After more than a year of repairs following a run of fires, Tops Bar-B-Q's Rhodes Avenue restaurant in East Memphis is open again, restoring a longtime neighborhood barbecue anchor to regular service.
The 3970 Rhodes Avenue location officially reopened on Thursday, June 25, 2026, after a restoration that preserved the restaurant’s chimney and some original flooring while restoring exposed brickwork, according to WREG. Tops said it transferred employees to other nearby locations during the work and described the Rhodes storefront as the oldest operating store in its local lineup.
“For many people, Rhodes Avenue isn’t just another restaurant — it’s a piece of Memphis history,” Tops CEO Randy Hough said in a statement to WREG. He added that the company focused on upgrading mechanical and safety systems while keeping the building’s familiar character intact.
Fires and repairs
The Rhodes location was first damaged by an early-morning blaze on Feb. 20, 2025, according to the early-morning fire. The Memphis Fire Department later traced the damage to HVAC and ceiling vents, and a second fire in September was investigated as arson, according to Action News 5. Those incidents followed October and November 2024 fires at the chain’s Summer Avenue and Frayser locations, which prompted systemwide safety checks and staggered reopenings, per Action News 5.
Neighborhood comeback
Tops, founded in 1952 and a long-running Mid-South operator, runs multiple locations around Memphis, and company leaders framed the Rhodes reopening as part of keeping that local footprint intact, the Daily Memphian noted. Managers say the restored space is reopening with the full menu, and customers can expect the familiar lineup of burgers and smoked pork as staff settle back in.
The Rhodes location is listed on Tops' site with regular hours and a contact number, and the company recommends checking the location page for the latest hours and reservations. Tops' Rhodes location page lists hours as 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily and the phone number (901) 323-9865.
