Life & Work with Melrose Merchants Association

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melrose Merchants Association.

Melrose Merchants Association, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In 1998, a group of 7th Avenue Merchants decided to join together to improve their neighborhood. Challenged with crime and blight, the Melrose District was struggling to stay alive. Given the mission to facilitate safety, community, revitalization, and beautification, its pioneering business owners, through the help of the City of Phoenix’s Fight Back Program, partnered with the School of Architecture at Arizona State University to develop a master plan to revitalize the Melrose Curve.

Relying solely on funds generated by grants and the support of the surrounding neighborhoods, the Melrose District had slowly begun to rebuild itself. In 2001 these business owners officially banded together to form the Seventh Avenue Merchants Association, also known as SAMA.

Since its incorporation, SAMA, dba Melrose Merchants Association, has been noted worldwide and is a highly respected organization within the City of Phoenix, providing leadership and guidance to other associations looking to improve their neighborhoods. It serves as a model to City Leadership for the direction and focuses that the citizens of Phoenix desire. Its model is community involvement and cooperation to make our city a better place to live.

Through the work that the Merchants Association has done, the Melrose District, which encompasses 7th Avenue from Indian School (South) to Camelback (North), has become a shining star in the Metro Phoenix area. From our lighted canopies with art panels that feature local artists to our annual M7 Street Fair that helps to show off the district as a safe place to live, work, shop, and play.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The primary objective of the Melrose Merchants Association is to foster a sense of community amongst the businesses within the district and share best practices when it comes to safety, security, beautification, and revitalization. We have a master plan that is continually being modified to make the District an exciting place for customers to discover and for merchants to call home.

We are responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the large bus stop areas and community spaces that have ongoing trash and landscaping needs. Each year we host several events with the sole ambition of bringing new customers to the district and instilling a sense of pride in business owners and residents within the Melrose District area and surrounding neighborhoods.

Spring Event: M7 Street Fair. The Second Saturday of March is our annual M7 Street Fair. This Event draws more than 20,000 customers to the district for a one-day event.

Holiday Event: Music and Merriment: Our Annual Holiday Event is a partnership with the Osborn School District music program.

Sunday Market Days: On the 3rd Sunday of each Month various businesses along 7th Avenue Host several Open Air Markets. These markets have been coordinated to occur on the same Sunday of each month to create synergy within the District and foster a more walkable and vibrant shopping experience.

The Merchants association has a 7th Avenue Zoning Overlay. This is a highly unique zoning plan that is specific to the Melrose District and allows for many pro-business exemptions and rights only allowed within our District. We host General Meetings & Socials available to all business owners and property owners within the District.

These meetings are for business owners to discuss upcoming projects, issues within the community, and exchange information on how we can improve the district. Get to know City Officials that will often speak about City changes, improvements, and projects planned for our area.

Contact Info:

• Website: melrosemerchantsassociation.com
• Instagram: @melroseon7thavenue
• Facebook: @Melrose on 7th Avenue Community Group