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Memphis Tobacco Bowl History
Memphis Tobacco Bowl was begun in 1949 by Abe Katz in Memphis, Tennessee, at the corner of Madison Avenue and Front Street in the old Union Planters Bank building. Shortly thereafter, Jay Rorex purchased the shop and it was moved to the Goodwyn Institute Building at the corner of Madison Ave. and Second Street. In 1975 the operation relocated to its third Madison address at 152. In January of 1999 Mr. Rorex retired after 43 years and Memphis Tobacco Bowl was purchased by Richard J. Alley.
Over the years, Memphis Tobacco Bowl has seen the ups and downs of the tobacco trade, and downtown Memphis, and has been patronized by the likes of authors William Faulkner, James Jones and Shelby Foote; Memphis mayor Henry Loeb; philanthropist Abe Plough; famous father Vernon Presley; Charlie Chan's No. 1 son, Keye Luke; movie director Milos Forman, producer Michael Hausman, U.S. Senator and actor Fred Thompson, and actors Vincent Schiavelli, Richard Roundtree, Joaquin Phoenix and Robert Patrick. The interior of the shop was also featured in a scene of "The People vs. Larry Flynt."
In January of 2005 our own coffee bar, Memphis Coffee Exchange, was added inside the shop so you can sip gourmet coffee as you browse our goods - caffeine & nicotine under one roof. At Memphis Tobacco Bowl we strive to offer a quality product, first-rate and friendly customer service and a comfortable environment to sit, smoke and relax.
Posted by Richard Alley at January 1, 2005 09:17 PM