Is Bellevue North safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Bellevue North as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on Bellevue North
“Skip unless visiting specific community venues or destinations along the Midtown border. The neighborhood faces elevated rates of violent and property crime alongside persistent economic distress. Travelers passing through should keep to major thoroughfares and rely on vehicle transport rather than walking.”
Recent Memphis Police Department initiatives have targeted recurring gun violence, vehicular thefts, and commercial robberies across the broader North Memphis and Bellevue corridors.
About the area
Bellevue North is an urban residential and mixed-use corridor situated just north of Midtown Memphis along North Bellevue Boulevard. The area contains a mix of aging historic single-family homes, vacant lots, and small commercial strips. While bordered by dynamic revitalization hubs like Crosstown to the south, the immediate neighborhood remains heavily impacted by economic challenges.
- Historic / Distressed
- Urban Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Industrial Edge
Walking and biking in Bellevue North
Walk score: 54/100 · Bike score: 48/100
Dedicated bike infrastructure is sparse along North Bellevue Boulevard, though Explore Bike Share stations and protected lanes are accessible just south near the Crosstown and Medical District borders.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Immediate proximity to the vibrant dining, arts, and shopping at the Crosstown Concourse
- Convenient driving access to Interstate 40, Downtown Memphis, and the Medical District
- Affordable local dining staples and rich legacy community history
Cons
- Violent crime and property crime rates sit well above both state and national averages
- Poverty rates in surrounding census tracts exceed 35% with high housing vacancy rates
- Uneven pedestrian infrastructure, including cracked sidewalks and intermittent lighting
- Limited commercial retail and everyday convenience services within walking distance
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present, primarily clustered near major bus stops, vacant commercial parcels, and along major arterial intersections leading into the Medical District and Downtown.
What Bellevue North is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Morning traffic picks up along Bellevue Boulevard and Jackson Avenue, though quiet residential side streets require situational awareness.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Daytime sees regular vehicle movement and modest commercial activity, but solitary walking through deserted blocks is discouraged.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Foot traffic drops sharply as business closures leave many streets empty and poorly lit, elevating safety risks.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking outdoors is strongly discouraged late at night due to higher risks of opportunistic robbery and gun violence.
Transit, parking and getting around
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) services the corridor primarily via Route 42 (Crosstown) and nearby routes along Jackson Avenue; there is no light rail or BRT service in this section.
Free on-street parking is widely available on residential side streets, and local strip plazas offer free surface parking lots.
Things to do in Bellevue North
- Visit the adjacent Crosstown Concourse for contemporary art exhibits, events, and shopping
- Explore authentic Memphis pit barbecue joints along the North Parkway and Cleveland corridors
- Take a driving tour of historic North Memphis architecture and legacy community landmarks
Local favorites
- Cozy Corner Restaurant · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (1820)Famed, long-running barbecue institution renowned for smoked Cornish hen, ribs, and classic Southern sides.
- Crosstown Arts · Art Center · 4.7★ (640)Multi-disciplinary contemporary arts center featuring rotating galleries, live music spaces, and a shared art bar.
- Roxie's Grocery · Burger Restaurant · 4.6★ (680)Unassuming neighborhood bodega celebrated locally for hefty, seasoned smash burgers and quick takeout bites.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.
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