Somewhere between the first round of cocktails and the first plate off the grill, the strangers seated next to us had swapped names, favorite restaurants, and plenty of laughs. That’s Meal on Main in a nutshell! On Thursday, October 22, the Downtown Neighborhood Association (DNA) hosted its 2nd Annual Meal on Main, turning Main Street between MLK Jr. Avenue and Pontotoc Avenue into an outdoor dining room for one glowing evening of community.
2nd Annual Meal on Main, October 22, 2026, Main Street, Downtown Memphis. Graphic courtesy of the Downtown Neighborhood Association.
A Dinner Party, Downtown Style
2nd Annual Meal on Main
October 22, 2026 ● Main Street ● Downtown
DNA knows how to throw a party! Long tables draped in crisp white linens stretched down Main Street, set with gold flatware and dainty florals, all glowing under a canopy of twinkling string lights. ✨ It felt like the best Friendsgiving of the year, with a few hundred Memphians around one long table.
2nd Annual Meal on Main, October 22, 2026, Main Street, Downtown Memphis. Photo by Breunna Lovett, Choose901 Alumni Director.
Cheers to the Vibes
Old Dominick Distillery
October 22, 4:30 PM ● Main Street ● Downtown
Social Hour, sponsored by Red Bull, got things rolling, and the bar poured cocktails from Old Dominick Distillery, a Downtown favorite made right here in Memphis. Drinks in hand, the crowd settled in while a live band ran through the classics, and more than one table sang along. 🎶 The vibe was pure Memphis: relaxed, festive, and full of conversations between strangers who turned out to be neighbors.
And the Food? Peak Dining
The Lobbyist
October 22, 5:30 PM ● Main Street ● Downtown
Chef Jimmy Gentry and the crew at The Lobbyist, the acclaimed restaurant that calls this very block home, ran the kitchen. They brought the heat. Literally! 🔥 An open wood fire grill sat right on Main Street, and the crew cooked dinner in front of the whole crowd. Watching dinner come off the flames a few feet from the table is a whole experience, and the quality and presentation were top tier.
Chef Jimmy Gentry of The Lobbyist cooked for Meal on Main on October 22, 2026, on Main Street, Downtown Memphis. Photo: The Commercial Appeal.
The Real Main Course: Community
Downtown Neighborhood Association
October 22, 2026 ● Main Street ● Downtown
As good as the food and drinks were, the people stole the show. 🙌🏾 Sitting shoulder to shoulder with fellow 901 lovers, sharing a meal and swapping stories under the string lights, was a sweet reminder of what makes this city so special.
DNA President Jerred Price called the dinner a celebration of everything the neighborhood accomplished together this year, with neighbors “breaking bread together under the lights of Main Street.” DNA Secretary Elizabeth Sullivan, who helped plan the night, credited Downtown staples like The Lobbyist and Old Dominick for bringing the community together.
Save a Seat for Next Year
Big love to the Downtown Neighborhood Association, The Lobbyist, Old Dominick Distillery, Red Bull, and everyone who helped set the table. We will absolutely pull up a chair again next year! Memphians who want first dibs on Meal on Main 2027 can keep an eye on DNAmemphis.org and follow DNA on social for updates, membership info, and more ways to get involved Downtown. DNA members even got a ticket discount this year.
Dining and Cooking