials and colorful Victorians in other pockets of the neighborhood. Interiors have between 1,000 to 2,000 square feet of space. That is usually made up of at least three bedrooms and one bathroom.

While the streets of Memphis are charming to walk around, several parks also do the trick. Old School Park is the most central location, where you can find a playground and picnic tables. Take the dog for a walk and enjoy the views of Belle River at Ed Musial Memorial Park. Kids can also frolic around the playground area, or the family can eat on the picnic tables for an afternoon. Memphis Lion Park to the neighborhood west is the place for a family field day. Take advantage of the acres of fields or play a competitive game of kickball within the baseball fields. “The playgrounds are right by the school, so it’s in close proximity,” Landuyt says. “They got a place that’s hilly and, in the winter, it’s sledding city.”

Memphis Community Schools comprises of the Elementary School and the Junior/Senior High School. Both schools carry a B-minus grade on Niche. Their district aims to educate, engage and empower their students, which is achieved through their teachings and extracurriculars. Grades kindergarten through fifth grade will be done at the Elementary School. Students can finish their years within the Junior/Senior High School. This school provides a student-to-teacher ratio of 17 to 1.

Main Street is where you’ll find everything you need, from local shops to unique restaurants. It’s the perfect spot to park your car along the street and enjoy a peaceful shopping day. Great Lakes Café is a longtime neighborhood go-to, carrying on the legacy of a previous long-time family-owned donut shop. Even though it’s under new ownership, donuts are still on the menu, in addition to BBQ favorites. Doghouse Tavern is the neighborhood's sit-down spot. Spend an evening with the family, chowing down on some American classics of burgers and handhelds. Grab a scoop of the finest ice cream around at Arctic Queen on those warm summer nights. If you need weekly groceries, you will have to travel about eight miles out to Richmond, where you can find a Kroger. “There’s not much nightlife. Everyone is pretty much off the street by 9 pm,” Landuyt says. “If you want to go out to the city, the closest is downtown Detroit.”

Memphis Days Festival is the town’s big festival held in August. The four-day weekend is packed with events with plenty of opportunities to mingle with your neighbors. Notable events include the Duck Dash 5K Run/Walk, Neighborhood Parade, Fireworks and the Dog Show. Every day also includes a city-wide garage sale and a library book sale. The Memphis Public Library is located downtown and holds several educational and fun events weekly for all ages. You’ll feel right at home once you step into the small-town charm that’s Memphis.

Written By

Courtney Murphy

Photography Contributed By

Scottie Davison

Video By

Austin Lewis