Is Bellevue Southeast safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Bellevue Southeast as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on Bellevue Southeast
“Skip unless you have a specific destination or community connection. Bellevue Southeast faces substantially elevated rates of both violent and property crime compared to national and metro averages. Visitors unfamiliar with the area should exercise extreme caution, especially after dark.”
Memphis Police Department operations frequently target violent crime and vehicle theft hotspots along the Bellevue Boulevard and South Memphis corridors.
About the area
Bellevue Southeast is an urban South Memphis neighborhood centered around the South Bellevue Boulevard corridor just south of Midtown. The area features a mix of older single-family homes, modest apartment buildings, commercial strip centers, and vacant parcels. It is largely residential with limited conventional tourist infrastructure.
- Urban Residential
- Car-Dependent
- Historic South Memphis
Walking and biking in Bellevue Southeast
Walk score: 52/100 · Bike score: 45/100
Dedicated bicycle infrastructure is minimal in the immediate neighborhood, with the nearest major trail connections located further north along the Big River Crossing or Midtown corridors.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient driving access to Midtown, Downtown Memphis, and I-240
- Close proximity to South Memphis cultural landmarks like Stax Museum
- Low-cost local dining and soul food establishments nearby
Cons
- Violent crime and property crime rates are well above national averages
- High neighborhood poverty rate exceeding 35% with lower median household income
- Elevated residential vacancy rate and instances of blighted or abandoned properties
- Frequent reports of auto theft, break-ins, and shots fired in the surrounding area
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately present, mostly concentrated around commercial strips, transit stops, and intersections along South Bellevue Boulevard and McLemore Avenue.
What Bellevue Southeast is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Relatively calm with standard school and commuter traffic, though situational awareness is always advised.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Activity increases along South Bellevue Boulevard, with moderate commercial traffic and occasional pedestrian presence.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Street activity winds down quickly and pedestrian risk increases as daylight fades.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Not recommended for walking or unfamiliar visitors due to heightened risk of violent crime and low visibility.
Transit, parking and getting around
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) serves the area primarily via Route 42 (Crosstown) along Bellevue Boulevard and Route 12 (Florida) nearby, connecting directly to Midtown and Downtown transit centers.
Parking is readily available via free curbside parking on residential side streets and dedicated surface parking lots at local businesses and plazas.
Things to do in Bellevue Southeast
- Explore the nearby Stax Museum of American Soul Music located just north along McLemore Avenue
- Visit the historic neighborhood churches that anchor the community
- Sample traditional Memphis barbecue and soul food from neighborhood kitchens
Local favorites
- Cozy Corner Restaurant · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.6★ (2100)Renowned Memphis institution serving legendary smoked Cornish hen and ribs a short drive north.
- The Four Way Soul Food Restaurant · Soul Food Restaurant · 4.5★ (1650)Historic civil-rights-era dining spot serving classic fried catfish, greens, and peach cobbler nearby.
- Uncle Lou's Fried Chicken · Southern Restaurant · 4.5★ (2800)Iconic local eatery famous for sweet spicy love sauce and homestyle fried chicken to the south.
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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