Memphis restaurants: Front Street Deli reopening; Uncle Red's Turkey Legs opening 2 locations

Memphis restaurant group Tandem Restaurant Partners has six new restaurants in the works.

The restaurant group is owned by Tony and Stephanie Westmoreland. The couple’s restaurant portfolio includes a combination of original concepts (such as Sugar Grits, Ben-Yay’s Gumbo Shop, and Flip Side) as well as a number of restaurants (like Zinnie’s and Side Car) they bought to preserve beloved Memphis brands. They currently operate 11 different concepts.

Turkey Legs and the return of Front Street Deli

In the coming months, Memphians can look forward to two locations of Uncle Red’s Turkey Legs and the reopening of Front Street Deli.

Uncle Red's Turkey Legs is a concept that was created by Christopher "FreeSol" Anderson and Tony Westmoreland. Currently, it operates out of Carolina Watershed.

Westmoreland said they will open new locations in the former Salt | Soy building at 2583 Broad Ave. and in the former Avenue Coffee at 786 Echles St.

Known for its flavored and stuffed turkey legs, Uncle Red's uses family recipes and seasonings to provide a uniquely delicious turkey leg experience. Named after FreeSol's late uncle Michael "Red Bone" Anderson, their turkey legs “fall-off-da-bone” and melt in your mouth.

The legs can be ordered three ways. Seasoned turkey legs are the original recipe using a secret family seasoning blend. Flavored legs are given a hot wings treatment and slathered in your choice of Buffalo, Garlic Parmesan, TN Whiskey, Cajun Alfredo, Barbecue or Honey Gold sauce. They also come “stuffed” with fillings like Aunties Mac and Cheese and Low Down Dirty Rice. There are more than a dozen signature stuffed legs on the menu.

Westmoreland said the two new Uncle Red's locations will open in December.

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Front Street Deli will finally reopen its doors after being closed for almost three years. It is set to open in November.

The sandwich shop at 77 S. Front is one of the oldest delis in Memphis and was featured in the 1993 film “The Firm.” It has been closed while the building underwent a multiyear renovation.

Westmoreland said the menu will be influenced by the old menu, but will include new options as well.

Sugar Grits and Ben-Yay’s to expand to Arkansas

The Westmorelands have three new restaurants in the works for Jonesboro, Arkansas.

The couple has purchased two adjoining buildings in Jonesboro and plans to open a Sugar Grits and a Ben-Yay’s side by side. The Ben-Yay’s opened in August, and Sugar Grits will open later this fall.

The original Ben-Yay's opened in 2020 at 51 S. Main St., while the original Sugar Grits opened in 2021 at 150 Peabody Place. Both are original concepts developed by Tandem Restaurant Partners.

The Westmorelands also purchased a two-story building where they plan to open an original concept called “Honey Up.” The new two-story concept will feature fine dining with a focus on small plates on the ground level, with an upstairs lounge with a menu that pairs elevated snacks with a curated cocktail and wine list.

Tandem Restaurant Partners adds new team member

To help with the expansion, the Westmorelands have hired Julien Salley as their new chief operating officer.

Westmoreland said bringing on Salley in this new role will enable he and Stephanie to focus on the expansion of new restaurants. “Julien will keep the teams in check while we focus on our expansion,” Westmoreland said.

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Salley joins the team after most recently being the general manager at Lafayette’s Music Room.

“I am very excited to join Tandem and take on this new position as chief operating officer,” Salley said. “Tandem’s portfolio is rich with exciting venues, totally unique from each other. Each present individual opportunities and challenges. I expect that my background — from active duty military to Gibson Guitar Factory, Hard Rock Cafe and Lafayette’s Music Room — will make me a good fit with the company. I’m excited to tackle all of this with the team.”

Jennifer Chandler is the Food & Dining reporter at The Commercial Appeal. She can be reached at [email protected] and you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @cookwjennifer.

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This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis restaurant openings: Front Street Deli, Uncle Red's Turkey Legs