Table of Contents
Introduction:
Melrose Trading Post is a developing marketplace collection of performers and sellers offering all manner of one-of-a-kind art, vintage and antique items, fashion, and more. The Trading Post is in a bustling neighborhood of Los Angeles, surrounded by creative culture and quintessential CA flair. It was founded in 1997 and is part of the non-profit community party Greenbelt Arts Association.
Not only will you find eclectic treasures, but you will also donate to an organization that gives back its profits to the community. Through the Melrose Trading Post, Fairfax High School has secured funding for athletic programs, educational programs, and theatrical productions.
Highlights of the Melrose Trading Post
More than just a market, Melrose Trading Post hosts local music, dance, theatre and spoken word events throughout the year. Many of the featured artists are students at Fairfax High School.
Greenway has a membership program that you can join that gives you free access to the other theatre programs and free entry, refreshments and discounts at booth vendors. There are monthly and yearly options so you can customize your membership preferences. Whether you become a member or pay as you need, you’ll always have access to all local produce, food, art and more.
Good to know for Melrose Trading Post
Melrose Trading Post operates on a scheduled ticketing system, so plan your time and buy in advance. The Trading Post is located on the campus of Fairfax High School in a busy area of Los Angeles, so parking is limited.
There are many other interesting places nearby, including restaurants and art galleries. You can plan your entire day in this area alone to get the full LA art experience. There are also plenty of food automobiles on site every weekend, so you can enjoy local Los Angeles dishes while browsing the market.
The basics
Local. While the music and shopping are usually why visitors stop at the Melrose Trading Post, you might also feel good spending your money in this community area, as the entrance fee helps support the school. To browse the approximately 250 vendors, pay a small entry fee upon arrival. In addition to shopping, you can enjoy live music on two different stages and check out fashion trends as the market attracts a younger crowd with the hottest streetwear in LA.
Know before you go Melrose Trading Post
- Melrose Trading Post is a popular destination for travelers who love everything vintage, handcrafted and whimsical.
- Shop till you drop – some tours stop at the Melrose Trading Post.
- When you’re hungry, grab a snack at the [Melrose Trading Post] food court or stroll through the restaurants south of Fairfax Avenue.
- Music fans shouldn’t miss the weekly concerts.
How to get there
Despite LA’s notorious traffic, getting to the Melrose Trading Post is still the most convenient. If you arrive early at the market, there is free parking, subject to availability. Otherwise, valet parking is available for a small fee – on Melrose and Genesee Avenues. Public transportation is also an option — the 217, 218, and 10 bus routes stop nearby — but be sure to check the LA Metro website for an up-to-date schedule.
Melrose Trading Post Business
The Melrose Trading Post takes place every Sunday in the Fairfax High School parking lot, where attendees browse wares from more than 200 eclectic vendors. Operated by the Greenway Arts Alliance and directed by and for the Fairfax Friends of Greenway, the [Melrose Trading Post] is widely recognized as the most successful ongoing fundraiser in the history of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Working in partnership with Fairfax High School administration, teachers and parents, Greenway Co-Artistic Directors Whitney Weston and Pierson Blatz, the [Melrose Trading Post] have devised a vehicle for students to make a meaningful contribution to their success in raising funds for school programs. And build self-confidence and self-esteem. Each work week is sponsored by a student club or organization at Fairfax High School that has applied to the [Melrose Trading Post] to raise funds for activities/purchases not covered by the school budget.
History
When Vision meets Opportunity, Greenway found in 1997 by Whitney Weston and Pierson Bleats, theatre producers living in the Fairfax district who sought to create a bridge between the arts and education that could have a measurable impact on the local community. Toward this end, they founded the Melrose Trading Post, an antiques and collectables flea market held every Sunday in the Fairfax H.S. parking lot.
Powered by Greenway, operated by student volunteers and Greenway staff, and governed by Greenway’s Friends of Fairfax, the [Melrose Trading Post] raises invaluable support for student and school activities not provided for in the school budget, such as student clubs, scholarships, uniforms and field trips. The founding of the [Melrose Trading Post] marked the beginning of a vital partnership between Greenway and Fairfax High. The union is an entrepreneurial model of how a not-for-profit organization on a high school campus can build bridges throughout the community.