RIP CRAIG BREWER (@MyBrewTube) September 9, 2013. Youll recognize familiar surroundings. Truly and interesting place, and the barthender was so kind!More. But dont just talk to me and dont buy no beer!. Construction in the main room, and signs point to being able to get in the back, but the doors were locked up and nothing looked open. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. Not a chain. The team seeks to help a former bartender confront both the light and dark forces haunting the mysterious music hall. From a young age, George listened to soul, jazz, and the blues. Always good music live or on the box. Ernestine & Hazel - Sundry and Former Brothel. This is where Russell George dances into the picture. Clearly they have never heard what happens when you speak ill of the dead. This is a place to come have fun. Caitlin Chittom, the owner of Earnestine and Hazels' said the bones were sent somewhere to be identified. They would stroll down for some cheap soul food and good alcohol before retiring for the night to the nearby Lorraine Motel, or possibly for an hour of fun in one of the upstairs rooms. See the rooms upstairs to verify your history lesson. The music was awesome. Lots of stories, never sure how true they all are but check out theupstairs rooms and ask someone for a history lesson about honky tonk woman.More, My husband and I recently visited Memphis and this was definitely one of my favorite spots. The story from the investigator that heard everybody is a star, well, he had set up several cameras over two nights, trying to capture some activity on the second floor. Be sure to record or watch and swing by for your. They were sent out for testing but I dont know if it was ever published what kind of remains they were. Very cool! I had two orders in one setting, at 1am, as this was the closest place to get a meal, from out hotel. A large police presence could be seen in front Earnestine and Hazel's just before 11 a.m. 2 thumbs up! They are saving the building and the business.". As we mentioned at the top of the story, Earnestine and Hazels is now up for sale. It's not. Get the latest and best from Memphis Rap by email! Its an old soul bar with a great DJ, bar staff and cook. From what I have read, Nate is the go to guy for all things Earnestine and Hazels. According to the building owner, Russell George's death is being investigated as a possible suicide, likely caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. What days are Earnestine & Hazel's Bar & Grill open? the ordinary. Great live music, cheap beers, solid drinks, and had all the spooky allure of a haunted building. The building, which was once a sundry and a brothel, is more than a century old. Disable the NSFW warnings that refer to content considered inappropriate in the workplace (Not Suitable For Work). Their juke joint was the go-to hangout for the after-show party crowd. Georges office is now padlocked and no one goes in anymore. Schering Plough and the Plough Foundation became a major philanthropic entity in Memphis. I calm them downand then they are good., He has seen some unspeakable things in his day, and once had to remind a patron that while E&H may have once been a brothel upstairs, it isnt any longer: I said, Man, we just cant do this up here. I just couldnt believe it. Oh it could be that they sell alcohol.More, Sadly, this legendary location was closed when we tried to go recently (Labor Day weekend 2019). There were 7 Pantaze drug stores on Main St and in the downtown area. Oh it could be that they sell alcohol. During one investigation, the interviewer and Brownlee were sitting at the bar, just as it opened, the jukebox wasnt on yet, and they were talking about what a rough night it was the night before. Sadly, the church burned down some time in the early 1900s. The Central Station Memphis, Curio Collection by Hilton, National Civil Rights Museum - Lorraine Motel. Videos. Suddenly, the jukebox started playing Everybody is a Star by Sly and the Family Stone. There is a small 8 seat bar on the second floor, where the brothel was located, that was opened on the weekends. Diversified Builders crews have resumed restoration work after a Wednesday night scare whenbones fell out of a wall they were in the process of repairing. <p>In their heyday, Earnestine Mitchell and Hazel Jones rubbed elbows with some of the biggest names in rock and soul history. Soon, Nate was fondly talking about hosting the after-party of the the movie Get Shorty, all of the celebrities that hes met, how short Danny DeVito is, and how he used to eat a few soul burgers a night back when former owner Russell George was still alive. It was during his time owning Pantaze that Plough started to expand his brand and continued on to find his fame. According to the building owner, Russell George's death is being investigated as a possible suicide, likely caused by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Yes, Earnestine & Hazel's Bar & Grill offers