According to Action News 5, a formal demolition application has been submitted to remove the four‑story, 40,000‑square‑foot First Horizon building at 4990 Poplar Avenue in East Memphis. The request is part of a broader $25 million mixed‑use development planned for the corner of Poplar and Mendenhall Road, a project that could reshape the neighborhood’s commercial landscape.
The First Horizon structure, erected in 1962, is slated for demolition at an estimated cost of $206,500. The application, filed through the city’s development portal, still requires municipal approval before a demolition schedule can be set.
Developers Brown Gill of Gill Properties and Darrell Horn of Horn Ventures intend to replace the aging building with a two‑story, approximately 50,000‑square‑foot facility. The new construction will be evenly divided between office space (about 25,000 sq ft) and retail space (about 25,000 sq ft), providing new business opportunities and jobs for local residents.
In addition, the plan includes a 6,300‑square‑foot, 170‑seat restaurant named “The Tradition,” which will join the development’s retail offerings. The restaurant is expected to serve as a community gathering spot and contribute to the area’s dining options.
The development team notes that the former Houston’s restaurant on the site was already demolished in February 2026 as a preliminary step. With that demolition completed, the new project is projected to open to the public in late 2027, assuming all approvals are secured.
What’s next: City officials must review and approve the demolition application before any work can begin. Once approved, the developers will set a demolition date and move forward with construction, aiming to meet the late‑2027 opening timeline.
Sources: actionnews5.com
