Downtown Memphis’ Hotel Pontotoc first opened in 1906 and, over time, became a bordello and a nightclub before being converted into a private residence.
Now, as it transitions back to its first use, a new restaurant inside the renovated hotel is taking its name from some of that history.
The Dame, a “high beverage, light food” concept, will open later this summer at the hotel at 69 Pontotoc Ave.
“The Dame is a take on the word ‘madam,’” owner Joseph Lewis said. “It’s not in your face but still showing some of the history of the building.”
The restaurant will be on the ground floor of the 10-bedroom boutique hotel and will feature a limited food menu, such as charcuterie, as well as bourbons and wines. It will seat roughly 50 people.
“We keep hearing from women and men Downtown that they want a spot where they can go have a nice glass of wine but not at a high-end restaurant,” Lewis said. “We’re hitting that niche of what people are looking for.”
This column originally appeared in The Daily Memphian. Keep reading.