Restaurateurs Deni and Patrick Reilly, owners of S. Main Street’s Majestic Grille, have entered into a six-month agreement with the Riverfront Development Corporation to rebrand the existing restaurant space at Beale Street Landing. Plans are to open the pop-up restaurant by next month.
“Beale Street Landing is the front porch of our city,” said Deni Reilly. “It’s the place tourists can come and get introduced to the city, and it’s a place where Memphians can go down and sit on The Front Porch and sip a tasty beverage and enjoy the view.”
The couple’s Majestic Grille celebrates its 11-year anniversary this month.
“We felt that we were in a good place with our staff at Majestic Grille and the direction of our restaurant, and we were in a place where we could focus on this and offer our knowledge of downtown,” said Deni Reilly.
The Reillys are rebranding the restaurant space at Beale Street Landing that had been operating as The River Grille under different management.
“Our contract with the RDC is only for six months, but we have every intention of creating a concept that can stand the test of time,” said Reilly. “It’s not just a restaurant and bar, we want it to be a community gathering spot.”
The Front Porch will feature all-new food and beverage menus, a cycle and exercise refreshment station, and enhanced seating options like new rocking chairs along the west-facing promenade. In addition to keeping the previous restaurant’s successful movie nights, they will be partnering with local community organizations to feature live music, mini-fests, family days, and arts entertainment.
Chef Patrick Reilly, who is a classically trained French chef, is creating menus with approachable food with many sharable options. The beverage program will feature fun, river-inspired cocktails, unique wines and local beers. To-go express options for those who want to dine alfresco in the park are being explored.
“We want this to be a place Monday through Friday where business people can zip down there for a business lunch and enjoy the river for a few minutes,” said Reilly. “We see it as a place where on the weekends when families are down there flying kites or watching their kids play in the water park nearby, they can come in and grab a light dinner or even just a snack.”
Several new employees will be hired for The Front Porch, which will operate through October. Exact hours are still being finalized, but plans are for it to be open seven days a week, including a weekend brunch.
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