Commercial Furniture in Memphis: Historic Frontages and Event Handling

The Memphis Landmarks Commission reviews work visible from the street in historic districts, including several types of exterior alteration. Develop901 provides the commission's Certificate of Appropriateness application and local district information.

For a patio, hospitality entrance, or institutional courtyard in one of those districts, identify which proposed components change the exterior: attached benches, railings, shade structures, or alterations needed to install them. Ask preservation staff to confirm the scope before committing to their material or attachment details. Keep loose chairs and tables separately itemized so a decision about construction does not make the entire order difficult to revise. Supply a photograph of the frontage with the proposed work marked on it.

Renasant's exhibitor guidelines direct exhibit move-in and move-out through the service yard, designated loading docks, freight elevators, and freight doors. They exclude lobby areas, side doors, escalators, and passenger elevators from that purpose.

For furniture being supplied to an event there, put the assigned service entrance on the carrier brief. Measure packed dimensions and loaded carts against the confirmed freight route, and identify the final room or booth on every package. A delivery to the street address is only the first stage; the event team should agree on who performs the internal move and where assembly will occur. These are venue-specific instructions, not rules for every Memphis property.

The same Renasant guidelines require protection for carpeted routes used by handling equipment, restrict equipment without non-marking tires on carpet, and call for protection around doorways and floors during furniture and crate movement. They also restrict placing pallets and crates directly on carpeted areas.

Include the installer’s floor-protection materials, suitable carts, and uncrating method in the job scope. Ask whether a long counter or lounge piece can turn along the assigned route without being dragged or tilted against a doorway. Record the condition of furniture and the receiving area at handoff, and leave time for packaging removal within the event's move schedule. A furniture specification is incomplete if the agreed handling method can damage either the product or the building.