A. Schwab General Store is historic Beale Street's only remaining original business, originally opened to the public in 1876 by Jewish immigrant Abraham Joseph Schwab. As the oldest operating store in the Mid-South, the family-owned store has become a major Memphis tourist attraction, spanning two floors and selling unique, quirky merchandise and home goods, including Memphis-area souvenirs and folk art items. Visitors can explore the second-floor Beale Street Museum for free, which houses artifacts connected to the historic thoroughfare and its role in blues music history. Other attractions at the store include a turn-of-the-century replica soda fountain and cafe area, which serves light sandwiches, Sweet Magnolia ice cream, and sodas crafted with homemade syrups.
163 Beale St, Memphis, TN 38103, Phone: 901-523-9782