Memphis and the Origins of the Crosstown Concourse

In an interview with Crosstown Concourse's Todd Richardson, Thriving Cities explores the challenges of revitalizing and transforming Memphis' old Sears Roebuck Building.

2 minute read

November 3, 2015, 9:00 AM PST

By stephenmichael15


On February 21, 2015, Crosstown Concourse officially broke ground in Memphis, TN. Originally built in 1927 and known as the Sears Crosstown Building, it operated as a Sears store for over 60 years until becoming vacant in the 1990s. Thanks to the recent efforts of many people such as Todd Richardson, new energy and investment has been poured into its revitalization. In an interview with Thriving Cities, Todd, who has been at the forefront of the project, highlights his work and hopes for Crosstown Concourse.

Thriving Cities (TC): Todd, describe your initial interest and motivations in getting involved with a project like Crosstown Concourse?

Todd Richardson (TR): What initially peaked my interest was a simple conversation. "Wouldn't it be cool if…?" It was 2009, and I had recently moved to Memphis to become a professor at the University of Memphis. While I love academia, it quickly became clear to me that I needed to get involved in the community in a more meaningful way. At the time, I didn't know what that might look like. But as an art historian, I understood the power of art to engage minds and build community. At 1.5 million square feet, the Sears Crosstown distribution center is the largest commercial building in the city of Memphis—by a long shot. It’s bigger than 25 football fields, bigger than the Chrysler Building in New York. But in spite of its art-deco beauty and central location, it had been abandoned for almost 20 years. I was talking with the building's owner. We said, "What if something amazing could happen at Sears Crosstown? And what if art were the catalyst?" That was enough to engage my research training, and I set out to determine whether anything like this had ever been done. Turns out, the power of art to spur community development has far surpassed my expectations.

Monday, November 2, 2015 in Thriving Cities Blog

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

July 16, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green vintage Chicago streetcar from the 1940s parked at the Illinois Railroad Museum in 1988.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails

Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

July 13, 2025 - WTTV

Blue and silver Amtrak train with vibrant green and yellow foliage in background.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail

The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

July 14, 2025 - Smart Cities Dive

Worker in yellow safety vest and hard hat looks up at servers in data center.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power

Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

July 18 - Inside Climate News

Former MARTA CEO Collie Greenwood standing in front of MARTA HQ with blurred MARTA sign visible in background.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns

MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

July 18 - WABE

Rendering of proposed protected bikeway in Santa Clara, California.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant

A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.

July 17 - San José Spotlight