Metro 67, Memphis

Text and photography by Sean Garrison

The word cosmopolitan evokes visions of New York, Paris, Tokyo, Memphis, wait… Memphis, really? While some may think Memphis isn’t in the same league as those other cities—the Metro 67, an apartment community in Memphis, TN, pays homage to the very definition of the word “cosmopolitan.” The Metro 67 apartments are located in downtown Memphis near the Mississippi river and slightly north of Beale Street, which can claim co-authorship for the style of music known as the Blues.

Built in 1923, the original construction served as one of the multiple banks for the southern Cotton Exchange. The property was revitalized in 2009 and today it accommodates 157 luxury living units managed by Memphis-based Fogelman Management Group. Metro 67 has raised the bar for modern apartment living in an ever-evolving downtown river city.

Residents at the Metro 67 enjoy numerous amenities: a rooftop lounge complete with river views that include the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge, lounges and game rooms in the basement’s former bank vaults, a comfortable movie theater, rotating art gallery and a permanent collection that enhances the hallways. A coffee bar is conveniently located next to a popular lounge whose vintage safe-door provides entrance to a secluded subterranean refuge. During the long southern summer, rooftop parties abound, but the theater is a favorite place to cool off.

Metro 67 offers various layouts from studios to penthouses starting at $820 up to $4,000; a typical three bedroom unit is $2,150. All apartment interiors have modern luxury finishes including stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and refined porcelain tile work. Everything is spacious and elegant, yet comfortable.

Resident retention is fairly effortless because of the downtown lifestyle. Most of the occupants know a good thing when they see it. Denizens of the Metro  67 enjoy a personal concierge and a dedicated events planner to keep their calendars full with happenings such as “Wine Down Wednesdays” or events to support the local Memphis Grizzlies—two years running in the NBA playoffs. Event focus can shift to charitable fundraisers that benefit local food banks or raise awareness for breast cancer. This apartment community also boasts one of Memphis’ first in-building recycling programs.

Metro 67 has partnered with the local Chamber of Commerce and the downtown Memphis commission to promote the brand. Designed in the Beaux Arts style, the building’s rich regional history has allowed it to serve as the modern backdrop for films such as “The Firm” and “Walk the Line” (a film about the life of Johnny Cash). There’s no doubt that the Metro 67 stands out among the ongoing revitalization efforts in downtown Memphis. In fact, its presence improves the city’s quality of life.

Location: Memphis, TN

Management: Fogelman
Management Group

Year Built: 1923 with conversion
to residential in 2009

Developer: EFO Residential Partners LTD

Architect: Hnedak Bobo Group

Features/Amenities: Rooftop lounge,
movie theater, personal concierge,
events planner, and in-building
recycling program

Number of Units: 157

Rent range: $820 (studio); $2,150
(three-bedroom); $4,000 (penthouse)