Curry N Jerk Moving into Former Home of Bon Ton Cafe

After opening a few years ago, Curry N Jerk has announced plans to move down the street to become Curry N Jerk at the Bon Ton, located at 150 Monroe Ave.

Curry N Jerk owner Arturo Azcarate operates the Caribbean cuisine from 126 Monroe Avenue. Now, the owner plans to move the business into the former home of Bon Ton Cafe, which originally opened in the late 1800s as a bar in Downtown Memphis, according to Memphis Business Journal. Azcarate also plans to move 507 Lux Lounge, currently found in the basement of Curry N Jerk, to the basement’s space. A soiree will be held at 507 Lux Lounge on September 1, with the restaurant opening soon after.

Azcarate had initially hoped to open Curry N Jerk in the Bon Ton space, but nothing was available at the time. Bon Ton Cafe has served the area for private events and catering in recent years but has since closed. When Curry N Jerk opens, the restaurant will introduce a new breakfast menu inspired by Bon Ton’s best-known dishes.

While the owner plans to add a few new menu items, customers can still expect a fusion of Jamaican and Panamanian dishes made from family recipes. By moving into the Bon Ton, Azcarate hopes to keep the history of the space alive after it has seen several owner’s changes through its two centuries.

“I’m going to keep the Bon Ton in existence since it’s the second-oldest restaurant in Memphis, but we’re doing Curry N Jerk at the Bon Ton to bring that back to life,” Azcarate tells Memphis Business Journal. “We are going to do breakfast that people used to come Downtown for — breakfast at the Bon Ton. That is our plan.”