MEMPHIS, Tenn– The countdown is on for the biggest New Year’s Eve party being planned in Memphis and on world-famous Beale Street.
Ty Agee is with the Beale Street Merchants Association.
“We are throwing everything in, but the kitchen sink. We are planning on a really big day. We’ve got CNN going to be doing their live feed off of Beale Street. We got the Hard Rock Guitar Drop. There’s going to be a pyro show down there and a band on Rufus Thomas,” Agee said.
As many prepare to say goodbye to 2014 and ring in 2015, Beale Street is taking steps to keep Memphians and tourists safe such as Mike Mahaney.
He’s a Texas A&M fan in town for the Liberty Bowl game and to party on Beale this week.
“We feel safe. I haven’t had any issues at all. We’ve been walking around at night,” Mahaney said.
Crews are setting the stage for the Hard Rock Cafe Guitar Drop.
Behind the scenes, Beale Street merchants have been meeting behind with law enforcement officials to beef up security.
Mikul Oh is with Flynn’s Restaurant and Bar.
“It’s going to be a little chilly out here, but the police force will be out here and there will be under cover security,” Oh said.
“We have our regular security lines set up for special event. They’ll be up at the end of the street and there will be no cover charge,” Agee said.
This past summer Beale Street temporarily charged a $10 dollar security fee in an effort to control overcrowding and increase safety.
The fee is now gone, but merchants say still allow for ID checks and extra time for parking and prepare to have a good time on New Year’s eve
“The police department is prepared and we are prepared and everybody is going have a good time down here,” Agee said.