Downtown Eugene Merchants is a membership-based organization of Downtown Eugene business owners. We work to promote and support downtown businesses and build a strong and positive perception of downtown.
Membership is open to any downtown business or organization interested in making strides toward a great downtown Eugene. Members include business owners, managers, and employees across all industries. Whether your business is retail, banking, tech, the arts, professional services, a restaurant or bar or something else entirely, we’d love to have you be a part of our organization.
Meetings are held the first Monday of every month from 12-1pm at Bagel Sphere. If you’re not yet a member but want to see what our organization is about, please join us. Subscribe to our newsletter for meeting announcements and other business-owner-specific information each month.
Mission
Downtown Eugene Merchants promotes community, collaboration, and vibrancy for a more prosperous Downtown Eugene.
Membership & Benefits
Membership in Downtown Eugene Merchants is annual at $200/year, and you can join at any time during the year. Membership comes with a variety of benefits.
Marketing Efforts
Member-only marketing opportunities include:
- A highlighted listing in the highly effective and full-color map of downtown. The map is given out at hotels, Travel Lane County, the Eugene airport, the Farmers and Saturday markets, events, attractions, visitor packs, conventions and many Eugene businesses. Maps are reprinted every two years, with the next update coming Fall 2024.
- The map is intended to be comprehensive. We attempt to list all consumer-relevant businesses in downtown Eugene, regardless of membership.
- A sample map is on the right. Black and white listings are non-members.
- Preferential placement for the 9 available spots on our monthly “…in Downtown” posters, distributed to 100+ sites all over Eugene and campus
- Access to a members-only Google Group where business owners collaborate, seek help, and post insider information on downtown development and events
- Opportunities to collaborate with other downtown businesses on cross-promotion efforts
- Access to a variety of members-only deals at participating businesses
Education & Advocacy
Decisions that affect downtown, big and small, are being made every day. We have the ear of important city officials like EPD Chief Skinner, Downtown Incident Commander Ray Brown, Ward 1 City Councilor Emily Semple, City Council, and key contacts at the city in Cultural Services, Public Works, and other departments that impact downtown. Being a part of DEM keeps you informed about decisions, regulations, and ordinances affecting downtown and mobilizes members to advocate on behalf of what’s best for downtown.
Events & Collaboration
Downtown Eugene partners with the City of Eugene Cultural Services, the University of Oregon, Onward Eugene, Travel Lane County, Lane Arts Council and others to leverage their events to the greatest benefit of our members. There are plenty of people coming to the area for events. Downtown Eugene Merchants works to ensure they come into our shops and restaurants, too!
Collaboration
There are a number of organizations working on behalf of downtown constituents, including building owners, people who live downtown, and related groups like Travel Lane County, the City of Eugene, Downtown Eugene Inc., and the Eugene Chamber. We are in frequent contact with all of these groups to ensure that we are taking advantage of opportunities to collaborate on behalf of our members.
Join Downtown Eugene Merchants today!
’24-’25 Board of Directors
President: Ethan Clevenger, Porterhouse Clothing & Supply
Vice-President: Stay tuned
Secretary: Julie Winsel, Eugene Symphony
Treasurer: Jenny Freeman, People’s Bank