Walking at night off of Beale St

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egunzy

Active Member
Mar 16, 2008
351
194
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Humeston, IA
Before I left for Memphis I saw several posts about how unsafe it was to get more than 2 blocks off Beale St after dark in any direction. I heard some WRNL podcasts mention that as well. We stayed at the Sleep Inn by Court Square (about 8-10 blocks off Beale St) and we walked back to the hotel each night and never had any issues or felt threatened. The walk along Main was very well lit. I did not notice any police presence either but did not feel like it was needed. Just curious to see what others who stayed off Beale thought about this.

Thanks!
 

clonedude

Well-Known Member
Apr 16, 2006
30,545
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Before I left for Memphis I saw several posts about how unsafe it was to get more than 2 blocks off Beale St after dark in any direction. I heard some WRNL podcasts mention that as well. We stayed at the Sleep Inn by Court Square (about 8-10 blocks off Beale St) and we walked back to the hotel each night and never had any issues or felt threatened. The walk along Main was very well lit. I did not notice any police presence either but did not feel like it was needed. Just curious to see what others who stayed off Beale thought about this.

Thanks!

Maybe you looked too poor to rob? :D
 

capitalcityguy

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Jun 14, 2007
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Des Moines
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Storkenheimer

Active Member
Oct 2, 2011
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We stayed 5 blocks north of Beale and my group observed the following over the course of 2 evenings:

A poor gentleman informed my brother that he was dumb for no real reason. He continued jawing at us for about a block but no one could understand him.

Someone who was having mental or substance issues screaming at us incoherently about 'the supreme leader of the universe'. Not sure, maybe he was talking about Snoke??

A confused individual in an argument with a light pole.

2 people arguing with each other on a side street. Then they started running toward a cop car and screaming about God knows what.

Some dude out front of a bar on Beale had a bunch of white powder on his nose. He was sputtering half sentence nonsensical prophetic rhymes.

I blame my brother that was with us. He seemed to be a magnet for all the weirdos.
 

CycloneErik

Well-Known Member
Jan 31, 2008
105,606
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Jamerica
rememberingdoria.wordpress.com
We stayed 5 blocks north of Beale and my group observed the following over the course of 2 evenings:

A poor gentleman informed my brother that he was dumb for no real reason. He continued jawing at us for about a block but no one could understand him.

Someone who was having mental or substance issues screaming at us incoherently about 'the supreme leader of the universe'. Not sure, maybe he was talking about Snoke??

A confused individual in an argument with a light pole.

2 people arguing with each other on a side street. Then they started running toward a cop car and screaming about God knows what.

Some dude out front of a bar on Beale had a bunch of white powder on his nose. He was sputtering half sentence nonsensical prophetic rhymes.

I blame my brother that was with us. He seemed to be a magnet for all the weirdos.

If I were with you, every one of those folks would have come up and talked to me like we'd known each other for decades.
 

madguy30

Well-Known Member
Nov 15, 2011
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If I were with you, every one of those folks would have come up and talked to me like we'd known each other for decades.

Like they've known you or because you've known them for decades? :)

I think in most situations if you're out when the crowds are out and don't do anything stupid safety shouldn't be an issue.
 
  • Agree
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BoxsterCy

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 14, 2009
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Well, no Cyclone fans were murdered. Which is more than I can say for my position counterpart with our Memphis district office.
 

u_of_elvis

Member
Dec 4, 2017
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There is a square of downtown Memphis that is considered the tourist district. It has it's own police station, tons of police coverage, and it very safe. It goes from the FedexForum to Autozone park and then to the river. You don't want to wander south of there except for the south main arts district, and if you are going north to the hotels stay on Main street.

Memphis is full of pockets of good and bad, they are real close together, and it changes fast. The pockets of good are much bigger than they were in the early 90s, and a little common sense goes a long way. There are other pedestrian entertainment areas outside of downtown like Cooper Young (west of the stadium) and Overton Square. That's where locals go out.

I saw some Iowa State fans walking south down airways / lamar after the liberty bowl, and I did want to pick them up but the car was full. I'm sure it was fine (especially if they have common sense and know how to mind their own business), but I wouldn't want to take a long stroll around there. The only reason there weren't prostitutes at the same intersection is that it's hard to show off your wares in a parka.
 
  • Informative
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kingcy

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Sep 16, 2006
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Menlo, Iowa
The area we stayed in was great but had a few uber drivers tell us not to go far past the Arena. If you could not tell there was a strong police presence around Beale Street. Also people usually don't use razor wire for the fun of it.
 
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jburke

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
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Ankeny, IA
I do believe the weather impacted this. In 2012 we stayed at a hotel up by the St. Jude's Hospital, so it was also a decent walk and I remember the homelessness being a lot worse....