Bandos, the Memphis burger-and-wing joint that pulled steady late-night crowds on Thomas Street, is packing up and heading downtown. The homegrown spot is set to reopen in a Poplar Avenue storefront and has already started recruiting staff, according to recent social media posts. It is the latest independent restaurant to gamble on downtown foot traffic as the area works to keep diners lingering after dark.
Per WhatNow, Bandos is planning to relocate to 260 Poplar Ave in downtown Memphis and is eyeing a roughly 1,836-square-foot space. Paperwork reviewed by the outlet shows the Memphis and Shelby County Division of Planning and Development is reviewing a certificate of occupancy for the address. Bandos also posted a hiring call on its social channels and described the downtown spot as "opening soon," according to the report.
From Thomas Street to Poplar
Before going dark late last year, Bandos operated at 862 Thomas Street, where it built a loyal following around smash burgers, wings and a Memphis Philly option. Business listings and menus show the shop offering wings, burgers, loaded fries, tacos and nachos, per Restaurantji. Fans of the original location will be watching closely to see how much of that lineup makes the jump downtown.
Space, Permits and Timeline
Documents reviewed by WhatNow put the Poplar storefront at about 1,836 square feet and confirm that city planners are reviewing the certificate of occupancy. Public permit listings for 258–260 Poplar also show recent commercial permits and an earlier certificate of occupancy for the block, per Realtor.com. There is still no firm opening date, but the ongoing hiring push hints at a soft opening once staff is in place.
What to Expect
If Bandos sticks to the Thomas Street playbook, the Poplar Avenue address could become a new magnet for downtown workers, night-shift regulars and bar crowds hunting for a post-midnight fix. Local roundups have already put Bandos in the mix of Memphis late-night options, highlighting its appeal to after-hours diners, per Choose901. For now, hungry fans will have to keep an eye on Bandos’ social pages for an official opening date and a look at the downtown menu.
