One couple’s efforts to share the spaces they love
If Noah Fike had to describe his husband, Andrew Jordan, as a drink, he knows what he’d pick: an old-fashioned. “Classic, reserved, and still really interesting,” he says.
And Andrew says that Noah is like a whiskey sour: “You’ve got the wisdom of a good whiskey, but then there’s a sweetness from the simple syrup that—“
“Simple?” Noah interrupts. “So you think I’m simple?”
“And here comes the sour part!” Andrew responds as they lock eyes and erupt into laughter.
Noah and Andrew have long understood the power of a shared laugh, a shared drink, and a shared meal. As Memphians whose relationship grew roots in the city’s vibrant food scene, sharing food has always been a foundation of their partnership.
They met in 2018, when they both were working for Muddy’s, at the now-closed coffee and bake shop location on Cooper. There, they learned a lot about how to care for people—whether that’s a longtime friend or first-time customer.
“In that space, we really got to know people from multiple angles,” Andrew says. “Sure, a role in food service can be demanding, but we really got to appreciate getting to know people as first-timers, regulars, or on a good or a bad day, and then figuring out how we could show up and make them feel seen.”
Noah agrees. “We still incorporate that into how we treat each other, but also our friends, our families, and random interactions we have too,” he says.
After they met at Muddy’s, their first date was at Huey’s, sitting at the very table where Andrew and his family had made memories for years. Over the years, many Memphis restaurants have played important roles in their relationship—and in how they’ve shown up for their community.
“Las Delicias just makes me think about our early 20s,” Noah recalls. “It was one of the first places we would invite all of our friends to meet and vent about work, drama in our personal lives, politics, losses, successes. Conversations just flowed differently when we were enjoying the food and drinks, and the staff was always making sure we were taken care of. Some of our favorite stories have come from memories we’ve made there, and we’ll always keep coming back to make new ones. We still make sure we’re recreating that same feeling when we go out now, even though we’ve added more places to our toolbelt.”
The thrill of discovering a new favorite place hasn’t faded, but something else has grown alongside it: a commitment to finding—or creating—spaces where everyone belongs, regardless of their identity. Their role has shifted from being regulars to actively being stewards of the spaces they love, sharing them with intention.
They brought this same level of thoughtfulness to their wedding, where they featured food and drinks from some of their favorite places: Muddy’s Bake Shop, Kay Bakery, Comeback Coffee (where Noah serves as director of marketing), and Donelson’s Catering (a relationship Andrew built through his role as manager of donor engagement at the Orpheum).
“It felt surreal to be surrounded by food from people and places who have made us feel special over the years and then share that with people important to us,” Noah says. “We really got to celebrate a huge relationship milestone with our community—in a community that brought us together.”
When Noah and Andrew think about the places they love and recommend, they think about places that both offer a good product and make them and their friends feel comfortable and safe.
“We put our money in places where we feel comfortable and don’t feel like we have to hide any part of ourselves and can just truly feel relaxed [as a couple],” Noah says.
“Just like we take it seriously that we want our friends and family to trust that their needs are being considered when we invite them places, being inviting and creating that safety is something that should keep happening in the businesses around us too.”
Oftentimes, they’ve found that kind of safety in the Memphis coffee scene, where they don’t take for granted the simplicity of being able to sit down and enjoy coffee and conversation with each other.
In the early days of their relationship, they often would enjoy a drink at Muddy’s when they weren’t working. “That was something we really appreciated—being able to share a table and enjoy a couple of matchas or lattes in a public space that loved that we were there as much as we loved supporting a business that loved having us there,” says Andrew.
Now they often enjoy familiar favorites or seasonal drinks at places like Cooper House Project and City & State. They value these places for both the quality of the product and the quality of the experience for someone “different.”
They’re drawn to places that share their values: hospitality, warmth, and the understanding that people should be welcomed and accepted with open arms, not merely tolerated. When they’re looking for vibes—and the guarantee of both a good meal or drink and an experience worth sharing—they like to visit places like Board to Beers, Cameo, Hog & Hominy, Good Fortune, Soul & Spirits, and Petals of a Peony.
Their love for the city is woven into every recommendation, every shared meal, and every invitation to gather, much like their careful consideration for safe spaces to patronize. And they have hope that the city will continue to invest in creating and supporting more safe, queer spaces to add to their list of favorites.
As they look ahead, they remain committed to strengthening the communities they cherish by supporting local businesses that reflect their values and creating welcoming spaces in their own lives. In doing so, they aim to help others feel the power of connection in a city that continues to evolve.
“Know where you feel accepted and appreciated and really lean into that. That kind of support keeps us and the places we love in Memphis alive and well,” Andrew says.
And Noah adds: “And never skip the chance to tell your community about the places you feel accepted because that could be a chance for others to feel accepted too.”
Leah Chaney, a proud 901 native, loves experiencing a local meal with folks who also savor every bite and tip their servers well. She’s passionate about supporting small businesses, loves gin cocktails, and insists that she knows butter better than anybody. @leahbofeah
Jacob Rodgers, professional picture-taker and food-n-drink slinger, is “father” to a wiener dog named Zerbert and a calico named Anya. He’s frequently spotted doing his food-slinging in Cooper-Young or listening to “dad-rock” too loudly in his car. @jacobarodgers