This iconic musician Favorite Diner was in Tennessee!
In the heart of downtown Memphis sits a place that feels like time forgot it — the Arcade Restaurant, now known simply as Arcade Memphis. More than just a diner, it’s a living relic of Southern culture, a meeting point of history and heart, and one of the few places where you can still eat breakfast in the same booth Elvis Presley once did.
A Century of History — From a Dream to a Landmark
The story of the Arcade begins in 1919, when Greek immigrant Speros Zepatos opened a small café on South Main Street. He wanted to create more than just a restaurant — he wanted a place where people could gather, eat, and feel at home. The original building was simple, wooden, and unassuming, powered by a potbelly stove that cooked hearty, homemade meals for the locals of a then-young Memphis.
By 1925, Zepatos rebuilt his modest café into the sturdy brick structure that still stands today. Inspired by the elegant curves of the architectural “arcades” popular in Europe, he named it The Arcade. The design reflected both his heritage and his adopted home — Old World charm meeting Southern warmth. Over a hundred years later, the building hasn’t lost that essence.
The restaurant remains Memphis’s oldest continuously operating café, a rare survivor in a city where the old often makes way for the new.
Elvis and the Corner Booth
Of all the countless customers who’ve passed through its doors, none left a bigger mark than Elvis Presley. In the 1950s, the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll made the Arcade his go-to spot whenever he was in town.
Elvis had a favorite booth — a tucked-away seat in the back corner, chosen for its privacy and for its quick access to a side door in case he needed to slip out unnoticed. That booth remains untouched to this day, preserved exactly as it was when he last sat there.
For fans, it’s become a shrine. Visitors from all over the world come to sit where Elvis once did, to order what he ordered, and to imagine the young superstar quietly enjoying a meal before heading back into the whirlwind of fame.
And that order? A fried peanut butter and banana sandwich — crispy, sweet, salty, and unmistakably Southern. The Arcade has embraced it as their signature dish, a staple on the menu that’s both a culinary curiosity and a cultural symbol.
The Taste of the South
But Elvis wasn’t the only one who fell in love with the food. The Arcade’s menu is a celebration of Southern comfort — dishes that feel like a hug from your grandmother and a slice of Americana rolled into one.
Breakfast is the soul of the place: sweet potato pancakes, biscuits and gravy, and a Travel Channel–featured favorite called Eggs Redneck, which layers sausage, biscuits, and eggs under a blanket of creamy country gravy. Lunch is no less nostalgic, with burgers, milkshakes, and homemade pies that recall an era before fast food replaced family tables.
Everything about the Arcade feels like stepping into a postcard from the past — chrome counters, checkered floors, red leather booths, and neon lights that hum softly above. The moment you walk in, you’re wrapped in that familiar retro glow, surrounded by the kind of atmosphere that makes strangers talk and time slow down.
Hollywood’s Favorite Diner
The Arcade’s charm hasn’t gone unnoticed by filmmakers. Its timeless interior has appeared in a string of Hollywood productions that needed an authentic slice of Americana.
The diner has featured in movies like The Firm, Elizabethtown, 21 Grams, Walk the Line, and Great Balls of Fire, as well as the television series Sun Records, which chronicled Memphis’s rich musical legacy. Each appearance has helped immortalize the restaurant as more than just a local favorite — it’s become part of the city’s visual identity.
And in recognition of its historical and cultural importance, the Arcade was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places, ensuring that future generations will remember its role in shaping both Memphis’s and America’s story.
A Family Legacy That Never Closed
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the Arcade isn’t its famous guests or movie cameos — it’s the family behind it. The Zepatos family has owned and operated the restaurant for over a century, passing it down through generations while keeping its character intact.
According to a 1997 report from a local newspaper, the Arcade had closed its doors only four times in its entire history — an astounding feat for any business, let alone a family-run diner. That resilience is a reflection of both the family’s dedication and the loyalty of its community.
Even as Memphis has changed — as skyscrapers rose, streetcars returned, and music evolved — the Arcade stayed the same at its core: a place where locals come for coffee, travelers stop for history, and everyone leaves a little fuller than they arrived.
The Spirit of Memphis, Served Hot
What keeps the Arcade alive after more than a century isn’t nostalgia alone — it’s the way it continues to embody the spirit of Memphis. This is a city built on rhythm and resilience, on the mix of cultures and sounds that birthed the blues, soul, and rock ‘n’ roll. The Arcade reflects all of that.
It’s where truck drivers eat next to tourists, where musicians trade stories over coffee, and where visitors come to touch a small piece of history. You can feel the hum of the city’s soul in its walls, its jukebox, and its conversations.
For many, the Arcade isn’t just a restaurant — it’s a ritual. It’s where mornings begin with biscuits and laughter, and where you can almost hear echoes of Elvis humming softly in the corner booth.
More Than a Meal
To eat at the Arcade is to experience living history — not the kind kept behind glass, but the kind you can taste, hear, and feel. Every plate tells a story, from the immigrant who built it to the rock ‘n’ roll icon who made it famous.
In an age when so much of life is disposable and digital, the Arcade remains defiantly human. It’s the kind of place that reminds you why diners matter — not for the food alone, but for what they represent: connection, continuity, and community.
As it celebrates more than 100 years of service, the Arcade Restaurant stands as proof that some things truly never go out of style — good food, good music, and good company.
So if you ever find yourself in Memphis, skip the chains and head downtown. Slide into a red booth, order the peanut butter and banana sandwich, and take a bite of history. Because in the Arcade, you’re not just having breakfast — you’re sharing a table with the spirit of the South and the echo of the King himself.