At Biscuits & Jams’ downtown outpost, the brunch rush has all but vanished. Co-owner Monique “Chef Mo” Williams says revenue has fallen nearly 70 percent since National Guard troops started staying at the adjacent Hotel Indigo, leaving her scrambling to keep the lights on. The restaurant, which opened inside the hotel to feed both guests and walk-in customers, has reportedly seen some days with as little as 100 dollars in sales.
Sharp year-over-year decline
Williams shared financial records showing the downtown location brought in just over 100,000 dollars in December 2024 and roughly 36,000 dollars in December 2025, a drop of about 70 percent, as reported by Action News 5. “I don’t know how we are going to make it,” she told the station, adding that some days since the Guard’s arrival have produced only about 100 dollars in sales. On one recent Friday at 12:30 p.m., the outlet reported the business had made around 500 dollars for the entire day.
Restaurant built around hotel traffic
Williams launched the downtown Biscuits & Jams specifically to serve as the in-house food partner for Hotel Indigo, a setup that brought in most of the spot’s foot traffic and catering jobs, according to Memphis Flyer. The Hotel Indigo website lists Biscuits & Jams as the ground-floor dining option at 22 North B.B. King Boulevard, a detail that shows just how tightly the two businesses are tied together.
Hotel reportedly booked through September
A hotel employee told reporters the property is fully booked with National Guard troops through September 30, 2026, and Williams said the hotel has been “completely locked down” since mid-November, which she says means many former hotel guests no longer wander over to the restaurant, according to Action News 5. With meals for the troops supplied elsewhere, Williams said small catering jobs cannot come close to replacing the steady stream of customers and corporate business the hotel used to generate.
Deployment has been politically fraught
The Guard’s presence in Memphis began last fall as part of a federal “Memphis Safe Task Force,” and the deployment has drawn both national scrutiny and local pushback. The Guardian chronicled some of the early patrols, while local outlets have tracked legal challenges and questions over the costs and contracts tied to long-term troop housing. Coverage of a Davidson County court fight that paused part of the operation appeared in reporting on the halted Guard deployment.
Owner says small orders are not enough
Williams said occasional catering work tied to the troops has helped in a pinch but does not come close to covering payroll, rent, and other fixed costs. She worries the downtown location might not make it through the year if nothing changes. For now, the restaurant remains open on a reduced schedule while she looks for ways to keep her staff on the job…