Changes are coming to the River Inn of Harbor Town and its Food and Beverage Operations
According to Micajah Sturdivant, CEO at MMI Hospitality Group, the group has been brought in to "direct a new chapter for the River Inn."
The River Inn was developed by Henry Turley and Lewis Holland. It opened in 2008. Sturdivant said the ownership group has taken on a new partner in Bryan Nearn, a hotel industry vet.
MMI is based in Jackson, Mississippi. But, Sturdivant has strong Memphis ties. His mother is from Memphis, and his grandfather worked in the Cotton Exchange building. He also lived in Memphis and co-developed The Memphian Hotel.
The project is in its early stages. They hope to unveil the new River Inn and its restaurants by the first quarter of 2026.
"We're making sure that the next chapter for all of [River Inn's] offerings are appropriate and reflective of Mud Island [and] Harbor Town, while also providing something different than the traditional offerings that Downtown Memphis provides," Sturdivant said.
Sturdivant said that the hospitality industry is always evolving and that it needs to see a few steps ahead. The group plans to tap into Harbor Town's New Urbanism.
"We have to be more than just different. We have to be relevant, leading edge," he said. "We've got some great peers — hotels, also food and beverage in Downtown and across Memphis. We think that Paulette's, Tug's, the Terrace, and the River Inn all have some real upside ahead of it."
But, Sturdivant also acknowledges that Paulette's, in particular, is an institution. The approach to changes, he said, will be thoughtful. "We're not looking to turn our back on any of the Paulette's loyalists. But, we want to ensure that the food and beverage and the hotel offerings resonate with a broader audience and another generation," he said. "[We plan to] give it a refresh. It's time. Paulette's is just classic. There are new ways to be classic."
The project will be completed in phases, Sturdivant said. The spaces will be renovated. There will be new uniforms and new menus at the restaurants. Sturdivant said the current staffs are a dedicated group.
There are some vacant positions, however, and they plan to use MMI's experience in hospitality to fill those positions. Sturdivant said they want to be good neighbors to the existing businesses and residents of Harbor Town.
They'd like to provide Memphis with what it needs, while respecting its sense of place. "How does the River Inn ensure that it is honoring the river, Harbor Town's New Urbanism, [and] Memphis and Downtown in unique ways? That's where that brand development and evolution comes in," he said.
Published by Memphis Business Journal Jul 22, 2025
The River Inn was developed by Henry Turley and Lewis Holland. It opened in 2008. Sturdivant said the ownership group has taken on a new partner in Bryan Nearn, a hotel industry vet.
MMI is based in Jackson, Mississippi. But, Sturdivant has strong Memphis ties. His mother is from Memphis, and his grandfather worked in the Cotton Exchange building. He also lived in Memphis and co-developed The Memphian Hotel.
The project is in its early stages. They hope to unveil the new River Inn and its restaurants by the first quarter of 2026.
"We're making sure that the next chapter for all of [River Inn's] offerings are appropriate and reflective of Mud Island [and] Harbor Town, while also providing something different than the traditional offerings that Downtown Memphis provides," Sturdivant said.
Sturdivant said that the hospitality industry is always evolving and that it needs to see a few steps ahead. The group plans to tap into Harbor Town's New Urbanism.
"We have to be more than just different. We have to be relevant, leading edge," he said. "We've got some great peers — hotels, also food and beverage in Downtown and across Memphis. We think that Paulette's, Tug's, the Terrace, and the River Inn all have some real upside ahead of it."
But, Sturdivant also acknowledges that Paulette's, in particular, is an institution. The approach to changes, he said, will be thoughtful. "We're not looking to turn our back on any of the Paulette's loyalists. But, we want to ensure that the food and beverage and the hotel offerings resonate with a broader audience and another generation," he said. "[We plan to] give it a refresh. It's time. Paulette's is just classic. There are new ways to be classic."
The project will be completed in phases, Sturdivant said. The spaces will be renovated. There will be new uniforms and new menus at the restaurants. Sturdivant said the current staffs are a dedicated group.
There are some vacant positions, however, and they plan to use MMI's experience in hospitality to fill those positions. Sturdivant said they want to be good neighbors to the existing businesses and residents of Harbor Town.
They'd like to provide Memphis with what it needs, while respecting its sense of place. "How does the River Inn ensure that it is honoring the river, Harbor Town's New Urbanism, [and] Memphis and Downtown in unique ways? That's where that brand development and evolution comes in," he said.
Published by Memphis Business Journal Jul 22, 2025