Underground Memphis - Flag Center

Greetings friends and neighbors!

Here on my blog I try to bring focus on the most unique parts of our city, and today we visit truly one of the most unique places in Memphis. It’s The Flag Center at 4550 Summer avenue. The story of The Flag Center began some 20 years ago and grew out of the need for something we’re surrounded with every day, but might not think about. I’m talking about flags. The giant American flag that flies at the top of Clark Tower, Flags at your church, or in courtrooms, or at sporting events or City Hall all come from somewhere and in Memphis that place is The Flag Center.

I recently dropped into The Flag Center for an interview with owner Maureen Criscuolo and a tour of this fascinating store. The Flag Center supplies flags to churches, schools, corporations, and even the military. There are flags of every nation on earth, religious flags, decorative flags for your home and yard, flags for every team in the S.E.C, and professional sports too. The flag center offers the best prices on U of M flags, decals and gear for you Tiger fans too! There are patriotic flags, seasonal flags and every imaginable specialty flag you can think of.

One of the most interesting things I learned about the flag center is that they are not only a flag maker and flag repair shop, but also a flag research center that has developed new and innovative techniques that make flags stronger and more durable. When the folks at Clark Tower found themselves replacing one of their 30x60 foot flags every month due to the high wind on the top of the building shredding them, they came to the Flag Center for help. Maureen and her husband Dennis developed a unique stitching pattern that allowed the huge Clark Tower flag to weather the gales. Now instead of replacing the flag every month, because of the Flag Center, the Clark Tower Flag only has to be replaced once a quarter! Now people who fly flags in harsh high wind conditions come to the Flag Center for their special High Wind Flags. The Flag Center also carries a complete line of flagpoles and flag accessories neccessary for displaying your flag. It's one of the best kept secrets in Memphis, and it's definitely worth a visit.

The Flag Center is located at 4550 Summer avenue and they're open Monday-Friday 9:30-5:30, Saturday 9:30-3:30, and closed on Sundays. It's my Undergroud Memphis pick of the week! Until next time, Bill :-)