Wowing On A Budget: The Melrose Plaza Grand Opening
On July 31, 2025, the community gathered for the highly anticipated Grand Opening of Melrose Plaza, and it was an event to remember. From the very beginning, our partners at Goodwill Industries of the Valleys made it clear that they wanted this celebration to truly “wow” attendees. The challenge? Doing it all while staying within a tight nonprofit budget.
That’s where McAteer Meeting Management (M3) stepped in.
We rolled up our sleeves and got to work, not just planning, but re-imagining how an event of this scale could be pulled off affordably without sacrificing impact.
Stretching Every Dollar Without Losing the Spark
At M3, we pride ourselves on thinking outside the box—and sometimes building the box ourselves! Instead of outsourcing or renting costly pieces, we designed and fabricated many of the elements from scratch, ordering only the parts we truly needed. By doing so, we maximized the budget while ensuring every detail had the polish and “wow factor” the occasion deserved.
One of the biggest showstoppers? The 40-foot Kabuki drop. Guests watched in awe as an entire wall of fabric dropped in one dramatic swoop to reveal the breathtaking Melrose Plaza History Wall. With one spoken keyword, the moment transformed from anticipation to amazement. And yes—people are still talking about it weeks later. That’s when you know you’ve created a memory.
A True Community Effort
This success story wouldn’t be complete without celebrating the partners who joined us in making it possible. From design to décor to technical production, the event was the product of a team effort:
Together, we created an atmosphere of celebration, pride, and community impact that reflected the heart of Melrose Plaza.
More Than Just An Event
For us, this project wasn’t just about décor or dramatic moments—it was about helping a nonprofit shine on their biggest stage. Negotiating on their behalf, sourcing local vendors, and reworking designs until we landed within budget were all part of making sure every dollar worked as hard as possible.
At the end of the day, we’re incredibly proud to have played a role in the Melrose Plaza Grand Opening. Seeing the smiles, hearing the gasps, and feeling the energy of the room reminded us why we do what we do: to grow something amazing, together.
Cheers,
Bethany
Checkout the highlight reel from the Melrose Plaza Grand Opening produced by AccessU and see the Kabuki drop in action!