Demolition Filed for Poplar Bank Building

An application to demolish a four-story First Horizon Bank building in East Memphis is part of a planned mixed-use redevelopment.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Openings & Closings

Wide view of a boarded-up four-story brick office building beside a cleared dirt lot, with mature oak trees lining a Memphis street under overcast sky. — Gill Properties and Horn Ventures filed to demolish a four-story First Horizon Bank building at 4990 Poplar in East Memphis as part of a mixed-use redevelopment. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you think new development on Poplar would improve your East Memphis neighborhood?

An application for demolition was filed Monday for a four-story First Horizon Bank building at 4990 Poplar in East Memphis. The site sits next to the former Houston's restaurant, which has already been removed.

Why it matters

The filing signals a new phase of redevelopment along the Poplar corridor, where older commercial properties are being replaced with mixed-use projects. The change will reshape the streetscape at a busy intersection in East Memphis.

The planned replacement is a two-story, 50,000-square-foot office and retail building, with 60 underground parking spaces plus surface parking across 4990 and 5000 Poplar. The filing does not indicate when construction would begin.

The players

Gill Properties

Gill Properties is a Memphis-area real estate developer partnering on the planned mixed-use redevelopment at Poplar Avenue.

Horn Ventures

Horn Ventures is a development firm co-leading the planned mixed-use project at 4990 and 5000 Poplar in East Memphis.

The details

Gill Properties and Horn Ventures announced mixed-use development plans in February for 4990 and 5000 Poplar. The plan includes a 170-seat restaurant to be called "The Tradition."

February 2026: Gill Properties and Horn Ventures announced mixed-use development plans.
August 2026: Belmont Grill closed on the northwest corner of the intersection.
Monday, November 9, 2026: Demolition application filed for the First Horizon Bank building.

Market Landscape

The project follows a pattern of older single-use commercial sites along Poplar being recast as mixed-use developments combining office, retail and dining. Replacing a bank branch with a restaurant and office mix reflects a shift toward denser, multi-tenant use on high-traffic East Memphis corridors.

For Memphis shoppers and diners, the project would bring a new restaurant and retail space to the Poplar corridor once built. Nearby drivers should expect the bank site to change over the coming construction period.

The takeaway

Redevelopment along busy commercial corridors like Poplar often reshapes local dining and shopping options over several years. Watch for permit filings to track when work on these sites actually begins.