Top Rated Shopping in Memphis

Remaining much the same as it was when it opened in 1876, A. Schwab's is the kind of store where farmers would have gone every six months to stock up on supplies. The sacks of flour and seed have been replaced with Elvis souvenirs and voodoo accessories, but the wooden floors still squeak under your feet, while the dusty tables hold overalls and an eclectic assortment of merchandise. Not always open in the evening when Beale Street is crowded, this store alone is worth a daytime visit.

Burke's has been on the Memphis scene for over 125 years, and it is still a favorite, especially when John Grisham pays a visit to sign his latest best-seller. Though not as large as the super-stores, it features a carefully selected assortment of new books, as well as first editions and "previously loved" volumes. This is the kind of shop book lovers will browse for hours. Burke's is now creating a presence online as well, with collectible and autographed copies available to those who prefer to browse the Web.

The South is known for some of the best food in United States. Muddy's Bake Shop in Memphis lives up to the high standards of Southern gastronomy. Located on the Sanderlin Avenue, this place has oodles of baked goodness to offer. The menu here features a range of cakes, pastries and other confections made using fresh and organic local products. Home of the best cupcake in town, Muddy's also offers delicious vegan alternatives.

Gibson’s Donuts located on Mount Moriah Road has been a fixture of Eastgate neighborhood since 1967. Since its inception so many decades ago, the bakery has been known for its awesome range of doughnuts. There's a wealth of flavors, toppings and combinations thereof available at this charming donut spot. Of course you can pick one of the more popular ones like cinnamon apple, jelly-filled, chocolate glazed and such, but don't forget to try the unusual signatures they have, such as the Maple Bacon, Apple Fritters, New Orleans Buttermilk Drop Doughnuts. Located a few steps away from Gus's Memphis outlet, Gibson's arguably offers the best donuts in town!

This funky shop on Beale Street has all the CDs and cassettes by the great blues and jazz artists who made the Memphis music scene great, such as B.B King and Rufus Thomas. Memphis Music is also a good place to buy blues-related souvenirs, posters, T-shirts and more. Be sure to go all the way to the back of the store, where some great, unusual items can be found. So if you are looking for a quirky gift for a friend, this is the place to shop.

If you have Pokémon fever, check out this place. If you are more interested in sports than Pikachu, this place has baseball cards, new sets along with some older and collectible cards. The store carries basketball and football cards, as well. In the comics section, you will find the latest titles from Marvel, DC and some independent publishers, as well as collectible books, such as a framed copy of Silver Surfer Issue 1. There are also T-shirts, Star Wars stuff and cards and accessories for role-playing games such as Magic.