If you’re driving up Third Street, consider yourself riding with the King.
Third Street from Jackson Avenue to Crump Avenue is now B.B. King Boulevard.
Memphis Mayor A C Wharton unveiled a new street sign for the newly named boulevard this morning in a ceremony at the corner of Third and Beale Streets.
The idea of dedicating a street to King, who passed away on May 14th at the age of 89, came from Southern Heritage Classic founder Fred Jones, Jr. who wrote a Facebook post on May 18th suggesting that a street renaming occur on Third all the way to the Mississippi state line.
The post gained traction and attention from Wharton’s office and Congressman Steve Cohen.
In the application considered for the change, Third Street from E.H. Crump on the south to Chelsea on the North would have been renamed for King. This shortened length came after accommodating those concerned that the name change would have an impact on the existing designation of James L. Netters Parkway on Third Street from Crump to the Mississippi state line.
