Dickerson road merchants association (DRMA)
DRMA is a group of merchants, nonprofit organizations, residents, and community leaders who have banded together to create, maintain, and support positive change in the Dickerson Road area of East Nashville, Tennessee.
history of DRMA
Dickerson Road is one of Nashville’s most historically significant areas. Middle Tennessee’s first roadways, including Dickerson Road, were originally game trails rutted out of the wilderness by buffalo seeking salt licks. The origins of this gateway to downtown Nashville can be traced back to the 1700s when the Davidson County Court commissioned a road to be built between Fort Nashborough and Masker’s Fort in Goodlettsville. Jacob Dickinson, an early settler in the area, helped build the Dickinson Meeting House on the road.
This house of worship was so important in the community that the road on which it was located soon came to be called Dickinson Meeting House Road.The name was later was shortened and changed to Dickerson Road through a misspelling of the original name. The Dickerson Road Merchants Association (DRMA) formed in 1995 in response to the economic stagnation and lack of development interest in the Dickerson Road area. DRMA has been actively engaged with public officials in order to produce significant economic changes,
attract new businesses, and encourage local commerce and community involvement. DRMA is committed to the idea that the Dickerson Road area remains an untapped wealth of opportunities. By focusing on the positive aspects and available resources within the community, DRMA is confident that a more vibrant mixed-use commercial venue is achievable. In 2019, DRMA elected new leadership with representatives affiliated with newer businesses and organizations in the corridor.
Dickerson Road in the news
“5 Reasons Why Dickerson Pike Has More Potential Than Any Corridor in Nashville”
Tyler Cauble, The Cauble Group, Mar 18, 2020
Dickerson Pike: Nashville’s Most Promising Corridor; 5 reasons why Dickerson Pike has more potential for expansion than any other corridor in Greater Nashville.
“Nashville’s Downtrodden Dickerson Pike Angles For A Turnaround”
TONY GONZALEZ, WPLN News, Jan 31, 2019
Nashville’s Dickerson Pike has been known for vacant and dilapidated buildings, and once had the reputation as the city’s red-light district. But that’s been changing.
“Nashville's long-dormant Dickerson Pike on cusp of growth”
Getahn Ward, The Tennessean, Feb 3, 2017
New residential projects seen providing rooftops to aid commercial growth along once lagging corridor. There's concern about gentrification making it difficult for longtime residents and businesses to remain in the area.