Roosevelt Row Arts District boutique is celebrating its 20th anniversary

MADE Art Boutique, a cornerstone of Roosevelt Row Arts District in downtown Phoenix, is celebrating its 20th anniversary. This milestone marks two decades of supporting the vibrant Phoenix arts community and shaping the city’s cultural landscape since opening its doors in 2005.

Founded by local artists and entrepreneurs Cindy Dach and Greg Esser, MADE has grown into an iconic destination that has showcased the work of over 200 artists. Dach joined us on “Arizona Horizon” to tell us more.

With a unique selection of handcrafted art, prints, jewelry and home decor, MADE has become a hub for those seeking one-of-a-kind treasures and a true taste of the local art scene in Arizona.

Over the past 20 years, the boutique has offered an eclectic mix of local art and hosted themed exhibitions, workshops and events promoting creative expression and community engagement.

MADE is located on Roosevelt Row, which in the past was supposed to be a football stadium therefore there was a lot of activity. The galleries in that area at the time were selling large art pieces and Dach said she did not see a lot of affordable handmade pieces.

“I just think that when you are drinking out of a mug or wearing an earring that somebody put their passion into, it feels different,” Dach said.

Mainly, their foot traffic is tourists looking for a souvenir however there are a lot of neighbors to the business that stop to grab something like a birthday card, according to Dach. She said that some previous MADE staff have gone on to be artists or open their own businesses because of what they experienced working at MADE.

“I’ve always liked to make things because it’s a way to escape from the world and knowing people’s process and knowing that sometimes an idea and the way it transforms when it becomes a form is just magic and everybody needs that,” Dach said.

Her favorite part about MADE is the community connection in the store. She said she is always looking for “new artists who represent our community and new customers as well.”