Memphis Restaurants Stay Open During Winter Storm

Local eateries keep cooking despite city shutdown due to icy conditions

Jan. 28, 2026 at 5:47pm

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After a winter storm hit Memphis, leaving the city iced in for days, local restaurants remained open and kept cooking to sustain residents stuck at home. The author describes their own experience of getting creative in the kitchen during the shutdown, starting with simple sandwiches and burgers before moving on to more elaborate homemade meals by the third day.

Why it matters

This story highlights the resilience and adaptability of Memphis' restaurant industry, which continued to serve the community even when the rest of the city was shut down due to hazardous weather conditions. It also touches on the importance of home cooking and food preparation during emergency situations when normal routines are disrupted.

The details

The author, Ellen Chamberlain, details her own experience being snowed in at home and how she progressed from simple sandwich-making to more elaborate homemade meals over the course of the three-day shutdown. She notes that while the initial days were "clumsy and lazy" as she settled into her new home, by the third day she had really hit her stride in the kitchen.

  • The winter storm hit Memphis in 2026.
  • The author was snowed in at home for three days.

The players

Ellen Chamberlain

The author of the article and a resident of Memphis who was snowed in at home during the winter storm.

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The takeaway

This story demonstrates the important role that local restaurants play in supporting their communities, even in the face of extreme weather events that shut down normal city operations. It also highlights the resilience and adaptability of Memphis' residents, who were able to get creative with their home cooking during the shutdown.