by Ray Rico
photos courtesy of John Stuart Williams
There is a portrait of Patsy Ruth Williams from 1970 that will soon have a place of honor inside a new Memphis nightlife destination. In the photograph, Patsy Ruth looks glamorous, elegant and, according to her son, a little bit like Elizabeth Taylor.
Her son, Dr. Stuart Williams, is building a place that he hopes will feel much like the woman whose name it carries: extravagant, beautiful, welcoming and impossible to ignore.
Patsy Ruth’s Piano Bar and Cabaret is expected to open in November at 2855 Poplar Avenue, in the space formerly occupied by Grisanti’s and Lost Pizza. Williams envisions something Memphis does not currently have: an intimate piano bar and cabaret where live entertainment, cocktails, food and conversation come together in an upscale but welcoming setting.
For Williams, however, the project is about much more than nightlife. It is about finally choosing the thing he has loved most.
“I do love going out, but I’m not necessarily a bar person anymore,” Williams said. “I’m creating this also for myself. It’s just a way to get out and meet my fellow LGBT community and give back. If I’m profitable, that’s wonderful. But at the end of the day, if I’m doing what I love doing, it took me 26 years of a vocation that I enjoy, but knowing that my avocation was musical theater to finally say, you know what, I’m going to do what I truly want to do, and I’m going for it.”
From Dentistry to the Stage
Williams is not a newcomer to Memphis, nor to performance. Originally from Laurel, Mississippi, he moved to Memphis in 1995 to attend dental school at the University of Tennessee. About three years in, he began performing with Theater Memphis, Playhouse on the Square and Circuit Playhouse. He has been involved in more than 40 musical productions, beginning with “The Sound of Music” when he was 10 years old.
The path to dentistry was partly shaped by his father, a cardiologist who wanted his youngest child to become a doctor. “I was like, I want to go on Broadway,” Williams recalled. “And so obviously when the parents are paying your bills, you have to do what they tell you to do.”
Dentistry became the compromise. Williams pursued a medical profession while still finding time for theater. Eventually, theater became more than an after-hours passion.
Williams later moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he spent much of the next two decades and opened dental practices intentionally welcoming to LGBTQ+ patients. At a time when openly LGBTQ+ professionals were less common in healthcare, Williams made a point of being himself. He also became involved with RAIN (Regional AIDS Interfaith Network), providing free dental services to people living with HIV.
His theatrical background integrated seamlessly into that community work. Williams created and performed elaborate themed bingo shows, complete with scripts, choreography and musical numbers. He later co-founded Queen City Theater Company in Charlotte, producing theatrical work that often centered LGBTQ+ audiences and campier, more obscure productions.
His career has included acting, singing, producing, costume design and wig design. He received an Ostrander Award for Best Actor for playing Miss Deep South in “Pageant: The Musical” and a Best Costume Award in Charlotte for “Die Mommie Die.” Now, at 55, Williams is taking a different kind of stage.
A Mother’s Name
The name Patsy Ruth’s comes directly from Williams’ mother.
“My mother was very over the top, elegant, extravagant, gorgeous,” he said. “In fact, her portrait back here from 1970 looks like Elizabeth Taylor. That portrait will go in the piano bar.”
The portrait represents the inspiration behind the room. Williams grew up in a conservative Southern Baptist family and later adopted a son. His son became the 11th grandchild, and his parents adored him. Williams remembers his mother as a stage mom who supported his performances.
There is something particularly meaningful about taking a woman who represented elegance and extravagance in Williams’ childhood and turning her name into a gathering place explicitly intended to welcome people who may not always feel accepted. Patsy Ruth’s is, in that sense, part memorial, part reinvention and part love letter.
A Different Kind of Memphis Night Out
Williams chose the Poplar Avenue location partly because of geography. The nearly 5,000-square-foot space sits roughly between downtown Memphis and East Memphis, offering visibility, parking and room to create the atmosphere he wanted.
“I just chose it and the price was right,” he said. “They were very accommodating. It had a kitchen and that was important and it’s just huge.”
The space is currently being transformed with redesigned bars and upgraded finishes. Williams is sourcing lighting, furniture and sound equipment with the goal of creating an old supper-club atmosphere, even researching design and restaurant-surplus markets in Las Vegas for materials.
“It’s got to be just over the top,” he said. “Extravagant, beautiful and inviting.”
Williams also prioritized room acoustics during his research. “I noticed at some venues that it is so loud. One thing you have to consider is soundproofing and making it intimate.” The goal is a room where people can actually hear the performer and still talk to the person sitting next to them.
The venue will feature a recurring cabaret series, with the possibility of bringing Broadway, West End and national cabaret performers to Memphis for intimate, ticketed shows.
However, local talent will be the heart of the concept. Williams wants to create an emerging artist series and a “Broadway on a Tuesday” concept to give local theater performers a place to showcase themselves on their nights off.
“Say ‘The Sound of Music’ is playing at Germantown Community Theater,” he explained. “Once their run starts, they’re on Thursday through Sunday. This is a way to give back, showcase them, and make sure you’re plugging local theater.”
The concept will also give Memphis audiences a chance to see members of touring theater productions after their scheduled performances. Williams hopes touring casts passing through Memphis will have a place to gather, perform or simply enjoy a night out.
“It’s a community,” he said, “and we want to give them a place to call home while they’re here.”
PATSY RUTH’S AT A GLANCE
Patsy Ruth’s Piano Bar and Cabaret • 2855 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN
Target Opening:
November 2026, with November 1 currently the target date
Planned Hours:
Approximately 5 p.m. to 1 a.m., with Mondays potentially closed
Age:
21 and older
Capacity:
Approximately 110 cabaret seats, plus bar seating
Entertainment:
Piano bar, cabaret, Broadway, local theater, drag, comedy, singalongs and special events
Food:
Elevated appetizers and desserts, including planned seafood, charcuterie and other shareable options
Outdoor Space:
Patio with ceiling fans
Reservations:
Details still being finalized
Opening date and programming remain subject to permitting and liquor licensing.
