Is Hickory Hill Outer Southwest safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Hickory Hill Outer Southwest as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on Hickory Hill Outer Southwest
“Go with care. While the neighborhood is home to authentic international food spots and everyday suburban amenities, it faces elevated rates of violent and property crime. Visitors should remain vigilant, keep valuables out of parked cars, and avoid walking through unfamiliar areas after dark.”
Local news routinely covers property crime, auto thefts, and recurring incidents of gun violence around major commercial intersections and apartment complexes.
About the area
Hickory Hill Outer Southwest is a sprawling, auto-centric district in southeast Memphis characterized by strip malls, mid-century subdivisions, and multi-family housing complexes. Once a prime suburban retail hub, the area is now a working-class, multicultural community navigating persistent socioeconomic and safety challenges.
- Car-Dependent
- Suburban Strip
- Diverse Eateries
- Transitional
Walking and biking in Hickory Hill Outer Southwest
Walk score: 38/100 · Bike score: 32/100
Bicycle infrastructure is extremely limited with no protected lanes or Explore Bike Share stations, and connections to major greenways like the Shelby Farms Greenline require vehicle transport.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Diverse culinary landscape with highly regarded international bakeries and taquerias
- Convenient driving access to Interstate 240, Bill Morris Parkway (Highway 385), and Memphis International Airport
- Abundant and universally free surface parking across all retail plazas
Cons
- Violent crime and property crime rates remain significantly higher than national and state averages
- Elevated commercial retail vacancies and aging apartment infrastructure throughout key corridors
- Poor pedestrian infrastructure with wide, high-speed arterial roads that discourage walking
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately noticeable, primarily with individuals panhandling near major intersections on Winchester and Mendenhall Roads, though large encampments are uncommon.
What Hickory Hill Outer Southwest is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Commercial arteries are busy with commuter traffic, and residential streets are generally calm.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Strip centers and intersections see heavy vehicle flow; basic situational awareness is advised in parking lots.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity winds down as darkness falls, and lingering in unlit commercial areas is not recommended.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Safety concerns increase sharply with higher risks of property crime and opportunistic violence; walking is discouraged.
Transit, parking and getting around
Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) operates bus routes such as Route 26 and Route 36 along Winchester Road, but frequencies are limited and there is no rapid transit or rail connectivity.
Parking is abundant, easy, and free in large surface lots at strip malls and within residential apartment complexes.
Things to do in Hickory Hill Outer Southwest
- Sample authentic regional Mexican pastries and dishes at neighborhood bakeries along Winchester Road
- Dine on historic Memphis-style barbecue at long-standing local smokehouses
- Browse regional goods and specialty markets throughout the district's multicultural strip centers
Local favorites
- Leonard's Pit Barbecue · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.2★ (1420)Historic Memphis institution known for classic pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, and a daily buffet.
- Panaderia Caminos De Michoacan · Bakery · 4.6★ (560)Popular Mexican bakery offering an extensive selection of fresh pan dulce, cakes, and authentic savory items.
- Exlines' Best Pizza in Town · Pizza Restaurant · 4.2★ (610)Longtime local chain serving thick-crust Memphis-style pizzas, sandwiches, and Italian-American comfort food.
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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