The old town's center, which was located around the intersection of today's James Road/Stage Road and Old Austin Peay Highway, had a commanding view of the river.

[8] With the exception of a large Nike distribution center on New Frayser-Raleigh Road,[9] Raleigh's business community is almost exclusively retail.

The two main commercial corridors are Covington Pike and Austin Peay Highway, which meet at a major intersection that includes Methodist North Healthcare Hospital on one corner and a Walmart Supercenter and other businesses on the other.

The southern section of Covington Pike comprises Memphis's largest collection of automobile dealerships and related businesses.

The area around Stage Road offers fast food and casual restaurants, shopping centers, and major retailers such as Home Depot.