Melrose Trading Post

What Melrose Trading Post does

Melrose Trading Post is a weekly outdoor marketplace and social enterprise operated by the Greenway Arts Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1997. Held every Sunday from 10AM-5PM on the Fairfax High School campus in Los Angeles, the market convenes 260+ local makers, artisans, vintage sellers, and small business owners selling handcrafted goods, eclectic art, vintage fashion, antique furniture, and one-of-a-kind items, alongside live music, food vendors, and rotating wellness programming (Wellness Through Words, Intermission Sound Bath). Every admission ticket funds free arts education for LAUSD students through the Greenway Institute for the Arts, and the organization has run annual flagship events including the Juneteenth Celebration for at least five years.

The core product surface spans a physical weekly market, an annual VIP Pass membership granting unlimited Sunday entry and Greenway Court Theatre access, an online merchandise shop (MTP Collab Shop) launched in 2022 with collaborative collections such as The Melrose Apothecary Collection and Fairfax Love Collection, and annual special events. The technology underpinning is conventional and non-proprietary: a WordPress.com-hosted website with vendor directory and event calendar, Stripe/PayPal/Apple Pay/Google Wallet payment processing, Google Analytics, Mailchimp for email/SMS, and Google reCAPTCHA. There are no disclosed proprietary systems, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities.

Revenue is generated through five streams: admission ticket fees (transaction-based), vendor booth fees from 260+ weekly vendors, merchandise sales (one-time unit pricing through the e-commerce shop), the annual VIP Pass subscription, and event sponsorships for special events such as Juneteenth. The go-to-market is event-driven and community-anchored, with marketing executed primarily through organic social (Instagram, TikTok), an email newsletter, the Melrose Stories YouTube series, and community partnerships with organizations such as LA Poet Society, Eclectuals Book Market, CicLAvia, and Council District 5. Customer segments split between LA community consumers (primary), local makers/vendors (primary), online merchandise shoppers, and entertainment-seeking visitors.

Name

Melrose Trading Post

Legal name

Greenway Arts Alliance (doing business as Melrose Trading Post)

Website

https://melrosetradingpost.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Melrose Trading Post is a 501(c)(3) social enterprise operating a weekly Sunday artisan market at Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, serving 260+ local vendors and LA community members with curated handmade goods, live music, and wellness programming, while funding free arts education for LAUSD students through Greenway Arts Alliance.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Marketplace

NAICS

All Other Miscellaneous Retailers (459999), Used Merchandise Retailers (459510), Hobby, Toy, and Game Retailers (45912)

SIC

Retail-Variety Stores (5331), Retail-Hobby, Toy & Game Shops (5945)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Neighborhood & Community Markets/Pop-Ups (Community-Led Bazaars) (MPAGAEAJ), Community Parades, Carnivals & Street Fairs (MPAGAEAE)

Keywords

• Weekly artisan market
• Outdoor community market
• Local vendor marketplace
• Live music events
• Arts education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Admission Tickets: Weekly Sunday market admission tickets. Every ticket supports free arts education for LA students through Greenway Arts Alliance.
2. Vendor Booth Fees: Fees paid by 260+ local makers, artisans, and vintage sellers to participate in the weekly Sunday market.
3. Merchandise Sales: Online shop selling exclusive apparel, accessories, apothecary goods designed in collaboration with LA artists. Proceeds fund Greenway Institute for the Arts and Fairfax High School.
4. VIP Pass Membership: Annual membership offering unlimited Sunday entry, monthly free guest passes, and exclusive access to Greenway Court Theatre.
5. Event Sponsorships: Special events such as Juneteenth celebrations and Halloween Dog Costume Contest attract community sponsors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Melrose Trading Post is a weekly outdoor community marketplace held every Sunday at the Fairfax High School parking lot in Los Angeles, hosting more than 260 local vendors selling curated artisan goods, vintage items, and handcrafted products. The market features live music programming, wellness activities, and special events, with all proceeds supporting the nonprofit Greenway Arts Alliance's arts education programs at Fairfax High School.