takeout. Brownlee told a particularly memorable story to the investigator and his friend. Another night, a businessman came in telling a story about how a coworker threw up in a cab and how awful it smelled. Right as we were finishing this episode, the Daily Memphian announced that E&H has a buyer! More a bar than restaurant, ;limited menu , perhaps just a sausage on a bun. Moments later Whats the smell by Lynyrd Skynyrd came on. more menus Dinner Menu Brunch Menu Late Night Menu . Earnestine & Hazel's Bar & Grill Popular Dishes, Keith G. said: Almost did not come to this location due to the reviews but I figured, Everette B. said: I go into a fast good joint expecting sub par service. whatever they're doing up front doesn't change this great old place, and that they're open for visitors (for real) soon! Bud Chittom, his daughter explained, wouldn't want the place to change. E&Hs jazz club thrived for a couple of decades, but in the 70s and 80s things started to take a turn for the worse. Host to more productions than I care to count, the hallowed halls of this old blues joint have 'spirit'. . She said felt a womans troubled and saddened spirit and she somehow knew the girl had been stabbed. They had to find the perfect person to take over their property and do it justice. 4358 entries. She is the director of visitor experience at Stax Museum of American Soul Music. Changing the subject and getting back to the topic of his work, we talked about the happiest memories that Nate has of working at E&H. The creation of Memphis In May started the renewal of downtown. I used to drink. That same year, Nate began working for Earnestine and Hazel's future owner, Russell George, at Murphy's in Midtown. Earnestine and Hazel's Bar and Grill. So historic that it's crazy; true time travel. Its said his spirit does inhabit the bar. Her son had passed away from a gunshot wound. We're opening up early today Come on by at noon today for Soul Burgers and a drink before Beale Street Music Festival! Nate went on to work for Russell at Earnestine & Hazels in 1992 and has been there ever since. (WMC-TV) - The owner of a popular bar on South Main was reportedly found dead Monday morning. I bet thats the spirits of the ladies who used to work there, trying to beckon you to a room. He was a great support of Memphis film. One thing that all employees have for E&Hs is respect. Get quick answers from Earnestine & Hazel's Bar Grill staff and past visitors. He was 15 and running an illegal bar, what do you expect it to be called? Nate went on to work for Russell at Earnestine & Hazel's in 1992 and has been there ever since. Even in that picture, you can see an orb. The well-known South Main bar attracts hundreds of locals and tourists weekly, many of whom return for the famous "Soulburgers" and juke box that plays the music of renowned artists like Otis Redding. People have also said theyve felt hands touching them when they go upstairs. You know, [I was] 19 years oldwhat do you think I was thinking?, Sometime before Marilyn, Nate and Hazel may have had a date or two. One thing has changed though. Derk Meitzler, who is a member of the Downtown Restaurant group, seems to be heading this operation. Earnestine and Hazels isnt just your typical haunted atmosphere. The cafe became a popular stop for performers after their sets at nearby nightclubs. Please go to the settings menu on your phone related to your web browser, and re-enable JavaScript. We're saving the foundation of the building, but nothing cosmetic" Chittom said. The entrance is on G. E. Patterson Avenue. Very old, but so interesting to experience. This is definitely a must see if you visit Memphis!! During the 70s about 500 people lived downtown. This Tennessee citys dynamic food scene, soulfully-curated hotels, cocktail establishments, emerging art scene, music, deep Civil Rights history and outdoor activities are giving more and more travelers reasons to visit. The Orpheum was a Malco theatre that showed X rated movies some of the time. But its not just for anyone to have. This was not the first business venture of Sunbeam Mitchell though. And its $12. His patent medicine took off and within a couple of years he doubled his profits. The Peabody had shut down. Search. [Hazel] was Bobby Blue Blands mistress at the time.. by Memphis Rap September 9, 2013, 7:07 pm, Ernestine & Hazel Sundry and Former Brothel, Your email address will not be published. Willie T's Shrimp Pasta By our old friend, Russell George! Side note: patent medicines are basically ones that marketed as medicines, but have no proven effectiveness. It freaked them out so much they left the bar. He got married three years after he moved to Memphis. According to his music note on Beale St, he was a man you dont meet everyday. He was 19 years old when he came to the Memphis area to visit his sister and brother-in-law, who were stationed at the Air Force base in Millington. Haunted Juke box? I guess all the "spooky" azure is in the part of the