You Can Enjoy Pizza With A Side Of Chess At The Memphis Chess Club In Tennessee
By Meghan Kraft|Published May 17, 2022
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Meghan Kraft
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Meghan Kraft loves to travel the world, but she makes her home right here in Nashville, Tennessee. She holds a degree in English, and has worked in the digital marketing realm with companies such as Apartments.com, USA Today and HarperCollins Publishing.
There are plenty of restaurants and old-school eateries located throughout the historic city of Memphis, Tennessee, and it is encouraging to recognize that the city melds historical and contemporary locations so seamlessly. Memphis Chess Club is perhaps one of the best examples of the past meeting the present, and it serves as both a full-service cafe and the home of the local chess club. Founded in 1877, the Memphis Chess Club has long been a part of the community, and its revamped space welcomes chess lovers and board game enthusiasts alike.
The Memphis Chess Club was founded by a handful of local businessmen in the late 1870s, and it occupied multiple locations in the city including the YMCA and the Exchange Building. The World Chess Championship was hosted by the city in 1907, and the city has a long and storied history with the game and its surrounding competitions and championships. The full-service chess club home was reinvented in 2020, and the 196 Madison Avenue location has brought the game of chess back to downtown Memphis.
Inside you will find a sophisticated mix of opulent fixtures and approachable furnishings. The large windows let in natural light, and every table is outfitted with a chessboard. Visitors can come and enjoy something to eat as well as a game of chess, and members of the Memphis Chess Club meet on-site for events.
The café is open to the public, and if you would like to play chess as a non-member you can purchase a game rental pass for a mere $5. If you aren’t looking to play chess you can enjoy any one of the board games found on the café’s bookshelves. There is plenty of room to play a game while you eat, or you can take a more competitive approach and simply focus on the board.
If you're hungry, grab a slice! Homemade pizza remains one of the most popular menu items to order, though you can choose from a handful of sandwiches and salads as well. There is a bakery, coffee, and tea menu, and you can order from a tidy menu of adult beverages available as well.
Just take a look at that pie! Yum! You can make your own pizza or you can order house specialties like the Carlsen, prepared with white sauce and Italian sausage, or the Anand, the Chess Club's vegetarian pizza.
What a neat place to visit! You can enjoy a game and something to eat any day of the week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. You can bring a friend or come by yourself, there is plenty of opportunity for all.
The Memphis Chess Club makes for a great place to spend the afternoon whether you’re looking for a game of chess or a slice of pizza with a side of a board game. You can find out more about the famed Memphis Chess Club either on its official website or Facebook page.
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