Brain Foods Memphis Readies Next Chapter With Downtown Expansion

The popular Cordova restaurant concept is opening a new flagship location in the heart of downtown Memphis.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:24pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a plate of food, repeated in a tight grid pattern in the style of Andy Warhol, conceptually representing the modern, creative dining experience of Brain Food Memphis.The vibrant new downtown location of Brain Food Memphis will bring an elevated dining experience and a stronger flagship presence for the homegrown restaurant concept.Memphis Today

Brain Food Memphis, a successful restaurant concept that started out of Airbnbs and has grown to serve Fortune 500 companies and NBA teams, is opening a new flagship location in downtown Memphis. The new downtown spot will allow the restaurant to expand its full-service dining experience and better represent the brand's focus on quality, consistency, and creativity.

Why it matters

The opening of Brain Food Memphis's downtown location represents the next major step in the growth of this homegrown Memphis restaurant concept. After building a loyal following through meal prep, catering, and high-volume food service out of its original Cordova kitchen, the brand is now poised to bring its elevated but relatable dining experience to a wider audience of locals, visitors, and professionals in the heart of the city.

The details

The new downtown Brain Food Memphis location will be situated at 121 Union Avenue, in a high-visibility spot that the brand's founder, Tredarious Hayes, says will allow them to better reflect the level of food, service, and atmosphere they are known for. While the Cordova kitchen has been a strong proof of concept, operating at capacity and serving around 100 orders per day, the downtown location will offer a more complete customer experience with a dedicated branded environment, intentional dine-in atmosphere, and expanded hospitality beyond just order fulfillment.

  • Brain Food Memphis first launched out of Airbnbs, building a customer base one order at a time.
  • The brand has since grown to serve Fortune 500 companies, consistently cater for NBA teams, and work with high-level clients, including catering on a private jet for the Houston Rockets.
  • An opening date for the new downtown Memphis location has not yet been announced, but Hayes says the restaurant is in the final stretch of preparations.

The players

Tredarious Hayes

The visionary founder and owner of Brain Food Memphis.

Brain Food Memphis

A popular Memphis restaurant concept that started out of Airbnbs and has grown to serve high-profile clients, with plans to open a new flagship location downtown.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It is not the full restaurant vision for Brain Food Memphis. On a typical operating day out of that kitchen, we push out around 100 orders, so it has been a strong proof of concept for the demand and consistency of the brand. It has allowed us to stay active, keep serving customers, and continue growing while we work toward opening downtown.”

— Tredarious Hayes, Founder and Owner, Brain Food Memphis

“The downtown location will be much more of a complete customer experience. It will give us the ability to present Brain Food Memphis the way we truly envision it, with a dedicated branded environment, a more intentional dine-in atmosphere, broader hospitality, and an overall experience that goes beyond just order fulfillment.”

— Tredarious Hayes, Founder and Owner, Brain Food Memphis

What’s next

An opening date for the new downtown Brain Food Memphis location has not yet been announced, but the restaurant's founder says they are in the final stretch of preparations and will be customer-ready very soon.

The takeaway

The opening of Brain Food Memphis's new downtown flagship represents the next major milestone for this homegrown Memphis restaurant concept. After building a loyal following through its original Cordova location, the brand is now poised to bring its elevated but relatable dining experience to a wider audience in the heart of the city, further cementing its status as a source of pride and quality for the Memphis community.