building that was closed.We did have the "Soul" burgers, which were pretty good.More. The club was located on GE Patterson, so it was not a far trek to E&Hs cafe. And generally speaking, the box will cater its song choice to whatever subject you have been talking about. They recently even found bones in the walls. Then moments later and without warning, the jukebox stops. As they say, after the party is the afterparty and thats exactly what happened at E&Hs. Its storied rooms have been home to countless traveling bluemen, from the days of the 'chitlin circuit' and their favorite upstairs 'girls'. Besides being the best dive bar in the country, E&H is also known for being one of the most haunted. She said she wants someone who will honor a dive bar-and-a-brothels history. and Memphis and made us feel welcome. Settle in downstairs with a cold beer and the juicy "Soul Burger" slathered in mustard and onions. After decades of decadence, 13 souls remain at the bar to party for eternity. Earnestine & Hazel's Bar Grill is rated accordingly in the following categories by Tripadvisor travelers: Where to Drink in Memphis This New Year's Eve, 84 E Ge Patterson Ave, Memphis, TN 38103-4410. (WMC-TV) - There are rumblings that a Memphis dive bar known around the world has an uncertain future after its owner was found dead inside last month. Ziggy Mack is an internationally published photographer about town. It was even mentioned that he might have known Ms. Hazel in more than just a friendly way. There was no body, and no one can say with certainty what organism the bones originated from. The cafe, however, was holding its own, for the time. It has been run by a fella named Nate, since George opened the bar. Chittom hasmovedbeloved items like the jukebox, the pool table and even the ragged red leather couch to the new space. Besides being the best dive bar in the country, E&H is also known for being one of the most haunted. Did you know that JavaScript does the following? Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:04 24.8MB) | Embed. George had been battling cancer and depression for a while and according to Brownlee, she thought he just knew the end was coming soon and wanted to make sure he could stay at the bar. While the upstairs had to be closed during construction as well, longtime upstairs bartender Nathaniel Barnes (Mr. Nate to his regular customers) will be tending bar in the back bar space as well. Not somebody coming from Nashville, who doesnt get it.. Sometimes people get out of hand. When a comment was made about the spirits not liking the cameras, loud knocks could be heard coming from the room as well. Russell George was found dead inside his bar, Earnestine and Hazel's, in September. Maybe someone who met their demise upstairs? Do they have anything besides beer? Their drinks are made PERFECT!!!! George did some renovations and on St. Patricks Day 1993, Earnestine and Hazels reopened as a full fledged bar. Youll often hear them referred to as tonics or elixirs. In 1976 Nate started a job with Budweiser (and worked there for 34 years). When I asked Nate about that Memphis thingthe grit, the unnamed savory and complex quality that E&H is steeped in from the soul burger to the crooked staircase and the hospitalityhe asserted: Nate takes E&Hs hospitality seriously and loves talking to his customers. Plough opened Pantaze Drugstores in the 1930s. You might say, what an odd thing to be haunted or how do you know? It also has live music and dancing, to a variety of bands. In the late 1800s, it was built as a church, complete with fancy doors and a steeple. If you are looking for the ghosts of Memphis, go here. He opened over 50 restaurants in Memphis and made Beale Street what it is today. Caitlin Chittom, the owner of Earnestine and Hazels' said the bones were sent somewhere to be identified. 1361 entries. Legends like B.B. Id not ever seen that video. BEST burger I've had in a looooong time! NSFW. Note: your question will be posted publicly on the Questions & Answers page. One the paranormal groups had come to spend the evening at the bar and they were talking to George about exorcism and the Rolling Stones Sympathy for the Devil started playing. It is reported that 13 people have died in the building. People ask me all the time, How do you do it?. There are also reports of an occasional shadowy face in a picture too. The only thing on the menu is the soul burger, which was good, but don't expect anything out ofthe ordinary. One of the products that Plough had made was a hair straightening product and it worked quite well. Second floor is awesome and creepy. You definitely get what you pay for!More, , processed patty,. Learn the history of this location and the visit becomes even better. Earnestine & Hazel's owner Caitlin Chittom announced on Nov. 23 that she was selling the business on Facebook. After all, this is a place to have fun, he says. Earnestine and Hazel knew it was time to retire. Rumors squashed about