Celebrates 10 Years in Tucson
Midtown Mercantile Merchants in Tucson will be celebrating their 10th Anniversary Jubilee on April 9th from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. with live music, charcuterie, cookies and refreshments by local Tucsonans, and MORE! To express their gratitude there will be a 10% discount throughout the store this day.
Founded by Tamara Mitchell in 2016, Tamara had a vision for a space where small businesses could thrive, filling what she saw as a void in the Tucson area for merchants. As the merchants came bringing their own style, expertise and taste to Midtown Mercantile Merchants it soon became a gathering place for folks to meet friends and family, and of course shop!
In 2024 the store moved from its original location to where they are now, located in the El Rancho Center, next to Whole Foods at 3330 E Speedway Blvd. in Tucson. This location used to be the old Bookman’s and the move allowed Tamara and staff to focus on creating a more open space that didn’t feel cramped or squished together. As soon as you walk in, the openness really makes it inviting and allows people to take their time as they explore the store.
The two-story building has 25,000 thousand sq.ft. with a stairwell and elevator to access their Underground. This is where there are even more booths, the library room, a new retro gaming section and the outdoor furniture room. Both floors feature a mix of antiques, vintage, MCM and new items.
Every merchant has a story and their booth represents their journey. Not just a store, Midtown Mercantile Merchants is a place to escape the outside world, where time seems to slow down, a place where you can be fully present while appreciating the artistic ingenuity of decades gone by. It’s a meeting place for friends and family or a perfect place to meet before a romantic dinner. They have even seen people meet for the first time and even fall in love.
The talented staff comes from a background in not only retail, but also in music, art and fashion. Nate Lovelady is a store manager and the store stylist who writes and records his own music and now has his very own fashion line at the store, Howard Deke. Allen Siu is also a store manager and has spent a good chunk of his career in the New York City fashion industry, where he worked for Yohji Yamamoto for ten years. While in Moab he was also a local DJ, worked at KZMU community radio and was a fashion designer for The Wabi Sabi fashion show, where he used recycled items to feature in their fashion designs.
Tamara will be retiring and is passing the torch to Mike and Vanessa Olandese. Mike Olandese is an osteo artist that goes by the name of Arcanexus Designs. His work has been featured all over the country and now has a home base within the store. Vanessa Olandese was a musical performer, musician and live music photographer, with a strong background in retail and human relations before she and Mike moved to Tucson last year. They are full of energy and passion for this community and the vision they have for Midtown Mercantile Merchants.
Not your typical antique /vintage mall, they are a marketplace that features small local businesses who specialize in everything from antiques to vintage to new items. This is a place where no matter what your age, style or story may be, there is something for you to enjoy at Midtown Mercantile Merchants. Be sure to stop by soon and don’t forget to mark your calendar for the big Anniversary celebration on April 9th!
Located at 3330 E Speedway Boulevard, Midtown Mercantile Merchants is open 7 days, Monday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.midtownmm.com or call 520-777-7275. Follow the mall on Facebook for sneak peeks behind the curtain or go to @mmm_tucson on Instagram and Pinterest for an inside look.
