Jerry Lee Lewis Club on Beale Street sold, closed

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jerry Lee Lewis’ namesake club on Beale Street has sold and is closed for now.

While it could reopen under new owners, it won’t have The Killer’s name attached, said Kevin Kane, president of Memphis Tourism, who is familiar with the deal.

Kane said the building at 310 Beale sold Wednesday, and had been on the market for some time.

“This is not a surpise,” Kane said, mentioning that plans for a Hard Rock Hotel on Beale fell through recently.

He did not know the new owners’ plans for the space, but said it could reopen with new branding. Lewis’ name would not be part of any new concept, he said.

Jerry Lee Lewis’ Honky Tonk Cafe opened to much fanfare in 2013. Lewis himself died in 2022 at the age of 87.

Jerry Lee Louis’ wife, Judith Lewis confirmed on Thursday that her husband’s name will no longer be associated with the club. She also told NewsNation affiliate WREG that her family asked the club to stop using her husband’s name two years before he died.

She says they did not like what the club had turned into, and that they were no longer playing Jerry Lee Louis’ music or rock and roll.

Thursday afternoon, the doors were open at Jerry Lee Lewis’ club on Beale, but no workers were anywhere around.

“Especially with just how lively Beale Street is, knowing that another place is closing, that’s definitely shocking for sure,” said Carmen Webster of Memphis, who was on the street Thursday.

The Hard Rock Cafe on Beale also closed last year.

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