Earnestine & Hazel's 'uncertain future'. The bar is known for its Soul Burgers and haunted juke box. They recently even found bones in the walls. Memphis: Home of the Blues, Barbecue, andBagels. It was said that more people were in jail (about 1000 people) than actually lived downtown. She made some maintenance improvements where needed and brought in local craft beer on tap. Ill post a picture from a class project where we did a photo shoot there. Its been reported that you get a feeling of sadness when you go upstairs and a feeling of relief, like a weight has been lifted, when you go back downstairs. See production, box office & company info. Being so close to the railroad, the building began its service to humankind as a dry goods store, with a bordello on the second floor. The record player no longer works, but the radio does. **. MORE PHOTOS. Required fields are marked *. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. By the age of 15, he had opened his first bar in an apartment downtown. They have found that if they respect the establishment, they dont have any negative experiences. This is a phenomenal dive bar with plenty of history. Hazel passed away in 1995 and Earnestine in 1998. WATCH. Over the years, there have been countless paranormal investigations and ghost tours that have happened at E&H. Earnestine & Hazel's has new owners. Earnestine and Hazel's - Dive Bar in Memphis See all 285 photos Earnestine and Hazel's Dive Bar and Burger Joint $ $$$ South Main Historic District, Memphis Save Share Tips 60 Photos 285 Menu 8.8/ 10 176 ratings Ranked #3 for burgers in Memphis "bring cash for the juke and order a soul burger for the love of god" (19 Tips) King, Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin. Stepped in to grab some oatmeal. Over the next 100 years, Plough Inc became a multi-million dollar company, partnering with Schering Company. Until now, she had run the bar like it has always been run, for the most part. Sadly, Bud suddenly passed away on September 5, 2018. From a haunted jukebox to a fire-haired phantom to a cheeseburger that'll make you wanna slap your, mama, Earnestine and . Once the acts finished their sets at Club Paradise, they would head to Earnestine & Hazels for good food, good drinks, good conversation, and good company. It was so good I had two. "Most people would just give up and sell the building. You just needed some cheese, pickles, sauteed onions, and the secret sauce. From a haunted jukebox t. Orbs can be seen floating in almost every picture that is taken there. Great if youre staying at the Train station Hilton. (He lost a daughter, Dorothy, in 2015.) It was a residential area that remained so until the early 1900s, when the railroad was built. Earnestine & Hazel's Bar & Grill is open Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun. He knew he could bring it back to its former glory. Earnestine and Hazel didn't exactly support or promote prostitution, they just chose to turn a blind eye. One of the employees went upstairs for something and came running back down and right out the door. The days of gliding under the radar as a hidden gem are nearing an end for Memphis. Host to more productions than I care to count, the hallowed halls of this old blues joint have 'spirit'. He loved food and he loved music and he spent his life giving both of those to many Memphians and tourists alike. She said all of a sudden, a little baby bird came hopping up to her from over one of the booths. Earnestine and Hazel's is a historic dive bar in Tennessee that once hosted the likes of B.B. One of Sunbeams music venues (Club Handy) and the Mitchell hotel were on the second and third floors of the Pantaze Drugs, which again was owned by Plough, on Beale St. (Wet Willies currently occupies this building.). This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. While construction is underway, Earnestine and Hazel's is operating out of the back bar space, often referred to as "The Five Spot." We'll have so much fun together once you do. The team seeks to help a former bartender confront both the light and dark forces haunting the mysterious music hall. She gave Brownlee a hug and then walked out, never to return again. Menu. See Tune-In Times. They also moved the cooktop so that their world-famous Soul Burgers can be enjoyed while the front bar is closed. With his additional money, Plough found his way into the cosmetics and sunscreen business and eventually acquired St. Josephs Aspirin brand. Earnestine & Hazel's Bar & Grill 263 reviews Claimed $ Dive Bars, Burgers Edit Open 5:00 PM - 3:00 AM (Next day) See hours See all 213 photos Write a review Add photo Save Menu Website menu Full menu Location & Hours 531 S Main St Memphis, TN 38103 Downtown Get directions Edit business info Sponsored Moe's Southwest Grill 44 6.6 miles I guess someone likes it because they are still open. Russell George Police have discovered a body at Earnestine and Hazel's bar on South Main in downtown Memphis.