Product overview

Melrose Trading Post is a weekly outdoor market social enterprise operated by Greenway Arts Alliance, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. The core offering is a Sunday marketplace at Fairfax High School featuring 260+ local vendors selling handcrafted artisan goods, vintage fashion, antique furniture, and eclectic art. The company offers admission tickets and a VIP Pass membership for repeat visitors. The MTP Collab Shop is an online merchandise e-commerce platform selling collaborative product collections (The Melrose Apothecary Collection, Fairfax Love Collection, Melrose & Fairfax Collection) that fundraise for arts education programs. Additional offerings include weekly wellness programs (Wellness Through Words, Intermission Sound Bath), live music performances, and annual special events including the Juneteenth Celebration. The ecosystem supports Greenway Institute for the Arts (after-school arts education) and Greenway Court Theatre (professional performances).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Melrose Trading Post Weekly Sunday Market

Quantifiable outcome

• Every admission dollar supports free arts programs for Fairfax High students
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Greenway Arts AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Melrose Trading Post is a program of Greenway Arts Alliance, a non-profit that has connected LA communities through arts and education since 1997. The market funds holistic arts education in public schools through this partnership.
• Greenway Institute for the ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffers free in-school and after-school arts and leadership programs for Fairfax High and LAUSD students. Students gain hands-on experience through collaborations at Greenway Court Theatre and Melrose Trading Post.
• Greenway Court TheatrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional theatre built by Fairfax High School students in 1939, transformed by Greenway Arts Alliance in 2000. Hosts diverse performances from open mic poetry to world premieres.
• Los Angeles Poet SocietyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity poetry readings at MTP, including Typewriter Poetry at booth R25 and poetry events during Juneteenth celebrations.
• Eclectuals Book MarketminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStory Time in the Garden events and Wellness Through Words series featuring local authors and artists with meditations, journaling, and poetry.
• Cranes Studio (Intermission)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresents Community Sound Bath series led by Dr. Kischa, with yoga and sound bath wellness sessions on 2nd and 4th Sundays.
• Mágico USAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerToy drive partner at MTP, supporting community engagement initiatives.
• Te Aho NuiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTahitian dance performances at MTP events, showcasing cultural programming.
• Mid City West Neighborhood CouncilminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity partner in organizing Juneteenth celebrations and neighborhood engagement. Recognized by Council Member for 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration.
• Council District 5minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCity Council partnership for community events and neighborhood council coordination.
• Loved Again Pets RescueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMonthly pet adoption fairs at MTP, providing foster dog adoption opportunities for the community.
• CicLAviaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGreenway Arts programs the Fairfax Hub Stage during CicLAvia Melrose events, featuring dance company performances and yoga classes.
• California State Representative Rick Chavez Zbur's officeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresented official recognition for the 3rd Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Melrose Trading Post.
• Juneteenth SponsorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsors including The Phoenix Effect, Miracle Mile Democrats Club, and Nena's Organics support the annual Juneteenth Celebration.
• Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchool premises use granted to Greenway Arts Alliance pursuant to California Education Code Sections 17400 et seq. for the Melrose Trading Post market.
• Caribbean Women's CollectiveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural craft lounge programming at Juneteenth celebrations featuring carnival-inspired crafts and empowerment-themed activities.
• CARICONminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured poetry and cultural programming organization at Juneteenth celebrations.
• LA Creatives and MakerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor260+ local artisans collaborate with Greenway staff on exclusive merchandise designs for the MTP Gift Shop, creating apparel, accessories, and apothecary goods.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Renegade Craft Fair: Multi-city traveling indie artisan fair featuring small-batch makers and designers; comparable to MTP on curated artisan vendor mix, event-driven GTM, and direct-to-consumer shopping experience.
• Rose Bowl Flea Market: LA's iconic second-Sunday curated flea market at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena — closest direct competitor to Melrose Trading Post in terms of curated vintage/artisan mix, weekend foot traffic, and vendor-fee model.
• Brooklyn Flea: Iconic curated weekend flea market with vintage sellers, food vendors, and artisan makers; structurally analogous to MTP in weekly cadence, curated vendor mix, and food/music programming around commerce.
• Smorgasburg: Large weekly Brooklyn outdoor market for food and artisan vendors; closely comparable to Melrose Trading Post as a curated multi-category weekly outdoor marketplace anchored by independent small-business vendors.
• Artists & Fleas: Multi-location curated marketplace for independent designers, makers, and vintage collectors — directly analogous to MTP on curated-retail format, recurring programming, and indie-artisan vendor base.

Broad incumbents

• Pike Place Market: Historic large-scale public market blending artisan retail, food vendors, and small-business stalls; shares MTP's mission-anchored local commerce model but at vastly greater scale and permanence.

Regional players

• Abbot Kinney First Fridays: Monthly curated night market on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Venice — comparable to MTP as a recurring LA gathering format supporting local makers, food vendors, and community-driven commerce.
• Unique LA: LA-based curated design and maker market featuring independent designers, overlapping with MTP on LA geography, artisan-vendor curation, and event-driven retail format.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLDmlCrYExyQF4KLlWH-dSfo6dK3ZpFJdZ
• Instagraminstagram.com/melrosetradingpost
• TikToktiktok.com/@melrosetradingpost
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/melrose-trading-post

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Melrose Trading Post