A Memphis Reddit user asked what's gotten better in last 20 years. The responses show why we love the Bluff City.

Jordan Green, Memphis Commercial Appeal
·4 min read

Memphis, a city known for its rich culture and even richer foods, is often criticized for its high crime rates, but recently, Reddit users took the time to post things about the city they love.

On Wednesday, a Reddit user posed the question, "What has gotten better in Memphis over the last 20 years?" In the description, the user went on to say, "I know everyone likes to talk about what has gotten worse, but what in your opinion has gotten better over the last 20 years?"

The post gained 86 upvotes and 138 comments from Memphians weighing in with their favorite additions and upgrades to the city over the last 20 years.

Here is what Memphis Redditors listed as things in the city that have gotten better in recent years.

A rendering of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee sign atop the Commonwealth Building at 240 Madison Ave. in Downtown Memphis.
A rendering of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee sign atop the Commonwealth Building at 240 Madison Ave. in Downtown Memphis.

The Memphis restaurant scene has upgraded itself again and again

With new restaurants opening every month, Memphis' restaurant scene has grown a lot in 20 years.

One Redditor wrote, "The restaurant scene has gotten pretty cool ... 20 years ago the cuisine variety was very limited to now."

Restaurants like Flight Restaurant & Wine Bar and Chez Phillipe at the Peabody Hotel put Memphis on the map in national "best of" lists.

Along with these classier dining options are regular spots that have opened across the city. From small cafes to quick dining to bakeries, Memphis has it all. Redditors also noted how much better Mexican restaurants have gotten in the city.

The dining 20: The best new Memphis restaurants that have opened since 2020, from fine dining to BBQ

Biking in Memphis has improved tremendously

A mural sits inside the bike hub on the first floor of the Downtown Mobility Center in Downtown Memphis. Guests can securely store their bicycles in the hub daily or overnight.
A mural sits inside the bike hub on the first floor of the Downtown Mobility Center in Downtown Memphis. Guests can securely store their bicycles in the hub daily or overnight.

Despite being ranked as one of the least bike-friendly cities in America, Memphis is improving the bikeability of the city constantly.

With the addition of the Greenline, most major parks are now connected from central Memphis to Cordova through ten miles of pavement. Along with this, the city has been adding more biking lanes in congested areas so people don't have to rely on cars as much.

A person posted about the improvement of bike lanes in the city saying, "I'm in Midtown and can run most of my errands via bike."

Bike progress: Memphis has not been considered a bicycling haven. How it's changing, from safety to access

Memphis attractions have become better and more plentiful

Over the years, Memphis has made a point to add to what was already here in terms of attractions in the city.

Downtown has seen a great deal of renovations over the past few years. Overton Square, Broad Avenue, and Crosstown Concourse have all seen a larger presence because of the upgrades made to those areas.

Along with these are more outdoor, family spots like Shelby Farms Park and the Memphis Zoo that have seen major renovations take place in the past ten years. One Redditor posted, "Not saying it's perfect, but the zoo seems to consistently try to improve itself."

'Something pretty special:' A look inside the next chapter for the Memphis Zoo

Nightlife in Memphis has taken an upward turn in 20 years

Overton Square garden
Overton Square garden

In terms of nightlife, it seemed that most night and weekend activity revolved around Downtown and Beale Street for years. Now, nightlife action is spread around the city making events accessible to people all over.

A Redditor posted about the increased number of breweries in the city, "20 years ago there was not any local beer breweries." Memphis has ten breweries that make their brews in-house. Most of these locations opened within the last ten years.

Along with the breweries in town is the bar life that has come to life. A good number of bars in town will host events nightly. The best place to find these invents is on websites or social media accounts. For karaoke lovers, there is an event almost every night at different bars around the city.

Memphis Made: This Memphis brewery lands on list of Best Airport Bars in US

The newly renovated airport brings a new light to the city

The Wise Omega Bodega is a bar in the Memphis International Airport that features beers from Memphis brewery WISEACRE.
The Wise Omega Bodega is a bar in the Memphis International Airport that features beers from Memphis brewery WISEACRE.

In 2022, the Memphis International Airport reopened after an entire renovation took place in the B concourse. It has been open for over a year now and continues to grow. There are now eight locations in Concourse B that allow flyers to stop and grab a bite to eat on their way through the airport.

A Redditor posted about the airport, "Although we've lost a lot of flights with the closure of the Northwest hub, the airport is a much better experience now."

Inside the airport: Memphis International Airport has a new place to grab a drink before a flight

What do you think has gotten better about Memphis in the last 20 years?

Jordan Green covers trending news for the USAToday Network. She can be reached via email at jordan.Green@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter/X @_green_jordan_.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Reddit asked how city has improved. These were the answers.