Is Hollywood Northwest safe?
Memphis, Tennessee · safety score updated nightly
Not recommended for casual walking around, especially after dark.
VibeLoco rates Hollywood Northwest as “No-go after dark”.
Gogo's take on Hollywood Northwest
“Skip. Hollywood Northwest experiences elevated levels of violent crime, property offenses, and persistent economic distress that make casual tourism unadvisable. Visitors without specific local business or community ties are advised to explore safer, better-resourced Memphis districts.”
Local law enforcement continues to focus resources on North Memphis corridors like Chelsea and Jackson Avenues to address recurring gun violence and auto thefts.
About the area
Hollywood Northwest is a historic, predominantly residential urban neighborhood in North Memphis characterized by modest single-family bungalows, industrial fringes, and vacant parcels. It faces significant structural disinvestment, lower median household incomes, and crime rates substantially higher than state and national averages.
- Disinvested
- Residential Urban
- Historic North Memphis
- Car-Dependent
Walking and biking in Hollywood Northwest
Walk score: 48/100 · Bike score: 42/100
The area lacks dedicated cycling lanes and public Explore Bike Share docks, requiring riders to share narrow arterial lanes with motor traffic.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Convenient driving access to central Memphis arteries including Jackson Avenue and North Parkway
- Rich local history rooted in early 20th-century industrial and railway expansion
- Close proximity to Midtown cultural amenities and Overton Park
Cons
- Violent crime and property crime rates remain significantly above national and metro medians
- High neighborhood poverty rate exceeding 35% alongside substantial residential housing vacancy
- Deteriorated pedestrian infrastructure with frequent sidewalk gaps and limited streetlighting
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is occasionally encountered near abandoned buildings and retail strips along Chelsea and Jackson Avenues, though large formal encampments are uncommon.
What Hollywood Northwest is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Streets are generally quiet with routine local transit and commuter flow, though visitors should remain alert.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Pedestrian and vehicle traffic picks up along commercial corridors, but walking is not recommended for unfamiliar visitors.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity diminishes rapidly at dusk, and poor lighting elevates personal safety and property risks.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Walking alone late at night is unsafe due to high risk of violent crime and low visibility.
Transit, parking and getting around
The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) serves the area primarily via Route 8 (Chelsea) and Route 40 (Jackson Avenue), with no light rail or BRT lines nearby.
Free residential curbside parking is widely available, though leaving personal items visible in parked vehicles significantly raises the likelihood of break-ins.
Things to do in Hollywood Northwest
- Visit neighboring Douglass Park to explore its historic community center and open green spaces
- View historic mid-century and bungalow architectural patterns along the residential avenues
- Support North Memphis community gardens and local grassroots neighborhood initiatives
Local favorites
- Tops Bar-B-Q · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.2★ (580)Long-running Memphis chain location serving classic slow-cooked pulled pork and charcoal-grilled burgers.
- Cozy Corner Restaurant · Barbecue Restaurant · 4.5★ (2350)Celebrated nearby barbecue institution famous for smoked Cornish hens, ribs, and classic Southern sides.
- Jack Pirtle's Chicken · Fast Food Restaurant · 4.1★ (790)Regional staple known for fried chicken, chicken tenders, and gravy-filled biscuits.
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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