Become a Melrose Merchant Member
Choosing inspiration over competition for a stronger community and a healthier way to do business.
SAMA Mission & History
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 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.
Member Benefits
There are you main benefits of membership in the 7th Avenue Merchants Association. They are primarily to:
Reduce Crime and Increase Safety
Beautification of the Business District
Revitalization
Community and Social Reasons
Crime Reduction / Increase Safety
Two Melrose District Community Action Officers are available to conduct security and safety audits for business owners.
It takes a community effort to help protect each other's most valued assets and help coordinate real-time updates concerning safety issues such as theft, vandalism, graffiti, and bright.
With safety being our main priority, installations of lighted crosswalks have been an ongoing project to create a safe and walkable district for customers and residents.
Beautification
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.
The Merchants Association and our sister organization, the Community Alliance of Seventh Avenue, have partnered on many projects to add amenities, which include planter boxes on business fronts, Melrose branded bike Racks, oversized tree planters, sidewalk improvements, public art installations, district banners and signage.
We are responsible for the ongoing maintenance of the large bus stop areas and community spaces that have ongoing trash and landscaping needs.
Revitalization
Each year we host a number of events with the sole ambition of bring new customers to the district and instilling a sense of pride to 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: The 3rd Sunday of each Month various businesses along 7th Avenue Hosts a number of Open Air Markets. These markets have been coordinated to occur on the same Sunday of each month in order 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 than is specific to the Melrose District and allows for many pro-business exemptions and rights only allowed within our District.
Market your business on our Social Media and Website listing. We actively promote our members on our Melrose Merchant Association website and all social media platforms. Help us promote your business by keeping us up to date on any events, sales or promotions you would like listed.
Community & Social
We host Quarterly General Meetings & Socials available to all business owners and properties 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.
Your input is valued: help the district become what you want it to be. The synergy comes from business owners like yourself and the surrounding 10,000 residents in the adjacent historic neighborhoods who like to walk to our businesses.
Have Fun: With over 150 businesses in the district, you are sure to find someone a lot like you, who has similar interests, and has the same vision for the district as you. There is power in numbers.
Trespassing & Authority to Arrest Information
You can electronically submit an “Authority To Arrest” using an online form. This form grants police officers permission to patrol your property and arrest people who might be trespassing on the premises.
Fill out and submit Authority to Arrest from online at: https://www.phoenix.gov/police/contact-police/authority-to-arrest
For questions related to the Authority to Arrest you can email: ATA@phoenix.gov
To find your local police precinct just visit https://www.phoenix.gov/police/precincts and enter your address or you can also call 602-262-7626.
Arizona Law on Trespassing
How is trespassing related to crime prevention? Trespassing comes up many times in a business setting. To understand the issues of trespassing both inside and outside your business please visit https://www.phoenix.gov/police/resources-information/criminal-trespass
No Trespass Signs: “No Trespassing” signs are required to be placed around your place of business with the “Authority to Arrest Trespasser" form. Minimum recommended size is 16”x24”, bilingual, made of metal, must be printed in red ink on white background, placed at all reasonable entrances and easily visible.
Criminal trespass in the third degree is a class 3 misdemeanor
A person commits criminal trespass in the third degree by:
Knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully on any real property after a reasonable request to leave by the owner or any person having lawful control over such property, or reasonable notice prohibiting entry.
Criminal trespass in the second degree; classification:
A person commits criminal trespass in the second degree by knowingly entering or remaining unlawfully in or on any nonresidential structure or in any fenced commercial area.
Criminal trespass in the second degree is a class 2 misdemeanor.
If you have any questions about becoming a Melrose Merchant Member please call or write to the number or email address below:
